It’s no secret that if you want to meet new people, you have to put yourself out there.  There are any number of reasons to want to build new friendships. For instance, maybe you just moved, took a new job, or lost a good friend or loved one.  Whatever the reason, for better mental health, put making new friends on your list of things to do.  And, here’s great news – one of the easiest ways to do that is to learn ballroom dancing. Surprise!

What’s so good about ballroom dancing and how will it improve my friendships and social life?

Here are some of the benefits of ballroom dancing.

• Look and feel better on and off the dance floor.
• Improve your social life by making friends with other dancers
• Enjoy a new hobby
• Improved health through low-impact physical activity
• Fight cognitive decline as you learn new moves and techniques
• Dancing is good for all ages
• Impress a particular person
• Improve posture, balance, and flexibility
• Friends moving to music together get a great cardiovascular workout
• Express your creativity with music and dance
• Increase self-confidence
• Make your partner happy
• Lose weight and get in shape
• Never stop learning
• Did I mention make new friends?

What’s the best way to learn ballroom dancing?

Actually, I believe you can’t beat taking lessons at a ballroom dance studio. Using a combination of private lessons (one instructor and one student or a couple), group classes (one instructor and a number of students), and dance practice parties, you’re sure to meet other students. So, if you want to create new friendships, ballroom dancing is the way to go.

If lessons at a studio are not available or are outside of your budget, by all means check out free (or more affordable) group classes and/or online lessons.

Where do people go to do this kind of dancing? 

If you never indulged your inner dancer, you’re going to be surprised by how many opportunities there are. Try this Dance Safari post, “You Should Be Dancing – But, Where?” for an outline of some of the places you and your friends can go ballroom dancing.

Here are 5 things to know when making new friends with ballroom dancing.

1. You’ll always want to look and smell your best. Therefore, it’s a good idea to make sure your breath is fresh. Also, don’t forget deodorant and avoid wearing too much cologne or perfume.
2. Good old-fashioned manners will make you stand out. Obviously, that means politely asking for a dance, being respectful during the dance, and returning your partner to where you started.
3. Don’t be a dance hog who keeps the same partner for multiple dances. In fact, it’s considered gauche. (Look it up.)
4. As a leader, if you try a new step and your partner misses it, try it again. If it still doesn’t work out, drop it and move on to something else.
5. No showing off. That’s because social dancing is about friendship and the partnership, not who’s watching.

The truth is, finding friendship isn’t hard in the ballroom dance community. After all, it takes two to Tango. Also, to Foxtrot, Swing, Salsa, or Cha Cha.