Social dancing has been a hobby of mine for a long time and for a good reason. Looking back, I can see how many positive things have come out of my 9 years in the Latin dance community – it helped shape me into a better version of myself. Today I want to share all the positive changes social dancing helped create in my life.
1. Inspired Me to Train for Strength and Mobility
Going to the gym has never been my cup of tea. However, since I wanted to become a great dancer, I simply had to start training for strength and mobility. It was necessary to improve my posture first and foremost, but I can now also see how much better my balance and mobility are. This has motivated me to keep going and train for my health, not just for dancing.
2. Helped Me Get in Touch With My Feminine Side
In my opinion, Latin dance styles honor feminine expression more than other types of dance. Therefore I have had the great opportunity to get in touch with my feminine and sensual side. People have noted that even outside of dance my movements are graceful and smooth, and it’s all thanks to dance. Not to even mention that after 9 years of Latin dancing, my hips move as if I were a Latina!
3. Increased My Confidence
I am so much more confident now, because I worked hard to learn a skill and proved to myself that I could do it. This may not be specific to dance, since mastering any skill gives you confidence. However I can see how dance translates directly into how you carry yourself and therefore lets your confidence be particularly visible to others.
4. Demonstrated the Traditional Gender Roles
This may be very personal to me, but based on my upbringing it has been incredibly healing to be around more traditional gender roles. It has been lovely to see men in their masculine energy taking the lead, inviting me to dance and being the decision-makers on the dancefloor. This has allowed me to switch off my brain and relax into my feminine energy. I enjoy being a follower – I never wanted to learn to lead and I never did.
5. Provided a Feeling of Community
I am the type of person who needs to be a part of a community (if not multiple) and social dances filled that need. I am also grateful I was able to contribute to the community myself by writing this blog and working as a dance teacher in 2 dance studios.
The community also extends globally – It has been incredible to travel all around Europe (and to Brazil) to different dance festivals, connect with other dancers and make international friends. In whatever country, as long as I could find a local dance studio, a party, or a festival, I felt right at home and welcome.
6. Filled My Weeks With Joy
Nothing beats the fun vibes of social dance classes. I have years of experience in both solo and social dance and the difference is quite big. In solo dance classes it’s more about hard work, memorising choreography and improving technique. In social dance classes it’s teamwork with your partner, jokes, laughter, lots of music and fun. I almost never was able to stick to a solo dance class for a long time, but social dancing has kept me hooked for almost a decade. And social dance parties and festivals were even more fun than classes!
Final Thoughts
I believe that I am a completely different person compared to who I was back when I started social dancing. I will be eternally grateful for social dance motivating me to move my body and fix my posture, for inspiring me to be more feminine, giving me reasons to travel and keeping me healthy and happy all those years.
You’re welcome to share ways social dance has impacted you positively in the comments!
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