25 Life Lessons from the Ballroom

Everything you need to know about life you can learn from ballroom dancing.  

The way you do anything is the way you do everything, so as you watch Dancing with the Stars, translate for yourself those dance practices into powerful life lessons.

1. Some people can dance naturally, but most people start out not knowing how to dance at all.

2. Anyone can learn how to dance. Some choose not to do it, and struggle throughout the evening.

3. You don’t get to pick the music, but it doesn’t hurt to put in requests.

4. Sometimes, you get asked to dance by a partner who is not right for you. You dance the night away with him, choose not to dance at all, or take one dance and switch partners.

5. Dancing is often about the energy that you put in, not about the skill.

6. Even when you “give” your weight to your partner on the dance floor, you still have to support your own weight on your feet.

7. Learning new dance moves develops new muscles.

8. Some steps require you to bend your knees. Otherwise, the moves will not come out right.

9. Learning when to bend your knees is essential for a graceful dancer.

10. Complaining that you are not a good dancer won’t make you a better dancer. Stop talking, listen, and keep trying. Repeat until your feet feel easy on the floor. For some, it may take many lessons and many dance parties, but everyone can get there.

11. You can skip a dance class, or two, but eventually you still have to pick up exactly where you left off.

12. If you don’t keep your boundaries, you are making it really difficult for your partner to lead you or to follow you.

13. Always keep stable and correct frame during dancing – it will make you feel and look beautiful, even if you mess up the steps here and there.

14. It doesn’t serve you to move too quickly. You end up running ahead of the music, mixing up your steps and getting out of sync with your partner.

15. If you don’t learn how to use your own muscles, you will feel off-balance most of the time. You can find a partner skillful enough move you, but it’s a huge job that quickly turns into a burden.

16. Musicality is an ability to hear the beat, the character and the movement of the music, and to move your body accordingly. Musicality is a worthwhile skill to acquire, because if you won’t, you’ll feel off-beat even if your steps are correct.

17. Physical tension between you and your partner is necessary in order to feel connected. Experimenting with that tension is much like playing with a rubber band. Not enough tension – and the rubber band doesn’t hold things together; too much tension – and the rubber band breaks.

18. Your partner could be the right height, know all the steps to perfection, and smell good, but still feel like a terrible match for you. Pass on that partner.

19. You will slip and fall. And so will everyone else, at different times. Sometimes it will be your fault, sometimes you will just be at the wrong place on the dance floor at the wrong time. You could end up on slippery floor or get dizzy from swirling too much. Pick yourself up, get to a safe place, rest, and start again.

20. Learn from other dancers, but don’t compare yourself to them. You don’t know what their natural abilities are, what motivates them, or how much effort they are really investing into being great dancers.

21. Learn how to stretch time with your moves. Often, moving fast or moving slow on the dance floor is just an illusion.

22. Brush your teeth, smell good, use hand lotion, and wear clean clothes. When you take care of yourself, dancing with you becomes a significantly more pleasant experience.

23. Dance more, talk less. If you are talking a lot, you are missing out on the instruction, and on all the dancing.

24. Everyone has the same tools on the dance floor – his body, his partner’s body, and the floor. Get really familiar with your tools, and figure out how to use them creatively.

25. Be in the moment. You may not know what the next song is, you may not know who your next dance partner is, but be certain in your ability to sort it all out when the time comes. For now, enjoy the moment and make the most of it!

********************************************************************************************************

Does this resonate with you? Please subscribe to my blog .  To stay connected, and get a FREE Practical Guide to Decision-Making Without Regrets, please subscribe to my monthly newsletter. I will never share your e-mail address or send you junk.