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How to Teach Ballroom Dancing

Today's ballroom dancing is alive and well, and you can ballroom dance somewhere every day of the week if you know one basic step. The single most traditional step common to all ballroom dancing is the box step. At the turn of the century, all of the steps were box steps that simply advanced around the room. The box step is always the first thing that is taught, the concept opening the door to further study. Learn the box step and you can ballroom dance.

Instructions

    • 1

      Stand facing your partner. The man should be facing the wall. The man should have his right hand on the small of the woman's back, and his left hand holding the woman's right hand at shoulder height. The woman should have her left hand on the man's right shoulder.

    • 2

      Step forward with your left foot if you are the man, as the woman takes a step back with her right foot. The man then steps forward with his right foot, to the right side and down to take weight. The woman, in time with the man, steps back with her left foot, to the left side and down to take weight.

    • 3

      Step sideways with your left foot if you are the man and take weight beside your right foot as the woman steps sideways and takes weight with her left foot. The couple has now moved one step to the left, half of a box step. The completion of the box step is the reversal of the steps by the man and woman.

    • 4

      Take one step forward with your left foot if you are the woman as the man takes a step back with his right foot. The woman then steps forward with her right foot, to the left side and down to take weight. The man, in time with the woman, steps back with his left foot, to the left side and down to take weight.

    • 5

      Step sideways with your left foot if you are the woman and take weight beside your right foot as the man steps sideways and takes weight with his right foot, completing the box step.

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