Ballroom dancing is an ‘umbrella’ term for many different styles of partner dancing. It’s enjoyed socially at classes and events, as well as competitively.
There are many different reasons why people want to start ballroom dancing, however some may not want to leave the comfort of their home. In this article we’ll discuss some of the top tips for learning to ballroom dance at home.
FAQs: Is it Difficult to Learn Ballroom Dancing?
Ballroom dancing (like many other dance styles) takes time, dedication and practice. With that said, start with the basic moves and work your way up, if you take it stage-by-stage it’s not difficult, it’s fun.
Top Tips for Learning to Ballroom Dance at Home
Find a Partner
As discussed previously, all ballroom dancing is performed with a partner. Although you can learn some basic steps solo, it would benefit you to have a partner to practice with, as you progress.
Choose a Style
There are so many different styles to choose from, making it difficult to know where to begin. Firstly, they are split into two categories.
Smooth/ Standard Ballroom
Waltz
Viennese Waltz
Tango
Foxtrot
Quickstep
Latin/ Rhythm
Pasodoble
Spanish Bolero
Cuban Bolero
Samba
Rhumba
Mambo
Cha-Cha-Cha
East Coast Swing
Jive
Start by watching some professional dances on YouTube, see which ones take your fancy. Why not watch some Dancing With The Stars clips, to see which ones stand out.
There are a number of ballroom dancing styles, which are seen as ‘more advanced’. Usually these will be those with trickier footwork or faster paced movements. A good way to start ballroom dancing at home would be to start with some of the ‘easier’ ballroom dance styles to learn, such as:
Waltz, Foxtrot, Swing, Rumba, Cha-Cha-Cha
When it comes to choosing a dance style, another important consideration is to keep it realistic in terms of the available space in your home. Some dances such as Tango and Pasadoble take up a lot of space.
Find a Video Class or Tutorial
There are a number of books out there, which will give you great detail of the history of the dance as well as listing some basic steps.
But it’s not recommended to learn a dance through a book; you need to be able to see the movement and mimic which you cannot do from a book.
The best way to learn ballroom dancing at home is to find a good video tutorial to follow. Websites such as LearntoDance Give step-by-step tutorials teaching timing and technique.
It will never be as effective as being in a class and having an instructor come around the room and perfect your movements. But it’s as good as you’ll get without leaving your home!
YouTube also has a range of different tutorials showing the basic steps of almost any ballroom dance. Check out this great (free) tutorial, teaching the box step from Waltz.
They break the steps down so that they’re easy to follow and you can keep replaying the video, until it is set in your head.
Find Your Perfect Music
Music plays such a major role in ballroom dancing and when you’re practicing at home, you have the ability to choose your favorite music.
But, it’s not as simple as picking a chart hit or a good ballad, the music needs to suit the style of ballroom you’re tackling.
YouTube has a great service where you can listen to ‘1-hour of Waltz music’ etc. This may not mean you’re getting your favorite tune, but it’ll give you an idea for what tempo, rhythm and style you should be looking for.
Practice
If you’re taking the learning seriously, make sure you practice regularly to keep the movements clear in your head. Ideally with your partner, but if not, put the music on and practice the movement alone.
Head to a Class or Social
Once you have found the dancing style that you enjoy and have gained confidence in your ability; look online to find a class or social near you.
I truly believe that there is no point in taking the time to learn these dances, without the prospect of performing them and practicing in a group setting. By this point you can have confidence in your ability and it’s a great way to improve, as well as meet like-minded people.
Additionally, we speak in this article about the benefits of learning to ballroom dance but it’s difficult to reap the benefits without having enough space. Learning at home is great for practicing steps and learning the basics but (unless you have a big space to practice) it’s better to be in a more professional
Thank you for reading our article, hopefully this has inspired you to pick up a new hobby and start practicing ballroom at home. If you do enjoy dancing and head to your first class, it’s important that you dress appropriately. Check out this article for the best shoes for ballroom dancing.
I’ve been wanting to learn a ballroom dance class, but I have no time. Thank you for this; I’ll keep in mind to find the perfect music that will suit the style of the ballroom that I’m tackling. This seems fun, but I’m still hoping to find an actual dance studio just in case I finally have the time for my personal activities.