In the Mood for Ballroom Dancing

When I was growing up I had seen people on television doing the swing, waltz, cha cha, et al. I never imagined doing them myself. In fact, I had not given the idea much notice at all.

That all changed during the summer after I turned 16. I was given the opportunity to be in a dance festival that was held during that summer. The festival was held on the football field of a local high school. By the time we arrived at this performance we had practiced quite a number of times and I was hooked on doing the swing.



One of the guys I liked, at the time, was also in this festival. So, at church youth dances we decided to show off. One of the fanciest moves we had learned was the 'Octopus' (see below). Soon after the festival, at one of the youth dances, they held a dance contest. There was no doubt that we were gonna be in it together.

Anyone who wanted to be in the dance contest just had to dance during the preliminary round. Then the judges went around holding their hands above the heads of those who would go onto the next and final round. As they prepared for the next round we thought we hadn't been picked...until the judges inticated that they had one more couple and motioned for us to come to the center of the dance floor.

We danced our hearts out in that final round. At the end of the final round the judges held their hands over each dance couple's heads one by one as they had everyone vote by noise level as to their favorite. In the end we had won with the loudest noise coming from the rest of our peers. My interest in the swing was now complete. I wanted to do it all the time.



Several years later I found a ballroom dance class offered at the University of Utah as part of the PE requirements. It was a beginning ballroom dance class. In it I learned not only how to do the swing correctly, but how to waltz and cha cha.

I later took country swing, intermediate ballroom and advanced ballroom. Now I don't claim to be very good at it, but I sure have a lot of fun doing it.

During the term that I was taking the advanced ballroom class I met the guy I would marry. No, we did not meet in the class, but on another dance floor. It was because he knew how to dance the swing that I gave him a second look.

They now teach 'social dancing' as a PE credit in the high school my boys attend. My oldest has learned how to do the swing. This mom is proud.


...now to find a good dance floor.


I found an even better video of the swing.

...still looking for a dance floor...