| You've probably seen the very popular BBC television | | | | different. There is a vibrant and active competitive |
| program Strictly Come Dancing, in the USA it was | | | | circuit at all levels of ballroom dancing from |
| called Dancing with the Stars. If you're wondering | | | | professional through to beginner. Even if stepping out |
| what all the fuss is about look no further because | | | | with a number pinned to your back isn't appealing you |
| here's a beginners guide to the top ten reasons to | | | | can still join in and shout your support from the |
| love ballroom dancing. | | | | wings. Contrary to popular belief competitive ballroom |
| One - The Music | | | | dancing isn't a genteel pastime, quite the opposite |
| Ballroom and Latin dance music is quite simply | | | | and anyone attending a competition for the first time |
| fabulous and it makes you want to dance. I defy | | | | might be surprised by the experience. Competitions |
| anyone to listen to 'Shout It Feel It' by the Count | | | | are definitely a reason to love ballroom dancing! |
| Basie Orchestra and not want to at least tap their | | | | Seven - You Can Do It All Over The World |
| feet! Dancing aside there has been a resurgence in | | | | Ballroom dancing is popular the world over and if you |
| interest in jazz and swing music, Michael Buble and | | | | travel you will find kindred spirits in all four corners of |
| Jamie Cullum being two modern exponents of the | | | | the globe. Some countries are more actively involved |
| genre, and this has only helped dance to once again | | | | in dancing than others but you will seldom be far |
| capture the public imagination. | | | | from a dance hall or studio wherever you may roam. |
| Two - It's Up Close and Personal | | | | Eight - You Can Make People Envious |
| Before the recent interest in ballroom dancing people | | | | Nobody likes a show off but there's a fine line |
| used to laugh when I told them I danced. They saw | | | | between showing off and simply doing something |
| it as a strange thing to do. I never quite understood | | | | you enjoy. There are many social situations where |
| this as in the words of George Bernard Shaw dancing | | | | being able to dance is a positive boon and many |
| is the "vertical expression of a horizontal desire | | | | people have taken up dancing after being at a |
| legalized by music"? Surely a reason to love ballroom | | | | wedding and watching people who can dance take to |
| dancing. | | | | the floor wishing it was them. So another way of |
| Three - Health Benefits | | | | looking at this is if you dance at a social event you |
| According to researchers social dancing provides the | | | | may well be encouraging others to take up dancing |
| body with many health benefits. It may help reduce | | | | too! |
| stress, increase energy, and improve strength, | | | | Nine - It's Hard |
| muscle tone, and co-ordination. Dancing can also burn | | | | I play golf. Golf's hard and week after week I go |
| as many calories as walking or riding a bike. One of | | | | back to the course and week after week the course |
| the best aspects of ballroom dancing is the fun you | | | | beats me. Dancing is hard too. Week after week I |
| can have while you're doing something great for your | | | | go to lessons and come away safe in the knowledge |
| body. | | | | that there is still much to learn. But this isn't a bad |
| Four - The People You Meet | | | | thing. Learning and perhaps mastering things that are |
| Like most walks of life dancing attracts all kinds of | | | | hard is part of the human condition and dancing will |
| people but by far the majority of dancers are really | | | | present you with a lifetime of learning opportunities |
| nice people to know and great fun to be with. | | | | and the associated feeling you get when you master |
| Five - You Get to Dress Up | | | | just one small part of it. Like golf, dancing is |
| It's fair to say that ballroom dancing went through a | | | | rewarding and fun because it's hard. |
| phase where the ladies wore some quite strange | | | | Ten - It's just fun! |
| outfits. But today layers of petticoats and lace have | | | | What ever the level of dancing you achieve you will |
| given way to flowing gowns and glamorous figure | | | | have fun. From the beginners taking to the floor for |
| hugging designer chic. Of course the men still wear | | | | the first time, often with a terrified look on their |
| their tail suits but even here heavy fabric has given | | | | face, through to seasoned professionals strutting |
| way to much lighter and cooler alternatives. Socially | | | | their stuff at a dance demonstration dancing makes |
| of course tail suits are not worn but everybody loves | | | | you feel alive and it makes you smile. |
| the chance to dress up and wear nice clothes and | | | | That's my top ten reasons to love ballroom dancing. |
| what better occasion than a ballroom dance! | | | | If you want to try dancing consider a dance holiday |
| Six - You Can be Competitive | | | | or if you need a partner check out one of the many |
| We humans are a competitive lot and dancing is no | | | | dance partner websites and get started. |