Hi, Ok all I want is a bunch of personal opinions... do you, personally, think that ballroom dancing is supposed to be romantic?

It can be what you want it to be. Above all, its supposed to be enjoyable. Romance might not be part of it for some dancers, but it is my very favorite part.

if it's not, you are missing the best part

Depends what you mean by romantic?

If you mean it's part of or leads to a real-life romance off the dance floor, it can be. Or not. Depends on the people and what they want. Plenty of people dance for the fun of dancing, without intending anything further than that.

If you mean, should dance have an air of romance expressed through the dancing, that depends on the dance. Waltz is probably the most "romantic" dance in that it has a dreamy. floating feeling. Cha cha is flirty, rumba sensous, fox trot sophisticated and jazzy, etc.

Why do you ask?

Last night a visting male pro asked me who the pretty lady was smiling or flirting with him while dancing. I laughed and told him that her name was Mira. She's engaged to the guy sitting next to her and has 4 small kids from a previous marriage. I told him that her fiancee didn't dance and she was possibly just trying to get some free lessons or attention. I could see the visions of romance quickly leave his face.

Dancing can be euphoric while dancing in competitions or exhibitions when everthing is going right. It's like winning a race or riding a wave perfectly. I felt a bit of this with my pro partner my last competition during the smooth dances--especially waltz. I wouldn't call it romantic. About the only thing that my Pro partner and I have in common is our dancing.

The chances of finding romance and keeping it while dancing is very remote.
This is one of the worst reasons to learn how to dance. I have had romantic relationships with dance partners and it was great while it lasted. But, if ones goal is to constantly improve there is always technical lessons, technique drilling,
and and all sorts of boring stuff that is very unromantic and basically just low down dirty hard work.

Good dancing shouldn't be some type of soap opera extension of your life. Most good dance partners are serious and hard working about learning technique, working as a team, practicing the boring basics over and over, budgeting money, finding a good coach and many other things that go with improving your dance.

I think dancing could be romantic if you met this dream dance person on a 4 day cruise or vacation or some exotic place and your salsa, swing or maybe waltz clicked--you had a romantic fling and avoided all the hard stuff mentioned above. Then you go home and dream about what a great romantic time you had and forget about trying to repeat it.

Most of the romantic looks and expressions that you see in competitions and exhibitions are just acting or part of the dance choreography.

Anon or Indy Spinner,

Why is romance the best part of dancing for you? Please expand on this and how do mix the technical side of dancing so well with the romantic?

Tell that to the guy that was taking lessons from a female instructor at a local AM studio I attended. I say "was" because he met her earlier this year when he became her student, took lessons from her all year, then she left the studio this summer (or more likely got fired), and now they are getting married in a week. How about that for a student-teacher romance amidst non-fraternization policies!

Now that's just awesome! I hate that rule, that instructors are not allowed to fraternize or socialize with their students outside of the studio. That's pure crap in my opinion. I'm sorry but it's their life and no one should be able to tell them who they can and cannot spend their time with. I feel like some of the instructors at the studio I attend have become great friends of mine, but what good is a friend if you can't go places & just simply hang out with them. I'm not talking about dating, literally just being friends. I know I know, it'd be a dream if that rule was not in effect.

While people take up ballroom dancing for various reasons, no dancer can deny the fact that there is something to be said for dancing around a room gracefully in the arms of someone who knows what they are doing. Touch is a basic human necessity, and I think for many people, ballroom is just a way to be open to sharing yourself with
someone else. I go to a studio where there is a huge mix with regards
to age, which I love because we are all there for the same reason,
whether we realize it or not...human contact. So yes, ballroom is
romantic...it allows you to meet people in a different environment
(outside of the bar scene!) and just have fun!! At the studio I attend, everyone dances with everyone and it is wonderful!!!! Ballroom is re-instituting chivalry and the lost art of being gentlemen and ladies. I LOVE IT!

Dancing is probably more romantic if you are not working on improving. Or if you are learning and improving equally together. Stiving and working on better technique together will usually cause friction and less romance.

If you are just dancing socially and are not worried about you or your partners technique then you could just focus on the romantic side of dancing.
Just touch each other, gaze in their eyes, and have fun.

High level dancers usually have some variation of a type A personaliy. Read about Fred Astaire and Donnie Burns, both were very hard driving, demanding, and expected a lot from their partners.
Both dancers were relentless with technique and practiced movements over and over. Fred Astaire probably produced some of the most romantic and fun dancing ever, but he was extremely hard on his partners. He was not involved romantically with a partner and began his dancing career with his sister.