I need help and others POV

[Melys]

Hi,

first of all, I’m Melys, I’m French and I live in Luxembourg (just I’m not really confident with my English but more people will understand me that way so please be indulgent).

I actually love seeing people do Standard and Latino dance. But I took only 3 or 4 lessons of standard dance in my life and I don’t know what to do. I’m stuck, since I’m 8 I want to do foxtrot, quickstep, waltz and all that kind of dance but I couldn’t do it because there weren’t that kind of dancing class in the city where I used to live. But then now, I’m finally older enough but I can’t find a dancing class or a partner in Luxembourg and I’m scared that I lost too many times.

During my life I did classic dance, gymnastics and horse riding but I don’t know if all of that helped me for standard dance.

I just want to know someone point of view about this story but maybe with a little bit of luck, somebody knows where I can find a place to learn standard dance in Luxembourg and a class that is during a year and not just like 9 or 10 lessons.

I hope that I didn’t do any error in my spelling or grammar. And sorry if I did.

And if somebody read that, thank you very much.

 

[bia]

Hi Melys, welcome to DF! I don't know any specifics about dance in Luxembourg, but I think it's unlikely that you'll find a class that you sign up for a year. That's because adults have complicated schedules and can't typically commit for that long, so dance studios make it easier for them by running 4-8 week sessions on a single dance, repeatedly for different dances. That way, you'll have some people who go to those classes for many years continuously, and others who pop in and out. But if you keep going, you end up learning all of the dances and improving in your skill. I wouldn't worry about trying to find a regular partner at the beginning; typically, group classes don't require partners, and everyone switches partners throughout the class. You're not at all too late to start -- people start ballroom at all ages. I just did a quick google and found various places teaching standard and latin in Luxembourg, so hopefully you'll find one that works for you soon!

 

[fiesta0618]

Hello Melys, and welcome!

I think bia said everything I would about finding classes (I am not in Luxembourg either). But I have plenty to say about this:

During my life I did classic dance, gymnastics and horse riding but I don’t know if all of that helped me for standard dance.

I do not have exactly the same sport history as you, but I do have one of my own. I took up ballroom dance at age 25, having previously done running, swimming, soccer, golf, and a few other "classic" sports my whole life. My opinion is that a sports background is both helpful and unhelpful for studying ballroom dance.

A sports background is helpful because it means you will have greater body awareness than someone without one. You will be more familiar with making fine distinctions between movements and physical feelings.

At the same time, a sports background is unhelpful because it means you have trained your body in a theory of movement that does not apply to ballroom dance. You know how to move your body...just not in the way ballroom dance requires. So you have old "bad" habits, in the context of ballroom, that you must un-learn and that others do not.

In the end, it doesn't matter too much either way. You can learn whatever you want to with time and persistence, at any age. And just as everyone has a different background, everyone follows their own unique dance journey.

 

[opendoor]

..thank you very much.

Hello Melys, welcome to DF !!

I really don't know the situation in Luxembourg.
So I don't know if you just can't find classes or partners, or if they actually don't exist. My suggestions:

1) become active yourself. Rent a room, advertise a practice evening in the media, hire young up-and-coming trainer couples who each organize a teaser course. Maybe the established standard teachers then will recognize that there is something to be done.

2) Make yourself known and more visible. Organize an open-air standard party on a cozy summer evening in a beautiful square in your beautiful city. This can be done with a small Bluetooth box. By the way, you can connect two speakers of the same design, then it will be even louder. Word will quickly spread and you will become the attraction of your city.

3) Change your style. There is a lively swing scene in Luxenburg and there is a lot of Argentinian tango in Saarbrücken.

Good luck and keep us current about your journey!

 

[Brummbaer]

During my life I did classic dance, gymnastics and horse riding but I don’t know if all of that helped me for standard dance.

Being 'fit' helps. Sometimes there's a relationship between what you did before, but frequently not. 'Sport', per se, doesn't necessarily help. The attitude might. Fitness might. General skill development probably won't.

I don't know the standard dance situation in Luxembourg, by Google 'dance schools Luxembourg' does.

Change your style. There is a lively swing scene in Luxenburg and there is a lot of Argentinian tango in Saarbrücken.

Like he said! I didn't do well in 'standard' ballroom dance, but found Argentine Tango suited. And read some good things about Saarbrücken AT.

 

[DanceMentor]

I see there is a website for Luxemburg

dancesport.lu - Home

www.dancesport.lu

And this site seems to show some classes you could take

Events from January 27 – 21/12/2023 – Eurodanse

www.eurodanse.lu

I would suggest getting in touch with them and surely there is someone that can point you in the right direction. It seems like you have a passion for dancing, and I hope you can get moving toward your goals!

 

[opendoor]

Hello Melys, and welcome!
..My opinion is that a sports background is both helpful and unhelpful for studying ballroom dance..

That's a very interesting approach. Without wanting to offend you, could it be that the repeated practice of these sports does not itself have a detrimental effect? Are such sports perhaps more of a gathering place for people who were not born with dance shoes on? Such people find it more difficult to train as dancers.

 

[fiesta0618]

Are such sports perhaps more of a gathering place for people who were not born with dance shoes on? Such people find it more difficult to train as dancers.

An interesting theory, but I don't think it's true. Certainly not in the United States.

See, American culture has an all-encompassing culture of sport. Different varieties of sport are perpetually on TV, athletes are some of the most commonly cited role models of children, and pretty much every kid is going to dabble in one sport or another as they grow up. It is not much of a stretch to say that sports are everywhere and everyone does them, in this country.

But this rule does not hold true for dance at all. Most children never encounter dance. The ones who find it most often are young girls who experiment with ballet for a short time. If you do a web search for "dance lessons" in the USA, children's ballet is by far the largest proportion of hits, to the point that the usual distinction is ballet vs adult ballet.

Based on this, we can't reasonably hypothesize that there is a natural sorting mechanism where dancers dance and non-dancers do other sports. It is much more likely, going by the numbers and culture in the USA, that some of our most talented potential dancers are doing some other physical activity. Because while they never found dance, they did find that other thing, and there is some degree of physical talent that is transferable to any movement-based skill.

Your hypothesized sorting also has to contend against the fact that there is a significant proportion of American subcultures where dancing is seen as unmasculine. Not all of them, by a long shot--there are plenty of others where dance is seen as one of the most masculine things you can do, because you are touching and leading women. But enough that when a new couple comes to my studio, usually to learn a wedding dance, the man often visibly feels reticent, conflicted, and mildly embarrassed about what he's doing. The good news is, seeing me as a teacher goes some way to assuaging this discomfort, and simply engaging in the activity is more than enough to dispel the rest.

The upshot here is not to say that what I've written is true everywhere in the world. But it is enough to show that America, at least, is counter evidence against your proposition that those who can dance dance, and those who cannot play football or something.

Without wanting to offend you, could it be that the repeated practice of these sports does not itself have a detrimental effect?

It definitely is *not* detrimental in the long run. The hard-earned body awareness that athletes develop is a much bigger benefit than their "bad habits" are a detriment. Because of that training, athletes are better-equipped to overcome their old habits than most. All of the downsides I mention are limited to early in the dance journey.

 

[Brummbaer]

A sports background is helpful because it means you will have greater body awareness than someone without one.

At the same time, a sports background is unhelpful because it means you have trained your body in a theory of movement that does not apply to ballroom dance.

Without wanting to offend you, could it be that the repeated practice of these sports does not itself have a detrimental effect?

It depends. Judging by the selection of minor slebs who've been on Strictly, elite sports people, who've trained to the limit, don't necessarily dance well. Body development, directed in a specific way for their sport, doesn't help. In fact it can be detrimental. Obviously depends on the sport, the degree, and how long in the past. Those who 'dabble' in sports recreationally seem ok. Those who don't have elite sport background, but some day job and recreational sport, can be surprisingly good. And there will be outlying exceptions!

Sport isn't a pre-requisite for dance, nor is it necessarily a hindrance - but it can be if it's at the extreme, elite, end.

To answer the original point:

During my life I did classic dance, gymnastics and horse riding but I don’t know if all of that helped me for standard dance.

Try it and see.

 

[Melys]

First of all, thank you for these answers, I’m really happy. I was particularly pleased about it. I’m not used to fast answers.


Bia:
Thank you really much, it means more than you can think about. I’m touching by your explanation, and how you take your time to answer. I have a better understanding now.


fiesta0618:
thank you for your honest response and to not make me delusional about how my sports background can affect me. I’ll try to only keep the positive aspect of my sports background and hopefully it’ll be not that complicated.


Opendoor:
Thank you for your help and your opinion. I’ll keep this in mind and I will think about it again before bed so all my thoughts will be on this idea. Thank you and of course I’ll keep you informed.


Brummbaer:
Thank you for your answer, I’ll think about it. It’s a pleasure to have that many answers and I was really concerned about dancing, thank you for your opinion.


DanceMentor:
Thank you very much! I did try to find a website but maybe I didn’t write the good things on google or I just didn’t see it. And it is really a passion and I look at so many videos but it’s not the same thing in video and in reality.



I’m sorry if my answer is a bit long and annoying but I wanted to make sure that I reply to everyone. It’s the first time that I really talk about my situation and how I want to do dance even if I’m not the best and I have many little problems. You don’t know how these replies make me happy. I hope you’re all doing well and I hope that I’ll find something.

 

[opendoor]

..Opendoor: Thank you for your help and your opinion. I’ll keep this in mind and I will think about it again..

My suggestions mainly related to the case that there would hardly be any corresponding offers and opportunities for Standard and Latin in Luxembourg. But that doesn't seem to be the case. That's a good thing.

But the next step isn't any easier, Melys !

You also have to arrive at a studio or dance sports club, feel comfortable there and be supported accordingly. Beginner classes with rotating partners can be very frustrating. And please don't underestimate the social aspects of dancing. It's always good to have or join a peer group of dancers. That's where you can cry, that's where you hear the latest rumors, that's where you get insider information. Once you have a peer group, you no longer sit alone at socials and parties. And the peer group will probably help you find a permanent dance partner. Finding a dance partner will then be the next qualitative leap in your journey.

 

[Melys]

I’m honestly happy because I find this forum. It just clears my mind a little and even if I know that it will be not that easy it makes me feel less stressed.

I’m a huge overthinker, even in gymnastics where I was quite strong, every time that I did something (like a new competition or anything) I had to think about it at least every nights during too many times. It takes my energy to think that much.

And I don’t know if it’s understandable but talking about dance makes me less stressed because I know that I’m not the only one that had to learn and that there is a small group of people who actually gave me a little bit of their time to tell me their opinion so I have a start and some possibilities to think about and not just a huge amount of thoughts and ideas all over my head.

I’ll do my best.

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

I’m a huge overthinker

You’re in good company here!

And I don’t know if it’s understandable but talking about dance makes me less stressed because I know that I’m not the only one that had to learn

That is totally understandable.

 

[Melys]

You’re in good company here!

Yes I can see that and that is why I’m so happy!

That is totally understandable.

And thank you, it means a lot.

 

[Numawan]

To find a partner perhaps. It's free. There is also a forum in French.

PARTENAIRE DANSE - Partenaires de salsa, rock, tango, danse sportive

Annonces de recherche de partenaire de salsa, rock, tango, danse sportive, danse de salon, west coast swing, boogie, kizomba, bachata.

www.partenaire-danse.fr

According to your profile, you are 23! A perfect age to start partner dancing. Your background in ballet and gymnastics should help. As others have pointed out, you can easily find a few Standard & Latin dance schools in Luxembourg with a quick internet search. You are indeed massively overthinking all this! Just go ahead!