Before Dancing with the Stars took off, explaining ballroom dancing to people was difficult. Well, not the dancing part. Most of the populace has a picture of two people dancing together, whether it was two people from the Lawrence Welk Show didn't matter.
Explaining lessons and competitions was difficult.
Wait, Dancing with the Stars hasn't helped that.
And clearly, Shutterstock hasn't caught on to the Dancesport, or competitive ballroom dance, industry either.
Looking for some generic ballroom pictures recently brought me to the TREASURE TROVE of MAGNIFICENT "ballroom dance" photos that Shutterstock owns.
Guys, they're so GOOD I bought a Shutterstock membership. I'm not kidding.
[Yes, I cancelled it after a month, but IT WAS WORTH IT.]
NOW, and only now after looking at Shutterstock and not from those 20 years that I've been dancing and teaching ballroom, I realize that "ballroom dance" might mean Argentine Tango, Bachata, any variety of swing, and anything when two people are a) touching b) moving c) smiling and/or looking romantically at each other d) possibly dressed elegantly.
I know you're dying to see some images that would work for your next club newsletter, so let's get started.
This looks like a beautiful event. And it is. It's the annual International Kremlin Cadet Ball in Moscow. Russia and many of her neighbors have produced amazing ballroom dancers, but this event is full of militaristic traditional dances, pomp, circumstance, formation drills, and "teachers barking out orders, trying to get their students to keep time" and is not a "ballroom dance". OR IS IT?
Now, this is one of those pictures I get hate mail about because while it's FINE, it's not quite there. It SEEMS like .5 second later, everyone will be looking a bit better: her kick might reach full extension, his right leg might appear more visible, she might realize she has a right hand, everyone's posture could improve. Or maybe not. I mean, her skirt looks cool. AM I BEING HARSH? YES. But as a ballroom dance professional, I can't use that image on my website without feeling A LITTLE SILLY.
This picture also makes me wonder who, besides ballroom clubs/team/studios, are looking for ballroom dance stock photos.
Because if you're willing to pay for pictures of ballroom dancing, may I suggest any of the AMAZING actual ballroom dance photographers (Ryan Kenner, Stephen Marino, Tony Eng, and Marc Anderson and others) who make beautiful images on the daily?
On one hand, this picture is ADORABLE. 20 year olds are delightful IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, but MOST of the ballroom dance studio clientele is not... 20. This is our target demographic and I LOVE getting to work with people who have a variety of backgrounds, talents, and abilities, even more than I love people who have yet to cultivate some.
On the other hand, WHAT ARE THEY DOING? It's not a dip, it's not a corté, and it's a little awkward. BLESS.
This seems somewhat obviously to be an Argentine Tango class. But it was under the "ballroom dance" search, so here I go.
It is TOTALLY COOL to learn both the lead and follow part, and I commend any leads who learn the follow's part, but WHY AM I SKEPTICAL THAT HE IS TRYING TO DO THAT?
OH, I'll tell you why.
IF one is going to learn the opposite part, one should FIRST learn their own part. And since this guy isn't holding his frame up as well as anyone else in this picture, I think this is just a badly directed stock photo shoot. "Everyone, yeah, you! Hold your arms up like hers!"
When I showed these pictures to my significant other, he gave many of them the benefit of the doubt and had several excuses for what they could be doing.
"Maybe they're doing counter promenade... Or Paso?"
"Badly?" I replied.
I'm still confused what one would use this picture for. They're not looking at each other, or the camera, very romantically. There's no action. Their heads are in odd places relative to frame... and the floor. And it's not particularly elegant.
Again, this one is SO CLOSE to being a nice photo. And then... it's not.
WHY IS HER HEAD AT THAT ANGLE? WHO IS SHE FLASHING THE PEACE SIGN TO? WHY DOES HE HAVE A PIRATE SHIRT WHILE SHE HAS A PROM DRESS ON?
If we ignore the previous picture with the scarfed lady playing the instructor, this could be a "private lesson in action" shot, with the lady in red being the instructor.
Now, as a loud and boisterous person and especially teacher, I understand having a good time on lessons. EXCEPT, I generally do not flaunt my physical assets, nor do most other professionals I know, and this seems like a boob shot more than anything.
This.
This is curious.
What in GOD'S NAME are they doing?!
Art director: everyone, smile!
"Dancers": what makes it look like we're dancing?
Art director: hold hands with your partner!
"Dancers": what else should we do?
Art director: kick one foot in the air!
"Dancers": which foot?
Art director: DOESN'T MATTER
Last, but not least. My favorite terrible Shutterstock photo.
This is literally a nightmare people have about private lessons. And why people don't come in for private lessons. They think they'll be made to feel awkward and people will laugh at them and they'll be asked to do ridiculous, minute corrections.
WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE? WHY IS HER PARTNER HOLDING HER LIKE THAT? WHAT IS THE UNDER-DRESSED TEACHER DOING TO HER FOOT? AND WHAT IS THE BEAUTIFUL SUNLIT SPACE, BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO TEACH THERE?
To summarize, please don't use Shutterstock photos for any actual ballroom dance content. You're better off using the camera on your phone, or even better, an actual ballroom dance photographer.
