You are looking for private lessons. I’d contact whoever runs the Glen Echo contra dance and ask if they teach private lessons. Explain that you’re anxious and want to learn a dance before you go. The nice thing about contact dances is that partners change throughout the night.

Do you also struggle with musicality? I’d look into singing or guitar lessons if you can’t find the beat and have cash to burn.

Thanks for considering other dancers, OP.

07:59. one has to look for it but it's out there.

08:02. Probably the last two. The rhythm and remembering the steps.

08:04. I square danced In elementary school too. About sixty years ago.

08:04 b) and all: thank you.
OP

These dances are popular specifically because they require no talent. Some people are talented and that's great, but most aren't.

Anonymous wrote:It's much easier than tango! Do they still do it at Glen Echo? They used to do a quick lesson before the free dance. Maybe you could ask around there for someone to help.

What's your challenge? The physical movements? The rhythm? Remembering the steps?

+1. To try Glen Echo's Friday night contra dance if you're interested. I'm pretty uncoordinated and don't find it that difficult.

Square dancing? I mean, judging by how much square dancing we did in elementary school, I thought that I'd be square dancing every night as an adult.

I haven't done it since.

It's much easier than tango! Do they still do it at Glen Echo? They used to do a quick lesson before the free dance. Maybe you could ask around there for someone to help.

What's your challenge? The physical movements? The rhythm? Remembering the steps?

Where do you see square dancing nowadays?

You don't need to be coordinated to square dance.

Very late in life I have an it's now or never yen to learn to square dance, contra dance, Scottish dance...to learn to dance in that genre for its social benefits.

From life experience, I have little coordination and less sense of rhythm. Being partnered with me at the very beginning would 100% ruin the evening for the unfortunate woman who had to. But only 99% likely ruin it for six other people.

Years ago I signed up for commercial tango lessons. But for the instructors, everyone in the room was a beginner. The room assimilated what they were taught. I did not. I was lost halfway through the lessons. Five weeks of one disaster after another.

Are there experienced square dancers out there, I'm thinking a couple, who would meet with me privately in my home or theirs to "bring me up to speed" so I don't inflict my lack of aptitude on everyone present? Paid, of course.

Everyone begins somewhere. Not everyone has the talent to ruin the evening for at least their partner and likely others.

I"m in Northern Virginia. Thank you.