Hello again!

I've been wondering this for a while, but what are the most popular dances (styles, not specifics) amongst us superfans?

I could have made this a poll, but I'm interested in whys as much as whats, so I haven't!

Maybe a good way to think of it is:

Favourite Ballroom (so Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Tango, Quickstep, Foxtrot)

Favourite Latin (Samba, Paso Doble, Rhumba, Cha Cha, Jive)

Favourite SCD non 10 dance (American Smooth, Argentine Tango, Charleston, Salsa)

and favourite dance outside of Strictly, partnered, solo, whatever, to do or to watch, whatever is relevant.

I'm also interested in how many of us dance, or did dance, or would like to dance, and how many just love to watch dance, for whatever reason.

Nosy today, huh?

Waltz, mainly because I love the varients of it, such a beautiful dance, it can look so different every time.

Cha Cha, love the pace and when done it fast amazes me, also my best dance personally

Argentine tango has to be the one outside the box, quick, sexy its got it all.

I used to go to lessons, work commitment has put a stop to it, but I never say no to going back. Its the best buzz.

ps dunno why it quoted ha ha

My favourites I suppose have to be the two I dance - Salsa and Argentine Tango (I also dance cha cha and the odd rumba but not the ballroom versions). But both annoy the pants off me on SCD.

But as a viewer my favourites are Viennese Waltz and Paso Doble. If I could choose these would be the first two I would like to learn. However I think they are both pure performance dances. I never heard of a social Paso Doble at say a tea dance. I suppose VW might be done socially.

I am doing a Flamenco workshop next weekend so that might scratch this itch a little.

For me it would be:

Ballroom - Quickstep, I love the discord between the steady top half and the whirring feet. It makes me think of Swans. Also love the big band music it's often performed to.

Latin - Paso Doble, the DRAMA! the STAMPING! the OUTFITS! the STRICTLY BALLROOM kitschness! The PEACOCK-ARY! How can anybody not love the Paso?

Non 10 Dance - AT I realise that the SCD version is not at all authentic, however, the body shapes, the mood and the music as is presented really do appeal to me. I think it's because it feels like the Latin dances, but without the camp bits. The men get to be MEN, does that make sense?

and in the real world, I love Lindy Hop, Charleston, Authentic Jazz and Tap to actually do (Lindy Hop top!) and Ballet to watch, however, as Marguerita Hoare of the Marguerita Hoare (no joke) School of Dance told my mother, "She'll never be the right shape to be a ballerina, y'know" :P

I love to dance bachata.

Hello DiamondBetty.

Favourite Ballroom - Quickstep

Favourite Latin - Jive

Favourite SCD non 10 dance - Argentine Tango

Are you going to post yours? Edit: I see you have now.

I did ballroom as a child for about 12 months - my memory of the length of time is sketchy. I used to go every Saturday to the Rivoli ballroom in south London. It was at the time when the film Grease was popular (showing my age) and we did jives and the hand jives in addition to the individual dances we were learning in our competency/age groups. I stopped going because I got frightened to take my first standard dance test, which would have meant performing in front of others. As an adult I've always regretted stopping.

Wasn't that a bit of a Mecca in its own right? If I am thinking of the right place I am bringing to mind a plush interior that is VERY red.

It's up there a bit! I wanted to make my opinion separate so folk can cut and paste or quote the question without seeing my witterings all the time!

I LOVE the Rivoli! It's absolutely wonderful. The BA Course I studied always has its end of year parties there and it's just gorgeous. A time capsule.

It's never to late to start again y'know? There is social dancing all over the country, all age groups and abilities. It's a great way to make friends, get fitter and feel good. No tests or exams necessary!

Hear hear - I started age 30 and have never regretted it. Best thing I ever did.

Favourite Ballroom - Quickstep

Favourite Latin - Jive

Favourite SCD non 10 dance - Argentine Tango

It most certainly was! I'm gutted to have missed the White Stripes when they played a one off gig there about 10 years ago.

I recall the ballroom being very large. At the end of our Saturday morning classes the ballroom was opened up for all the people present to dance across and it was intimidating. I was only about 9 then though.

Poppysinbloom

I noticed I chose exactly the same as you, I wasn't copying I promise.

Do you guys ever get frustrated by the standard of Jive on SCD? It seems to me to a be a very hard one to 'fake' and of course, no one can really learn a dance in a week.

Did you do a BA in dance?

I know it's never too late but there are so many buts in the way, which comes down to confidence I know. I'd love, love to do ceroc because I so love jive. I'm quite interested in crossovers involving jive, swing, lindy-hop (did you ever see Jade Johnson and Ian Waite's jive with lindy hop btw?), charleston and into a QS, though the latter is slightly different.

So you did. Good taste!

Yes! I never fail to be excited when I hear there's a jive coming up and then when it happens I'm disappointed as a rule.

It's hard to fake because of the bounce needed. You could see this totally lacking in Mark and even though he was kicking, in spite of posters claiming otherwise, you couldn't see or appreciate them because he couldn't bounce in and out of them. It's hard to recall al the jives I've seen on scd but Austin was probably one of the best. My favourite pro at jive was Vincent. He had the lightness of feet and movement in the body, but then he is a merman to Flavia's mermaid.

Do it Poppy. I get the confidence thing but in a beginners class you will all be beginners and if you love it and stick at it you will progress.

Not so sure about Ceroc though. I took a couple of Ceroc classes once and might have been unlucky but it seemed to be dancing for people who (for whatever reason) wanted to ignore rules. So there was an assumption that the lady could throw an underarm turn when ever the man had a yen to throw one in irrespective of her standing foot or direction of travel. The leads are quite similar to salsa but the erratic timing made it seem hard to follow. It felt like it needed some grammar to help it work.

True but the jives this year I think have been poorer than usual and there have been some good ones in the past.

Thanks for the encouragement An Thropologist. BIB:

God no, Fine Art at Goldsmiths, not far from the Rivoli!

Dancing is a hobby that I take fairly seriously. I started to teach only because it was necessary to grow the scene where I live now and I try and work at that in order to pay respect to the dance and give our students/members the best experience possible. Ultimately, I just want more people to dance with!

It's interesting how all those dances grew from the same seed, I think. There is lots of Jive related social stuff about, so I'm sure you could find somewhere to go that suits you. You should absolutely go for it!

TBF I may have just gone to a poorly taught class. There have to be rules. Dance is like a language and like language without rules there is no communication..

But when the communication works it is the most exquisite feeling.

First BIB: Cool. I live not far from Goldmsith's and the Rivoli still.

Second BIB: Presumably the music was the seed -?

I identify with this. I volunteered ( or accepted and invitation ) to help the teacher because it forced me to practice the rudiments every week. But the motivation is to grow future new partners.

Favourite Ballroom: Can't choose between Tango or Quickstep (and am appreciating the Foxtrot (my parents' dance) more and more each year). For the purpose of Strictly only, I will go with Tango as it tends to be more amateur-friendly.

Favourite Latin: Samba when done well, Paso all other times.

Favourite non-10: Probably the Charleston for the same reason as the other two. Even mediocre dancers can have fun with it and make it entertaining for us at home (see Fern's Mary Poppins routine).

Favourite outside of Strictly: The Jive as I saw it danced as a child in the 60s. I think they called it 'Rock 'n' Roll' when they included it on Strictly one year, but certainly the Ballroom Jive hardly comes close to the dance our parents used to dance when we were children. But we knew it as the Jive.

Once a month, the social club my parents went to had a 'Family night' and watching the adults move with ease from ballroom to 'rock 'n' roll' dependant on the music being played is something I still envy to this day. It's almost as if everyone had dance lessons at regular school or something

Dad taught me the rudimentary steps of both the Jive and the Waltz, but they were never something I practised much - I was always happier watching him and Mum. The old boys in his 80s now, I may have to get him to have another go at teaching me, before it's too late for either of us