Picture this: Tuxedoed men twirling bedazzled, long-gowned women around a large floor. Or, 18th century European royalty dancing the latest minuet with Bach or Strauss playing in the background. Or better yet, imagine dancing the jitterbug in '40s America or the rumba in Havana. Are these things that come to mind when someone mentions ballroom dancing?

All of the above mentioned are considered ballroom dances and are still taught around the world and dancers compete in such categories as these for top awards and titles. This is an age where people are becoming more overweight and paying loads of money to gyms and the latest weight-loss craze so that they can either force themselves onto a treadmill every week to exercise or starve themselves to lose weight. In the same breath, many people are turning to dance for a more traditional and fun way to exercise. There are many benefits to dancing. One can meet members of the opposite sex, improve coordination (especially when partner dancing), and even reap the cardiovascular benefits. There's sure to be a dance studio in your area and sure to be cheaper than a night out at the movies where you are probably also paying for snacks at the concession stand.

You can expect to meet a lot of people. There are usually more women than men, so the men usually change partners frequently during the evening to give each lady a chance to practice their steps. If you are a man, this means you can expect to meet a lot of ladies. If you are a lady, you can expect to learn both the male and female steps, as you will have to partner occasionally with another lady. This is a great thing for the women, who will most likely have to teach a future boyfriend or husband how to dance his part someday. Dance groups usually schedule local dance club outings where students can meet more people and practice what they have learned.

There are many dances such as tap dancing and ballet that you can learn. However, you probably won't find a moment to tap dance or do Odette's solo from Swan Lake on a night out on the town. But you can look snazzy in your vintage clothes (which is half the fun) to swing and jitterbug. And if you learn to Cha-Cha or Samba like a pro you'll be sure to impress anyone at any nightclub

Experimenting after learning the basic steps of any dance just adds to the fun and joy of dancing. And by having a regular dance partner, you can create your own special moves and create your own individual style. All dances were developed from some previous style of dance so the next new dance craze could be created by you!