Ballroom dancing evolved in a time when it was about meeting the opposite sex and being able to move confidently without having innate talent, extraordinary ability, unusual skill, or time. Steps that couldn't be done by average people were evolved out, and things that looked good without effort were kept and refined.

As a result, ordinary people can look fantastic if they learn the absolute basics. I know, my wife and I are repeatedly asked if we are professional. And no, we're not.

It's great exercise, and you meet some lovely people from a wide range of backgrounds. The side-effects include increased balance, body control, and style.

This sort of dancing is not dead, but it has, to some extent, gone underground.

Single page:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/magazine/why-dont-we-dance...