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SALT LAKE CITY -- There's been a huge jump in attendance at the DF Dance Studio in just the past two and a half years. It's had to expand the number of studios to accommodate all the people coming in for lessons.
DF isn't the only studio seeing more people putting on their dancing shoes. The Salt Lake Tribune reports The Dance Club in Orem is seeing a jump too.
DF Dance Studio Program Coordinator Heather Dangel says, "Our classes, we have to cap it at 30 [people], and we do fill up really, really regularly."
She added, "We have 22 group classes a week. We have three Salsa teams. We're starting a competitive kids hip-hop program and a kids competitive ballroom program."
Dangel believes a lot of this can be attributed to dancing shows that are all over network TV. She says there really wasn't any serious national attention on ballroom dancing until "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance" came along. Plus, she thinks seeing guys like Chad Ochocinco on "Dancing with the Stars" has made dancing more acceptable among men.
While all forms of dance seem to be gaining popularity, Latin dancing seems to have the biggest draw.
"The Latin ones definitely just look like more fun," Dangel says.
The rhythm of many songs played for Salsa dancing is quicker and more energetic than songs we'd hear during a waltz or a foxtrot. Dangel says this may be what's drawing so many people in.
Dangel says it's not hard to tell how popular Salsa dancing has become. She says there are sharps increases in the amount of people attending what they call "Salsa Congresses," and the number of these congresses has gone up, too.
However, Salsa may have peaked in popularity. Dangel says she's noticing interest levels are at a plateau right now, but another dance trend seems to be getting hotter.
"Bachata is becoming the real new hot thing," Dangel says. "Actually, two years ago, they held the first ever ‘Bachata Congress' in the world, and now they're all over the place."
Bachata is essentially Latin R&B and Dangel says it's becoming especially popular with younger crowds. Plus, she says it's easier to learn than Salsa.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
