Last semester for an art class that I was taking, I had the experience of participating in a Don't You Feel It Too workshop. The idea behind this is to dance in a public setting while listening to music only you can hear with the intent to bring positivity into the world and make you feel free. The most important part of this experience was to select music that you love and that loves you back, essentially music that makes you move.
With ballroom dancing, specifically, it can be easy to lose sight of why you are dancing and the mood of the dance. That's why I have created this list of songs I love for certain ballroom styles that definitely love me back in order to hopefully inspire all dancers, from professional ballroom to people who only dance behind closed doors, to remember why it is that you started dancing in the first place.
1. Come Away with Me by Nora Jones (Waltz)
I have had waltz described to me as a bittersweet last dance. I like to think of it as the last dance between a soldier and his/her partner before being sent off to war. There is deep romance entwined with bitter goodbyes. This song encompasses that feeling for me completely. The artist is literally asking the listener to "come away with me" to a far off place where the two can be alone.
2. A-YO by Lady Gaga (East Coast Swing)
Swing dancing is the dance of joy. It is playful and upbeat. If a performer is sad during this dance, it significantly reduces their technique and enjoyment of the audience. Trust me, from personal experience. This song instantly makes my feet start moving whenever I hear it's sassy lyrics and beat.
3. Shape of You by Ed Sheeran (Samba)
Samba, to me, is the dance of showing off what your momma gave you. You want your partner to realize how lucky he/she is to be the one blessed enough to dance with you and the other dancers to wish they were dancing with you. This song helps achieve that. The sexy lyrics give confidence that can even make a mistake or a silly face look hot.
4. Save the Last Dance for Me by Michael Bublé (Rumba)
Rumba is my all time favorite ballroom dance. It has been described to me as the second date when a deeper connection is felt between the partners. It is a very romantic dance where the audience wants to see the relationship between the two performers. To me, this song perfectly explains that story. While the performers are putting on a show for the audience, the feelings between them should be the understood as "don't forget who's taking you home and in whose arms you're gonna be."
5. Sexy Silk by Jessie J (Foxtrot)
Foxtrot used to be my least favorite dance until I understood the feeling and found this song. Foxtrot is supposed to have the feeling of winning the lottery or the feeling Leo had a year ago when he was finally able to stroll up and receive his Oscar. It's feeling like you are on cloud nine and everyone wishes they could be you. Unfortunately, many foxtrot songs lack this feeling. However, there is a sexiness to this song that immediately puts me in the foxtrot mood.
While there are countless other songs and styles of dance, I hope that this list gives readers, whether dancers or not, songs that love them back.
