Hi Laura

Learning to dance will be one of the best things you can do, it will not only keep you fit and healthy, but you will thoroughly enjoy it!!

You dont need a partner to learn, however, find yourself a good teacher where you can get a combination of individual lessons and group classes. It is always better if you can do both.

In your individual lessons find a teacher who can give you the feeling and correct many problems before they arrise.

Use the groups to reinforce what you have learnt and to learn step patterns and also to get the feeling of dancing with different partners.

Find dance parties which you can attend, as the more often you dance the better it is.

Basically you are learning a muscular training, like riding a bike once you get the feeling it is fun.

Look in your local telephone diretory or contact IDTA or ISTD to find a list of qualified teachers

C_Kid,

That would be nice,But I wouldn't even know where to begin.
I would have a hard time sponsoring anything.
That would cost quite a bit of money. What with rental of a hall,Ads, not to mention a permit, plus music and someone to tend to that. Oh and by the way I don't dance just real well. I figure any who did show up would assume I'd know something about dancing.

Is that too lame?

Lauran

Wow so many replies! I haven't been able to check back in a while.
At the risk of making this too long I'll try to reply to all messages.

1)Dave. No, I don't take it personally. If you don't live here It could seem boring.
My only shame is that Wichita Falls is the summer training camp of the Dallas Cowboys a.k.a. LOSERS!

Which part of the country are you from? I used to live in the boonies and still found a studio which 1 1/2 hours away. Sri is probably right, one can find a ballroom studio within reasonable driving distance.

Cal Pozo's and the like are probably okay to start you going specially if you don't have immediate access to a studio. You can familiarize yourself with few basic steps and the terms used in ballroom. However, tapes are not substitute for live ballroom instruction, so, if you find a studio try to have them "tweak" whatever you've learned from the tapes. The tapes I have seen do not show the proper proper mechanics of executing a dance step which could result in injury or a bad technique that would be difficult to unlearn in the future. A good foundation would go a long way once you get into the more advanced levels.

Welcome to the exciting and fulfilling world of ballroom. Good luck in your search for a studio.

Hey Lauren,

Don't keep us in suspense...how did your first dance lesson go on the 12th ?

Steve

I must say Laura, if it already hurts so bad because you want to learn to dance, I must warn you that it will hurt more so when you do learn to dance. Have you tried walking around in those 3-inch heels let alone follow strange men with their own style of leading, with your back to the masses and quite likely being run into other people or being stepped on. Trust me, it will surely hurt more..

That being said facetiously, I believe a ballroom studio may be found within reasonable driving distance anywhere in this country - allowing room for a little hyperbole.. Check my friend Henry's Dance Hotlist at "http://scarecrow.caps.ou.edu/~hneeman/dance_hotlist.html" for starters.

If there isn't one, I should say that it is one heck of a place to start a studio and hold socials... If you take that idea to heart, I want half your profits..

Enjoy.
Sri.

Laura,
If Henry's page does not list a dance site in your neighbourhood, allow me to suggest trying the site of my 'other' friend Aria. Here is the URL to that page, take a look. It lists places to dance in the three metros of Texas.
http://www.ee.princeton.edu/~aria/dancing.html

Besides, a simple search on yahoo may provide you these same results.

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You know that is a common complaint of mine. They certainly don't show enough of the "girl parts" in some of them.

It can be hard not having a partner, but moving doesn't have to be the only solution. But if you are moving, forget California, they are a bunch of over-paid snots there anyway, and forget about the cost of living. Come to the RTP, the new silicon valley..

Naah, I am just teasing. Whereever you go, I hope you find a good dance partner and a place to dance. I know how frustrating it can be to not have one or the other. Good luck, and ciao.

Sri.

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
Hmmm? 3inch heels huh? So flats or shorter heels are not acceptable?
Actually,I say it hurts because half of me is just aching for the ability to dance as graceful as I've seen the couples in the TV competitions are. The other half is just plain jealous of how smooth and easy they make it look.
Laura

Sriram,
What do you input to search for places to study dancing? Ballroomdancing studios? By the state?

If one lives in a cut-off place with limited opportunities and is filled with a lot of "what if" wonders, one wants to know about other areas.

Somewhere students have choices and a long term programs? Do SFO and Los Angeles offer the International teaching?

If one wants to take a lesson trip, which studio meets such needs? Contact a major city studio?
katy

If you are interested in social dancing,
almost any dance studio can get you started.
Many studios have group lessons and workshops
which is the less costly way to learn. Group
lessons usually don't require you to have a
partner and you will be learning with other
people at your experience level.