The Age at one begins to Dance

[QPO]

because they are not after a dance partner.  They want to hold a sexy young woman.  But don't tell them that, they are also in total denial.

Not interested what they are looking for on the floor. I need a guy who can dance.  Am I asking too much??

no but they are hard to find, can you put an add in the paper for someone who has had dance experience even if it is not ballroom, I am sure they could come upt to steam pretty quick

finding a good one or one willing to try it hard work I know

[elisedance]

there are usually a couple of good dancers at each social club - they sort of distribute themselves.  Some of these are likely to have had prior training and may have give up dancing seriously due to loss of their partner.  These are the hidden gems... I know, cause I found exactly that

[QPO]

so you just have to look in the right place

[phoenix13]

Always interesting to hear people's perspectives on dance and age.  I think that it's never too late to start dancing, but that it can be too late to realistically expect to achieve certain goals if you start after a certain age.

[elisedance]

Always interesting to hear people's perspectives on dance and age.  I think that it's never too late to start dancing, but that it can be too late to realistically expect to achieve certain goals if you start after a certain age.

but the goals you can achieve are immense nonetheless.  Much, much higher than any of your friends etc will tell you when you start.

[phoenix13]

Always interesting to hear people's perspectives on dance and age.  I think that it's never too late to start dancing, but that it can be too late to realistically expect to achieve certain goals if you start after a certain age.

but the goals you can achieve are immense nonetheless.  Much, much higher than any of your friends etc will tell you when you start.

Yes.  What I've generally heard has been along the lines of "You've started so late, so be sure to set realistic (re: low) goals." 

[elisedance]

Always interesting to hear people's perspectives on dance and age.  I think that it's never too late to start dancing, but that it can be too late to realistically expect to achieve certain goals if you start after a certain age.

but the goals you can achieve are immense nonetheless.  Much, much higher than any of your friends etc will tell you when you start.

Yes.  What I've generally heard has been along the lines of "You've started so late, so be sure to set realistic (re: low) goals." 

I had that from a violin teacher - 'the first thing you have to do is lower your expectations' to which I replied 'because you are an awful teacher?"

[elisedance]

Your expectations are none of the teachers business.

[phoenix13]

Amen to that, sister!  But it's good to know,up front, what the teacher's expectations are.  If she/he is cautioning me to lower my expectations, what does that imply about his/her expectations of me?  I'd rather know up front if my teacher is already counting me out because I'm too old.  that way, I can cut my losses and move on ... quickly. 

[elisedance]

Amen to that, sister!  But it's good to know,up front, what the teacher's expectations are.  If she/he is cautioning me to lower my expectations, what does that imply about his/her expectations of me?  I'd rather know up front if my teacher is already counting me out because I'm too old.  that way, I can cut my losses and move on ... quickly. 

exactly - the violin teacher I was referring to above told me to lower my expectations before I had even introduced myself!  Maybe I had 'expecting' written accross my forhead.

funny thing is I've way surpassed my expectations at that time

[QPO]

well v & I started late (late forties and early 50's) and we are doing very well for our age group. I suppose it depends on what your goals are but so far our age has not stopped our success in the sport.

[phoenix13]

well v & I started late (late forties and early 50's) and we are doing very well for our age group. I suppose it depends on what your goals are but so far our age has not stopped our success in the sport.

Have you ever read a book called Younger Next Year?  It contains some really inspirational stories about seniors -- people in their 70s and 80s -- who take up extreme sports (e.g. dogsled racing) late in life.

If an octogenarian can complete the Iditarod, I think I can dance.   

[elisedance]

There are myths about aging that derive from an era where you did not expect to live far beyond 65 and by then your body was ruined by poor care and food.  In Victorian times an old person had to act old - they dressed soberly and were not seen to do mad things - so that became 'normal'.  We still have the vestiges of that with the notion that an older person can not learn or move - which is nonsense for most - but obviously there are many specific cases where its true - which keep the myths going.

[phoenix13]

Younger Next Year is a really good book.  It supports your point 100%, saying that, often, what we perceive as natural effects of aging are actually the outcomes of poor lifestyle choices  -- poor diet,lack of exercise, drinking, prolonged stress etc -- and that, if those are addressed, it's often possible for people to be very active well into their 80s and 90s and maybe beyond.

[elisedance]

sounds interesting- if my eyes were'nt so darn old I'd read it...