We asked for comments from members about what they enjoyed about dancing. Some of those comments are quoted below:

"The music, friends, playfulness, exercise....I suppose our dance groups are my church in some ways...it's folks you know, mostly not real well, but have a common life with, see regularly and share experiences with, watch grow and change.  Plus, rather than sermons and songs it's the chance to move our bodies for the mental and physical health."
"This is one of my favorite ways to move and get exercise! I love the movement and the interaction: learning to create something with someone -many times an unknown person. I often get so caught up in the dance that I totally forget that my feet and legs hurt - as they often do. It makes me feel younger. It also helps me to build stamina and coordination and posture- all things I need. It really helps me to be in my body in this really tactile way! It is also nice to have socially acceptable touch with other humans - can't ever have too much touch in my book. I really like this group of warm, welcoming people who accept me for who I am - flaws and all.
"I enjoy the music. When I have it, I enjoy the feeling of graceful connection with the music and my partner. (I tend to fluctuate quite a bit in the grace department, depending on the song, some random aspect of myself, and who I'm dancing with.) I enjoy the physical sensations from the changing kinesthetics. I enjoy the touch, being physically in contact with another. I enjoy the sustained, smiling eye contact while sharing another's space. I enjoy the male/female dynamics.... Somehow, all of these things experienced together make it so that I almost always leave the dance feeling happy, connected, and filled with a strong sense of well-being. I enjoy taking that feeling home with me."

"Movement, rhythm, social contact, great exercise"

"Dance for me is a source of joy. My quest is not expertise on technique. Rather the sheer joy of responding both physically and emotionally to the music and allowing it to transend the dance partnership to whatever exquiste state for that moment....."

"Why I dance….
• The dance community is very welcoming
• I get to pretend I am a “fancier” person than I am….sort of like being a little girl pretending she is a fairy princess.
• The exercise and mental challenge is wonderful.
• Becoming a dancer makes me feel very proud of myself.
• When I step onto the dance floor all my worries fall to the wayside and I am in a state of pure enjoyment.

"What I really like about dancing is being able to move to music nonstop for hours. Give me a variety of sounds and lots of experienced or vigorous leads in a pleasant setting and I'm in heaven. No matter how tired or distracted or dispirited I may feel before a dance, five minutes after the music starts I feel 20 years younger--ready to go and go. I also really appreciate the social aspect. I've gotten to know hundreds of great people by dancing a variety of styles, and I love knowing that any night of the week I can choose from among three or four venues where I could go to get a little workout and chat with people I know and like."

"I like (in no particular order):
a. getting out of my brain, and into my body, that is, taking a break from thinking/working
b. being creative/expressing myself
c. escaping reality for a little while
d. working off stress
e. meeting fun and interesting people/developing a social network
f. being part of a community/the community feeling
g. getting good exercise
h. supporting an activity that is rooted in history and learning about that history
i. supporting an activity that is not expensive
g. supporting an activity that takes place in a healthy environment
h. enjoying good music
i. helping others to enjoy themselves

"I like (in no particular order):
a. getting out of my brain, and into my body, that is, taking a break from thinking/working
b. being creative/expressing myself
c. escaping reality for a little while
d. working off stress
e. meeting fun and interesting people/developing a social network
f. being part of a community/the community feeling
g. getting good exercise
h. supporting an activity that is rooted in history and learning about that history
i. supporting an activity that is not expensive
g. supporting an activity that takes place in a healthy environment
h. enjoying good music
i. helping others to enjoy themselves
Richard Powers, a Dance Historian, teacher and professor at Stanford University, has been a inspiration to the resurgence of partner dancing over the last 20 years, especially traveling dances such as the waltz. Here is a link to his Thoughts and Musings on Dance that provide a great introduction to the type of dancing Dance Eclectic is interested in promoting.

Here is a list of the articles you will find there.
• Going out Dancing
• Ultimate Partnering: Sketchy Guys
• Welcome Chance Intrusions!
• Intelligent Dance: Dancing Makes You Smarter
• Fred Astaire's advice for partner dancing
• Transcendent Play
• Tips for Teaching Dance
• The American Spirit of Creativity and Crossover
• Freestyle vs. Sequence Dancing