My wife and I have been married for over 26 years and have 5 children. I work as a Senior Software Engineer by day and I started a business Sea Stream Technologies as a side job a few years ago that we hope will grow into a full-time endeavor.

I love fixing things, kayaking, bicycling, sailing, astronomy, pretty much anything outdoors and active.

As our children have gotten older, I began to realize that my wife and I had “my life” and “her life”, and that a large part of “our life” was raising the kids. As that is shifting, I realized we needed something that was “our thing” as a couple. Joan has always liked to dance, so I thought we could try that, so I signed us up about a year ago.

What I did not expect, is that I would actually like it. I thought this was a thing I would do to make my wife happy and benefit our marriage. Which it has. But I quickly found that I liked it too.

I have often felt a little awkward in social settings and a bit self-conscious. You NEVER would have gotten me out on a dance floor. Learning to dance has helped me overcome this in two ways:

1. You just can’t afford to be self-conscious when you’re learning to dance, you just have start trying to do the steps and you’re going to make mistakes. It teaches you humility, but its freeing. When you realize it doesn’t matter that you made a mistake, that everyone does, it frees you from the burden of trying to be perfect.
2. As you improve it boosts your confidence, and you realize that you can learn and improve.  

Revolution Ballroom is the ideal environment for this. Great instruction, inclusive, no shame. Our first group class I felt awkward and like I had 2 left feet. When you realize that everyone pretty much starts out that way, you realize there is no shame in being new or not knowing what you’re doing. After all, that’s why you're there. Marcia does a great job of creating an “culture” where everyone is accepted right where they are in their dancing journey. And we have fun!

My wife and I have been taking intro to social dance on and off for about a year now. We have also attended a few dance parties and some special classes like learning to shag and salsa. 

Initially my favorite dance was waltz because it was slower and I felt like I could actually do it, but I am starting to appreciate the Latin dances as well.

I would tell anyone who might be nervous about learning to dance, don’t be. We all start as a novice in any new endeavor. There is no shame in that. The only shame would be not trying!   

If you want to dance, but you're afraid or nervous, you just have to do it. If you don’t, you will always wonder what you missed by not trying. Don’t let fear decide what you do.   

Lastly I would say, you don’t have to be married or have a partner, although it makes a nice date night if you do.