While television audiences were gearing up for Strictly last week, I had a fantastic dancing week myself. Lots of new clients joined my classes and it gave me the greatest pleasure to see how they light up in the arms of my fabulous team of professional dancers. It truly was like being a kid in a candy store.
Most of my female clients have waited a lifetime to dance with a man. Now, not only are they guaranteed an equal number of men and women in their class but they actually get to choose. All the guys are good dancers – some are even competition level. They take a pride in helping clients to learn. At the end of the session everyone leaves on a natural high buzzing with excitement. If we allowed them to they would stay all night!
Our small but growing group of male clients is blossoming with the help of my lovely team of girls and one is even starting to write a diary. When he read me some of the pages it was a real eye-opener into the way that men feel about learning to dance. They really are quite scared of looking foolish and not keeping up. He expressed a thought that was re-iterated by Camilla Dallerup of Strictly Come Dancing. They actually worry about the close personal contact they are having with an attractive stranger. She said the same thing that I would – it is just a professional contact and doesn’t mean anything.
It is fantastic to have a man take you into a perfect frame and guide you expertly around the floor BUT the focus is always on the dancing, and not on the fact that you are up close and personal with a man. I suppose that is why we have been so successful and everyone involved feels completely safe. However, I had not appreciated before the problems learning to dance with a trained female partner who is a stranger could cause to a man.
If any guys are reading this it would be great to have some opinions and feedback.