Dancing Lessons

[DohaBreeze]

We haven't had a cruise for some time and it is our first Saga cruise. I understood that part of the daytime activities would be dancing lessons. Cruising has been one of the few opportunities we get to participate in something that we both love so i was wondering if anyone could advise  if dancing lessons form part of the itinerary 

 

Thanks

[ballroom-cruisers]

If anyone does reply, can you also give an idea how much time on a typical evening there is social ballroom dancing on SoA/SoD please, and what time the social dancing to either recorded or live music in Britannia Lounge? Thanks.

[Janet-]

Last month on Discovery there was Line Dancing in the morning and Ballroom lessons in the afternoon on sea days. Typically there was 45 minutes pre dinner, sixish, ballroom/sequence some nights recorded music, others with the band. No dance hosts but the instructors are now allowed to dance with passengers.

[ballroom-cruisers]

14 minutes ago, Janet- said:

Last month on Discovery there was Line Dancing in the morning and Ballroom lessons in the afternoon on sea days. Typically there was 45 minutes pre dinner, sixish, ballroom/sequence some nights recorded music, others with the band. No dance hosts but the instructors are now allowed to dance with passengers.

 

Thanks - was there enough time to complete the pre-dinner dance session before the start of dinner?  Also were there other sessions after dinner in the evening when ballroom/Latin dancing is done as well? For example before or after any shows in Britannia Lounge?

[Denarius]

6 minutes ago, ballroom-cruisers said:

 

Thanks - was there enough time to complete the pre-dinner dance session before the start of dinner?  Also were there other sessions after dinner in the evening when ballroom/Latin dancing is done as well? For example before or after any shows in Britannia Lounge?

Not that I remember. The Britannia lounge is very much a cabaret lounge rather than a ballroom. Music is mainly for listening rather than for dancing - although you can do the latter in the modern manner and many do.

[ballroom-cruisers]

2 minutes ago, Denarius said:

Not that I remember. The Britannia lounge is very much a cabaret lounge rather than a ballroom. Music is mainly for listening rather than for dancing - although you can do the latter in the modern manner and many do.

 

By 'modern' manner did you mean disco dancing rather than ballroom/Latin?

[Denarius]

12 minutes ago, ballroom-cruisers said:

 

By 'modern' manner did you mean disco dancing rather than ballroom/Latin?

Yes.

[ballroom-cruisers]

OK presume the music was pop though even some pop music is fine for various ballroom and Latin dances.  We are anticipating going on SoA next year and we are trying to find out how much dancing we may be able to do.  There are also some well known songs, not strictly pop - which are great for some ballroom - for example there is a lovely version of Adele's Skyfall that is a wonderful waltz. There are quite a few pop songs, particularly from some time back which are good jives and cha chas.  Some are nice rumbas too.  So it all depends what the range of songs they play are.  I wonder if there is a band playing and they realise people would like to dance that they might adapt the music to give those who want to dance more opportunity - and equally if there is a good DJ who knows his/her music the same might apply to recorded music. 

[Windsurfboy]

23 minutes ago, ballroom-cruisers said:

OK presume the music was pop though even some pop music is fine for various ballroom and Latin dances.  We are anticipating going on SoA next year and we are trying to find out how much dancing we may be able to do.  There are also some well known songs, not strictly pop - which are great for some ballroom - for example there is a lovely version of Adele's Skyfall that is a wonderful waltz. There are quite a few pop songs, particularly from some time back which are good jives and cha chas.  Some are nice rumbas too.  So it all depends what the range of songs they play are.  I wonder if there is a band playing and they realise people would like to dance that they might adapt the music to give those who want to dance more opportunity - and equally if there is a good DJ who knows his/her music the same might apply to recorded music. 

 

 

On our cruise the Brittania band played music that you could either disco  or ballroom to.  You had couples doing both. It is not a huge space so no strictly competitors or wild jivers. Their objective was to get people on the floor , not just sitting and talking. Started off quiet but more and more people eventually got going.

Edited June 5, 2023 by Windsurfboy

[ballroom-cruisers]

23 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

 

 

On our cruise the Brittania band played music that you could either disco  or ballroom to.  You had couples doing both. It is not a huge space so no strictly competitors or wild jivers. Their objective was to get people on the floor , not just sitting and talking. Started off quiet but more and more people eventually got going.

 

That sounds very encouraging for those on board.  From the pictures the space available on the floor is not bad by cruise dance floor standards. We are Cunard regulars for years but are encouraged by what we have seen on this forum with the way Saga operates their cruises - for us the ballroom dancing is a key part of holidays.  For dance couples who can move fluidly within the available space between other couples on the floor, then even a modest sized floor can be a pleasure to dance on.  If there are solo dancers who need a partner then having the dance instructors available to be a partner gives solo dancers the opportunity to do some dancing too - which is lovely by the sound of it.

[ballroom-cruisers]

Oh and having ballroom dance classes during the day is also useful - and with those only on sea days then nothing is missed if you go ashore on port days.

Edited June 5, 2023 by ballroom-cruisers
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