Social Dancing in NY States’ Capital District
Get Off the Couch:
This is almost always easier said than done. We all know how difficult it is to get motivated, when it comes to exercise and meeting new people. Social dancing will give you something to be excited about.
You can choose from many different styles of dancing, such as Ballroom, Swing, Latin or Tango. All of these dances are unique in both style and music genre. For example, if you are really in to big band music or if you really dig jazz, Swing dancing might be the dance for you. You can try one dance or eventually try them all! The important thing is that you actually do it.
More often than not, people will say that they are going to begin an activity and they don’t follow through. If you truly want to get in shape and, or meet someone special, you must be willing to make a lifestyle change. You must vow to accomplish your goal. Find a local dance studio and sign up for the next upcoming session of group classes. Do not put it off until next month or next season. If you procrastinate, you will probably never see the inside of a dance studio.
A good starting place for finding a social dance studio would be the yellow pages. Another excellent resource is the Internet. Many dance studios have websites that will give you an abundance of information regarding their programs. You can view their recent schedule, find information on what to wear to class as well as what you can expect to learn in the class that you choose to participate in.
In New York States’ Capital District there are plenty of dance studios to choose from. The style of dancing that you aim to learn will affect your decision of which studio to choose. For example, franchised dance studios, such as Arthur Murray Dance Studios or Fred Astaire Dance Studios are excellent places to learn American Style and International Style Ballroom dancing. Both of these studios are located in Latham, NY, minutes from Albany. If you are seeking to learn stylish, social dances that fall outside of the Ballroom dance category, such as Salsa, Argentine Tango or Lindy Hop, the Saratoga SAVOY, in Saratoga Springs, is a fabulous place to learn.
The Capital District offers many options for dance instruction. You should call around and take notes on what each studio has to offer before making your decision on which one to choose. Comparing websites is another great way to scope out each studio. Each website will list the studio accomplishments, goals as well as the style of dancing that they specialize in.
Forget about the Gym:
The first thing people do when they want to get in to shape is purchase a gym membership. In my experience many of us don’t end up using it. Our membership cards end up falling to the bottom of our purses, amongst the loose change and candy wrappers, or they end up buried deep within our wallets with no hope of ever seeing daylight. It is hard to get motivated about something that is not entertaining. I’m not saying that the gym can’t be an effective way of shaping up, but it’s definitely not something to write home about.
When you learn to dance you are not only being physically active, you are learning a new skill. You are learning an exciting skill that you can use at many social functions. I doubt that you’ll ever have the opportunity to bench press at a wedding or at next year’s holiday, office party.
Dancing will increase your flexibility and stamina, encourage mild stretching and also improve your posture and body alignment. Social dancing is a low impact, aerobic activity that you won’t have to force yourself to participate in because you will have so much fun while doing it!
Ditch the late night meat markets:
Going to clubs and sports bars seem to be the trend for meeting people, besides online dating (that’s another article). When you go to a club or a sports bar it is so loud that you can hardly think let alone converse with another human being. When you go to your first group, dance lesson you may not find the man or woman of your dreams right away but you are definitely setting yourself up for success in the future. Some people do meet that special someone in their dance class. Most people meet that special someone while they are out, applying what they learned in dance class. The class will teach you skills that you will later apply in social settings.
After a couple of classes you should go to a dance. At the dance you will meet many people, some may not even take lessons at the same dance studio. You will be introduced to a whole community of people who enjoy dancing. This is how you meet someone. You meet them by being active in the social dance scene.
NY States’ Capital District has a large dance community that is booming with activities. If you live within the Capital District, you could actually go dancing pretty much any night of the week! Within the cities that make up the region, Albany, Schenectady, Troy and Saratoga Springs, there are many venues for dancing. Some venues are DJ’d others take advantage of the areas amazing musical talent. Every Thursday, for example, you can dance Salsa to a live Latin band at The Chameleon, a great restaurant on Saratoga Lake. The Big House in Albany is known for hosting evenings that cater to dancers who enjoy showing off their West Coast Swing moves. Also on Thursdays, if Latin dancing is not your thing, you can go to the Fuze Box in Albany for Swing night! A great website that lists many of the dance events in the area is http://www.city-of-troy.com/swing/.
Many beginning dancers are shy, at first, but social dancing is also known to increase one’s self image! Don’t be afraid to venture out to one of the areas many venues by yourself. The Capital Districts’ dance community is very friendly and welcomes beginning dancers! The only way to become a better dancer and become active in the community is to keep dancing and going out to the many clubs and restaurants that offer social dancing.
Another aspect to finding romance through dance is that when you do meet someone out dancing, you know instantly that the two of you share a common interest, unlike when you meet a complete stranger in a bar. Having a common interest, from the beginning, gives you a fabulous opportunity to build a deep, meaningful and long lasting relationship!
Learn to Dance:
You now know that social dancing is rich with benefits, both physically and socially. Now it’s time for you to get in to shape and expand your social horizons while learning a fun, new skill!
