| First of all, dancing is an aerobic exercise, so if you | | | | hopefully some good advice on how to avoid it! |
| are looking to do something more fun for exercise | | | | So what would be a bad reason to learn to dance? |
| than running on a treadmill, or to lose weight, go | | | | The worst reason I've ever seen is doing it for |
| ahead and dance! Dancing, according to some studies, | | | | someone else. I know this doesn't sound quite right, |
| has been shown to reduce one's risk of | | | | and I don't mean that it's bad to take dance lessons |
| cardiovascular disease, assist with weight control, and | | | | when your wife loves to dance and you want to |
| lead to physical fitness. Of course, you aren't going | | | | learn for her. I mean feeling that you'd rather stick |
| to turn into a 90lb ballerina from one dance class a | | | | needles in your eyes than dance, but dancing |
| week, but dancing one night a week, instead of | | | | anyway, because your wife keeps nagging that you |
| sitting on the couch is bound to do loads of good for | | | | don't want to do anything she likes to do. I have |
| your physique as well as for your self esteem! Which | | | | seen this lead to disaster more times than I care to |
| brings me to good reason number two: self esteem. | | | | think about! |
| Dancers are known to take pride in their bodies. | | | | Another bad reason is to join a dance studio, |
| True, sometimes we take it a little too far, and end | | | | because your old studio, or teacher did something to |
| up with problems like anorexia, but this is nothing to | | | | upset you, and constantly berating them in front of |
| fear if you are not planning to audition for a major | | | | your new instructor, or other students. Sometimes, |
| Ballet company any time soon. Being in an | | | | students think that they need to do that to make |
| environment where people care how they look, take | | | | their new teacher feel good. Let me assure you, this |
| care of themselves, and the simple fact that other | | | | only makes us feel uncomfortable. First of all, there |
| people see you in dance class (as opposed to being | | | | may be a time in the future when we will do, or say |
| at home alone) is bound to get you to notice things | | | | something you don't like. Will you talk that way about |
| about your appearance. Some things you may dislike, | | | | us? We hope not! Second of all, most instructors in |
| but other things you may enjoy, and even get | | | | this business know each other, and the person you |
| complimented on. Here is where it becomes a little | | | | are trashing could be one of our closest friends. Third |
| tricky for some people - you have to remember to | | | | of all it's just not nice! |
| concentrate on the positive! Dwelling on negative | | | | This said, I do hope that you decide to learn how to |
| things will only stagnate your progress as a dancer, | | | | dance, whatever your reasons are! (Let's hope they |
| and (duh!) make you feel bad. If you feel that | | | | are good ones!) And to inspire you, I've posted a |
| something like that may be happening to you, talk to | | | | video of a Salsa turn pattern my partner and I |
| your instructor, and I bet, he or she will have a million | | | | taught in class this week. |
| stories about feeling that way him/herself, and | | | | |