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?

Benny. There are several technique books on Ballroom Dancing by different authors on the International Style. It should be possible to get a copy out from your local library,. If they haven't got it they should be able to get one. The ones I have is Ballroom Dancing by Alex Moore. and Technique of Latin Dancing by Wally Laird both of which are recognised by the ruling authorities. Even the very best dancers in the world would have copies . My teacher always has hers on hand when teaching. When I asked what is the correct alignment for a Fishtail and what should it follow. Out came the book. I had not read it correctly.

Key like the other person said, is to listen to your teachers and practise. Like anything, being great at it, is extremely difficult. Being good is just a matter of good instruction and practise. We followed that formula and greatly exceeded our expectations. Try to practise what is taught, as soon as possible after the lesson. We always practised the next day if possible. I would also review in my head, what was taught on our 45 minute drive home.

In addition to practicing the steps, you can start training your ear to hear ballroom music in lots of music you would otherwise not pay attention to for dancing.
But I totally agree with the other advice to this question. There is something very strange about ballroom dancing in that the steps you learn in a lesson can vanish from your mind in no time if you do not write them down, and go over them again either the same night or the very next morning. Also, there is a trick to writing down steps, and that is basicaly that you have to do it in a way that you will be able to decipher them in the future. Writing down steps, with no idea what it means, is almost worse than not writing them down. You really have to put down your R and L, as well as whether you are going forward or backward or to the side, and also whether it is a slow or quick step AND what your body is doing at the time -- open, closed, promenade, etc.
So don't be afraid to write down a lot of information!
When I am done teaching someone, I often help them decipher the steps and how to write it down so it can be understood a week later, if that's the next time they'll be looked at.

Hi! Don't worry about not getting some of the moves right or not fitting in. It's normal. If your instructor is good then he/she will look after you until you feal comfortable.

But try to get a head start by watching some ballroom and latin videos on YOUTUBE just to give you an idea of what you are getting yourself into.

I'm sure you'll love it

GOOD LUCK!!!

It is not any harder than any other physical activity like playing tennis or skiing or learning the backstroke.

My experience has been that I was a complete klutz my first lesson, a little better the next lesson, a little better the next lesson and so on. Eventually you'll look back at your first lessons and think, "Wow! I can dance a LOT better now."

As has been said, practice and determination will carry the day. But make sure you practice correctly. Practicing incorrectly will just result in you having to unlearn bad habits.

And don't forget to have fun. If you miss a step, nobody will remember it a year from now, so have at it!