Why Dancers Should Change Partners at Ballroom Dance Class

Changing partners in ballroom dance classes may seem intimidating: after all, you are just learning, and if you dance with someone other than the person you brought, everyone will know how much you're struggling. However, you should keep in mind that everyone else is struggling, too. More than that, changing partners is a good way to get more out of your ballroom dance lesson.

As a ballroom dancer for 15 years and a professional for 10 of those years, I have participated in and taught a wide range of dance classes for all ability levels of dancers. It is most common to see a reluctance to change partners in the very beginning classes. Those who continue on to intermediate and advanced classes soon learn the benefits of changing partners and do so readily. There are several reasons why dancers should change partners in ballroom dance classes.

Learn to Ballroom Dance Faster

When you change partners in your ballroom dance class, you are likely to find that you will learn to dance faster. This is because there is usually a range in the ability level of the dancers in class. Some will be raw beginners who can barely figure out which foot to move when, but others will be more experienced and can help you figure out each step more quickly. If you stick with only your partner and you are both struggling, it will be much harder to progress. However, change partners and you are likely to each understand the pattern better, and when you get back together, your practice will be much more productive.

In my experience, couples who stay together in ballroom dance class and refuse to change partners, at least in the very beginning classes, are the slowest learners in class. They usually become frustrated with their lack of progress and give up. This is not the case for advanced dancers, who have already learned how to dance well.

Learn to Lead and Follow Better

Part of the fun of ballroom dancing is that, except in certain situations, it is an impromptu expression of music through dance. Even though there are prescribed patterns the dancers perform, the order of these patterns is at the discretion of the leader. Therefore, in most cases, the follower doesn't know exactly what he is going to do until he does it. This means, the leader needs to be very clear with his leads, and his partner needs to pay attention and be sensitive and responsive to those leads.

When two dancers learn to dance with each other and only each other, they do not get the depth of understanding of leading and following that they would get if they changed partners in ballroom dance class. This may seem fine if they only plan to dance together for the rest of their lives, but chances are they will want to dance with someone else eventually. Also, their ability to lead and follow each other will be diminished because they did not learn properly. They are likely to eventually become frustrated with each other and with the dance.

Changing Partners Keeps Things Fun and Interesting

By changing partners in your ballroom dance class, you will meet new people and will probably have more fun than if you just stick with the partner you brought to class. Ballroom dancing is a wonderfully social activity that is meant to be shared with other people. Take advantage of that, and you are likely to enjoy it more.

Changing partners in ballroom dance class is rewarding and an important part of the learning process. Try it, and you are likely to find you learn faster, better, and have more fun.