Ballroom Dancing is Fun

And  a Productive Way to Achieve Great Health
By Pascasio JR Felisilda, Los Angeles

Dancing is a fun way to get physically fit and have a great time. Ballroom dancing has been around for awhile, but it still is relevant and prevalent in our modern society. There are many types of dances that fit in the category of ballroom dancing. There is the waltz, fox trot, tango, swing, and many other dances. Within each category, there are a variety of variations such as the West Coast swing and the East Coast swing. Swing is a fun and great dance. If it ain't got swing, then it ain't got a thing.

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows."

My wife enjoys dancing, especially ballroom dancing. We do not consider it a workout- rather we consider it a fun activity. We would usually dance for hours (3-4 hours at times). But, the next few days it feels like we have been doing squats, lunges, dead lifts, and other exercises while we were dancing. Then, I notice how most of the competitive ballroom dancers look. Their muscles look chiseled and defined. They look like Olympic athletes (by the way, ballroom dancing could be an Olympic sport). With ballroom dancing, you get the best of both worlds- exercise and fun. Also, it gives you the benefits of both aerobic and anaerobic exercises.

"Look Again" by Vicki Carr

Although there is rhythm and tempo with ballroom dancing, the key is to know few of the moves and be creative with your own style and flair. The primary step in the waltz is the box step. Go over it briefly with your partner and add your own signature. When you are not trying to memorize steps, rather you would dance or perform, you will stay with the activity longer. I love the swing dances. Get to know the rock step. Then, you could twirl your partner for hours while getting a great workout.

"There Will Never Be Another You" by Andy Williams

In ballroom dancing, it is best that there is a lead person and the other person will follow their lead. When you start to dance a bit more, you will notice that this issue does not mean that one person is more important than the other. It means you will have to work as a team to do your dance steps. Thus, dancing is like any other team sport. Wear comfortable shoes. For me and my wife, we love leather soled shoes since we can slide into our steps. Rubber soles tend to stick to the dance floor. It would be like dancing in quicksand.

Have fun with ballroom dancing. If you are on vacation such as a cruise ship, then you definitely must go dancing. You will need to burn away those calories from all the meals and buffets. More than likely, you will not see those people again in the cruise ships. So, go make a fool of yourself and dance your way into fun and fitness.

 "Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it."