Ballroom Dancing Is Not for Sissies: An R-Rated Guide for Partnership (Paperback)

by Elizabeth A. Seagull (Author), Arthur A. Seagull (Contributor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The authors have lived it, now they share it—how to create joyful, harmonious partnerships on and off the dance floor. Dancing is supposed to be fun. But when dancers begin to snipe and bicker, they usually feel they have only two choices: stop dancing or change partners. In Ballroom Dancing is not for Sissies, authors, psychologists and amateur ballroom dancers Elizabeth and Arthur Seagull present a better choice—a simple system which prevents most relationship conflicts from occurring, and gives dancers a healthier way to handle them when they do. By learning and applying the 3Rs of Relationship Fitness, dancers can improve not only their dance partnership, but all their relationships! Warm and witty, Ballroom Dancing is not for Sissies uses real-life examples familiar to everyone who dances or does any other coupled sport.

About the Author
Elizabeth and Arthur Seagull are psychologists who began taking ballroom dance lessons for fun and eventually became amateur competitors. Visit their website, Http://www.dancesportpsychology.com to comment on the book or contact the authors to schedule partnership coaching.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (November 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439210500
• ISBN-13: 978-1439210505
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #435,922 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Getting along and having fun, March 17, 2009

By	J. P. McKinney (Laramie, WY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is as much about human relationships as it is about dancing. The Seagulls have informed their study of dancing with their extensive knowledge about how we get along with one another; conversely, they have informed their understanding of the psychology of relationships with their clear observations about what goes on on the dance floor. Amateur and professional dancers alike will want to read this book, but so will anyone who works in a partnership or a team: physicians in a clinic, lawyers in a firm, carpenters on a building project, athletes on a team, musicians in a band or orchestra, scholars on a research team, diplomats and world leaders, married couples, and anyone else who has to work together with others in order to get a job done. This is a wonderful guide gently showing us how we can dance, work, and play together smoothly. As an added bonus the writing is as fluid and graceful as a beautiful dance and the humorous twists and turns make the occasional mistakes on the dance floor - and in our lives together - seem less catastrophic, and even the larger mistakes seem less insurmountable. As the North American book reviews editor of a major journal I rarely come across a book that is both powerful and accessible and has the potential both to teach and entertain as does "Ballroom Dancing is not for Sissies." Brava, bravo.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars this book is not for sissies!, January 12, 2009

By	Top Hat "Gail" (Huntington, WV USA) - See all my reviews

Sparked deep level discussion with my husband about how learning to dance is like being married. Brought up lots of issues that we know lurk under the surface, but rarely talk about. Well written book. Ballroom is challenging when you learn it with a partner who is not a professional dancer. We are putting the author's suggestions into practice and expect to have good results!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one amazing book for dancers and to help anyone with their relationships!, May 27, 2009

By	Heather Diodati "Whimsies Personalized Cartoons" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have written quite a few reviews on Ballroom dancing books and products and when I finished reading this wonderful book I sat back in my chair, looked at my husband and told him we should have had this book when we were doing ballroom and latin dance competitions. So much was explained that would have prevented so many conflicts. This book has basically changed my way of thinking with regards to partnership dancing and how to stop putting blame on your partner - in a word, 'respect'.

Elizabeth and Arthur Seagull, both obviously brilliant psychologists, have written a fun, comprehensive study on the psychology of dancing as partners as well as being partners in regular life.

One of the wonderful ideas is: "Rule of Three: Try a move three different ways and if you still can't make it work, write it down and take it to the next lesson". The lesson on "The Practice Session" sounded SO familiar! Again, if we would have had this book...oh well, water under the bridge ;-)

"Ballroom Dancing is not for Sissies" is chock-full of useful checklists and interesting dance and life quotes such as one by Benjamin Franklin, "Being ignorant is not so much a shame as being unwilling to learn".

This book is a must-read - I highly recommend it - kudos to you, Elizabeth and Arthur - and thank you so much for making your wonderful wisdom a part of my life!

~ Heather ~