How Do You Start?

[akiha]

I'm totally not familiar with the American Competitive dancing scene. Since I was little I've always loved ballroom (I took lessons for a little while when I was, like, 8 years old) but then we moved and they're not offered here. But anyways, I've been competing since I was 13 and there's something about dancing at competitions that I absolutely love. This is my last year and then I have to give ARR up, so I had a few questions about ballroom.


How does a person generally find/train with a partner in order to be able to compete in America? I don't mean professionally, like being paid (does that exist), but how would you start if you're interested. Do you do group lessons, private lessons, completely on your own, or what? Here in Europe it's a little different, you have set training times between 2-5 times a week, depending on the skill level and personal choice, and a set price per month. Then you just decide with your partner how much you want to train, if you want to compete, etc.

[macha]

Again, the need for ONE GOOD STICKY on this.

[DancePoet]

I'm totally not familiar with the American Competitive dancing scene. Since I was little I've always loved ballroom (I took lessons for a little while when I was, like, 8 years old) but then we moved and they're not offered here. But anyways, I've been competing since I was 13 and there's something about dancing at competitions that I absolutely love. This is my last year and then I have to give ARR up, so I had a few questions about ballroom.
I'm a little confused. Are you going to be competing in America?

How does a person generally find/train with a partner in order to be able to compete in America? I don't mean professionally, like being paid (does that exist), but how would you start if you're interested. Do you do group lessons, private lessons, completely on your own, or what? Here in Europe it's a little different, you have set training times between 2-5 times a week, depending on the skill level and personal choice, and a set price per month. Then you just decide with your partner how much you want to train, if you want to compete, etc.
One way to find/train with a partner in America is through a local dance studio. There are competitions that are set up for amateurs to compete as a am/am couple against other similary experienced dancers.

A beginner in the American style could take some group classes to learn the patterns, but following up with private classes for technique and fine tuning would make good sense.

Welcomed to DF! There are lots of folks here that could answer these types of questions for you, just let us know how we can help. :D

[Medira]

Again, the need for ONE GOOD STICKY on this.Again, ditto!!

[SDsalsaguy]

Again, the need for ONE GOOD STICKY on this.Again, ditto!!
If anyone wants to put the list together, I'll be happy to "sticky" it. :wink:

[akiha]

At the moment, I'm not going to be competing (as in, I don't have any planned.) But I love it and I don't want to give it up, so we'll see what happens.



It would help to have a sticky. I did a search but it came up with a lot of threads. If we come up w/ threads, how do we give them to you to sticky?

[SDsalsaguy]

If we come up w/ threads, how do we give them to you to sticky?
Just make a list of active links, like the other sticky posts have, and then just let me (or one of the mods for this forum) know and we'll be happy to "sticky" it. :wink: