Shall we dance? London goes to the ballroom

Posted By Cathy Boyd, Special to The Londoner

Friedrich Nietzsche, 19th century German philosopher said: “And we should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.”
Of course, the cynic in me would read this and simply snicker, sneer and serve up a bucket of sarcasm.
Much like my teenage children, in my youth I, too, held the firm belief there were few sights more depressing than adults dancing in any form. Line dancing was, in my opinion, incredibly stupid. Clogging was just wrong (no one should have to wear shoes made of wood).
As recently as two years ago I would never have admitted to being a fan of the hugely popular television phenomenon Dancing with the Stars. However, I would admit to being a huge fan of short track speed skating. So my excuse for initially tuning into the program in season four was to observe Apollo Anton Ono, Olympic gold medalist in short track speed skating from the U.S. and leading contender at that time with his partner, professional dancer Juilianne Hough.
Their athleticism was incredible. And like millions of other folks I was sold on the show hook, line and sinker. While still in the closet, my armchair dancing addiction took hold.
Whether it was the Paso Doble matador on the dance floor or the all out party dance Brazilian Samba the professional dancers and their celebrity partners did not disappoint. Turns out I wasn’t alone in my addiction. Millions of viewers were tuning in and millions more were voting on their favourite dance couple each week.
And in London folks are signing up in droves at their local dance studios for ballroom dance lessons due, in large part, to the program’s popularity.
Says Michael Shultz, owner of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios in London: “We’ve seen a steady increase in our students due to Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance! And ever since Emmitt Smith, three-time Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys and the National Football League’s all-time leading rusher, won the third season Dancing with the Stars competition, it has become very cool for guys to learn to dance.”
Mr. Shultz says there are many benefits to learning ballroom dancing – “having fun, meeting people, relaxation, self confidence, exercise and losing weight in a fun way. We have a lot of students who tell us that they have given up on their gym memberships because the benefits they are gaining learning to ballroom dance.”
Mike and Inge Evans of London have taught dance on cruise lines and sailing ships as well as weekly classes at the Barking Frog in downtown London.
”There's no question the popularity of Dancing with the Stars and even more so with So You Think You Can Dance Canada have contributed to an increase in enrollment in dance lessons by the general public, Mr. Evans says.
While the Evans focus more on West Coast Swing style dancing, they also instruct in cha cha, rumba and the rest to groups ranging from twenty somethings to retirees at their weekly classes.
What’s the attraction and why now? It has been written that Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire were quite possibly the most famous dancing duo ever paired. Between 1933-39 the couple made 10 musicals together, although their films today are sadly regarded as nothing more than a distraction from the Great Depression.
Perhaps that’s the appeal of this modern day millennial take on the current recession. Wouldn’t folks rather watch attractive professional, half clad dancers and their famous and some famous-for-no-reason, celebrity partners dance the samba, rumba and cha, cha, cha as opposed to tuning into the nightly news anchors giving us their views on current events?
So should you happen to notice fewer cynics in your busy, daily lives these days you can credit Frederick Nietzche and the fallout feel good effects of Dancing with the Stars.