Almost every form of dance has the option of some kind of partnering, with ballet, ballroom and Latin being the main styles in which this occurs. When learning ballroom and Latin, many dancers feel like they are thrown straight in at the deep end when they are partnered with another dancer straight away – often a stranger – so they can learn to move as one. A strong partnership in dance is integral in any form of partnering.
Physical contact is the main aspect of partnering, and in ballroom and Latin particularly, personal space is non existent. As a dancer, the mind and body are trained to pick up the movement quickly, and with skill. Previous dance training will mean the body is able to adapt well to different styles yet for some, adding a partner throws everything off! Trust is also integral to dancing with a partner, in addition to giving up personal space and control. Despite these feelings of anxiety, every time you trust your partner a little more, your dancing together improves. Communication is also key: a poor connection between the dancers will mean signals will be lost or misunderstood and a constant struggle will ensue.
When these three elements of physical contact, trust, and communication come together, the magic of ballroom and Latin is overwhelming, with two bodies moving as one. Once they get used to it, many people – dancers and non-dancers alike – learn to love the partnership that ballroom and Latin requires through much give and take. Whatever the technique employed during ballroom and Latin dance, even if the bodies are not in full closed position, they are still connected and move in response to one another. Whether it is the first time or the hundredth time, there is still something ultimately satisfying about dancing with a partner.