How To Master Simple Ballroom Dancing

Perfect your posture. Unlike casual dancing, a ballroom dancer doesn’t slouch or lean on their partner. Both the man and the woman must elongate their neck and body. Practice correct posture by standing straight against a wall.

Look over each other’s right shoulder. Now imagine you’re the most beautiful person on earth who has just met the other most beautiful person on earth. What’s that feel like? Exactly. Keep that expression throughout the dance.

Hold hands correctly. This means the man’s raised left hand holds the woman’s right hand, palms facing each other. The man’s right hand connects with the woman’s shoulder blade. His hand should be cupped, fingers together. The woman’s left hand should be on the man’s right shoulder, her fingers at the seam of his sleeve.

Having the perfect “closed dance hold” means the woman is just slightly to the right of the man. This way the legs move between each other and the knees don’t hit.

Now that you have the basic positioning, learn the basic waltz box step, the most common step in ballroom dances like the rumba, waltz, or foxtrot. Start by taping out a small box on the floor.

Practice counting one, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three. This will be the essential timing, and the sooner it feels natural, the better.

Practice alone making a box with your feet. To make the first half of the box, step forward with your left foot — which is “one” — and slide your right foot to meet it and then step to the right (two). Your weight now shifts to the right foot so your left slides to meet it (three).

Now finish the box. Step back with your right foot (one) and slide your left to meet it and then to the left (two). Your weight now shifts to the left foot so your right slides to meet it (three).

Now put it together, doing the box step by yourself in time to your one-two-three counting.

Now practice with a partner. Count off five, six, seven, eight before you begin so you’ll both be prepared to start together on one.

After you feel comfortable with the box step, forget confining yourself strictly to the box, and let yourself move more naturally around the floor.

Once you’re able to loosen up while keeping time with the beat, try turning. Turn slightly to the right as you step on one and two; you’ll begin traveling in a circle as you keep your basic box pattern.

Remember to maintain your posture at all times, keeping your connection points. Stand up straight, Quasimodo! Good ballroom dancers never slouch or disconnect.

Now that you know how to do a basic waltz box step, practice every chance you get. This is just the beginning. Get out there and dance, dance, dance!