by Katley Demetria Brown

Created on: May 07, 2010   Last Updated: November 07, 2010

“There are no strangers here: only friends you haven’t met yet.”  This quote from William Butler Yeats is especially true about dancing.

Dances are social events, and by their very nature promote friendships, a common interest promotes a common bond.  Dancing is an integral part of celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, parties, festivals, and cultural events.  The person who knows how to dance has an advantage when it comes to meeting people. 

Whether you're looking for a life partner, a casual relationship, or a fun night out with friends, dancing is a great way to socialize, get some much-needed exercise and learn something new.  It certainly beats vegetating in front of the TV!

Dancing provides a number of health benefits.  You get aerobic exercise, which helps shed extra pounds, strengthens the heart, and produces endorphins.  You make new friends, and you learn something new.  Learning the steps and their sequence sharpens the brain, making it more efficient in focusing and concentration.

The best way to learn to dance with a minimal amount of anxiety is to take a beginner class. There are many kinds of dance and there is something for everyone, whether it's ballroom, jazz, tap, ballet, salsa, swing, square dance or folk dance. 

By taking a class you're among other people at the same level as yourself and you won't be intimidated.  The instructor will break down the dance for you into its basic components.  While you're learning you'll get to talk to other students, and get to know people. Arranging practices in between classes is a good way to make friends.

Some people are afraid to take up dancing because they don't have a partner.  And there are marriages in which one partner has an interest in dancing, and the other doesn't.  Don't let that stop you from learning to dance.  You’re dancing to have fun, not to fool around on your spouse.  There are couples who have met and gotten to know each other while taking dance classes.  I know of several married couples in which dance was the catalyst in starting their relationship.

The good thing about dance classes is that the instructor will find a partner for you, if a partner is needed.  Although most people are familiar with the couples and their fancy footwork in the show “Dancing With the Stars,"  there are types of dance that don't require a partner at all, such as folk dancing (done in a circle or line holding hands) or country line dancing.   Some square dance groups will welcome singles; it depends on the policy of the club.

Learning the dances is a bit of work at first, but once you've become proficient, it stops being work and starts being fun!

My life revolves around folk dancing and it has enriched my life with several long-term friendships..  As a matter of fact, I visited New York City recently, attended two dance events, and saw people that I knew from dance classes from 25 years ago.  It was amazing to reconnect with long lost friends who I haven't seen in ages.  .

In some instances, the dance group turns into a second family, and the weekly dances are like  family reunions.  People talk about births, deaths and marriages.  The bonds become so strong that when a member dies,  the other dancers will attend the wake or the funeral and mourn with you. 

So, does dancing bring people together?  It certainly does, and they are that much happier for it!

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