Apparently, the last thing that men pay attention to when they are learning to dance is the music. This is because they are more focused on learning the following fundamentals:
- How to do the steps
- How to lead the steps
- How the frame feels when doing it right
I have found that this is true for me at first. As a beginner to ballroom dancing, I do need to understand the pattern before leading someone else. I believe that a solid understanding of the fundamentals is essential. (This was the case when I was learning rock climbing, golf and soccer.)
However, once I have learned the basic footwork I find that I learn more quickly when the music I am dancing to has a clear beat and I know what the timing of the music is. When I can feel the rhythm timing in my body, I find that I can do the steps to the music more easily. I also feel like I know what I am doing because my partner and I are dancing to the music.
As a beginner, some music seems easier to dance to than others.
Liking the music really helps me to be on time with the music. I have been buying songs that I like – where the timing is clear - so that I can practice what I have learned in a lesson in a fun way at home. I often listen to this music while doing things around the house so that I learn the timing of the music without conscious effort. For more on this, read my article How to Hear the Music and Know What Dance to Do.
I have listed the songs that I like for each dance below. I will update this list as I go.
Cha Cha
- Sex Bomb - Reload – Mousse T & Tom Jones
- I Wanna Dance - Afro-Disiac- Willy Chirino
- Kiss Me Honey Honey – Shirley Bassey
- You spin me round – Dead or Alive
- I’m gonna getcha good – Shania Twain
Foxtrot
- The Pink Panther - 100 Greatest Film Themes - The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
- Sixteen Tons – 100 Hits: Rock & roll 1950′s – Graham BLVD
- Walking my baby back home – Nat King Cole
Jive
- Hit the Road Jack - Anthology -Ray Charles
- Wake Me up Before You Go Go - Make it Big – Wham
- Candyman – Back to Basics – Christina Aguilera
- Jack is Back – C’lan
- Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
Mambo
- Baby Keep Smiling – A Little Bit of Mambo – Lou Bega
- Mambo No 5 – A Little Bit of Mambo – Lou Bega
Rumba
- Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps -
- Under the Boardwalk -
- Take my breath away – Berlin
Salsa
- Corazon Espinado – Ultimate Santana - Santana
Tango (American)
- La Comparsita
- Libertango – Sharon Shannon and Kirsty Macoll
Waltz
- Come Away With Me – Come Away With Me – Nora Jones
The Dancesport site can help you find more music.
