5 Clever Ways to Sneak Social Dancing into Your Vacation
After a few monuments, and an entire memory card of pictures, there may be a point on vacation when you start to miss home, and by home we are including your dance studio.
Here we will take a look at some different ways to creatively include your dance hobby into your next vacation.
True Story: A couple I used to teach would pay for their lessons with a credit card they referred to as "The Dance Card". So I inquired, since I hadn't heard of a Visa that gave perks for dancing or anything like that. Then they explained that they had created a little arrangement - they would use their American Airlines card for all of their dance lessons, but as part of the deal, they had to use their mileage points for a dance vacation. Sure enough, about 6 months later, they went to Paris.
I had forgotten about the credit card arrangement until I heard them warming up with Salsa.
They were counting their steps in French!
Turns out they did some research and found a great Parisian Salsa club which they frequented throughout their trip.
1. On a Cruise
There are great amenities on every major cruise line, but there are two very popular pastimes while floating on the high seas: Eating and Lounging.
How to include Dancing
Fortunately for you, with all the work you've done in your dance program, you have more options. Most cruises feature a wide variety of live music, DJ's, and different venues so you can get your groove on, and work off any damage you may have done at the buffet.
2. Local Nightclub
While traveling in a foreign land, places outside of major tourist destinations can seem like a risk. It may seem like a daunting task if you don't speak the language, and most non-dancers would opt for watching foreign TV in their hotel rooms... but not you.
How to Include Dancing
Check with the concierge and ask if there is a local Salsa or Tango Club nearby. Get the address, name of the place, and feel free to use the hotel Wi-Fi to confirm that it isn't an underground rave that is secretly a place where they buy and sell lost tourists. Even if Salsa or Tango aren't your favorites, chances are you will find either of those nearby, and you can search for that Waltz Club on another night.
3. Spontaneously
Some of the best moments on vacation can be unplanned, off the beaten path, or out of the blue. This is a great objective for any vacationing social dancer - find one spontaneous moment to dance.
How to Include Dancing
Whether it's in the aisle of a restaurant, or on the beach with no music except the ocean - your dance skills give you permission to utilize any moment and add dancing to it.
Sure enough, while in Florence, we used that map and it was perfect. We found the studio, found the gelato - every single day - and found some great places to shop.
Our final city was Venice, and St. Mark's Square was circled with a message that said "everyone from Arthur Murray that comes to Venice must dance a Tango together in St. Mark's Square". Sure enough, just outside the coffee shop, with a full orchestra, we stood up, and danced the Tango, and it was one of the greatest memories of our trip."
4. Dance-O-Rama
This event is designed for both Social Dancers and Competitive Dancers - and is a perfect way to blend your hobby with a great vacation.
How to Include Dancing
Every Dance-O-Rama includes Arthur Murray students from all over the world. There are activities that are pre-planned with great entertainment, sight-seeing, and plenty of dancing. The bonus is that every person in attendance is working from the same syllabus, all speaking the same "dance language". These events are held throughout the year in locations like Florida, Hawaii, Italy, Spain, or Las Vegas.
5. At Another Studio
One of the benefits to being a social dancer is that you can dance to any music, in any environment. One of the benefits to being a social dancer within Arthur Murray is that you can go and take private, group, or attend the dance parties at any Arthur Murray location around the world.
How to Include Dancing
Did you know that your dance teacher is like a travel agent? Let them know as early as possible of your desired destination and they can help put you in contact with an Arthur Murray in that area. In the span of a phone conversation, your dance teacher can have you scheduled for some private lessons, group classes, and set up dance parties in places like Italy, Cairo, Peru, Australia, or New York City.
Final Thought
Going on vacation is all about making memories that will last a lifetime, so who's to say that a few dance moments shouldn't be included? Now, that doesn't mean to check the whole family out of the Disneyland Hotel in a frantic search for Swing Dancing hot spots, and we're not suggesting that you ditch an entire work conference in favor of binging on dance lessons in an Arthur Murray you're visiting, but we are saying that utilizing your hobby definitely beats laying around in your hotel room.
Who knows? Your may end up finding out that your new favorite Salsa Club is in Paris?
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Image credit: European Vacation, European Vacation Couple
