What is social dancing? Many cultures have social dances, which vary in structure and music. The waltzing of British culture, often featured in Jane Austen’s novels, and the salsa dancing of Cuba are very different in style.
However, these styles of dance all serve the same purpose of bringing people together and cultivating a community. In times when people’s lives were much harder and most people worked from sunrise to sunset, social dances were a way for people to relax, celebrate and enjoy each other’s company.
In today’s society this form of dancing and community activity is much less common. Most of us are more used to mosh pit and rave dancing where for the most part we just jump up and down with the beat. This dancing is fun and enjoyable at concerts and other such occasions, but it does not foster community in the same way that a social dance does. At a social dance, everyone dances with everyone and it is a wonderful way to meet people and make new friends.
When dancing at a social dance you are able to meet and converse with people within the time limit of a single dance. A university community is strengthened when people know each other’s names and recognize each other around campus.
Social dancing can encourage this sense of community. Social dancing is much more common on conservative college campuses, like Christendom and Hillsdale, than it is in other parts of the country. However, there are several misconceptions about swing dancing which are impeding it from being as popular at the University of Dallas.
One such misconception is that when you dance with someone it means something important for your relationship with that person. This is not even remotely true. Just because you dance with someone does not mean you are destined to marry them. The ring by spring culture is not that strong.
This misconception leads to people being afraid to dance with someone because they believe that it carries more significance than it does. In most cultures, including swing culture, everyone dances with everyone. The old dance with the young and pass on skills and moves. The experienced dance with the inexperienced and can offer improvement. But more than a teaching experience, swing dancing is a way for people who may not usually interact to enjoy good music and entertaining physical activity.
Another myth that needs to be addressed is the belief that you have to be good at dancing to go to social dances. Consider this: How can you become good at dancing if you don’t practice by dancing with many people of varying skill levels and styles?
You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet right? By that logic, you have to trip over your feet at least once or twice before you figure out how to dance. You have to get stuck doing a move a few times before you can do it flawlessly. The people who show up to swing dances and other social dances, those who seem to dance effortlessly and know exactly what they are doing were not born that way. They had to come and practice. The truth is that most people do not care if you are a really good dancer. It is more fun to be dancing, even if it isn’t perfect, than to be standing by the wall wishing you were dancing.
Another misconception that commonly occurs is that once you are in a relationship you can’t dance with anyone else. It is unfortunately common to see couples come to swing dances and dance only with each other all night long.
While this is very cute, it leaves other dancers feeling awkward and uncomfortable. As I said before, at social dances everyone dances with everyone, couples with each other but also with other people. It is perfectly fine to come to a swing dance and dance with your significant other more times than you dance with everyone else, but you should also dance with other people, so as to grow in community with those around you.
I love social dancing culture, specifically swing dancing, because I grew up in New York where there is no social dancing culture. I find it so amazing to be in Texas where this culture still exists. I love going to dance at Red River or at the UD swing club, and I would highly recommend going out and joining the social dancing community to meet new people, have some fun, and learn a skill that you will be able to use for the rest of your life.