for both posters and "lurkers" alike ...

How many of you have, at one time or another, given up on ballroom? Did you return to it?

I've been slowly dancing less and less over the past couple of months, and now I think I'm finally at the point where I can give it up entirely. But I'm still very curious about the experiences of others in this matter.

I once gave it up for 3 1/2 years. I had been dancing for about 1 1/2 years and then I moved cross-country from New York to California. In the course of getting settled, getting into my job, then deciding to get married and planning the wedding, then changing jobs a couple of times, I just never got back to it for 3 1/2 years. Truth is that I was so busy that I just didn't have time, coupled with the fact that dancing is expensive and I was spending my money on other things.

But, after a while, my life settled down and I found myself at a studio at a friend's party. The moment I walked into the studio I asked myself, "why the heck aren't I dancing?" So, the next day I called the studio and started lessons again. That was over 5 1/2 years ago.

From the beginning, I had been dancing for 9 years. Then I got married (to a non-dancer) and stopped. This was my own decision, not his. I never realized (or maybe admitted) that I missed it until I started dancing again 10 years later (1999).

When I gave it up, it was the right thing to do then. However, I'll never give it up again!

Regards,
Hoofer

When I first learned to dance I was active with it for two years and then was out of it for about fourteen years until I got back into it eight years ago.

My being out of dancing as far as ballroom goes was due to financial considerations. At that time one could only attend dances and group classes if they were also taking private lessons. During this time I limited my dancing to the local C&W venues on occasion.

When I discovered that I could go to group classes and dances without being obligated to private lessons I thought that was a good time to get back into dancing and am glad that it did.

I must admit though that there have been times recently where I have been feeling less then content with dancing, but this is due to the fact that I get a little tired of going dancing to the same place; there isn't much variety here and though it is a nice place it is only one of two for open dancing - I'm hesitant to go to the other since they have an annoying habit of playing a song and cutting it off halfway through with many of them.

But I will always keep dancing; even if I don't have a great time I feel that I still benefit from it.

"Dancing is a contact sport; football is a hitting sport" - Vince Lombardi

I think most important is whether you have a partner. If that is a partner going on, it is
very difficult to completly quit dancing....
Unless both of you...quit

I gave up dancing when I married the first time. My husband had had polio and could not dance. I later dropped him and took up dancing again. Then I got hurt and couldn't dance for several years. Now that I'm back (for several years now), I won't be leaving it again! I'll just take up Smooth more seriously when I get old.

MSC,

Indeed, after dancing for about 18 months, and after an out of state move, i did not go dancing for about 6 months. When i returned to the dance floor, i rediscovered dance and have been dancing ever since. I think the big question to ask yourself is why you are dancing ? Is it to please your partner, husband/wife, to be social, as a distraction from work, peer pressure or whatever.
I'd say to go to another studio in the area and check out the weekly party. Even if you don't dance much that evening but only watch the other people. Do you get excited listening to the music and seeing everyone else dance or could you care less about it.
On the other hand, if you have competed recently and have had several disappointments and maybe suffering from burn out, then that might be an entirely different reason to take a break from dancing for a while.

Just my 2 cents...

I think another question to ask yourself is why you don't want to dance. Is something bothering you? Is it something you can fix?