The Extra Benefits Of Ballroom Dancing
Applying Dance Lessons And Theories On Corporate Teambuilding
Apr 27, 2009
Much have been said about the physical benefits of Ballroom dancing. In reality, Ballroom dancing in both Latin or Standard style is a type of partner dancing that involves a high degree of co-operation between two individual dancers. It is a great way to learn to build trust, communicate, co-ordinate, lead and follow according to the rhythm of the music. Such a scenario is analogous to that of a workplace where corporate members must learn to build harmonious work teams under some common business goals or targets.
Teams are inevitable
It always takes two to tango in Ballroom dancing. Nobody can do everything by himself or herself no matter how good he or she is. Teamwork is inevitable in a workplace.
Music is universal to the ears of all dancers on the dance floor. Dancers interpret the music with their dance steps. The number of beats in a bar of music also dictates the number of steps that can be danced. Likewise, in the workplace, all team members share the same business goals and strive to achieve their targets according to deadlines. It is the common goal that bonds teams together.
In Ballroom dancing, there are different dance figures for both men and ladies. Each partner has to know his or her steps well in order to dance smoothly. At work, everybody has a different role to play and he or she is supposed to contribute his or her own expertise to reach all business goals.
The more difficult the dance steps, the harder the couple has to work together. The partners have to work out a mutually agreed solution to dance that step with confidence. As the challenges in the workplace escalates, the need for teamwork increases. It always takes more than one person to solve bigger problems.
Independence Within Teams
Some beginner female dancers always misunderstand that they can just follow the steps of the leaders or partners and do not have to remember the steps themselves. However, that is not the case in reality. The leaders can only indicate directions or change of dance steps. He cannot show his lady what to dance since his steps are different. In other words the lady must still maintain a certain degree of independence (by knowing her steps) while following her lead. Such abstract relationship can also be seen in the office where assertiveness if not aggressiveness from subordinates is still expected from supervisors or managers.
Courtesy Breeds Harmony
It is never good enough to be able to dance with just one partner in Ballroom dancing. That is one of the reasons for dancers to learn to lead and follow different partners. In a workplace, everybody has to adapt to the different styles of fellow co-workers or even supervisors whether he likes it or not.
There are always dance etiquette to follow on the dance floor to avoid jams. Likewise, politeness in the workplace increases harmony, thus greater productivity. A little consideration shown to others goes a long way to build happy teams.
Ballroom Dancing Is Team-building
Ballroom dancing is an overall self-awareness training. The dancer must know his or her part before putting it together with the partner. In the work place, every team member must know his own role and the need to work with others to achieve the big business goals. A Ballroom dance competition is where seamless teamwork is demonstrated behind all the glamor and costumes. Ballroom dancing is no doubt a sport for learning to control one’s body, with useful insights that can be applied in corporate team-building.
