How important is it to belong?

[pygmalion]

I raise this topic in ballroom only because someone mentioned the feeling of community as a major advantage of franchise studios. I agree, by the way.

But here's the question. How important is a feeling of togetherness, belonging, or community in learning to dance or staying with dancing? Or, let's say, how important is it to you? Why?

[etchuck]

I think that is an advantage in whatever activity you take on. I have been part of an employee-based running club, and certainly people who tend to drop out are the ones who don't feel they're part of the group. We are by nature social creatures, and with a social activity such as ballroom dancing, it's easier to attend events if you know people who are there or know people who are going.

[Sagitta]

I agree with that etchuck. The good thing about knowing people is that when you sit out you have people whom you know that you can socialize with.

[mamboqueen]

I agree, but for me, it's kind of difficult to get to know a lot of people because I take my privates in the morning hours and rarely see other dancers. I do a group class every now and then at night, and it is fun to mingle a little and get to know people. Where I think it really helps is when you're at a comp and you have your fellow dancers cheering you on. I really heard it at this comp and it was very encouraging.

[twodance]

Etchuck has it right. It's the theme from the TV show Cheers. "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came". :)

[Chris Stratton]

I agree the feeling of community is wondeful, but I don't see how it's unique to franchise studios. Rather, I think it can develop anytime you have a situation that encourages group dynamics. For example, when people not only show up at the studio regularly to practice, but also stop by after work just to see friends, end up going out to dinner afterwards together, etc.

I think perhaps the biggest thing a studio can do to create this kind of community is offer free pratice time as a perk to people who buy a certain number of lessons a month, either individually or as part of a college team that contracts with the studio for training. Charging a small amount for floor time may look like it makes sense, but it discourages people from hanging out there when they aren't intently practicing - wheras community building happens primiarly when people are doing just that - hanging out but not actively dancing.

Of course if a studio is crowded, it may need to reserve the floor for paying customers.

[pygmalion]

You make some good points, Chris. That feeling of community isn't limited to franchise studios. That's where I've experienced it at its best, though. I suspect the franchise studios are structured around creating that feeling of belonging-ness, where it happens only by luck or coincidence in independent settings.

The college dance scene probably has a built-in connection between dancers that other dance scenes don't. There's a lot of commonality there -- practicing together, performing and competing together, getting grades. That sort of experience tends to pull people together in a way that just writing checks doesn't. What do others think?

[Sakura]

Since I don't exactly have a regular date, time, etc. when I take my lessons, it's rather hard for me to get to know other dancers. :? I don't exactly like that fact, but I don't really have a choice in the matter. And since I'm not old enough to go to any clubs that have dancing (not grinding) in them, I don't get to know anyone at those places either....

Hopefully, that will change someday! I'd love to just go hang out at my dance studio for an afternoon/evening and meet other people/dancers, but that will have to wait for the time being.

See ya later!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Chris Stratton]

The college dance scene probably has a built-in connection between dancers that other dance scenes don't. There's a lot of commonality there -- practicing together, performing and competing together, getting grades. That sort of experience tends to pull people together in a way that just writing checks doesn't. What do others think?

The college scene certainly does promote connection - but I've also experienced a case where the real community seemed to be centered as much around the studio where a bunch of college people trained as around the identities of the different college teams that completely or partially made their home there.

[mamboqueen]

The upside about a lack of "community" is that dancing is like anything else, there's pettiness, jealousies, gossip, etc., and that is a part that I care not to see and don't particularly have time for. Been there, done that and grew up!

[Sagitta]

Since I don't exactly have a regular date, time, etc. when I take my lessons, it's rather hard for me to get to know other dancers. :? I don't exactly like that fact, but I don't really have a choice in the matter. And since I'm not old enough to go to any clubs that have dancing (not grinding) in them, I don't get to know anyone at those places either....

Hopefully, that will change someday! I'd love to just go hang out at my dance studio for an afternoon/evening and meet other people/dancers, but that will have to wait for the time being.

See ya later!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

You should find out about places/events where they let underage people in with id/stamping etc. I'm sure they must be some. Then I know of quite a few places where they have youth hangouts/clubs...Not the same but work those places over and convert them into the dance hangouts you crave.