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Dancing Can Improve Your Relationship

Dancing With The Stars' Tony Dovolani says dancing improves relationships.

Most women love to dance. It's kind of a biological imperative. We hear music and we start to move to it. In our dreams, the men in our lives are moving with us. Dinner and dancing is a kind of ultimate fantasy date, but too often we skip the second part.

Things have been looking up for boogie-enthusiasts these past few years thanks to the success of Dancing With The Stars. Seeing macho football players like Jason Taylor, Average Joes like Jerry Springer and billionaires like Mark Cuban adeptly moving around the floor can make men feel liberated to give ballroom dancing a try. The end result can be a heightened sense of electricity between couples.

"If women are not happy, this is when we nag," jokes professional ballroom dance champion Elena Grinenko. "If you make your woman happy then she's relaxed and she's not asking for a lot because she feels very secure." One way to make a woman happy, she argues, is to get her on the dance floor.

"As far as therapy for couples, it's a great thing to do," she says. "Dance teaches us a lot about the relationship between the male and the female." Dancing requires good etiquette and communication, and the body language is unbeatable.

Now in his seventh season on Dancing With The Stars, professional dancer Tony Dovolani spends much of his time between seasons presenting seminars and giving private instruction. Wherever he goes, he sees couples reconnecting through ballroom dancing.

"It's almost like you have a newfound love for each other," Dovolani says. "Discovering new steps together teaches couples to interact with each other. They're looking into each other's eyes, anticipating the next move. It opens up energy channels of feeling and connection. It rejuvenates everything."

Dovolani says learning to dance teaches communication skills and fosters respect. The physical activity is a great stress reliever and the positive feelings about the shared experience makes couples excited to carve out alone time.

Don't let the skimpy costumes on Dancing dissuade you. People of all ages, sizes and shapes can take up ballroom dancing, which encompasses everything from cha cha and salsa to waltz and foxtrot. That's why Dovolani so appreciated being paired with actress Marissa Jaret Winokur in season six. A plus-sized woman who is only 4'11", Winokur said she never felt sexier in her life, and she encouraged all women to embrace the activity.

While not all men have Dovolani's moves, it doesn't mean they can't bring out a similar reaction in their own partners. "In dance, if you make your woman comfortable, she will love you forever," Grinenko says.

Can you relate?

Discussion

vintage82 Single stayin' alive
Can Relate - Posted October 16, 2009

I go to dance classes for my own enjoyment and the benefit of learning to dance. I'm pretty much a regular there. Now,I'm not a great dancer, but I can do a few basic moves pretty well. Women there know this, and enjoy dancing with me. But honestly, that's how I'm most comfortable dancing, with like-minded people I see solely or mainly in the class. It would be radically different with my girlfriend or wife. While I'm sure it could improve our sex life and provide some cardiovascular exercise, there's a dark side to it. I'm not sure I'd be able to relax enough to dance with someone who can rip me to shreds just a few hours later (only verbally, I hope), if I forget to do something. Sorry to sound so bitter, but I just got out of a very toxic friendship with this girl who I thought I could trust. Luckily, she only went to the dance class with me once, and hated it.

Score: 0

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vintage82 Single stayin' alive
Can Relate - Posted October 16, 2009

I go to dance classes for my own enjoyment and the benefit of learning to dance. I'm pretty much a regular there. Now,I'm not a great dancer, but I can do a few basic moves pretty well. Women there know this, and enjoy dancing with me. But honestly, that's how I'm most comfortable dancing, with like-minded people I see solely or mainly in the class. It would be radically different with my girlfriend or wife. While I'm sure it could improve our sex life and provide some cardiovascular exercise, there's a dark side to it. I'm not sure I'd be able to relax enough to dance with someone who can rip me to shreds just a few hours later (only verbally, I hope), if I forget to do something. Sorry to sound so bitter, but I just got out of a very toxic friendship with this girl who I thought I could trust. Luckily, she only went to the dance class with me once, and hated it.

Score: 0
BigAl Taken
Posted March 18, 2009

That opening dance sequence in seven brides for seven brothers always puts me in the mood.

Score: 0
Lolita Single It all feels good.
Posted March 17, 2009

Fine. I admit it. I used to think Patrick Swayze was hot in Dirty Dancing.

Score: 0
Kataroo Single Glass half full girl.
Posted March 17, 2009

Dancing is so good for a relationship. It forces you to work as a team. And it forces you to be all cuddly at the same time.

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LeMaster Married I was born ready.
Posted March 17, 2009

My wife dragged me to dance lessons last year against my will. But in the end, the classes ended up doing more for our sex life than our footwork. I would recommend that all guys do it. It sounds stupid, but it actually works wonders.

Score: 0
Posted March 15, 2009

My ex and I loved to dance. Everywhere we went people would comment on our dancing, sometimes even drawing in a crowd of onlookers. When the relationship began going sour, so did our dancing. We couldn't synchronize anymore. It was like we were fighting against each other, just like our lives together.

Best Wishes

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esther 31 Engaged In love and engaged.
Posted March 13, 2009

what about dancing to learn steps for the first dance at your wedding? my fiance and i are doing that. part of the wedding planning. it's fun! but time-consuming!

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savannah Engaged We'll get there eventually.
Posted March 13, 2009

At first I found this show totally boring and completely silly but like everyone else, I'm a huge addict now thanks mostly to Mario Lopez.

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Seaman Single
Posted March 13, 2009

Wait, no skimpy costumes? I'm out.

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ProudMary Starting Over
Posted March 13, 2009

My ex-husband and I took ballroom dancing lessons before we were married. It was so telling of how the rest of the relationship would go...both of us trying to lead the other one around in circles!

Score: 0

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