What is proper dance?

When students are looking for a place to learn dance, or perhaps even a new place to learn, they will often want to know that they are being taught the proper way to dance. This raises the question:

What is proper dance?

Different people will use different ideas to determine if the dance being taught is proper. Let's consider some.

Who's to say this is an example of proper or in proper dance?

Traditional
If you can find the way the dance was danced in its home country and at the time it was conceived, then surely that must be the proper way to dance it. This is an approach that is often used in the less formalised dances such as swing and street Latin. However, it is often hard to determine the period in history that would be considered the time the dance was proper. Further, even if you go to the originating country, you will find that people there would dance it differently depending upon the part of that country they are from. Even different parts of Buenos Aires exhibit different styles of tango so travelling to Argentina will not allow you to be certain you are dancing proper tango.
Standardised dances
Dances such as Waltz, Samba, cha cha, Foxtrot, Jive and quickstep have been codified by international dance organisations. This standardisation and agreement by the respective committees lends some authority to the standardisation. One could consider these to be proper. However, these dances are the standardisation of other dances that had already been developed by other communities. Further, sometimes the standardisation would be performed by people who were unfamiliar with the culture that originated the dance. The end effect was that the dance that came about was a corruption of the original. It is hard to argue that this is proper.
Dance sport
Dance sport dance has much in common with the standardised dances. It is often those standards that are used for judging. However, dance sport does allow for evolution. If you watch videos from dance sport competitions from decades in the past, then you will see a marked difference in the nature of the dance. This continued evolution of better dance in the crucible of competition would produce a better dance that would at least be getting close to something one could call proper. The thing is that dance sport had its origins within the working-class dancers who wanted to be evaluated and compared to each other. The dancers of aristocracy danced for pleasure and to show civility. You could possibly imagine how an aristocrat might respond to the notion of being judged by another on how well they danced and compared to others: not well! These are two competing views of dance and both seem valid (one to dance to the best of precision and be the best there it and the other to dance for the cultural, social and pleasurable benefits that come with it). It is thus hard to argue that we have found an avenue to proper dance.

Each of the above ideas has provided some ideas on what proper dance is. However, flaws can also be found in each. The same would likely be true of any other idea put forward on what makes for proper dance. If none of the above (or other) ideas can provide complete insight into what proper dance is, then what are we to conclude?

It probably means that the question is not well formed. Or, that it assumes that dance is the type of thing that can be described as proper. If we take a moment to compare what dance is, then we can reformulate the question, and students can then find a way to evaluate a dance school or studio.

What do we know about dance? The following is probably hard to argue with:

• It is created as opposed to discovered; humans have invented dance
• It is still possible to discover ways to dance better; as we practice we will find improvements
• Dance is an art; we know what we like, others will like something different and it is not a science in itself
• In partner dance you need to know how to lead and follow; without that, you just can’t dance
• You need to get the music; otherwise you just aren’t dancing
• You need to dance in a manner similar to those you are dancing with; otherwise it’s like talking with someone who speaks a different language

Based on the above, there are many ways to dance correctly (or properly). However, there are infinitely more ways to dance incorrectly. Thus, a student should not be looking for a studio that teaches proper dance. Instead, they should be looking for a studio that posses a wide range of knowledge about dance in it’s different forms. Such a studio can help you find the type of dance you like and help you master that.

​So when you are looking for a dance studio, ask about how they can help you explore dance  so you can get what you want.