Teaching kids to dance

[BonnieJean]

My mom has been trying to get her grandsons to take ballroom lessons. She tells them it will give them confidence, balance and poise and that girls will be impressed with their skills. So far, no one has taken up grandma's offer to pay for lessons. My 22 year old son said, "Grandma, nobody dances like that anymore, even the girls and they don't care about it."

But, my hubby and I are taking ballroom dance lessons and we just love it! We're in our late 40s and I think we would of appreciated learning these skills at a younger age--sometimes its a real aerobic workout, especially the swing dancing!

We were talking with a friend our age about our dance lessons and he told us that at a Toastmaster's event, one man literally took over the dance floor dancing with all the women in the place. They even stood in line for a chance to dance with him. The man commented to our friend that as long as he can have a firm grip on the lady and confidence in his dance moves, he can dance with any woman, whether she knows how to dance or not. I'm sure there were a lot of "wall-flower" men standing on the sidelines wishing they knew how to fox trot! So, knowing how to dance DOES impress the ladies!

 

[Paisley]

He asks why I do and say things that don't get done with and for other kids frequently (Why do I sew, why do I wear make up and look nice when I go out, why doesn't he get to wear jeans to church, why do I bake homemade cookies and not have store bought ones...) most of the time, he's asking why I do something different, not that he wants a change/is embarassed.

My son showed dancing to my large family gathering today. I don't think he was embarassed so much as I was asking if I should be more normal with what I teach him.

Your son should remember that not everything you learn today is going to be used tomorrow. Learning dancing today is going to help him when he is a little older--when he wants to go out and dance at his prom or a wedding, or just to go out and meet people (OK, girls). And some things are easier to learn when you are young. If he learns rhythm and odd and even beats now, anything associated with music will be easier for him later. As for guys who cannot keep a beat...they're the pits to dance with!

 

[Marq]

Well it just depends on how old the kid is.I learnt to dance young and was taught by my gran.I was 12 or 13 and i was taught country jitterbug or as we call it here (jive).I know ballroom dancing has taken on this term but in the war it was originally called Jitterbug jive after a mickey mouse cartoon where minnie and mickey were dancing.Ok ok ok well anywayi was very young but very interested as my gran and grandpappy used to dance to swing music a lot.I think the comment about dancing with hot girls in a gentlemanly waymay just Swing it(swing it get the pun)sorry i digress.Over here in Blighty people are getting into swing earlier and we have a few teenagers in our midst dancing now.I think the main thing is explain the whole thing .The cars the clothes the music the history the whole deal and when he is interested the dancing will naturally follow,make sure he sees how cool the clothes were then too......................Paul

 

[olive bleu]

I have been kidding my son for years about making him take dance lessons with me. Now he is 12 and as tall as i am. I am thinking of paying him to do it.He has great rythmn and is very graceful, i know he would quickly become an excellent dancer.Why not, it wouldn't be the first time Mother made you do something that would ultimately be for your own good

 

[Ben]

My wife and I took balllrooom dance lessons before and after oour wedding and it was worth every minute and every penny devoted to it.

Once you learn partner dancing, then social situations aren't so intimidating. Also, even though most peoploe just "shake their butts" you can still dance structured steps to that kind of music. I learned to triple swing to AC/DC and samba and salsa to techno and hip hop style music.

I also taught me to appreciate new kinds of music, because suddenly I recognized that was such and such a dance, and I can like that.

Learning to find the beat and put a step to it is all that it takes. Once you learn to lead or follow someone else while doing it, you can do all sorts of interesting things.

I didn't really know I knew how to dance until I was dancing wiith someone I had never met before and at one point she said "You make this so easy." I am not the world's best dancer, but after that I knew I was competent. It was nice to feel that way and to help someone else have a good time.

So, Elaina, keep making him learn structured steps. He'll be glad he did.