Were you "made" to learn to dance as a teenager?

Don't hit me,but,your mother meant well. I was 13 in 1951 and it was the same thing. No one asked if you wanted to learn how to dance properly. It was expected of you. Even though I had started ballet lessons at age 8,ballroom dancing and the waltz were on the agenda. We were told how to sit and walk properly and how to speak in low tones,with appropriate language. Even though it wasn't exactly fun,we learned something,the least of which was discipline. Congratulations for winning the medal and I envy you being tall.

The only classes I was forced to take, was tap dancing when I was 5. And that

was because my mother wanted me to learn balance and equilibrium. In my early

teens, a dance studio opened down the street from our house, and anybody who

was popular, signed up to take lessons. We learned the cha cha, and the chalyp-

so, and the tango, and rhumba in addition to the standard slow dance steps. I en-

joyed the classes, even though I felt shy with some of the popular boys I was

paired off with. We all got a certificate of merit, for completing the classes, and

we were hopeful we'd use our new talents at our highschool. But the only one I

ever used, was the waltz or fox trot at special dances and my graduation dance.

I not only learned the steps, but I learned to have confidence on the dance floor.

And that made me feel better about myself.

Well black cat I was not made to learn to dance.When I was in grade school we had all forms of physical education and were grade on it depending on participation and sportsmanship.Fridays were a treat you could say.Friday we had folk dancing,each grade unto themselves.I was no Danny Kaye or Gene Kelley but I held my own because I have always liked physical fitness of any sort.The girls would always try to match up with me because of my enthusiasm.I was quite the catch back then oh you kid,23 skiddoo.You were only tall B.W. in the 6th grade was built better than most of the teachers,I mean she was a regular Jane Russell.Curves like Le Mans race track.You being tall B.W. being stacked and me being a runt,we all have our crosses to bear eh?

We went to private school so back then weren't allowed to mix with the boys at all. My dad had hopes for me that some day I'd be married and have kids so when I was about 9 he taught me the waltz and foxtrot (just going in squares) in the basement. Glad he did because I got a chance to use that in my junior year in a play the school had.

We had to learn to dance at school.

Once a week one of our PE classes was devoted to dancing. At primary school (5 - 11 years) we learned Scottish country dancing. Once we went to high school (12 - 16 years) We still did that, but also had to learn to waltz, tango, samba, quickstep and foxtrot . Every year the schools held christmas dances. The 5 - 8 year olds got a party. But after that, OK it was still a party, but you had to dance as well. We loved to dance..... BUT NOT WITH DUMB BOYS!!! And we had to do that.

At high school we had a christmas dances, but were not allowed to wear nylon stockings or make up until 3rd year. Up until then we could get dressed up but, still had to wear school gym shoes and white socks. And it was only after we had been to that 3rd year school dance, that we were allowed by our parents to go to the dances in the local town hall at the weekends.

Beulah

I worked in a local theatre,that covered ,cinema,orchestral and choral concerts and also ballroom dancing . On the latter we had to work the spot lights etc etc and the young usheretts all wanted to dance, so they made us young lads learn.I must admit at first i hated it, but at 15 girls seem to take on a different shape or something, and i started to really enjoy it.I was very glad of it later. At 18 i met my future wife at a dance and we were married for 57 years. and loved dancing.If nothing else it was a chance to hold a girl in your arms. not like today, as they seem to be sparring instead of dancing.

No, but in retrospect ,maybe I should have been.Have you ever seen the Seinfeld episode when Elaine dances ,well that is what I look like now.Not a pretty site, but I get a lot of room on the dance floor.

No, I was not force to learn to dance at any age or any kinds of dancing..I learned on my own and we had a thing called sock hop at a junior high school that we also learn some dancing..I watch American Bandstand alot and learn from that show too..=)

Wasn't made to dance , but I studied ballet from age 10 to 17, passed grades that put me into dance academy in Baker street London , then threw it all away, AND YES REGRET IT VERY MUCH ,

In my elementary school we had to learn square dancing but that was really before my teens. That is the only time I can think of that I was forced to dance.