Yes, I currently attend a series of four ballroom lessons a week. Wow! It can be tough, but boy, do I have a lot to share. No, I'm not Fred Astaire, but yes, I can dance a song. First, let me tell you the ballroom lessons that I took, for they are NOT all the same. I took foxtrot, which is the most social of the classic ballroom dances (waltz, rumba). I wanted to start with a class before entering into swing or salsa dancing, as those will undoubtedly be my favorite.

My first class, I sucked. I realized, I am not entranced by the foxtrot (nor really significantly moved by it). But it was so simple! I mean it - I may not have been good, I may have been counting out loud, and I may have been taking steps that did not eschew confidence, but I was there, and I was doing it! I was taking ballroom lessons. Real ballroom dancing lessons (hold the applause). There were over 20 people in class, and I had enough anonymity to keep comfortable. The teacher did ask for volunteers on occasion, but I was able to skulk in the back of the class. Best of all, there were mirrors. I've always loved looking at myself in a mirror, and during this endless ballroom dance instruction, I became convinced that I was the best dancer in the class (or at least the most handsome).

So, the first class, tough, the second class, I was dancing, the third class, I was getting better, and by the fourth class, I can honestly say, I almost may have known what I was doing. Cool eh? In ballroom dancing classes, and when taking any kind of dance lesson, practice pays off big time! After each class, I danced once, and then fled (and I do mean, fled). That one dance however, I favor as my single greatest tip for beginners.

Anyway, before I ramble on forever, let me give you my three biggest tips for taking ballroom dance classes! Here they are ...

1) Ballroom Lessons are Hard, so smile, relax, and have some FUN!
Dancing is fun, but it's not easy for most. Certainly not for me. By smiling to every partner, laughing at mistakes, and generally joking around (more than anyone else), I was able to lighten the mood, and make my dance partners smile, which in turn, made me smile! Simple enough eh?

2) Music, Music, Music! Ballroom Dance Instruction Music
Whatever the dance, you need to buy the music for home and car use. That's right, you need to listen to the music. Simply because I bought a CD the first day of class, I was leaps and bounds better rhythmically, than anyone else in the dance classes. Plus, the music was fun, and allowed me to ...

3) Practice - Ballroom Lessons are all all about Practice. Be a star in your ballroom dancing classes.

My biggest tip. Yes, I practiced at home (with a DVD), but I really credit my success to staying after class and dancing one single song with whomever I could hang on to. They only played one song after class, but I stayed for it, and it helped a lot. I mean a real lot.
I have many more tips, and a lot of funny stories, but we'll save them for later. I am no master of ballroom dance, but I can almost dance a foxtrot song.

Another helpful resource that can give you more info about ballroom lessons is My Ballroom Lessons Blog