July 14, 2022 1:30pm
Tanith Hudson
“We are having such a great time learning to dance at Holiday. Hubs and I had no prior dance experience and we have found a real community here. Not competitive or intimidating at all, just a community of really nice instructors and students who are patient and happy about people wanting to learn. They offer group classes in like 17 different dances and it has been so fun to try them and see what we like to do. There are always enough people in the group classes to be able to switch partners and get to practice with different people. I can’t say enough good things about this place. If you want to start your dance journey, Holiday is a great place to do it!!!!”
~Jen
What is Partnership dancing?
Partnership dancing involves a non-verbal connection between two partners moving in unison to a variety of different forms of music. The music ranges from jazz music, classical music, country music, rock and roll, Latin, and many other types of music. It dates back to the early middle ages and it has evolved into a wide span of different dances from social enjoyment to competition. As a result of the wide range of music, there are various styles of partnership dancing – Ballroom, Rhythm/Latin, Country Western, Swing, and many cultural styles of dance from all the different corners of the world, i.e., Brazilian Samba, Argentine Tango, and Viennese Waltz, etc. Dancing is synonymous with celebration. Knowing many dance patterns is fun, but the true art of social dancing and its greatest pleasures lie in great partnering and celebration.
Actual lead-and-follow partnership dancing began with the introduction of the Waltz in the suburbs of Vienna, Austria in the early seventeenth century. The cultural climate at the time deemed partnership dancing as scandalous due to the closer hold and rapidly turning movements. By the mid-nineteenth century, the Waltz slowly became accepted, and other partnership dances, i.e. Polka, Foxtrot, Swing, Tango, Country Western, and Rumba evolved.
The non-verbal connection between two partners is defined as leading and following, in which the “leads” speak non-verbally to their partner. “Followers” interpret cues and signals and dynamically respond, much like an electrical current that flows through the leader to the follower. This communication is highly active, personal, musical, and highly creative.
Followers focus on responding to rise and fall, speed, rotation, and weight changes of the lead through body mechanics. This is developed through direct instruction, practice, and experience.
Leading is the ability to speak non-verbal cues through body mechanics but leads also must develop the ability to track their partner’s movement. As leads practice more, the more aware they become of the follower’s movements, the center of gravity, and the axis. Leads know where their partners go, where their feet are, where their momentum is heading, and which subsequent step can flow smoothly from their current step. This is also developed through direct instruction, practice, and experience.
Why dance?
There is nothing more interactive and socially expressive in a good-natured fun way than dance. Partnership dancing is a great way to develop confidence, meet new people, to celebrate friendships, to celebrate romance, love, and adventure. It’s great exercise, relaxation, and physical and even emotional therapy ~ it’s hard to be sad when you are dancing. Here at Holiday Dance Studio in Albuquerque, NM, you will get the whole experience. We provide the knowledge, practice, dance, music, celebration, and camaraderie all in one package wrapped and tied with a bow. You get private instruction, group instruction and social support from the instructors and the other members in an inviting non-judgemental, unpretentious environment. We celebrate every Friday Night in an elegant, festive, beautiful setting with amazing staff and members! Every Friday is a real celebration through dance! Start your dance journey with us today by asking about our “Discovery Special” for new dancers.