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This page last updated:
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
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How to.. do ballroom dancing
THE return of Strictly Come Dancing to BBC television screens has led to a big increase in the number of students at dance schools.
And a major Hollywood film Shall We Dance, starring Richard Gere as a man who falls for beautiful ballroom dance teacher Jennifer Lopez, is set to increase the number of students even more.
Entering the Mavis Dance School, in Dilly Hall, High Street, Fletton, Peterborough, I had lots of pre-conceived images of what ballroom dancers were like.
The smiles. The sequins. The tightly coiffered hair.
In fact, I couldn’t get the image of the couple from Hi-de-Hi out of my head – all smiles and perfect looks on the outside and sniping underneath.
But when I walked in I found a large class of people, of all ages, dancing with gusto to a rock and roll tune, with instructor Mavis Stephenson right in the middle of it all calling out the moves.
It may not have all been in sync across the whole class, but the enjoyment as the dancers moved through the steps was there for everyone to see.
Once everyone from the class had left, I was given a quick run-through the basic steps to two of the most popular dances – the waltz and the quick-step.
These are the two dances that most beginners start with, and instantly I could see why you hear so many jokes about bad dancers stomping on each other’s feet.
I tried not to look down as teacher Mavis Stephenson firmly took me in hand and counted out the steps, but it was hard not to while moving across the floor so quickly.
When you’re surrounded by groups of other inexperienced couples it must almost be impossible.
But that said, it wasn’t too tough to pick up. Although we only practicised for a few minutes, I soon found myself getting into the rhythm of it.
And I think if I was with somebody else who was as unsure as I was about what they were doing, it would be good fun, once you had got all the apologies over and out the way for mashing their toes into the ground.
Certainly it would be great for couples, and that is where Mavis gets a lot of her private dancers from – couples preparing for their dreaded wedding dance.
She said: “I often make up a routine for them for their wedding.
“People are often dancing for fitness and health reasons. It is a particularly good hobby for retired people, as it keeps them fit and it is something they can do together.”
Mavis has been teaching for 21 years, but she has been dancing since she was a 10-year-old doing Scottish and country dancing at school.
She said: “I took it from there. I went to classes for ballroom in my teens and took all my exams and went into competitions dancing throughout the country.”
She has been highly commended by the National Association of Teachers of Dancing and has taught many pupils to follow her lead into the world of exams and trophies.
She has also seen the changes in fashion, with the current rise of salsa in particular.
She said: “There is always something to keep it fresh.”