Over the course of the last couple of years I have overheard several people say that they wished they had a partner so that they could practice and become a good dancer. Sure, there are some dance moves, like lifts and aerials, that you need to practice with the specific partner that you will be performing with. There are also times when dancers will be performing a routine and so they need to practice together. Beyond that, though, do you need a partner to become a good dancer?
I've also heard people say that they want to take dance classes, but since they don't have a partner they aren't going to sign up.

If you have an opinion about the necessity of having a partner to become a “good” dancer, please share it!

Kevin,
I agree with Ralph. The best thing to do is to attend socials and get to dance with everyone. I have found at times it is difficult to dance with some well meaning partners that really can't dance, but try their best... to me that is sheer joy, when someone wants to learn so bad that they are not afraid to ask someone who knows how to dance to join them on a round of dancing fun... that's what a social is all about, try it, you will enjoy it. Happy dancing! Lia

I agree with phil.samways, but I wouldn't limit it to people wanting to do competitions. I've been doing social dancing for some 4-5 years now. I wanted to learn more than the basics I knew, for the sheer joy of it, but was continually frustrated by not having someone with the same level of interest/availability. My local dance community is small, and anything beyond the basics, I'm having to *pretty much* teach myself, using video tapes (some more-experienced dancers are occasionally available to help with rough spots). Trying to learn a step without a partner doesn't work very well. Having found someone recently who is willing to commit to learning things with me is making a tremendous difference.

I am in agreement with those that believe a partner is a great help! You will never be able to "police" yourself, no matter how much you practice alone. You need a partner to give you feedback regarding frame, lead, and so much more! You do not however, have to have the same partner all the time. I know several serious social dancers here who practice with two or three people and are very happy with the results.
The core idea IMHO is this...a partner is someone with whom you can practice that will be honest and forthright in offering their opinion. They can be more experienced than you, or less...both hold their own benefits. The best reason to partner is for the joy of creating shared movement. You can't do that alone! So, even if you only meet with a "partner" once a month...I predict that you will feel a great positive impact on your dancing.

Although i think having a partner would help, i dont have a partner and im not that bad and also many of my friends dont have partners and we went to a comp last weekend and they almost got all gold and some of them got "Best Student" and "Best All Around" so no you dont need a partner to be a good dancer.

Luv, Kisses and Cookies,
~*Bri*~

If you're keen to improve and reach a level where you can enter competitions, then YES you do. Your partner needn't be 'better' than you. but the practicalities of classes/practice/comps would be impossible without a regular partner.

Sure having a partner helps. Dancing's a physical activity -- to really learn it and get better at it you have to do it. And dancing alone is not the same thing as dancing with a partner. There are movements I can do perfectly fine by myself, just dancing around on my own at home. Put a woman in my arms though and something seems to go at least a little bit wrong most of the time. Yes, there are things you can practice on your own. I do so every now and then to remember how figures are danced. But getting the lead and follow, connection of body weight between partners, how the two of you move together, etc. can't be really learned well unless you do it with a partner. I bet that if I had a practice partner I could improve on some of the things I have trouble with now, but I have to deal with other constraints (like time) so I've never really tried to find someone to practice with. I don't mind so much. Yeah, I'd like to improve, but I generally have fun at social dances and that's why I learned ballroom, so I'm doing OK.

--
James Marshall
marshall@astro.umd.edu
http://www.astro.umd.edu/~marshall