My partner does not want to learn to dance - What can I do?
Do I need a partner to start dancing?
What music goes to what dances?
How do we find a song for our first dance?
I can't hear the beat of the music. Can I still learn to dance?
What is dance etiquette?
What are some of the benefits of learning to dance?
What is Ballroom Dancing?
What kind of shoes should we wear when learning from your dance DVDs?
My partner does not want to learn to dance - What can I do?
This is a tough one, though there's still hope. Just as dancing is supposed to be fun, so is the learning process. There's generally a reason behind someone not wanting to learn and most of the time it has to do with confidence as no one wants to be embarrased, especially in front of a loved one or friends. The best thing to do is order one of Trautman's beginner DVDs and try the instruction on your own and try the instruction from your partner's perspective (i.e., if you're a lady, try the man's part) so you can talk confidently about it's ease when you explain it to him/her. It's a much easier sell if you have it on and ask him/her to join you and "it's really easy" than to ask if they'd be interested in learning to dance. Keep in mind, too, we're one of the few companies that have a full 100% money-back guarantee, so if it doesn't work out, you can always return it.
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Do I need a partner to start dancing?
No - and this goes along with the question above regarding a partner who doesn't want to learn to dance. It's easy to learn the steps on your own, but we encourage you to try to learn both parts. This way, you'll understand what's supposed to happen and it will make things easier when you try to dance with others. There are countless places to dance socially with others who "just want to dance."
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What music goes to what dances?
You can click on the Dance Music link at the top of this page or you can click here to see dance tracks for each of the dances we teach. We are always finding and dancing to new songs and the lists are updated periodically so you can have the most variety in your song choices! If you have further questions on song suggestions or what dance could go with a specific song, please contact us and we'll be more than happy to help!
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How do we find a song for our first dance?
We have an entire database of Wedding dance songs that we've just recently made available to the public. Take a look at the link at the top of the page to Dance Music and it'll take you to the list where you can find your perfect First Dance song.
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I can't hear the beat of the music. Can I still learn to dance?
Most men feel this way or ask this question. It boils down to being taught (i.e., a learned skill) what to listen for and how to apply it to your dancing. The skill itself is what's called perception-motor match and is something that can be practiced alone or with a partner. There are a number of tips and drills for understanding rhythm and music in our book, Picture Yourself Dancing (page 21). In addition, Shawn Trautman's DVDs do a great job of explaining the steps and using danceable music to practice with while dancing along with you to ensure you're keeping up.
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What is dance etiquette?
Dance etiquette can be broken into 2 main groups: Partner Etiquette and Floor Etiquette. Details on each of these can be found in our book, Picture Yourself Dancing (pp 26-27), but the summary is this - Partner Etiquette entails not giving unsolicited advice, trusting your dance partner, thanking your dance partner, and always introducing yourself to others. Floor eqiquette entails being aware of your surroundings at all times (on the dance floor), apologizing or excusing yourself if a collision occurs on the dance floor (even if it's not your fault), and knowing the correct placement for each dance (i.e., where to dance on the dance floor).
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What are some of the benefits of learning to dance?
There are so many to list, so I'll try to limit it to the ones I find most relevant. Dancing reduces stress, increases energy, improves strength, and increases muscle tone and coordination, all while having fun and meeting people. The exercise one gets from dancing is particularly important because it has a great social outlet that goes along with it as well as the romantic interludes that may be an outcome. Sweating, laughing, joking, singing, and moving to the beat of great music all while mingling and "touching" (if you're dancing with a partner) others on the dance floor. The increases in body awareness, balance, and self confidence are also huge benefits to learning to dance. There are probably endless lists of the benefits that you could add on from here - my recommendation: purchase any pack of Shawn Trautman DVDs and start reaping the benefits!
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What is Ballroom Dancing?
Ballroom dancing is an umbrella term for the social dancing spectrum. Ballroom dancing is comprised of everything from Swing to Slow Dancing, to Two-Step to Cha-Cha or Salsa and everything in between. There are classic ballroom dances like the Fox-Trot and the Waltz, but all of the social dances that Shawn Trautman teaches in his dance collection still fall under the realm of "Ballroom Dancing", though many of them are the up-to-date versions of the classics.
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