Learn How to Slow Dance

There are a lot of reasons you might want to learn how to slow dance. It can help create new social connections, or may be part of simply expanding your dance skills and appreciation. Whatever the reason, the good news is: it's very easy to learn how to slow dance.

1. Listen to the Beat – This skill is certainly not unique to slow dancing, as it applies to every kind of dancing under the sun. However, it is much more important in slow dances, which tend to have a simpler, clearer beat than the rapid polyrhythms of fast dances. In those, you have more beats to match up to your movements – in slow dancing, if you're off the beat, it's very obvious. When in doubt, just stand still. A dramatic pause is never a bad thing, and it can help you locate the rhythm before your next step.
2. Keep your feet close to the floor – In slower and graceful dances such as the waltz, dancers are taught to keep their feet close to the floor – in fact, they often will simply slide the soles of their shoes along, never actually losing contact with the floor. This is because the higher your foot comes off the floor the sooner you have to put it down – both because of gravity and because of balance. In order to slow dance, your weight needs to stay fairly evenly distributed between your feet, in order to give a smooth glide and no sense of "catching" yourself as you dance.
3. Listen to your partner – A good slow dance is like a conversation – since it's not as physically exerting as some of the more athletic dances like swing, it leaves room for more of a connection between the dancers. However, you have to listen to what they are telling you with their body – with their proximity to you, how they are holding your hands, what kind of eye contact. Aside to these nonverbal cues, the simplicity of a slow dance also gives you the opportunity to have an actual conversation with your partner – but it is sometimes better to let the dance be the conversation, and not let words get in the way.
4. Wear comfortable shoes. – Ideally, all of your clothing should be comfortable, but sometimes there is a tendency to want to dress up in high heels or a tight collar and tie in order to impress your partner. While it may look good, in order to dance, one has to be able to move, and slow dances especially mean you're going to spend a long time on your feet. Uncomfortable shoes, jackets that don't fit right, neckties that choke up on the neck – all of these will distract you from enjoying your dance. At the very least, take off your jacket and loosen your tie – that will let your partner know that you are comfortable with them, and increase the intimacy of the dance.
5. Have fun – There's no practical reason to dance. It doesn't put food in your stomach, protect you from the elements, or put a roof over your head (unless you're a [[Who Won Dancing With the Stars|winner on Dancing with the Stars). The whole point of dancing, slow or fast, is to enjoy the music, the environment, and most of all the feeling of two bodies sharing a moment of togetherness for no other reason than that it's fun.

Any dance studio will offer training in movement that can increase your ability to slow dance – often by developing the skills listed above. Of course, you also can try looking online, but most dance videos online are actually teaching the faster, more complex moves. One exception is WikiHow, which has a very thorough if academic lesson in slow dancing.

The best place to learn how to slow dance is in the arms of your partner, whether on a dance floor or just in your living room. Build that connection, and the rest will follow..

• Photos of Ballet Dancers
• Dance Studio Equipment
• Pictures of Limbo Dancing

• Dance Steps to Thriller
• Popular Line Dances
• Famous Choreographers
• Country Line Dance Steps
• Famous Ballet Dancers

• Two Step Dance
• Main Page
• Dancing the Foxtrot
• Learn Rumba
• Learn Rhythm Dances