By: Benjamin Soencksen

Originally published in NASSPDA November 2015 Newsletter

Partner dancing, as we all know, is such a great activity that isn’t only healthy for  the body and mind, but also a great way to connect to people and build a social network.

To reap all of the benefits of this very rewarding activity in one’s life, one would want to partake in all of its mutations. Enjoy the learning process by engaging someone’s scrutinizing and knowledgeable eye, whether that is through a private lesson or the more social experience of a group class. Mingle at a social dance with others, make new friends, find a dance partner or just simply practice.

Though, if you truly want to practice, find a dance partner and a space to do so in your own pace and on your own terms. Body memory and changing physical habits can only be effected through repetition, which can’t be effectively done at a social dance. Another great social experience is to join a formation team, which works for weeks or months on a set choreography that may involve the combination of different dances and pieces of music.

And, of course, there is the dance competition, which can be inspiring in so many different ways, whether you go to watch and support other dancers or whether you participate yourself. It is the ultimate test of your dancing skills, but also yet another place to connect to others that enjoy this activity for so many different reasons.

Many believe that you are only ready to compete when your skills have reached a certain level of expertise that guarantees placing well. But that, in my opinion, is ultimately the least important goal.

As a social dancer, competitor or official on the sidelines, I always feel that my participation contributes to the enjoyment of the community as well as myself – a social communion, as you will. Even if I know, as a competitor, that I won’t win an event I entered, I am rewarded by the knowledge that my participation enriches the experience of fellow competitors and increases the validation of their placement. In summary, partner dancing in all its forms and formed circles is a wonderful tool to connect with one’s community at large when one engages in all its mutations.