{"id":8978,"date":"2012-03-07T22:39:38","date_gmt":"2012-03-08T04:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.passion4dancing.com\/?p=8978"},"modified":"2019-02-12T11:11:08","modified_gmt":"2019-02-12T17:11:08","slug":"dance-partner-search-a-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.passion4dancing.com\/dance-partner-search-a-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Find A Dance Partner: Ballroom Dance Partner Search Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nSo you want to find a dance partner<\/strong> to practice with? <\/p>\n

With a partner you will be able to get extra practice outside your dance lessons<\/a> to review and perfect your moves.<\/p>\n

But where do you start? And how do you make sure that you find the right partner? These are some of the questions we will be answering through out this article.<\/strong>
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The first step in your dance partner search<\/strong> is all about you! You need to be absolutely clear on what your goals are and what you want to get out of the partnership.<\/p>\n

Then, use your own criteria to screen potential partners.<\/p>\n

To save you time I have come up with 3 good questions you should ask and discuss with a potential partner. These will give you a good idea if you have a match or not. Undoubtedly there are many others, but these are a good start.<\/p>\n

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4 Points to consider:<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

1. Do you have the same goals?<\/h3>\n

Some people are looking to become the next National USA champions, while others are just looking to be able to lead<\/a> and follow<\/a> someone at a party. It doesn\u2019t matter what the goal is as much as finding someone who has the same ones as you do. So make sure you spend the time to really find out what they are looking to get out of this partnership.<\/p>\n

2. Which style do you do?<\/h3>\n

Are you looking for someone who does American style Cha Cha<\/a> and Waltz<\/a> only? Or are you looking for someone who does all 9 Smooth and Rhythm dances? Or is it Salsa? Or international style Ballroom that you’re looking to do? You want to make sure that you find someone who wants to learn and practice at least 70% of the same dance styles<\/a> that you want to – this will ensure a long term match!<\/p>\n

3. How often do you want to practice?<\/h3>\n

Is it everyday? Once a week or once a month? I recommend at least one practice session per week on a consistent basis, but again it all depends on your goals… Next you will need to agree on how long you want to practice each time. Is it 30 minutes? 1 hour or more? Make sure you discuss this ahead of time to avoid future frustrations.<\/p>\n

4. Can you work together? Are you compatible?<\/h3>\n

While you are not looking for a soulmate, you should make sure that your partner is someone you want to be around. You need to find out whether your personalities match. If you are an easy going, social dancer then it may be very important for you to find a partner who likes to keep it light and fun. On the other hand, if you are competitive and serious, then you need to find a dance partner<\/em> who has the same drive and focus.<\/p>\n

Now that you know what you need to discuss with you potential partner, let\u2019s talk about the next step – where do you look for one?<\/p>\n

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3 Places to look for a partner:<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

1. Local Dance studio<\/h3>\n

Your dance studio is probably the first place you should broadcast your search for a partner. Let them know your age, height and goals and ask them if they have anybody in mind for you. Because they already know you personally they may be able to recommend someone well suited for you.<\/p>\n

2. Fellow dancers\/Classmates<\/h3>\n

Tell all your \u201cdancing buddies\u201d that you are searching for a partner<\/em>. They may know someone to refer you to. In general, the more people you tell the better, it\u2019s a numbers game!<\/p>\n

3. Online<\/h3>\n

This is a new effective place to look for a dance partner. There are now many websites that offer free and paid partner classified ads. The best thing about these sites is the information they provide about each dancer. They will usually have their picture, height, age, gender, location, a little bio and what they are looking for, all in one place. Lately, I have also seen a number of people posting their youtube video URL so you can see their dancing instantly!<\/p>\n

Here are 2 great sites:<\/p>\n

Ballroomdancers.com<\/a> – This website that allows you to search by zipcode! They provide lots of stats about each dancer and it is a great website for both social dancers and competitive dancers looking for a partner.<\/p>\n

Dancesportinfo.net<\/a> – Another great website that is very popular right now. They offer both a free and premium listing depending on how many features you want to use. Note, this site is more suitable for those looking for a competitive dance partner.<\/p>\n

Where to find a partner video:
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