Enjoy the Discovery

A Beginner at Dance Lite

By Julie Johnston

The joy a person feels when they first nail a dance step is absolutely infectious. The focused expression on their face stretches wide into a smile, the tension in their shoulders subsides, and you often hear a celebratory, "Wow! That was great!" For the past six months, I've been lucky enough to see this joy and encourage others to try dancing through Dance Lite, a beginner-focused class hosted by Dancers Studio in Saint Paul.

Having given up on partner dancing some time ago due to a lack of qualified leads, I opted to give it another try when I found this class. The initial class surprised me by having members of the University of Minnesota Ballroom Dance Club in attendance. In spite of their youth, these dancers were ahead of my beginner level, and the men were better than many of my former leads.

I had even more fun as I continued attending. In a room full of brand-new dancers, the transition from intense focus to explosive laughter is on a hair trigger. With true beginners—people in their first couple of dance lessons—each little correction can utterly transform their understanding of the motion. A well-timed "and left, right, left" can turn a clumsy, unmusical stompathon into a peaceful promenade.

As a beginner to ballroom after doing an unpartnered style of dance, I knew my weakness in getting my weight on the wrong foot, but learned that I needed to know the steps and not just count on a partner to know them. As I slowly grow in experience, I love to encourage people who are struggling to stick with it, ask questions, dance with an instructor who knows how to lead, or if we're ahead of the music, count aloud to help them find the rhythm.

In the time I've been attending, I've seen a delightful change in the clientele and ambiance at Dancers Studio. Individuals who were at first cautious about trying dancing are now eager to share their knowledge with newcomers. The sense of anticipation in the room before each class is noticeable, and should there be the chance to observe the more advanced do rounds after class, we are all the more encouraged in our desire to expand our knowledge, grow, and improve.

I'm loving being a part of such a fun and encouraging group. I hope to see you at Dance Lite soon.