A long life in dancing?

[LovingIt28]

Hi Team,

How do people stick around the dance scene. Any similarities. I note there is a lot of drama/politics/ups and downs etc when dancing a long time.

Any similarities that you notice between people who last a long time and who do not?

[QPO]

I think you have to distance yourself from the politics, stay friends with eveyone, don't be judgmental, helps. It is a love of dancing that keeps people in the scene. :-) I think.

[elisedance]

A need to dance. I mean a real, physical need - just like a writer has to write or a musician must play thier instrument. Its a mental defect thing :)

And when you can't dance anymore you dance through those that can..

[tangotime]

Snip


Its a mental defect thing :)




You talkin about me ? :rolleyes:

[QPO]

If the shoe fits......??????? then you must be dancing;)

You talkin about me ? :rolleyes:

[cornutt]

We could start by cataloging the reasons people don't stick around. A few things that come to mind:

* Some people take up dancing primarily to try to meet someone. Eventually, either they do meet someone, or they give up trying.
* Some dancers eventually become no longer able to dance due to health problems. I've known a few that will still stick around, but in most cases, it seems that dancers who are unable to dance can't bear to be around dancing; it's too painful to watch others and not be able to do it. Or, maybe they can still dance somewhat, but not up to the standards that they hold themselves to, so they don't do it.
* I can think of two couples who no longer dance because circumstances of their lives have changed and they no longer have the money or time.
* Some dancers leave because the social aspect of the dance scene where they are is not to their liking. Usually, this is an age group thing.
* Sometimes people have to relocate, for job or family reasons, to an area where there is no dancing.

[nucat78]

I think Cornutt said it all.

Ah, one more:

They DO meet somebody dancing but it goes sour and they quit to

* avoid them
* or because there is no place else to go than where the ex-SO is
* or they're emotionally too distraught to deal with the thought of dancing (too many memories, etc).

[_malakawa_]

Hi Team,

How do people stick around the dance scene. Any similarities. I note there is a lot of drama/politics/ups and downs etc when dancing a long time.

Any similarities that you notice between people who last a long time and who do not?

my experience - 12 years dancing with one partner. never been romantically involved.

we start do dance when I was 10 and he was 12 years old. we had fights (especially during the teenage time) and great times. we spent more time together than with our families. we stop competing because he opened a dance studio and we teach so much that we didn't have time to practice for competitions.

but I wanted to compete again and I started to look for another partner. ;)

[anp73ga31]

I have a friend who started dancing the same time I did. In fact, we went to group classes for the first six months together, until she and I ended up taking from different teachers. She stopped dancing about a year ago. She said it was because of the money (she went thru hard financial times), but judging from the way her other "hobbies" have fared in the past, it seems to be more because she tends to take up a new "hobby", enjoy it for a while, then gets bored and moves on to another. To her, it was like bowling, or karaoke or going out county line dancing (meaning just another hobby). Luckily with me it ended up being something much more than a hobby that I will hopefully do the rest of my life. Funny how things turn out...

[fascination]

people who last a long time have inner fortitude and a deep abiding love for dance beyond how it may be connected to anything or anyone along the way...personally, I plan to go out listening to a cha cha and tapping my toe on the nursing home bedrail

[nucat78]

I'm dying on the dance floor (or being carried off in a fiery chariot like that guy in the Old Testament). Dancerina at my studio told me to throw a party in her honor if she croaks on the hardwood.

[PretzelsAndBeer]

I plan to die, at some far, far (far), future date at the age of about 110 in one of three ways (or more than one if I can manage it):
1. Shot in bed by my girlfriend's jealous husband.
2. Hammering my bicycle up one steep hill too many.
3. Burning up the dance floor with a partner young enough to be my granddaughter's granddaughter.

[Purr]

Sometimes you continue dancing because you don't know any better not to.

[fascination]

I plan to die, at some far, far (far), future date at the age of about 110 in one of three ways (or more than one if I can manage it):
1. Shot in bed by my girlfriend's jealous husband.
2. Hammering my bicycle up one steep hill too many.
3. Burning up the dance floor with a partner young enough to be my granddaughter's granddaughter.
I wouldn't have taken you for one who would date a married woman

[fascination]

the other two options sound pretty fun

[PretzelsAndBeer]

I wouldn't have taken you for one who would date a married woman


Today, no. But when you're 110, time is too short to have scruples.

Of course, you might question the woman's mental stability in this case.

[etp777]

Personally, I question the mental stability of any woman willing to date me. :)

[jwlinson]

We could start by cataloging the reasons people don't stick around. A few things that come to mind:

* Some people take up dancing primarily to try to meet someone. Eventually, either they do meet someone, or they give up trying.
* Some dancers eventually become no longer able to dance due to health problems. I've known a few that will still stick around, but in most cases, it seems that dancers who are unable to dance can't bear to be around dancing; it's too painful to watch others and not be able to do it. Or, maybe they can still dance somewhat, but not up to the standards that they hold themselves to, so they don't do it.
* I can think of two couples who no longer dance because circumstances of their lives have changed and they no longer have the money or time.
* Some dancers leave because the social aspect of the dance scene where they are is not to their liking. Usually, this is an age group thing.
* Sometimes people have to relocate, for job or family reasons, to an area where there is no dancing.

I agree with all of the above. Times change, things happen. I have to add two more though, and these drive me up the frickin' wall.

* They watch DWTS or SYTYCD or one of the other dance-reality shows and think, "<celeb> did that in a week, 'I' should be like that or better in a MONTH of group classes!" Um, first off... they spend a typical 40+ hour work week on their routines, you spend one hour a week. Don't expect a miracle.

* It gets too "haaard" to actually go beyond a beginner-level, so they stop going to lessons and socials altogether. Of course it gets hard. You're using muscles you've never had to use before, and doing something that requires you to think about using your body's coordination and balance, etc.

Everybody wants to be the superstar, but these people refuse to put forth the effort to actually get there. It doesn't happen overnight. I can't swim a lick, and it would be very delusional of me to think I could even come close to achieving Olympic fame and glory if I started today.

Some one-time friends of ours actually quit dancing for this reason, and partially because of us. We and this other couple started at the same time. We went places dancing together and had fun. We even had the same teacher. Since the gf and I actually practiced and worked on our dancing, though, the other couple took offense that we were "getting better" and they weren't. They even asked the studio owner "what are they doing? What are you doing for them that you aren't for us?" The owner said "They practice." This couple no longer dances...

I used to think I'd never be able to dance, but now I can. I think *anyone* can dance, if they only have the will, desire, and determination to put into it.

[Stagekat]

* They watch DWTS or SYTYCD or one of the other dance-reality shows and think, "<celeb> did that in a week, 'I' should be like that or better in a MONTH of group classes!" Um, first off... they spend a typical 40+ hour work week on their routines, you spend one hour a week. Don't expect a miracle.



I hate this too... a gal at my studio and I figured it out....we were watching a blog post from Kim Kardashian after she'd been working with Mark for a few weeks... (ok..so we were kinda poking fun at it) but we did the math.. Kim had been through close to the SAME number of lessons I had been through in TWO YEARS of dancing at least once a week.

Newbies just have to know... it takes serious EFFORT.

:-)

[elisedance]

Personally, I question the mental stability of any woman willing to date me. :)

come now, you are a sweetheart and they should be lining up accross the (dance) floor. :kissme:

Of course, if you are a dancer the chances appear to be rather slim (see poll thread) - and maybe none of your fault.

[DWise1]

I think Cornutt said it all.

Ah, one more:

They DO meet somebody dancing but it goes sour and they quit to

* avoid them
* or because there is no place else to go than where the ex-SO is


From Dizzy's Desiderata at http://members.aol.com/dwise1/dance/dizzys.html:
17. Nurture skill in several dances so you can go dancing and still avoid your ex.

[flashdance]

A need to dance. I mean a real, physical need - just like a writer has to write or a musician must play thier instrument. Its a mental defect thing :)

And when you can't dance anymore you dance through those that can..

Well I'm mental anyway so a bit of dancing does wonders ;) A life without dancing? I can't imagine it... I don't want too! :D

[nucat78]

From Dizzy's Desiderata at http://members.aol.com/dwise1/dance/dizzys.html:
17. Nurture skill in several dances so you can go dancing and still avoid your ex.

Outstanding! :notworth:

[siva]

I really need some help. every time i go to a dance...i feel so out of place.I wanna know how to dance.Can anyone help?.
------------------
Siva

<removed link>

[siva]

Some dancers eventually become no longer able to dance due to health problems. I've known a few that will still stick around, but in most cases, it seems that dancers who are unable to dance can't bear to be around dancing.
---------------
siva

sreevyshcorp

[QPO]

Depends on what style you are trying to do but having lessons is a very good start and choose the best teacher you can afford, I truly believe getting good instruction from the beginning helps you, as once you learn bad habits they take so long to get rid of.

I really need some help. every time i go to a dance...i feel so out of place.I wanna know how to dance.Can anyone help?.
------------------
Siva

<removed link>

[old dog]

We could start by cataloging the reasons people don't stick around. A few things that come to mind:

* Sometimes people have to relocate, for job or family reasons, to an area where there is no dancing.

Where is this place? We'd like to avoid it if possible. Really doubt there is such a place if you allow for something other than competitive ballroom to be called "dancing." I'd bet that even in the sparsely populated reaches of Wyoming, the ranchers dance 'something' when they get together at social events.

Maybe I don't understand what is a "dance scene." I think of it as anywhere there is some music and one or more people moving in a way that relates to the music. Of course I'm in Iowa, which is considered by some to be a dance wasteland. (It is not. There are social dance events of all kinds every weekend of the year.)

We have a friend who recently had his first artificial knee go bad. It was replaced with a new joint last week at Mayo Clinic and he says he expects to be dancing again as soon as he can get around. He is 91 years old! It takes a lot to keep us away from the dance floor.

[elisedance]

I really need some help. every time i go to a dance...i feel so out of place.I wanna know how to dance.Can anyone help?.
------------------
Siva

<removed link>

Welcome to DF Siva - QPO's advice is excellent - but look around here and you will find a lot of help. The search button at the top is a great place to start as your question has been raised many times before.

Find a studio nearby and go to it!!

[SwingWaltz]

Well I haven't been dancing for all that long to comment on life long of dancing. But during my short 2 year's dancing life, I did stop dancing for a couple of times either due to other committments, bad partnership etc But everytime, an "angel" would step in my path and bring me back to dancing again and show me something so wonderful that I have never experienced before.

[Yanou]

people who last a long time have inner fortitude and a deep abiding love for dance beyond how it may be connected to anything or anyone along the way...personally, I plan to go out listening to a cha cha and tapping my toe on the nursing home bedrail

I agree!

I have 2 friends who started at around the same time. Both were very enthusiastic when they started. Within a year or so, both of them quit. One gal moved on to other things, taking several different lessons/classes. But she never got into any of them, and all her activities just touched the surface of each subject. The other, a guy, quit because he couldn't get over his shyness.

I tend to go deep into things that I like (ehh... addictive personality), so I'm still very much into it, especially now that I know the depth of ballroom dancing. I've had ups and downs, of course, but dancing changed me for the better. I am much more outgoing with lots of energy.