Have you ever found yourself glued to an episode of Dancing with the Stars thinking… boy, that looks like fun!? Or maybe you’re looking for a fresh way to spend date night or time with your family. Whether you’re wanting to expand your dance training to a new and challenging genre, looking for a fun social activity, or you’re just trying to master a few steps for a wedding or special event, we’re here to help. Consider this your complete guide to getting started in ballroom dancing — and why Turning Pointe Dance offers the best options for ballroom dancing in Colorado Springs.
What is Ballroom Dance?
Ballroom is a partnered style of dancing, seen across social, competitive and formal settings. Partners dance together to perform predetermined step patterns that are characterized by the rhythm of the music and distinguished by various postures and techniques. One dancer is designated as the “leader,” while the other dances as the “follower.”
Under the umbrella of traditional ballroom dancing, there are Smooth (or Standard) dances and Rhythm (or Latin) dances. In addition to subtle differences in technique, the Smooth dances are characterized by their effortless travel across the dance floor while maintaining a closed dance position, and are typically more elegant in style. Rhythm dances are generally performed with smaller steps onto straight legs, with the use of open dance holds and flashier movements.
Why take Ballroom class?
For beginners and pros alike, ballroom dancing can be a great way to let loose and groove to some music with partners and friends alike. It stimulates your brain, improves flexibility, balance, coordination and memory, and did we mention it’s SO much fun?! Taking a ballroom dance class can add exercise, social activity and stress relief to your week, all while building the skills of teamwork, communication and step/movement retention.
And why leave it to the new students? Dancers who are already thriving in other classes can benefit from adding ballroom classes, too. Some of the most famous ballets include a pas de deux (or duet), and ballroom is a great place to build those partnering skills in a fun environment. Is musical theater your thing? Nearly every Broadway musical features a style of Ballroom dance, from the prominent Salsa dancing of In the Heights and Chicago’s “Cell Block Tango,” to West Side Story’s “Dance at the Gym” Mambo, or Hairspray’s swing dancing and “Miss Baltimore Crabs” “rock-step-cha-cha-cha.” If you’re looking to meet a requirement with an elective class, build your performing resume or just want to try something new and fun, you can do it all with a ballroom class.
Why Turning Pointe?
1. Turning Pointe Dance is Colorado Springs’ premier faith-based dance studio, committed to providing excellence in dance and theater instruction while cultivating hearts of worship and nurturing creativity. Each of our dance classes incorporate prayer and verse of the month, keeping the focus of class time on the Lord. Ballroom students at Turning Pointe won’t just learn how to lead and follow within traditional ballroom technique, but also how the Lord leads each of us if we’ll only learn to hear our Leader’s cues and practice being a strong follower. Partner dancing can be scary. At Turning Pointe, we encourage students to dance with the Father as we teach partnering in a modest and appropriate way.
2. Turning Pointe offers three ways to try ballroom dancing. Our school year session class gives students the opportunity to perform in the Spring recital, while solo lessons offer individual, one-on-one instruction with a professional teacher. If either of those options are a little too daunting, students can set up their own small group class with friends and family to meet with an instructor on a regular basis, or in preparation for a wedding or event.
Regardless of the method you choose, Turning Pointe’s ballroom students begin by learning the step patterns and techniques for the six basic ballroom dances: Waltz, Foxtrot and Tango (Smooth); Cha-Cha, Rhumba and East Coast Swing (Rhythm). Other dances can be requested for solo and small group lessons, or will be taught after the appropriate skill progression in class.
How to Get Started
Are you or your student ready to give ballroom dancing a try? While registration for the 2022-23 school year session has closed, there are still plenty of ways to get started! Email a member of our front desk team at info@turningpointeschoolofdance.com to set up an introductory or recurring solo lesson, or set up a small group session with some of your closest friends and family members. Once you’re hooked, you can sign up for the 2023-24 school year session beginning June 1!