What Dance to Recommend to a Young Person?

DWise1

DWise1

Well-Known Member
Last night between a WCS workshop and the evening dance, a friend from dance classes (WCS, Hustle, NC2S) was talking about how she was having so much fun learning ballroom dances that she was trying to get her son (age 24) and his girlfriend to try it. As she describes herself, two years ago she was not only a non-dancer, but she couldn't even imagine people going out to dance, let alone enjoy it, and now she's still amazed that she's one of those people.

Now, my question is mainly whether my advice to her was right or could have been better. So far her son keeps turning down her offer to pay for the first classes and it sounds like it's an image problem that he's seeing ballroom as an "old fogey" [my term] thing. So I suggested to her that dances with a definite youth presence might be better to start him off with, like Lindy or Salsa. So I gave her some possible places to take him so that he can see them for himself.

So, did I do good or did I leave something out?

And, yes, I immediately thought of the old "aw, Mom!, not again!".
 
At least you didn't suggest ballet :wink:

I think you were right to suggest something with a 'younger' crowd. Maybe his Mum could 'accidentally' leave out dance videos where young people are dancing ballroom?

Incidentally, one of the most popular salsa teachers in London discovered salsa when he finally caved in to his mother's suggestions to join her at the classes she was going to. As the story goes, he had just split up with his girlfriend, was taking the breakup hard and was moping around the house. He finally went and basically, hasn't stopped since :lol:
 
Lindy & Salsa are definitley what I would have said. I know that here we have ballroom on Sundays where young girls can get harassed by weirdos and old guys, and then we have swing/lindy on wednsdays where there are mostly college students, even high schoolers who go. Plus Salsa is more 'fun' and certainly easier to begin learning than Foxtrot or something. That's another thing to consider some dances like WCS and for some even Lindy (cuz gee there the same steps for the swing out) are kinda hard for some beginners I know I had trouble with it.

Of course some people like the classy Tango feel, so that might have lured the guys girlfriend in at the least. But yes DWise, you did good in my opinion! :banana:
 
I would have said salsa rather then salsa and lindy, as based on own my experiences, as well as second-hand accounts:

1. salsa is easier then lindy
2. salsa crowd in general is less "stuffy" and "snobbish" then lindy
 
I agree salsa is easier to pick up than Lindy. However, basic 6-count swing is not hard to pick up either, just different from salsa in rhythm and mood (salsa-sexy/romantic vs swing-playful). Once he's comfortable with 6-count swing (aka East Coast Swing), he can try Lindy. It takes a strong person (one not easily discouraged) to hang in there with the Lindy scene. Once comfortable with it, it's well worth it - it's not a drinking scene and Lindy folks travel to events nationwide (known as Lindy Exchanges) at a relatively low cost.
 
I think you done good, Dwise1. I would vote for salsa too, because it tends to have a younger crowd, but also because it's so accessible and it tends to be a club dance, so it doesn't have that old fogey stigma. Sometimes swing is at ... uh ... dance venues that might not appeal to non-dancer newbies who are a bit reluctant. But to get this guy out to a bar with his girlfriend? No problem. If there just happens to be salsa music and dancing in said bar, all the better. :roll: :lol:
 
I'd also say Salsa, naturally :lol:, but I also realise that not everyone is into Latin music.
I have met a number of people who frequent salsa clubs but say they prefer Ceroc because the music is more to their liking. I've never tried Ceroc myself, but from what I've heard, they use a lot of mainstream pop/chart type music at their dances, which may appeal to younger people with no taste for Latin music. I have no idea how popular Ceroc is in the US, but as I understand it it's basically a type of Jive.
 
MacMoto said:
I'd also say Salsa, naturally :lol:, but I also realise that not everyone is into Latin music.
I have met a number of people who frequent salsa clubs but say they prefer Ceroc because the music is more to their liking. I've never tried Ceroc myself, but from what I've heard, they use a lot of mainstream pop/chart type music at their dances, which may appeal to younger people with no taste for Latin music. I have no idea how popular Ceroc is in the US, but as I understand it it's basically a type of Jive.
Click to expand...
Ceroc is a derivitive of Rock & Roll and Jive developed in France - GI's introduced them to R&R and Jive after world war 2 - the french kept doing social partner dancing during the time of disco - they simplified the foot work to keep it accessiable.

i would suggest Ceroc to young people (20+) as most people i know my self included took it up in their 20's - there is a dual appeal - 1st it is pretty straight forward to pick up and 2nd it can be danced to a wide variety of music - ranging from 50's rock & roll, slow swing through to current music - one of my current favs to dance to is Maroon 5 - She's will be loved.
 
I just can't let this go on like this... :shock:

I would say definitely Lindy! While the simpler swing forms can be fun, it still cannot be compared to the feeling and variation that is Lindy. I don't think any other dance have the same degree of variation, in style, in dance components, in speed etc. A girl I met who only did 6 count swing (some east coast like thingy), after leading her in Lindy for a song, her exclamaition was: It was like flying!

And as to the comment that the Lindy crowd is more "stuffy" and "snobbish"! No such thing! Now I do not know what the Salsa crowd is like, but I've hardly ever experienced a "stuffy" or "snobbish" attitude when out dancing Lindy. All my experience is that the Lindy crowd is a very friendly and fun loving crowd. 8)

As to Lindy vs. Salsa, as an answer to the comments above I'll just have to say LINDY OF COURSE!!! (Unless the person is a big fan of the latino music.)
 
Well since you say she is having so much fun learning the ballroom dances I get the impression she wants to try getting him into that??

Id go for the latin, basics are simple to pick up and lots of fun, it can also be danced to a lot of mainstream music.

She could always try the subtle "My car isnt running well..could you drive me to my class" and the tell her son to come in and watch, then once he is in the door convince him to give that calss a go!
 
DWise1, the Atomic Ballroom is in your area, Irvine I think. Swing and Lindy. The instructor/owner, Jerry, used to teach in my area was co-owner of Retroglide. I don't know the scene at Atomic but Jerry is a good, capital guy in his mid to late twenties. An excellent instructor. I took a group lesson once from him and attended his dances for a while. I personally had good experiences in Lindy in my short but intense experience. I also agree that Lindy is tough to learn

Don't know much about Salsa. Don't know much Geographa...
 
Hi DWise1!

I'd say have the woman find out what type of music he likes. Then suggest a beginners class in a dance style that matches the music he likes.

If the guy likes Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Bobby Darin, then Salsa is not going to fit. Course if he likes the music played in clubs, then Salsa, Cha-Cha, Rumba would be right up his alley. Doesn't matter which way, just that the guy starts out with something he likes.
 
what to suggest....

I'd say it really depends on what he listens to. If he's an R&B kind of a guy, he'd definitely like West Coast Swing (seeing a tape of Kyle and Sarah dancing to Eminem might helpt to overcome that "partner dancing is for old fogeys thing :lol: ).
Sooo, check out his music collection and pitch accordingly.
 
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