What dance did you learn first?

[KevinL]

What dance did you learn first? Why that dane? Was it what everyone around you did while you were growing up, or did something attract you to it?

The first dance I learned to do was Cajun Jitterbug, which (as it was explained at the time) is a version of swing that is danced to Louisiana music that includes accordians and rub boards. Why that dance? There were lessons at a festival, and the women smiled at me. Need I say more?

Kevin

[TemptressToo]

The first real dance I learned was East Coast Swing (at least first real partner dance--jazz and ballet are a different matter entirely).

East Coast Swing led to ballroom with the first ballroom dance I learned being the Foxtrot. All the other dances followed and I'm actually starting to be able to distinguish them from each other. ;) At present, I really like the Waltz. However, I know my basics with Tango, Cha Cha, Samba, West Coast Swing, Salsa, Lindy Hop, Rumba, etc......

Also, along with ballroom...I had my first "Latin experience" with salsa dancing. But personally, I prefer Samba.

It is amazing how much muscle memory I've developed in only two months of dancing.

[KevinL]

It is amazing how much muscle memory I've developed in only two months of dancing.

All that in only two months? That's great!

[cl5814]

i learned foxtrot as my first dance since i did not know what to do first. I was in the hands of the instructor and wanted to dance. It was up to him to show me what learning to ballroom dance meant. Foxtrot is supposed to be the easy dance for a beginner, correct ?

[SDsalsaguy]

Foxtrot is supposed to be the easy dance for a beginner, correct ?
American or international style? American foxtrot, as a social dance, is a fairly good starting place...

[Spitfire]

For me it was C&W; one of them being what is known as "Rodeo Swing" which to me anyway is similar to Hustle (except leader and follower do not switch sides with the basic move) done to fast swing music. It's probably been six years since I last did this dance though. I learned C&W two step right along with this and the Cowboy Shuffle, but didn't much care for it.

[Danish Guy]

I think it was at child version of some polka.

Actually I did try some polka again a month ago. After the salsa lesson, there were 6 young people playing violin, and one on keyboard. Some couples were dancing polka, so I found a salsera, and had great fun trying some live polka. We where asked to join later in a 4 quadrille polka, so we learned that too. :shock: :lol: :wink:

[DancePoet]

Foxtrot and Rumba during the same beginner class.

But it was Tango that really attracted me to taking lessons!

I've been at it since last summer, and besides the above, I'm familiar with Cha-Cha, Hustle, Waltz, ECSwing, Mambo, Samba, Salsa, and Bolero, all with varying skill levels while looking forward to learning some Viennese Waltz, Quick Step, WCSwing, Paso Doble, and probably others.

[tsb]

freestyle foxtrot - incurable romantic watching all the old astaire & rogers movies.

[TemptressToo]

I prefer to watch Ann Miller than Ginger. She was a bit more spunky in my opinion (Ann that is).

[ShyDancer]

I learnt Cha Cha and Barndance first in a beginners class.

Dont do the barndance very often at all although I do enjoy it, but the cha cha I will do anytime I get even half a chance (Mental note to self- *departments stores are not ideal for practicing chas despite the fact that they are playing a great cha song over the pa system...*)

From there I have learnt, Rumba, Jive, Samba (basics and progressive), Salsa, Mambo , Merengue, Evening 3 Step, Merrilyn, Gypsy Tap, Tangoette, Hucklebuck, Modern Waltz, Quickstep (basics)

I cannot wait to learn more dances!
With the wave of enthusiasim Im riding at the minute Im almost tempted to start a medal in Modern!

[tsb]

I prefer to watch Ann Miller than Ginger. She was a bit more spunky in my opinion (Ann that is).

ginger is spunky enough in her replies to questions about what a great dancer astaire was and his contribution to their partnership - basically "give me some credit, too!"

[dancin_feet]

The first type of dancing I learnt was jazz, but as far as ballroom is concerned Jive was my staple.

[Sagitta]

I believe that it was ECS/jitterbug/ jump swing.

[Genesius Redux]

Rumba, foxtrot, and ECS! 8)

[etchuck]

ECS, which vaguely resembled shag.

[pygmalion]

i learned foxtrot as my first dance since i did not know what to do first. I was in the hands of the instructor and wanted to dance. It was up to him to show me what learning to ballroom dance meant. Foxtrot is supposed to be the easy dance for a beginner, correct ?

Yes, it is supposed to be easy. I learned that first, too, and it was so boring it nearly drove me away from dancing completely. *yuck*

[Genesius Redux]

i learned foxtrot as my first dance since i did not know what to do first. I was in the hands of the instructor and wanted to dance. It was up to him to show me what learning to ballroom dance meant. Foxtrot is supposed to be the easy dance for a beginner, correct ?

Yes, it is supposed to be easy. I learned that first, too, and it was so boring it nearly drove me away from dancing completely. *yuck*

:lol: Me too! I thought foxtrot was absurdly simple. And then, maybe four or five months later, I began to work on technique in earnest. And I was like, "Hey--this is a lot harder than it seemed to be at first!"

[pygmalion]

Beginning foxtrot IS absurdly simple. And then you get to the good (read difficult) stuff. Yikes.

[D-spot]

Waltz, quickstep, cha-cha and jive.
After three weeks I entered my first competition using waltz and cha-cha. I still remember the routines (now 6.5 years old).

American Foxtrot is very easy whereas International is a little harder (ignoring technique) but way more progressive initially.

The first two dances I teach (when I have the option) are waltz (quarter turns as it is easy as well as being progressive) and rumba (slow and gives lots of processing time). Both IS as there are no clubs that are predominantly AS (lots of studios but no public clubs) and I want people to get involved in the bigger world outside of the studio.

D-spot

[KevinL]

Welcome to the Forums, D-Spot.

Where is Richmond Hill?

[D-spot]

Just north of Toronto. I can see the CN Tower around 35km away.
Lots of good dancing nearby as well, and good transport to get there.
Happy dancer.
D-spot

[Genesius Redux]

Hey, D-Spot!

I just hadn't had a chance to say hey yet.

Hey!

Genesius

[virginiadancegirl]

C&W two step, ECS, WCS....

That's about all I did for 2 years...took 6 (almost 7) years off, and in the last 6 months have learned foxtrot, waltz, very little tango, cha cha, rumba, mambo, and am improving what I already knew!