With whom would you learn to dance? A friend, a boyfriend/girlfriend, or maybe alone?

T

Tustusya

Changui
If you'd decided to go to a dance class, how'd you do it? Would you like to have a company or not and why? I'm doing research on dancing as social interaction, pros/cons, barriers and benefits, so I'd really appreciate your answer. Thank you.
 
Hi, I searched for a dance class partner online befor taking the class. For me it was less awkward then showing up alone. I met the Person only once befor tho..
 
I wanted to take classes with my Gf for a couples thing to do. She stopped wanting to ho after 2 classes. I continued. Personally I'm glad I did and that it was alone.
Are you going with a significant other, or are looking for just random friend? Just a random hobby with trying to get as good as you possibly can? This affects the price and con list

PROS:

Both people starting out new, so there is comradry and makes it easier if you are insecure or shy.

Built in practice partner

If you are dating, a nice date activity instead of watching Netflix (with no chill).

Expectations are lowered because they already know you (but can be attached to a con)

CONS:

If you are dating, and one doesnt want to go, there may be expectation on the other to not go.

Jealousy. The human mind is a saucy beast. I have seen many couples quit early on because one is insecure due to lack of development or gets jealous of another person.
I myself came to realize that if my gf stayed with me, my insecurities would give caught up to me, being one of the least inexperienced lead in the area atm. Coupled with a new job with a pay cut that I wasnt good at, and the usual 7th year relationship issues, and it was a struggle even alone lol.

You get better by leading multiple people. If you are dating and stick with that one person, you dont TRULY learn to lead or follow to your best abilities.

If you go with someone and they want to go straight home, you can't make friends and go out afterwards to get one of the many delicious, too notch Craft Beers that Ontario, Canada has to offer.
 
I started taking classes with a friend. The good thing with this was that we quickly realized that we needed to practice together outside of class if we were going to remember the moves from one week to the next. So we started meeting once a week to practice for an hour and then we'd go out to a club. It helped with our ability to advance in the classes as well as our getting brave enough to social dance. When we went out we rarely danced more than 1 dance with each other. After a while he quit, but by then I was comfortable going to classes by myself and I knew a bunch of the other students.

Going with a friend never stopped me (or him) from dancing with other people, the way that going with a significant other might have due issues described by 1derpalm.
 
I went by myself and made friends from class that we'd go to salsa events with. In the end all but one quit but it was some fun times
 
I went by myself, took a few intro classes at different salsa schools and then chose to continue with the ones I liked the most (which was only a couple of them). I met people along the way of course but it was never a factor in choosing which classes to go to, that was based on how good the instruction was.

As a follow I got all the following practice I needed during class/socials, but for leads I know that it helps to do extra 1-1 practice for new moves learned in class with a practice partner (doesn't have to be the same one), as class practice is usually not enough for learning new moves well; I know many leads who do this with friends. (not sure if the follow gets any benefit out of being a practice puppet though.. :p )
 
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At first I went with a friend (same gender). Got a girlfriend into it a bit but she was never good enough to really be a practice partner. And at this point I go out too often to have a consistent partner, and my sensual it's good enough that people are willing to put up with my still in progress salsa and I can kind of make friends.
 
I don't think it matters how you start - solo, with friend, significant other, bf/gf, with a date, with opposite gender friends, yada, yada. What matters is if you persist and go out social dancing a lot!
 
We went together with my wife. Were practicing quite a lot at home at the beginning. Arguing, sometimes throwing things around to prove some point, not talking to each other for hours, analyzing the hell out of different salsa related things, counting music, supporting each others self esteem after some tough classes (usually by not so good teachers ;) ). Fun times :D I definitely would not have made through the beginner hell without her :) Now it is much easier, we do not argue any more, rarely practice, but I kind of miss those times ... ;)
 
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