I am proud to say that I am a very good Latin dancer in this place, this is not a self-flattering and I am not being arrogant. I have been told that a good Latin dancer is probably also a good Ballroom dancer. Well, I have no problem putting my feet in the correct place, making steps with proper footwork, understanding the body alignment and LOD, remembering the men's and ladies' steps for each figures, urgh, some getting used to then I can keep the lady's posture (leaning the upper body back while looking at my 10 o'clock position)... all seem alright but there is one fundamental problem and it makes everything crap.
It is not hard for me myself to do the man's or the lady's part precisely. That's what I have been trained to do in the other dances. However, Ballroom dancing is never a solo dance- Latin dancing can be a solo dance or a group dance or a partnered dance. Ballroom dancing can be a group thing or a partnered thing, but never never for it to be a solo show.
I can do my part, but I can't at the same time also do my partner's part. And if I don't have a regular partner I don't think a random partner can lead me well and make me comfy during the dance. And if I am not comfy I can't dance my best. I think cooperation and connection between the couple is more important in Ballroom dancing than in Latin dancing. Not only because of the close contact with the partner but also because of the fact that the dancers look at different directions, which makes it clear that the lead comes from the connected parts of the bodies instead of from the vocal instruction or eye contact.
Yes it's true that a good partner can make a Latin dance wonderful, but without a partner (or with a not-so-good partner) a Latin dancer can still look fantastic. And this is not going to happen in the Ballroom dance. Simple instances (which happens every Sunday): I lead a lady with CBM during a turn, I find her stands straight and upright and just move her feet, this way I feel she is an obstacle on my path of movement; a man leads me without any contact and not caring about the 'inside partner' & 'outside partner' steps, even I know his routine I can't follow him, and if I just do the routine without following that's not a dance.
I know dance instructors teach routines so probably without good lead the couple can still dance... but it's social dance! If you can't dance it with other people but just the same old crowd you know in the same class, you can only be 'social' in a particular crowd, and for me that's not 'social' at all. It is indeed very frustrating to practice hard and do everything okay (not perfect but generally fine), but it goes all wrong once partnered up!
I love Ballroom dancing but I really don't think it's a social dance.
p.s. One more odd thing, when both man and lady don't mind the posture but only the feet, they won't look too bad. But when one doesn't have a frame but the other keeps the perfect competition posture, it looks 'incredibly' weird!
...............................................................................................................