I started dancing when I was 8. Unfortunatly the school I went to closed down when I was 16, but I was able to acheive many grades and bronze star.. and I cant for the life of me find another school/club anywhere in my area to restart...

One thing I noticed about dancers (regardless of their level): some steps stick with you and some don't. Don't worry about "remembering all those steps." Eventually, you won't even think about what your feet are doing.

Dronak is absolutely right about asking a more experienced dancer. I've been dancing for 14 years. I'll dance with anyone (whether they ask or I ask) - because I do remember what it was like when I first started.

But when all is said and done, I think the most important thing to remember is to have fun!

Regards,
Hoofer

The whole point of learning to dance is to dance. From a learning perspective, the advantage of going to studio parties is that you get an opportunity to practice the steps you have learned. Most of us learn dancing best through lots of repetition. You will find that your dancing will improve a great deal just by going to the parties and getting more practice.

Keep in mind it's called a "party." It's intended to be fun, so try to have fun. Use the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. Dance the patterns you remember and don't worry about the rest. You will learn those eventually. As you gain more dance experience, it becomes easier to remember new patterns.

One problem beginners run into is that, as beginners, men don't lead well and women don't follow well. So beginners struggle when they dance with each other. So, don't be afraid to ask better dancers to dance. When I was beginning, I found the better women dancers to be very helpful for learning to lead.

Blair

Chewett-

My best advice for new leads as far as "remembering the patterns"...

1) Study your syllabus, and memorize the pattern list. It is easy while dancing a basic to say to yourself "OK I have done pattern 1, done pattern 2...hey, I haven't done pattern 3!" It is just an orderly list to go down in your head.

2) Organize new steps into amalgamations. When you are learning new steps try to put them in sequence with some you already know.
For instance (I assume you're learning international style) always practice Rumba in a set order like basic, fan, hockey stick, spot turn, new yorker...this gives you a sequence that is built into your muscle memory. You will shortly find that you can mix these steps up as you become comfortable with them. The sequence just enables you to think "fan sequence" rather than having to think "fan" then having to think again "hockey stick" then choosing spot turn" and then "new yorker". Sequences give you a set of pre-decided patterns...hence you don't have to be making so many decisions while also trying to remember your own footwork, technique, and leading for the lady.

Sequences work especially well in Standard and Smooth where alignment issues can make spontaneous dancing extremely difficult for new leads. Give yourself a lot of time in learning these dances...floorcraft is IMHO one of the most challenging things to master in all of dancesport.

Best of luck to you!

Just keep it simple. Do basic steps till you feel confortable with other steps.

You might feel better if you get a buddy from one of your classes to go with you, so you know you'll have someone to talk to. Also, if there is a lesson before the dance, take it. It will help to get you introduced to everyone at the party so you'll feel more comfortable asking them to dance, and they you. Same goes for mixers! Don't worry about being perfect or even good...just have fun.

I've danced with guys who had worked out a "routine" for themselves of the steps they knew and practiced it before the dance. I didn't realize that until I danced with them the second time! It did have the advantage of the guy feeling sure of what he was doing and not having to decide what to do on the the spur of the moment (but you still have to avoid collisions!). And as a relative beginner myself, I'll put in a pitch that you should ask beginning women to dance (since the more advanced men ask the more advanced women, how else are we going to get any practice?). If you go to parties regularly, you'll meet women who are beginners and even if it is awkward at first, you'll get to know one another's dancing over time and can relax and laugh at your mistakes and get better together. My favorite social dance partners are dancers on my own level.

I do a lot of Social Dancing . We are expected in this studio to change partners, which we do. If I am dancing , any dance with an advanced lady I have my set routine which I know back to front including the ladies steps. I never have any trouble in leading, although I might just whisper, Fallaway Double Reverse Overspin into a Throwaway. With a beginner I do absolute Basics, and again I might say Whisk and Chasse Natural Turn or whatever. With a beginner I think its a good idea, not to loud though, to call the timing of the dance you are doing.

I admire the ability to whisper QUICKLY

im sorry i dont do ballroom dancing but i do tap jazz ballet acro and hip hop and i may have an idea for your male friend if he forgets the steps just write them down and every time he dances think them over in his hope it helps from kayla