Dancing doesn't have to be dirty

Before Wednesday, Sept. 22, my definition of ballroom dancing constituted solely the twists and twirls I had watched Belle and the Beast execute to "Tale as Old as Time" and the trendy moves of Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in "Dirty Dancing."

When I stepped into Broadway Ballroom — located at 4-6 Hulfish Street until Sept. 27, when the dance studio relocated to 1935 Lawrence Road in Lawrence, New Jersey — owner Del Camden assured me that my understanding of partner dancing was not, in fact, far off.

"Dirty Dancing," he told me as I sat on an armchair overlooking the studio's almost entirely wood-paneled floor, is actually "quite accurate." He described the 1987 film as "very good for the ballroom dancing industry . . . it really made dancing more popular for young people."

Apparently so, for Broadway Ballroom's recent move, after 11 years in Princeton, resulted from the company's need for more space for its growing dance student body. Indeed, during the course of my half-hour lesson, I discovered partner dancing's powerful appeal.

A lack of high-heeled shoes found me standing in my running sneakers in the middle of the studio's wood floor, face-to-face with Camden and perpendicular to the fully mirrored back wall. A pink-shirted woman was paired with another instructor on the opposite side of the room, dancing to the jovial shouts and laughter of her one-man cheering section on the couch.

The very image of a professional dancer in shoulder-length blonde hair and all-black clothing, Camden led me through the five variations of simple footwork involved in ballroom dancing: front step, back step, side step, rock step and triple step.

Just when I thought I was a pro, the lesson became a bit trickier: Camden combined the steps into swing and salsa patterns. I found myself continuously staring at our two pairs of feet, as I tried to execute the sequences, which we practiced slowly and then put to music. My difficulty in remembering the step progressions surprised me, as did my increasing shortness of breath as Camden led me from sequence to sequence, sometimes moving around the dance floor in directions that were certainly more mystifying than expected.

Despite my repeated failure to pivot and my determination to step with my right foot instead of my left, Camden remarked, "It's rewarding to teach people who have never danced before because you can bring something new to their lives, which is very enriching because dancing is something you can use throughout your life."

He cited the many couples who come to the studio to learn to dance, "a hobby that they can do together" despite many couples' divergent interests. Also, he said, "We get a lot of wedding couples learning how to dance for their first dance," as well as individuals studying Latin dance moves to flaunt in nightclubs.

In terms of dancing tips, "The main thing is to have a solid frame, and that will enable the man to lead effectively and the lady to follow," Camden said. In addition, the man must remember that he must truly guide his partner, who should be sensitive to his movements, around the dance floor. Common dancing mistakes include dropping the necessary firm, steady frame and failing to listen to and keep in sync with the musical rhythm.

Although Monday's move to Lawrence placed Broadway Ballroom a bit farther away from the Princeton campus, the extra 10 minutes of travel are definitely outweighed by the benefits of the new space.

"I'm really excited about it," Camden said. "Everything is new. We built a suspended wood floor, which is really nice." He described as well the high ceiling, which allows for lifts and other aerial work, and the free, on-site parking.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Currently staffed by five dancing instructors, Broadway Ballroom provides a unique opportunity for studying partner dancing in any of its forms — traditional ballroom (including the waltz, the foxtrot and the tango), salsa or swing. Students progress through a series of lesson categories, beginning with the Introductory Special of three half-hour, private lessons for $60 and continuing through the Beginner's Special, Social Ease, Bronze, Silver and Gold. The studio is open from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Who knows? With perseverance and brand-new high heels, I may triple step my way right into the Gold class.