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The Term "Recreational dancer" (or the " I just
do this for fun") was coined by John Martin in 1939,
when he wrote about dance in his book " Introduction to the
Dance." This term mainly applies to Ballroom or couples type
dancing, from Hustle to Swing to Salsa to Tango to Waltz etc.
Martin Wrote:
"The Recreational dance is a play in perhaps the least rationalized
form practicable for the social use, and in it, if we see it in
its essential nature, we are able to find release for many of
our expressions and return to the arbitary disciplines of the
social scheme refreshed and healthy of mind."
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Today it has the same meaning, except we see that the recreational
dancer or the "I just do this for fun" (and they
generally do!") is the least trained of any dancer, these
"Recreational dancers" know just enough of any dance
to be able to mix in with a group of social dancers, ask lots
of questions, and usually walk around like they know alot more
than what they do, thus generally confusing most people that they
represent the Social structure or Social Dancer of dance, and
the general population thinking a social dancers level of dance
being much lower than in reality. Social dancers have a generally
high training in the dance (s) they love to do and take it much
more seriously than the "recreational dancer", but far
less so than the Competition dancer, and the Competition dancer
far less so than the Champion dancer...etc.
dance advancement order example, (can vary, depending on time
put in):
1) Non-Dancer (no adult training - can be every night in spurts),
2) Recreational Dancer (can be forever! - once a month type),
3) Beginner (0-1 years - goes to dances 1-2 times a week),
4) Intermediate (1-3 yrs. dances 2-3 times a week),
5) Social Dancer [most popular] (2yrs. & up - dances 3-7 nights
a week),
6) Dance Teacher (2-5 yrs, usually lower level Advanced dancer,
part time),
7) Advanced social dancer (3-5 yrs. - dances 3-5 nights a week),
8) Competition Dancer (4-7+ yrs. - dances 2-4 nights a week, can
be champion who does not teach),
9) Champion Dancer (7-10 + yrs. - dances 5-10 times a month, may
teach, usually not),
10) Dance Star! (Master) (10+ yrs. - varies by schedule, usually
Choreo and teaches at events/comps),
11) Master Dancer (20+ yrs., varies, can be retired, Succesfull,
usually teaches full time, coaching, choreo),
12) Dance Legend ... (25 + yrs who has very successfully -
taught dance, competed, judged, promoted etc.).
anyways you get the idea!, So from now on, call em Recreational
dancers, don't include them as social dancers!
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