The dance group is a social partner. Social dancing is a beautiful release

Modern social dancing is not just a beautiful action, but also a hobby, useful exercise stress And great wayпознакомиться. In this collection we want to tell you about the nine most popular social dances that anyone can learn.

1. Swing

Swing originated in the southern United States in the 1920s during the popularity of jazz - it was often danced to the compositions of Louis Armstrong. At that time, there were no original musical and dance styles, and jazz with the swing that grew out of it became the first manifestations of native American culture. It was first danced in Harlem, the first swing dance was called the Charleston and was performed without a partner - the dancers simply sharply kicked their legs out with their heels, which was reminiscent of traditional dances of African peoples. Little by little, the Charleston transformed directly into swing: the figures became smoother, they danced in pairs - the partner held the partner’s hands.

Dynamic and beautiful swing danced in clubs all over the country, and own style was in almost every city. The figures and techniques of dancing changed over time, new trends gradually appeared: Lindy Hop, Bilboa, and much later - boogie-woogie and rock and roll.

Modern swing is characterized by very fast and smooth kicking, high plasticity and emotionality. The partner plays a “leading” role; he directs the movements of the partner, who is required to be sensitive and able to adapt to the partner. The dance is based mainly on improvisation - freedom of movement is not limited by practically anything except jazz musical rhythm. The swing is usually rehearsed only before competitions.

There is a swing school in almost everyone big city peace. There are international competitions where the so-called “ballroom swing” is most often performed. It is characterized by clear, smooth, interconnected movements and bright dance composition as in the video below.

2. Argentine tango

Argentine tango first appeared in Argentina and Uruguay in the late 19th century. Oddly enough, it was danced in brothels and gambling establishments, where men spent their time searching for affordable entertainment, women and dubious romance.

The morals of that time were quite strict, so decent women could not even allow their partner to put his hand on their back - this was already considered reprehensible. Therefore, prostitutes were the first to dance tango. Tango was characterized by close embraces, intertwining legs, grabbing, stroking and flirtatious glances, all of which contained an overt hint of obscenity. Of course, women did not dance for free, and soon men began to get together and practice on their own.

Tango gained widespread popularity almost half a century after its inception. The young men taught dance, although less explicit, to their girlfriends and relatives. From Latin America, tango came to Europe, where it acquired its modern form.

Nowadays, dance is characterized by passion, close contact between partners, and fast movements. The main role is assigned to the woman - all complex figures such as throwing out legs, turns and steps fall to her lot, the partner for the most part only supports. Argentine tango is popular all over the world. Exists great amount styles, the most common of which are milonga, salon and liso. Very important role improvisation plays a role in this dance. However, at international competitions held in all parts of the world, it is considered that a truly beautiful and professional dance must be rehearsed.

3. Viennese Waltz

Contrary to its name, the Viennese waltz did not appear in Vienna, but in Germany, and a very long time ago - the first mention of it dates back to the 12th century. It is believed that it was then that Bavarian peasants began to dance a similar dance. Later, the fashion moved to France - the appearance of the waltz was described in the Parisian newspaper La Patrie in 1559. Beautiful dance very soon gained popularity among the aristocracy - there are engravings and paintings depicting couples dancing the Viennese waltz, the most famous of which shows the young Queen of England Elizabeth I flying above the floor in the arms of the Earl of Lancaster.

The main difference between the Viennese waltz and the classical one is that it is somewhat more dynamic and is performed to faster, albeit smoother, music. Like all waltzes, this dance is performed in three quarters, that is, there are three steps per measure. The man plays the leading role - he serves as support and support for his partner, whose back is slightly tilted back in the shape during the dance. Viennese Waltz- the dance is smooth, without sharp turns and tilts - it creates the feeling that the dancing couple seems to be soaring above the ground.

The dance is not so easy to perform, at least to learn how to dance it beautifully, you will need long workouts And good plastic. The Viennese Waltz is one of the five dances in the European program, which says a lot.

4. Zouk

Zouk originated in the Caribbean in the 1980s. The word “zouk” is translated from the French Creole language as “party” - initially zouk was danced at parties and discos. As dance developed, numerous schools opened and new directions emerged. The music to which the zouk is danced can include African, Brazilian motifs, elements of flamenco and other musical styles. Zouk gained the greatest popularity in French-speaking countries.

Unlike most Latin American dances, zouk does not have overt eroticism and sharp dynamic movements; it is performed to slow “dramatic” music, the dancers move smoothly and very plastically. Zouk is characterized by tenderness, humility, slight sadness and sensuality. In principle, dancing it is quite simple, no special preparation is required, and anyone can take part in the competition by simply submitting an application. Of course, a couple of “masters” who practice zouk professionally will benefit, but this area is also accessible to beginners.

5. Merengue

Merengue, both music and dance, originates from the Dominican Republic. The ancestor of the merengue is considered to be the tumba dance, which is not found so often - it is very complex for its main purpose social dancing- entertainment and communication - not suitable. Relatively simple merengue that does not require memorization and reproduction complex figures, quickly fell in love with young people and soon penetrated most Dominican parties. Now merengue is most popular in Latin America and the USA. Most of the performers live there.

Merengue is performed to fiery dynamic music, where the main accompanying instrument is the accordion. The contact of partners in the dance is minimal - both men and women dance it “solo”, rarely touching and mainly with their hands. Close physical contact is not typical for merengue - both partners commit a large number of movements: rotation of the body, movement of the shoulders at a stunningly fast pace, circular movements of the hips.

Merengue is quite easy to learn on your own - the dance is characterized by improvisation, and you only need to be able to withstand the frantic rhythm. As with all other dances on our list, merengue competitions are held for everyone. Of course, it will be difficult to get into international competitions as a participant, but at amateur competitions it is quite possible to have fun and learn something from others dancing couples.

6. Reggaeton

Reggaeton first appeared in Puerto Rico. Based on the name, the basics musical direction and dance originate from reggae music. Over time, very little remains of classic reggae in reggaeton, but you can hear echoes of techno music, rap, bomba, plena and hip-hop.

This dance is relatively young - it was first danced in the 1990s at discos and parties. The main thing in reggaeton is a strong rhythmic beat; moving to this dynamic, fiery music is extremely easy. This dance also has no obligatory figures, but is characterized by very fast rotation of the hips and stomach and movements of the shoulders at an incredibly fast pace, and these movements are performed by both partners. Another feature of reggaeton is its provocativeness - obvious sexual overtones, challenge, and passion are noticeable in the movements of the partners.

Reggaeton is especially popular in Argentina, where it even hosts and broadcasts friendly competitions.

7. Hustle

Hustle is another disco dance style. It first appeared in Europe and America in the 1960s and immediately gained popularity among young people because it did not require special preparation, was simple to perform, and at the same time beautiful and romantic. Almost any music is suitable for hustle - you just need to feel the rhythm a little, and you can whirl with your partner. The dance appeared in the USSR in the late 1980s. By the way, it is he who is shown in the film “The Beloved Woman of Mechanic Gavrilov.”

In hustle, unlike many of the above dances, there is nothing provocative. His movements are simply six-count steps, inside and outside single turns and not too much contact between his partners. Despite the fact that the hustle was originally a social dance and was invented as a way to have fun and get to know each other, it is currently used in sports competitions. There are many in Hustle different directions, but the most interesting is the jack-n-jill hustle: a couple in competition goes out onto the floor and dances an impromptu dance to music unknown to them. A dancer's level is determined by one of five classes - to get the next one, you must participate in competitions and place top places.

8. Irish set dances

Irish set dancing originated in the 18th century. The cheerful Irish liked the classic French quadrille, which perfectly suited their folk melodies. Quadrille mixed with Irish dances like the reel, hornpipe and jig, and the result was something unimaginable. Over the next two centuries it was danced everywhere: on village holidays, weddings, in pubs. Gradually, set dances replaced even traditional Irish ceilidhs.

The most amazing thing is that the movements are mainly done only with the legs: all kinds of turns and jumps, sliding steps, sweeps and rapid throws of the legs. At the same time, the body remains calm and hardly moves, and the hands, as a rule, lie on the belt. Irish dancing is a mixture of pride, hot temperament and mischief.

Nowadays set Irish dancing is no longer so popular - you are unlikely to see them at discos - the music is not the same. But there are many championships held around the world, the largest of which are the All-Ireland Championship, the British Championship, the National American Championship and the World Championship. Everything you need to learn Irish dance- the ability to maintain rhythm and breathe correctly.

9. Rumba

Rumba was invented, oddly enough, by African slaves who lived in Latin America. Their own culture During the years of slavery, it became closely intertwined with the culture of the Spanish invaders. The word "rumbo" means "fun" in Spanish. Initially, the dance was really dynamic, the music was similar to the famous melody “Cucaracha”. But over time, rumba was divided into two directions - rumba itself and cha-cha-cha.

The dance is characterized by smooth, erotic movements and wide steps of both partners. Rumba is considered a ballroom dance. The main thing here is emotional content, light eroticism and drama. The music is slow and smooth. Sometimes the rumba is even danced at weddings as the first dance of the spouses. Latin America- the dance symbolizes family responsibilities and reverent love.

Of course, you can’t dance rumba at discos either, but this dance is popular everywhere modern world. It refers to ballroom dancing and is one of the top five standard Latin American ballroom dancing programs.

Social dances are now called pair dances, in which the main thing is communication between partners. In fact, this is another language in which you can talk to each other - not with words, but with movement.

Initially, when they arose, all dances were social in one way or another - even those that now belong to. So there is no impassable border between them, especially since in social dances shows are now held and staged using pre-prepared dance numbers.

But still, first of all social dance is a dance not for the audience, but for oneself, born spontaneously and sometimes even unexpectedly, as a way to relax and express oneself, to enjoy music, movement and communication with each other.

social couple dances

Social dancing is usually quite easy to start dancing - you just need to learn the basic step and basic movements, although if you want, you can continue to improve throughout your life: they never get boring because they are never repeated.

Even the same set of movements, but performed with a different partner and to different music, will generate new dance, unlike all the others.

Apparently, all this taken together contributed to the great popularity of social couple dances
Over the past hundred years, a huge number of styles, directions and forms of social pair dances have been born.

What do different types of social couple dances have in common?
• all of them are created primarily for partners to enjoy dancing together;
• they are danced at any holidays, discos, parties and generally anywhere where suitable music is played;
• they can be danced with anyone trained this style a partner (and sometimes even an untrained one);
• The dance is based on improvisation from an existing set of elements;
• dance can arise spontaneously and exists only “here and now”, for this partner, to this music, with this mood;
• this dance cannot be repeated.

What's different about various directions social couple dances?
• music;
• history of occurrence;
• the main step and components of the dance;
• the nature of the dance and the social context.

social couple dances

social dancing on the island

You can go to one group or several, take only a basic course or practice constantly - in general, any path into the world of social dancing that you choose is open to you.

But since social dancing is not only dancing, but also communication - then your stay on the “Island” will probably not be limited to classes: after all, there are also trips to clubs and discos,

For relaxation, to enjoy dancing. For dancing man nothing compares to the feeling of graceful and harmonious dancing to beautiful music with a wonderful partner.

But anyone who goes to a social dance notices that not everyone has the same good time. While some sit through many dances, others are constantly in demand. These lucky dancers not only seem to be having a great time, they also spread their joy and energy to those around them. There is something about these people that goes against good looks and dancing skills. How do they do it? What are the personal qualities, habits and skills that lead to success on the social dance floor? This article explores the answers to these questions.

Etiquette and beyond etiquette

Success in social activities requires awareness accepted standards behavior. The importance of dance etiquette for a social dance dancer can hardly be exaggerated. Etiquette is important everywhere, but especially in dance, where there should be no place for negative emotions.

Local social dance communities tend not to be very large, providing a good opportunity for self-regulation of dance etiquette. Inattentive people may temporarily enjoy themselves at the expense of other dancers. But they quickly acquire a corresponding reputation, mostly without their knowledge, and become outcasts. Good reputation, as an attentive and pleasant partner, is the best asset of a social dancer.

In the future, we will touch on some other aspects that go beyond the rules of etiquette. You can learn more about dance etiquette in the previous article, “Social Dance Etiquette.” Here are the basic principles:

• Never blame your partner for anything that might happen on the dance floor if you want him/her to dance with you again.
• An invitation to dance should be accepted under almost any circumstances. If you refuse a dance, do not dance the dance with anyone else.
• Never teach those who don't ask for it! The partner may feel insulted. Is not The best way to encourage him/her or others to dance with you.
• Don't invite the same partner too often. The dancers are polite and rarely refuse a dance, but this is not a reason to abuse their kindness. Dance with everyone and let others dance.
• On the dance floor, be attentive to other couples. Make sure you don't bump into anyone and don't do difficult lifts on crowded dance floors.

What we have discussed so far is generally considered the area of ​​dance etiquette. Anyone who flagrantly and regularly violates the rules of etiquette will eventually be shunned within the local dance community. Thus, the first step to success among dancers is to follow the rules of dance etiquette. Once we've mastered the etiquette, it's time to move beyond it and explore what else we can do to become popular in dance circles. The remainder of this article is dedicated to this topic.

Make your partner happy

The only one, the most big secret Success in social dancing is making your partners happy on the dance floor. Once you succeed in this task, your popularity will skyrocket and you will never have a shortage of partner(s) who are eager to dance with you.

Realizing this fact is an important first step. Then you need to acquire the appropriate skills and follow in the chosen direction. There are many ways you can make your partner happy. Here are some steps to do this:

No uncomfortable behavior: Twisting your partner's arms to force her into a turn, pushing or pulling too hard to force her into a position, or any other type of hard leading will not be appreciated by your partner. (Read the article " How to learn to lead your partner in dance? "). If it doesn't do what you want, then you're probably not leading well. If you don't know the figure well enough, don't do it on the dance floor. Save it for practice until you've mastered it, and then use it on the dance floor. If the lead is good, but the partner still does not lead, the partner is again to blame, since he is trying to make a figure that is too difficult for his partner.

No trying to lead your partner: When you invite or accept an invitation to follow someone in a dance, you are implicitly agreeing to let them lead (Read the article "How to Learn to Follow Your Partner's Lead in a Dance?"). At the same time, this does not mean that you have to be a great partner or even a good one, it means that you should follow your partner's movements and not try to take the initiative in leading. This is disrespectful to your partner and they are unlikely to like it when you take away their leadership.

Protect your partner: There are two aspects to this rule for partners. First: You must keep an eye on neighboring pairs with peripheral vision so as not to bump into anyone or hit anyone. Second: if you see the danger of a collision, pull your partner towards you and turn around so that you absorb the blow. A partner can also protect her partner by keeping an eye on what is going on behind his back. If you see the danger of a collision, light pressure on his shoulder or arm will be enough to warn him of the danger of a collision.

Bring joy to your partner: When we dance, it is important that not only we have a good time, but also our partner. This means, among other things, that you need to make the dance comfortable for him/her, dancing at a level that is enjoyable for both and maintaining good feeling humor if something goes wrong. If you are a perfectionist in your dance studies, leave it to the parties. Honestly admit your mistakes, if they are yours, but don’t dwell on them, keep dancing. Playfulness and lightheartedness in dance also have great importance. Look at your partner and smile (except for dancing, which is inappropriate for this). Concentrate not on your feelings, but on the feelings of your partner.

Make your partner feel valued: the most popular dancers are not necessarily the most skilled, but rather those who make it clear to each partner how valuable and enjoyable their company is. Most people wouldn't dance with someone whose behavior was annoying, no matter how chic the partner was.

Irritation factor: There are many things that can be acceptable in everyday situations and yet can be very annoying when done in close proximity in dance. In particular, don't hum to the music, count your steps, or chew gum while you dance.

It is worth repeating once again the cardinal rule of social dance: You are happy when your partner is happy.

Who's popular?

You are now an attentive dancer who always thinks about your partner first. But building a reputation takes some time. What makes someone popular at first glance? If you look around the dance floor at the beginning of the song, you will see dancers wandering around, scanning the crowd, looking for their next dance partner. Of course, you think that not all of them know their potential partners. Then who are they looking for?

Here are some answers:

Dancers looking for dancers: Dancers are more likely to seek out those they see on the dance floor. Secondly, they look at those who are sitting on the sidelines. This may be due to a feeling of confidence that someone seen on the dance floor is a good dancer or less likely to refuse. Without going into the reasons for this, if you are seen on the dance floor, then you have more chances be invited to the next dance. Think of it as a form of inertia for the dancers. Overcoming this inertia will help you have an enjoyable night of dancing. Do your best to get the first few dances when you arrive at the party, it will be easier later.

Dance shoes: dancers are looking for dancers, but how to determine good dancer, if you don't see his dance? Answer: dance shoes! On dance event, where people don't know each other, you may notice that experienced dancers scan the crowd, not looking at faces, but rather looking at feet! Investing in a pair of dance shoes is a sign of enthusiasm and passion for dance. Dancers know that wearing dance shoes increases your chances of being invited.

Dancers are looking for those who say "yes": no one likes to be rejected. Besides, it is a waste of time: there is not much time between songs, if you refuse several times, the dance will be lost. If you refuse to dance, or if you appear strict, then your chances of being invited decrease. This brings us to the next point.

Desire, readiness to dance: Stand close to the edge of the dance floor. Watch the dancers and stomp your feet to the music. Smile. Dancers will pay attention to you if they feel that you want to dance. Better yet, don’t wait to be invited, invite someone to dance yourself! What's the worst that could happen? Even if you are refused, you will demonstrate your willingness to dance.

Sense of humor, attractiveness: Be nice to your partner. He or she was kind enough to ask you to dance or agree to dance with you, so repay him for it. Remember, you're both supposed to have fun, so have fun! Behave nicely, or at least imitate it. Most importantly, smile!

Physical attractiveness: This is one of the factors that we cannot always control. But it is obvious that in dance, as elsewhere, good-looking people have a certain advantage. Men will generally gravitate towards attractive women. Women who complain about the shallowness of men usually behave no better.

However, for most of us who don't have movie star looks, there is good news. Looking good might help you get asked to the first dance, but ultimately, personality, a sense of humor, and most importantly, ability to dance trumps good looks (at least on the dance floor).

Dance partners

We already know that we shouldn’t invite the same partner over and over again. According to etiquette, we can dance no more than 2 songs in a row with the same partner, so that everyone has a variety of partners. This is good not only from the standpoint of fairness, it is also good for you: if you dance with everyone, your dancing skills will improve.

Dancing with different partners - Foundation stone social dances. This general principle applies to everyone, including those romantically involved in the dance. A romantic couple who dances only with each other undermines the structure of social dancing by refusing to facilitate it.

Romantic couples who refuse to dance with others may often do so out of fear: people fear for the safety of their romance by dancing with someone else or are jealous when their lover dances with someone else. These negative emotions are unfounded and are the result of completely invalid concepts of social dancing. Inviting or accepting an invitation to dance carries no obligation beyond a specific song, usually 3-5 minutes. Think of it as a brief conversation with someone at a reception, followed by a follow-up conversation. The desire to dance and refusal to dance with everyone is as boring and pointless as walking away from everyone, not talking to anyone. We will learn more about this in the topic "Dance and Romance".

A great way to increase your circle of familiar dancers is to invite newcomers to dance. I still enjoy the memories of advanced dancers who asked me to dance with some degree of regularity when I was a beginner. Dancing with beginners is not only an excellent way to develop your leading/following skills, but it is also a great human investment that will pay off very well because dancers are new for a long time don't stay. Don't think of dancing with a newbie as charity, you're doing yourself a favor.

On the other hand, be smart about inviting partners who are more experienced than you. If everyone was constantly looking for a partner better than themselves, then no one would dance with anyone. Experienced dancers you invite may initially accept your invitations, but if you pursue them, they will begin to avoid you. My Golden Rule: The frequency of inviting others to dance is inversely proportional to their dance level. If someone is a much better dancer than you, then invite them infrequently (of course, do not hesitate to accept the invitation when they invite you). If someone is on the same level as you or dances worse than you, you can invite them more often.

How do you encourage dancers, especially the best dancers, to dance with you? Just be attentive, friendly, cheerful, and continue to develop in dance.

And finally, regarding regular dance partners: whether or not you should have a regular dance partner depends on many factors. The obvious benefits of having a regular partner are having someone to take classes with (Read the article "How to Get the Most Out of Dance Lessons?"), practice at home, or dance at events, especially ones where other dancers are not often seen. However, this can have certain nuances and negatively affect other parts of your life. Dance partners are a very special type of relationship with an unstable balance, the maintenance of which is very non-trivial. The interaction of a dance partnership with your personal and romantic life is something special and should be considered in more detail.

There are many arguments for and against long-term dance partners. The validity of each of these arguments varies considerably depending on the individuals involved. Like any other relationship, a dance partnership requires care, attention and an investment of time and effort. Before you become someone's dance partner, make sure you are willing to make the necessary personal investment to succeed together.

It is worth noting that in social dancing there is no need for everyone to have a permanent partner. In social dancing, everyone dances with everyone, except for the first and last dance of the evening, which may be reserved.

Dance community

Soon after your start dance career You will encounter most of the "regulars" who form the backbone of the local dance community. Dance communities, as a rule, are not very large. The dance community can be viewed as a family, and its members as members of the family. Friendships come and go after a while, but family is forever. This is why maintaining relationships within the family is very important: not many of us ever choose new parents or new brothers. If family relationships are damaged, the consequences will be long-lasting and painful. Therefore, it is worth making an effort to maintain good relationships within the dance community, because as long as you dance in the same geographic area, you will encounter the same people over and over again and awkward situations will constantly arise.

Prevent unpleasant situations easy, especially because most dancers are good-natured, good people. Just don't strain your relationship with anyone and follow social norms. Despite this, there are some situations in which dancers tend to escalate their relationship.

One of these slippery situations involves dance etiquette. Everyone seems to agree on dance etiquette, but there are variations in how people put it into practice. When you see someone who, in your opinion, is violating dance etiquette, you may be tempted to approach and express your opinion about it. Or at least try to politely point out the mistake. Don't give in to this temptation!

Changing people is very difficult and virtually impossible. Few of us have that magical combination of tact, understanding and charm to be able to change someone's behavior the best way. But not many people have such a set of qualities and you, most likely, will not succeed. In addition, you will look stupid and annoying from the outside. The exception is if you want to give a hint to a close friend and feel obligated to help him out. In this case, such a conversation should be tactful and confidential. In general: to etiquette - yes! There is no supervision over the observance of etiquette!

Does this mean that violation of etiquette should go unpunished? Of course not. Etiquette has a wonderful self-regulating mechanism. A person who grossly and constantly violates etiquette is involuntarily avoided and remains on the sidelines. Thus, the problem solves itself.

In some cases, direct intervention may be necessary, especially when the offender places others in serious immediate discomfort or danger. Then it should not come from the average dancer, but from someone more formal, such as an organizer or DJ. In this case, it is very important that the rules are interpreted unambiguously and clearly. Your job is over once you have brought the violation to the attention of the organizer or DJ.

Dance and romance

Pair dance by its nature is a romantic action. It involves music and the close proximity of partners of the opposite sex. For most of us, this is what is very attractive about dancing. Where else can we feel the closeness of a handsome stranger touching you with his hands within seconds of meeting you? However, the connection between dance and romance can, unfortunately, also lead to misunderstandings and unpleasant situations.

Much of this misery can be avoided by understanding the basic principle of social dancing. Social dancing is about communication. Once again, as an example, I will give a metaphor: dance is like a short conversation at a reception, after which we move on to the next conversation. Each of these conversations can be fun, professional, graceful, or provocative. However, this is only a short conversation, pleasant in this moment, but certainly not hinting or forcing long-term interaction.

The same principle applies to social dancing: Every dance is communication, and hopefully an enjoyable, social interaction. It can be difficult for new people to understand that dancing does not necessarily indicate personal interest in a person, even if it appears passionate or provocative.

Dance is fun, a game of imagination, fantasy. A particular dance may look graceful, provocative or sexy, for example, but it is just role-playing game. A social dance party is a safe zone where we can play these games and have a degree of free fun with the understanding that our movements on the dance floor, especially while dancing, should not be interpreted by the standards of the outside world.

The mutual understanding of the dance community makes this level of entertainment possible. Our actions in dance do not continue after the dance. Taking what happens on the dance floor seriously would be a mistake.

There are two aspects to this mistake that can be especially harmful: the first is to misunderstand your partner's attention and mannerisms while dancing as genuine romantic interest. While romance does exist in the dance community (as elsewhere), one must be careful about making any assumptions. Then you can protect yourself from uncomfortable moments, or, even worse, aggravation of relations with your partner.

The second aspect of this problem involves romantic partners who both dance. Here, once again, it is worth understanding that dancing is simply role-playing, and what happens on the dance floor is not reality. Each of them should not be shy to dance with others. By understanding this, they can avoid pain and anguish, and build stronger relationships.

Despite the fact that much of the dance is fantasy and pretense, and that many dancers share their romantic and dancing lives, there's nothing against finding romance in dancing circles. If this is your goal, all the best to you! Don't forget to learn dance along the way and have fun.

A look inside

When all is said and done, your joy in social dancing depends more on you than on anyone else. If you are determined to have a good time and have a good attitude, you have good opportunity enjoy your dance experience.

First component good attitude- sense of humor. If you are not invited or have been rejected several times, do not despair. If some dance didn’t work out, if you didn’t get one or more figures, don’t get hung up on it. Perhaps your next dance with a different partner will be better, keep learning to dance.

The key to enjoying dancing is knowing your goal: to enjoy dancing. Pleasure is contagious and it accumulates. People like to be around people who are enjoying themselves. Be one of these people. Be determined and don't let little things ruin your evening of dancing.

To love dancing, you must enjoy music. If you not musical man, learn to understand and hear music. This will also help you understand the dance.

Active, sociable people have an advantage in social dancing. Even if this is not typical for you, try to overcome yourself. If you like the song and want to dance to it, if you like your partner and want to dance with him, please go and invite him. Find friends in the dance community. You'd be surprised how much a casual smile and friendliness can do. In fact, hundreds of people are waiting to befriend you. This will require minimal effort on your part.

Ultimately, no one and nothing can make you happy or unhappy. Only you can make yourself happy. And dance can help you with this.

The article was written based on research materials from AriaNosratinia

Social dancing is an excellent alternative to “jumping” discos and clubs where incomprehensible music is blaring. Of course, everyone is free to choose. But for fans of improvisation and democracy, social dancing is exactly what you need. These are “street” dances that have migrated to the floor. It's pretty popular view healthy pastime. Such classes do not require special training. People of any age can practice dancing. There would be desire and enthusiasm.

Social dances include:

• Sultry salsa;
• Sensual Argentine tango;
• Stylish swing;
• Bachata;
• Irish dances;
• Hustle.

What it is?

Each of these styles combines the traditions of the countries in which they were invented and successfully took root. As a rule, social dances do not have clearly defined and memorized movements. Partners demonstrate some skills that cause admiring glances and shock from those watching. At social dance “parties” you quite often meet successful, wealthy people. They are attracted by powerful psychological release after a hard day at work.

The joy of activity

Scientists say that when dancing, a person produces a huge amount of joy hormones - endorphins. It is believed that the feeling of flight and lightness makes people dance for many years and attend classes regularly. Regular visitors to clubs where social dance classes are held note that bright and intense styles do not take away strength at all, on the contrary, they give vigor and help to rise to unrealistic heights.

What attracts people to social dancing?

During dance lessons, it is customary to change partners more than once during the evening. This allows people who regularly attend such events to get to know each other better and find common ground. Of course, whether to continue the relationship outside dance hall Everyone decides for themselves. Quite often, durable and happy marriages between partners engaged in social dancing. Don’t think that clubs are some kind of nest of debauchery. It's a delusion. They do dancing married couples, people of science and religion. Of course, everything depends on internal upbringing. But this applies to any area of ​​life.

The most important thing that attracts people who are interested in social dancing is a healthy pastime and the opportunity to break away from their usual circle. In such clubs it is not customary to ask each other about the type of activity. Here everyone is on an equal footing. Therefore, it is completely normal when the janitor and financial director, salsa movements are repeated by the student and teacher. This is a place where the status of an individual is determined only by the ability to dance. Any busy person wants to see the world from a different perspective. Social dancing provides such a chance. Catch him!

Social dances are now called couple dances, in which the main thing is communication between partners. This kind of dance is not for spectators, it is for oneself, born spontaneously and sometimes even unexpectedly, as a way to relax and allowing you to express yourself to any music with any partner you like anywhere in the world. They are available to everyone.

What are social dances and what do they eat with?

In Social Dance there is no strict, once and for all memorized sequence of movements. Improvisation is expected and encouraged from dancers. After all, dance is an expression of feelings and you don’t need to force them into any particular pattern. In addition to the flight of the soul and improvisation, the main step is important, which is different for each dance and should be known to the dancers; the movements are quite easy to learn for everyone.

Social dancing is usually quite easy to start dancing - you just need to learn the basic step and basic movements, although if you want, you can continue to improve throughout your life: they never get boring because they are never repeated. Even the same set of movements, but performed with a different partner and to different music, will give rise to a new dance, unlike all the others.

Since there is no clear pattern, and two people are dancing, such an important thing as leading comes to the fore. The partner who thinks through the dance is responsible for himself and for his partner, for the beauty of her movements - he leads her. Naturally, you need to learn this - you need to be able to show your partner what you expect from her. For partners, it would seem that the task is much simpler - to listen to their partner, but sometimes this is not easy - to get used to doing not only what you want, but following other people’s desires. As a rule, in order to go to training, you do not need your own partner or partner, since during classes the pairs change all the time - you need to learn to dance with any partner.

Everyone can find a dance to their liking

To date, quite a lot of trends have emerged in social dancing. They are all similar to each other, but at the same time, in addition to style, they differ in the dynamics, complexity and closeness of partners during the dance. This allows everyone to find the same style that will allow them to relax, have fun and enjoy themselves.

Salsa

If you are a cheerful person who loves summer and Latin American rhythms? Then fiery salsa is for you. Oddly enough, it is also suitable for shy people and those who are not ready for close hugs with strangers - physical contact in salsa is almost always limited to either hands or touching the waist or shoulder.

Bachata

Romantic people, as well as people who prefer slowness and leisure, will certainly like bachata. While dancing bachata, you can chat with your partner and enjoy the sweet singing of Spanish-speaking performers. Bachata is a must-choice for those who want to fall in love. Nothing in the world is conducive to romantic relationships better than bachata, because they dance it opposite each other, looking dreamily into their eyes and holding hands. Don't want to fall in love? Flirt! Bachata is simply made for this.

Hustle

Are you active, assertive and charismatic? Do you like to be the center of attention of an admiring crowd? Do you think that dancing is not only entertainment, but also a sport? Then you should pay attention to Hustle (remember the famous movie “Dirty Dancing” with Patrick Swayze?). It can be danced to any music, but modern popular melodies with a clear beat for each count are best suited. This dynamic dance with quite strict linear structure. When dancing hustle, you will feel a powerful adrenaline rush, which will undoubtedly have a positive effect on both your mood and your figure.

Brazilian zouk

Do you want your dance to feel like flying? Try Brazilian zouk! The Brazilian zouk is smooth wave-like movements and beautiful rotations, not only with the body, but also... with the head! The partner performs head rotations, and this looks especially impressive if she is the owner long hair. When choosing the Brazilian Zouk, you need to remember that this is a fairly intimate dance in which you will have to completely trust your partner.

Kizomba

If intimacy doesn't bother you, sensual kizomba is also for you. It's like tango - you dance with your arms around each other. Hugs are the main thing here. This dance is absolutely not designed for spectators; kizomba is created only for two. While dancing, you close your eyes and listen to your own feelings.

Argentine tango

Argentine tango is loved by dancers and spectators for its beauty, passion, drama and excitement. Social Argentine tango is based on improvisation of movements and respect for your partner and other dancers on the dance floor.

Any of the above dances is not just a dance, it is an energy flow, getting into which a person takes a break from life’s problems...

Practice in Kaliningrad

All these dances are for everyone, and you can practice them anywhere in the world. In our city, special dance discos are regularly held, where you can learn something new, find a suitable partner for training or, simply, new good people, take part in competitions that are held regularly and get a charge of positive emotions. They come to the club for a Latin party, they invite you completely stranger dance and... magic happens - it turns out a couple of strangers can dance harmoniously, harmoniously, obeying only the music and the whims of the leader’s imagination!

Plus, social dancing is a great hobby for those who love to travel. Dance schools throughout Russia and abroad organize dance master classes and congresses, where you can learn from famous teachers, meet like-minded people from other cities and dance-dance-dance until you drop!

Modern social dancing is not just a beautiful action, but also a hobby, useful physical activity and a great way to meet people.

Learn to dance, create your own dance, get to know and communicate with each other. A sea of ​​positive emotions and a charge of vivacity is guaranteed to you!

In Kaliningrad, the most popular styles of social dancing are Salsa and Bachata. They are taught in most studios and mostly danced at parties. Accordingly, you can easily choose a school that is convenient for you based on price and location, and then go to a cafe for a party and easily find dance partners.Kizomba is also readily danced here, and many of those who have learned the basics of Salsa and Bachata take Kizomba into their arsenal. We have enough offers to teach and schools, the choice is yours.Very interesting and separate from everyone else is the Brazilian Zouk. It is taught in only one school, where many people go to study. At parties, zoukers look bright and dizzying.Other directions organize practices in their studios, enjoy dancing in the evenings and even by candlelight.

Almost everything is the same dance schools They offer free trial classes, so in addition to watching videos, you can go and try each style, and then choose the one that suits you.