Tags
Ballroom, Ballroom East, Contra Dancing, dance lessons, Dancing, Dirty Dancing, Louisville Country Dancers, University of Louisville, UofL
The popular style of dance for most college aged students is currently one that barely resembles dancing at all. Many campus events with music result in outbreaks of “dancing” called grinding or just general undulations of the body. Young adults will throw themselves on the dance floor only to perform movements that are better kept private. However, there are others who are nostalgic for a time before they were born or simply enjoy actually dancing instead of thrusting in public. I happen to be one of those young people who do not like to participate in the “popular” form of dancing and have found several places that offer lessons in more “traditional” dancing styles.
After avoiding most dances for years, I enrolled in a ballroom course on campus last spring. The class was informative, fun, and a style of dancing that was romantic instead of vulgar to my, perhaps outdated, conceptions of what real dancing is. Since then I have continued taking lessons at Ballroom East, the studio run by the UofL class instructor. There are weekly dance lessons on Friday from 8pm to 8:45pm where a different style of ballroom dance is taught each week. Following the lesson is a dance party with various songs played so people can practice all the different ballroom dances. For “poor” college students, the $5 for a lesson and the party is extremely reasonable to learn how to actually dance. it really is more fun to dance a tango to “Bust Your Windows”.
Additionally, I recently found a contra dancing group and have absolutely fallen in love with the fast paced group dancing. Every Monday night, the Louisville Country Dancers host contra dancing from 8pm to 11pm at the Church of the Advent with a live band playing Irish music. The dance is free the first time and then is only $7 for non-members. Contra dancing is similar to square dancing in that there is a caller who explains the moves to the dancers before the song begins and will then call out reminders during the music. The dances are usually done in lines where you move with your partner for the dance and change “neighbors” throughout the dance.
I have found both ballroom and contra dancing to be much more social than the currently popular grinding style, as you can actually talk to the person you are dancing with instead of moving in ways that make carrying on a conversation rather awkward. So if you are like me and prefer to learn what is, in my opinion, real dancing, then check out the lessons offered at Ballroom East and by the Louisville Country Dancers. I am also sure there are several other locations in Louisville that offer dance lessons so people can learn how to really dance and have fun learning. All you have to do is look and find a style or place you like. And don’t forget your dancing shoes.