Why are there so few women in their mid-late 20s/early 30s doing ballroom? There are lots of college girls, but after that it's like everyone dissapears until age 45 or something!

Is everyone hiding in swing? or salsa? Or sitting at home stir crazy and living vicariously through Sex in the City? Where does everyone dissapear to? What happened to all those "women love dancing" promises that got us gullible guys into our first dance class?

I know this is a smaller age group in general, but I know many other guys in it who are quite active... and quite unmatched by the female side of the community. We go to socials - and end up dancing with college girls stressed about next week's exam, or middle aged women worried how their kids are doing in school. Don't get me wrong ladies - we are happy that there is a whole spectrum of people dancing, and we have had some very, very nice dances with you. But sometimes a guy just feels like it's time to hang out with someone his own age...

So tell me, is there anywhere in this country where there are post college young adult women with enough interest in ballroom to learn to really dance?
Tell me so I can move! Or else I'm gonna have to break down and learn salsa, join a book club, or take a class in flower arranging...

It's a financial problem for most women I know that age. In college they took group classes with their university team. They graduate and outgrow group classes, but can't afford private lessons. they give up on ballroom because it's pricey and an older crowd. yes they do often go to swing or salsa land.

We took lessons at FADS for 5 years. We saw a lot of couples in the studio between 25-45, but when we go out dancing, there seems to be very few people in that age range.

It may be family commitments. The games, concerts, plays etc. parents attend and the weekend being the time families can do things together, I think conflicts with going dancing regularily.

Ballroom seems to be something you have to do regularily to enjoy it. Each dance for us became fun, after attaining a certain level of proficiency.


Most of the people we see dancing on a regular basis are either couples that started when the kids left home, older singles and young people that started in their teens.

so you need to move or just visit Orange County I am in my very early 30s I am a female and I am professional ballroom teacher and dancer. Maybe I am not able to give you a lesson in flower arranging but maybe it still will be pleasure

ps. Forgive me guys my broken english but this is my second not first language

Wow!, I know what you mean. I'm a single guy, 29 years old, and I've observed the same thing. The women are either 10 years to young for me, or 10 years too old. All the women in their mid 20's taking lessons are in the studios with their fiancés, learning a wedding dance. Most of the soon-to-be-husbands don't really care to be there a whole lot.

It's not enough to make me quit, but it is awfully frustrating. Don't get me wrong, I've met some women in both age groups that I have a really great time dancing with, but a change would be nice.

I wish I knew the answer.

"All the women in their mid 20's taking lessons are in the studios with their fiancés, learning a wedding dance"

A while back, on a whim I placed an add asking a similar question in a free personals site. A couple of women wrote back sharing some interesting thoughts. Apparently the ballroom scene doesn't feel welcoming enough to outsiders and beginners. There are two challenges there - one is that our activity really does take some time to learn. The other is that even if people are welcoming to beginners, often the newer dancers don't want to feel like they are imposing on the more experienced ones. My personal take is that I really enjoy dancing with beginners who are interested in really learning to dance and seem a little better every time you see them, but I soon tire of dancing with people who've been stuck with the same uncomfortable habits for years.

The other major observation I heard is that the 'no partner necessary' line in dance class advertisements just isn't getting the message across. Despite the fact that over half the people in beginner classes I've seen show up alone, most people apparently still think you need to find a partner before you can try classes. Or women are afraid that if they show up without their own guy, they will be left to dance with the unwashed 3-left-footed looser no one else wants for the entire hour.

Quote:
"Or women are afraid that if they show up without their own guy, they will be left to dance with the unwashed 3-left-footed looser"

I think you might be on to something here. Guys will stick their necks out more if there's a good chance to meet women. Women might be more concerned about how they're perceived taking dance lessons by themselves.

I think women also view dancing in a more romantic light than men, and it's a social activity shared with your significant other. Maybe guys are more able to see the sporting side of it. The mechanics, timing, footwork, and leading. Dancing is the perfect blend of art and science.

So, the question is... If you were absolutely convinced that you would have to wait until you were 40 to meet potential dating prospects thru dancing, would you stop taking lessons?

Its the guys that come to Ballroom dancing to find a mate that give the rest of us a bad name, I say. :o) Just dance for the sake of dancing - its fun, exhilarating, besides which - and to make your point for you - women find men that dance sensuous. May be, just may be, some of the three-left-footers out there could learn to be better dancers. Trust me, build and they will come.

GT

Well, I'm a long-married over-40 but the single 30-ish women I know seem to be busy trying to do the stuff their boyfriends do rather than geting the guys to do something they (the women) might like. When they start to hit 40, they finally give up on that and drag the guy out dancing

"the single 30-ish women I know seem to be busy trying to do the stuff their boyfriends do rather than geting the guys to do something they (the women) might like."

That's a very interesting point - one thing I noticed in the review of the women's adds on the site where I asked my question about dancing, is that so many of them sound really eager to drink beer while watching the game. I'm sure a lot of women do really enjoy that (hey, I really enjoy dancing!) but it sure looks a lot like advertising a willingness to meet guys on stereotypical guy terms. The problem with this is that it gives you no way to know what the woman herself is really like or interested in.