How much dancing is too much?

[MadamSamba]

Just wondering how many times everybody dances each week and how much even dancers consider too much?

At the height of my addiction (ah, the good old days) I was going for one private lesson, four group lessons and two socials and could usually find time to visit a salsa bar or two on weekends. Even my dancing friends told me it was too much. I don't think it was (there are, after all worse things to be addicted to), but I'm hardly unbiased! :)

[pygmalion]

I take about three and a half hours of private lessons per week, attend two or three group classes, and one dance each weekend. Plus I practice at home as much as possible, hard to say how much, since I do it whenever I have a minute all day long.

(Check out the Car Dancers Club thread for a laugh! :D )

It's hard to say how much is too much, since I think it's all up to the individual. I have experienced dance burnout a few times, though, at which point, I take a week off. By the end of a week with little or no dance, I'm ready to ramp up again, and start dancing every day! :D

[youngsta]

You can dance TOO much!? No way! :P

[will35]

Well, absolutley none is too little. Would an infinite number be too much? How many hours are in the average person's life? Surely eighty percent of that would not be too much. If all the person's family dances, perhaps ninety percent. The rest could be for sleep and talk about dance.

[MissAlyssa]

There is no such thing as too much dancing.

[Spitfire]

Absolutely none. :wink:

[Swing Kitten]

I'd say if it hurts then it's too much.

A little soreness is probably not a problem but pain is a sign to stop.

You on;y get one one body and it's your job to take care of it.

[pygmalion]

I was wondering if anybody was going to be a voice of reason here! :lol: Thanks SwingKitten. :D

Listen, folks, let's not dismiss the concern here. I know I'm going to get murdered for saying this, but everybody in this forum has things to do besides dance. People have houses, and cars, and church/temple to go to, and friends, and spouses, and children, and school, and jobs, and dogs to walk. And we all have to find time to take care of those things. So, even though we're "hardcore" dancers, most of us, there still has to be some balance.

The thing is, each of us has to find that balance for ourselves. I know I'm out of balance when the things that are important to me start getting neglected. This is not the same as when people start complaining. If they're used to your being around, your family and friends will likely complain when you start dancing, because they miss you, if they don't dance with you. If YOU feel like you're neglecting important things, you're dancing too much. Up to that point, dance as much as you possibly can. :D


Oooh! Boy, am I going to get shot down! :lol:

[MadamSamba]

Ha, ha, Pygmalion. You're not going to be shot down at all. That was hilariously wise and the absolutely correct answer.

Besides, while you're spot-on with your advice, the fact is that you dance far more than me, so really, your head is allowing you to be the voice of reason, but reading your schedule, I'd say your heart (and feet) know what they'd rather be doing ! :) *evil grin* And why the hell not, eh? :)

I've danced so much this week I feel like I can't walk. Mind you that may be the ill-fitting shoes. :) But tomorrow, I'll put on my work face and mind-set and resume my normal life until I walk out of the office, then I'll revert to Madam Samba again! :)

[pygmalion]

Thanks, MadamSamba! :D

You'd be surprised how unreasonable some of us dancers can be! :lol: Just wait. I bet there'll be a bunch of "how could you betray the faith, Jenn?" - type responses. :lol:

It sounds like you're finding a great balance, though. Dancing yourself to the good kind of exhaustion whenever possible. Now THAT's the good life. :D

Best of luck with the new shoes. :D

[will35]

Come on guys, who says dancing cannot involve the family, the church, and all the rest? If it is your way of life, DANCE. The only problem I could imagine might be if it becomes a job. I can't say much about that. Maybe the teachers will talk about it.

[Vince A]

I was wondering if anybody was going to be a voice of reason here! :lol: Thanks SwingKitten. :D

Listen, folks, let's not dismiss the concern here. I know I'm going to get murdered for saying this, but everybody in this forum has things to do besides dance. People have houses, and cars, and church/temple to go to, and friends, and spouses, and children, and school, and jobs, and dogs to walk. And we all have to find time to take care of those things. So, even though we're "hardcore" dancers, most of us, there still has to be some balance.
Not shotdown . . . a rebuttal????
Dance, dance, dance.
We have the house . . . the house has a cushioned dance floor.,
We have cars and we Car Dance.
Carolyn and I have danced an exhibition at church.
Almost everyone of our frinds are dancers.
Spouse is an advanced dancer.
We volunteer and teach dancing for free at the grade school.
I've taught dance lessons at work.
And our dog . . . . wait . . . what dog? We don't have a dog.

All I'm trying to say here is . . . it "all" can be blended together.

[dancersdreamland]

I was wondering if anybody was going to be a voice of reason here! :lol: Thanks SwingKitten. :D

Listen, folks, let's not dismiss the concern here. I know I'm going to get murdered for saying this, but everybody in this forum has things to do besides dance. People have houses, and cars, and church/temple to go to, and friends, and spouses, and children, and school, and jobs, and dogs to walk. And we all have to find time to take care of those things. So, even though we're "hardcore" dancers, most of us, there still has to be some balance.

The thing is, each of us has to find that balance for ourselves. I know I'm out of balance when the things that are important to me start getting neglected. This is not the same as when people start complaining. If they're used to your being around, your family and friends will likely complain when you start dancing, because they miss you, if they don't dance with you. If YOU feel like you're neglecting important things, you're dancing too much. Up to that point, dance as much as you possibly can. :D


Oooh! Boy, am I going to get shot down! :lol:

Very well said...balance is key!

[dancersdreamland]

Not shotdown . . . a rebuttal????
Dance, dance, dance.
We have the house . . . the house has a cushioned dance floor.,
We have cars and we Car Dance.
Carolyn and I have danced an exhibition at church.
Almost everyone of our frinds are dancers.
Spouse is an advanced dancer.
We volunteer and teach dancing for free at the grade school.
I've taught dance lessons at work.
And our dog . . . . wait . . . what dog? We don't have a dog.

All I'm trying to say here is . . . it "all" can be blended together.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[pygmalion]

Yes, Vince, it is easier to blend if your spouse/s.o./kids dance. You're right.


Jenn

[SDsalsaguy]

And, if you have a pet, at least name it after a dance... like Samba, the bird, who loved the pattern on my shirt while I was up at the Golden State Challenge yesterday! :D

[dancersdreamland]

Oops...my bad...my kitty is named after the cuddley little lovely all puffed with fluff...Winnie the Pooh. I guess it's not really my bad as she came with her name already chosen. Not really sure what I would have named her otherwise...but I digress.

[SDsalsaguy]

One of the local studio owner's dog is named Cha Cha...

I don't know why but I now have this image in my head of Samba the bird riding Cha Cha the dog around a dance floor... :lol:

[dancersdreamland]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
:bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy: :bouncy:

[pygmalion]

You guys get so off topic! :lol: How do the rest of you find a healthy dance/rest of life balance? :D

[smoothdancingirl]

10 hours a day...teach 8 and practice 2...I take Sunday off , but the competitions are on weekends. So if its a comp weekend Sundays I travel. And I am married and I have children.

[pygmalion]

Oh my goodness! I was saving the spouses and children issue for another thread. Yes. It's a balancing act, especially for married people and/or people with kids. But when you're in love, the way many of us are with dancing, you find time. True?

[bordertangoman]

I used to do 5 rhythms hwere we would dance all day for two or three days. There comes a point where you hit a wall, could be physical or emotional, but y ou just keep going anyway and soomehow more energy comes. You can become incredilby still inside. Loved dancing chaos.

An argentine Tango teacher comes over for a month once a year and teaches three or four evenings a week for three hours ata time, another two nights I would go to a milonga. Its exhausting but you surf down an exponential wave. Its worth it. (Take a flask of tea and bananas)

[dancin_feet]

I admit that I am well and truly obsessed with dancing. I still go out with my friends for dinner, but most of my time is spent with my dancing friends. Most of my old friends aren't really interested in dancing so it makes it very difficult.

Work has become a way to kill at least 9 hours during the day waiting for the next dance class!! I still fit other things in, being single I probably have more free time than others here, but what I usually find is that I don't just sit and "relax" as much as I used to (read couch potato). I'm up with my practice shoes on doing waltz box with rise and fall or foxtrot or tango basics across my living room!

Oh and the dog? Well when he sees me put my dancing shoes on, he either disappears downstairs or hides under the dining room table! :lol: