Beginner's Guide to Dancing

Tango. Contra. Salsa. Lindy. Blues. Jazz. Swing. Zydeco. Clogging. Carolina Shag. Flamenco. Freestep. Ceili. English and Scottish country dancing. Belly dance. Hula. Hustle. The dance community has music and dance styles for any skill or fitness level. Most of it is not "cool" by any definition, but you'd miss out on a great experience if judging only by cool factor. This is not Night at the Roxbury - this is serious dancing, with real steps to follow, and it's not for sissies.

If you're looking for an activity that provides entertainment in the form of people watching, this is it. The "dance community," as dancers refer to themselves, is about as diverse as you can get. Old and young, fit and fat, gay and straight, they come together in church halls and ballrooms and Elk Lodges with dance shoes in hand. Social misfits are common - which may be a positive or a negative, depending on your outlook. Some of the costumes are quirky, to put it mildly. You may dance with men in skirts, octogenarians, partners sporting tie dye and joke buttons, partners who twirl till you want to puke, partners who chat non-stop, and partners who dance in beady-eyed silence. You'll have experienced partners who are a joy to dance with, and partners who need to be rescued from collision courses. You'll leave events feeling energized, no matter how physically demanding the evening has been.

And it can be demanding - very. The experienced dancers are easy to spot. Look for the duffel bag with bottled water, a spare shirt in case the first gets sweat soaked, and a towel. Some even bring deodorant. That's not to say that every evening is a workout. You're free to take breaks, or put less effort into movements. It also depends on the dance style and how high energy the music is. Swing is frantic and upbeat, while tango is deliberate and slow. You can jig, clog, twirl, kick, dip, shimmy, stomp, or simply walk through steps. It's up to you, but you'll find that the more you enjoy the music and know the steps, the more you want to move.

Live music, refreshments, snacks, and socializing for an admission price that's cheaper than a movie ticket? That's a hard bargain to beat. It's also a great way to see bands that you wouldn't normally even hear of, and musicians who are talented with unique instruments. How often do you hear Ozark Harps, or bodhrans, or mandolins, let alone have an excuse to dance to them?

So now you're read this far, and you want to know how to find events in your area. This can be tricky - the dance community is an Internet resistant bunch. True, you can google "swing dance" in your area, but good luck sorting through all the results. On the other hand, the Internet also provides wonderful sneak previews for novice dancers. YouTube is chock-full of dance videos from events and instructors. The best way to start is by finding a dance association, like the Country Dance and Song Society, the American Tango Association, or any kind of umbrella dance organization for the style of your choice. Most sites usually have event databases based on location. The other way to go about finding dances is from the other direction. Search out your local entertainment and activity newspaper, find a few likely events, and attend them. You'll soon find your pockets filled with flyers advertising related events.

So put down the remote. Stop watching other people dance. Forget about cool, and enjoy the many ways that people interact through music - with abandon, with grace, with pleasure. There's a whole new world out there waiting for you to join in.