Ballroom Dance Playlist

Last night’s Ballroom Dance Society dance was the annual event where we use prerecorded music. It’s sort of a fundraiser, since we save the cost of a live band, but it’s also a chance to try out some new music (and to dance to an entire evening’s worth of tunes that are never off-rhythm or out-of-tune!).

I had the responsibility of assembling the playlist, which is simultaneously fun and terrifying. Picking music that I think others will enjoy dancing to – and trying to make sure they feel like their money was well spent – is a little intimidating. But we’ve also been dancing long enough now that I think I have a pretty good feel for what will go over and what won’t. Last night’s lineup was well-received, and more people than usual stayed until after the last song. That’s saying something when it involves almost three hours of music with less than ten minutes of break time, total, although I think prerecorded music gives you a chance to sit out a tune here and there if you know that one is coming up that you’ll enjoy more. And everyone did, because we provided the playlist for each table.

A prerecorded playlist also allows you to plan the progression of dances, mixing up the tempos and musical styles so that it doesn’t get boring, and there are some chances to “rest on the floor” with a slower-paced song.

Anyway, if you’re planning your own dance – and why wouldn’t you? – below is what we cut a rug to last night. All of these songs are available via iTunes. The dance step shown for each tune is a suggestion, not a requirement. Some of these songs lend themselves to multiple steps.