im starting ballroom dancing next term. ive never done it before.
my best friends done it for ages and says shes not that good.
it must be really hard then, and i dont want to struggle with it.
what do i do?
is it really hard?

Although ballroom isn't easy, it isn't really that hard to start. The nice thing is that you can go at your own pace.

Heres the trick to being successful in ballroom, try not to be too disappointed PRACTICE. Practice is what divides the pro's from the con's (er... not pro's)

No matter how small your house or whatever it always helps to go and go over the steps (even if it's just in your head), and if you can't remember them then try, right after class to write all of what you learned down. If you learned a routine then write it down best you can bv. This is pretty boring to do BUT it helps a ton.

ALWAYS go to class prepared and you will always have fun.

Also try to always do exactly what the teacher says without question, some things about ballroom can seem pretty aquard (like doing lifts, being close to the other person, shakin' your hips, etc...) at first but the are normal for ballroom. Just try to have an open mind and don't hesitate, just do it.

And above all just enjoy yourself, ask people to dance if they don't ask you, Preticipate etc...

bo-peep. Mr.Brightside's. paragraph three hit the nail right on the head. It is a fact that at any level you must write the instructions down, and also repeat the steps within two hours of learning. If we don't it is a fact that we will loose parts of the instruction. This is one place where a Technique book is handy. It is difficult to learn from on its own, but to look up the Reverse Turn followed by a Whisk it is ideal giving the footwork and the timing.
Shyness. Keep dancing and one day soon instead of walking around the edge of the ballroom if the floor is clear. To go to the rest room you will without any worry at all walk clean across the centre of the ballroom. I doubt at this moment that you could do that. But you will. Good Luck.

Serendipity, you refer to a technique book, could I get more information on that?