Dance. Even the word sounds romantic. So it only makes sense that my favorite scenes to read and write are the ones involving this age-old act.
Some may call them cliché. I’ve even chided myself for included a dance in every story I write. Robbie and Keira swing-danced around a hotel room. Shane and Ryann slow-danced on their first date in the River’s Edge Café. Thomas and Blue embarrassed themselves with a choreographed performance from Singin‘ in the Rain at a wedding. Benjamin and Elodie lindy-hopped at the 1945 Christmas Ball. You know what? I don’t care if it’s cliché. Because whenever two characters dance in a book, it means something completely different. Yet, they all played an essential role in the characters’ relationships. Some dances were expressions of love, and some were expressions of joy. Still, others carried secrets, denial, or bitterness in their steps. Nevertheless, the characters were changed by the dance in one way or another.
I also love these scenes because dancing is incredibly relatable. While we may not have tracked a murderer alongside a romantic interest or gotten trapped in an elevator with them, chances are we’ve all danced with someone at least once in our life. If you’ve been fortunate enough to dance with someone you like or love, those powerful emotions resurface as we read dance scenes. We KNOW what they feel because we’ve likely felt it, too.
In my upcoming release, Aspen Crossroads, Jace and Haven have been dancing in circles around each other since they first met, trying to reconcile their feelings as circumstances demand they keep apart. At the town’s Harvest Dance, Haven turns to run from her haunting past, only to find Jace there, ready to rescue her with a two-step.
One of Jace’s arms slid around her waist and tugged her against his chest. He took her hand, holding it up in a dancing pose. Without a word and without taking his eyes off hers, he walked her backward to the dance floor. Once there, he led her in a two-step around the dance hall, riding the whispers of the spectators. Of course, they were ogling. Jace was the gorgeous new face in town. And his lack of a wedding ring surely held every single gal’s attention.
Even Haven felt it—this magnetism pulling her closer to him than necessary. And it wasn’t his good looks or even the muscular arms that held her now. No, it was the way he planted flowers with Elijah and mended baby chicks. And the way he worked sunup till sundown, all so three women who’d been mistreated by so many would have a second chance at life. Not to mention the way he looked at Haven—like she could single-handedly mend the world.
Finally, I love to read and write dance scenes because there is honesty to dancing. If you’re a good dancer, people are going to know. If you’re a bad dancer, they’ll know that, too. If you love someone or hate someone, it will be obvious to anyone watching. Sometimes it reveals to one of the dancing partners how they truly feel. And if we’re lucky, we’ll get a moment like this:
“My heart almost stopped when I saw you in this dress. Cherry red?” Jace squeezed his eyes tightly closed. “You’re killing me, Haven.”
Her cheeks warmed, either from blushing or smiling so big. She wasn’t sure. “Do you like it?”
He nodded. “You’re beautiful.” With no warning, he spun her one and a half turns, then put his arm around her shoulder in a promenade. “Don’t let it go to your head.” He turned her again until she was once again facing him.
She pressed closer to him, hoping it might keep her thrumming heart from bursting through her chest.
If you want to get to know Jace and Haven better and experience their story, it is available for preorder here and will be delivered August 24th.
What other books have great dance scenes?
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Prone to wander, Janine Rosche finds as much comfort on the open road as she does at home. This longing to chase adventure, behold splendor, and experience redemption is woven into her Madison River Romance series and Whisper Canyon series. When she isn’t writing or traveling, she teaches family life education courses to college students, takes too many pictures of her sleeping dogs, and embarrasses her four children and husband with boy band serenades.
I am an excellent dancer…in my mind. I was part of a brief dance routine on stage in college once. That was fun and I did okay. I can manage a very simple waltz. My wife and I even square-danced for a while (much younger then). But put us on a generic dance floor with the need to do something fancy like swing? Nope, not happening. Our marital coordination goes out the window. We retreat and stick to the slow songs and “elevator dancing” (no steps, LOL).
But I definitely agree with your comments on the nature of dance, Janine. Unique, relatable, revelatory, honest. And oh SO romantic. You can’t hide what your heart is doing when you are dancing. Even if you are hiding your feelings, they may be hidden but the fact you are hiding is there in plain sight.
Best wishes for your upcoming launch. The sneak peek is delightful!
Thanks, Lincoln! I can swing but I can’t waltz at all! My husband and I love to dance, but we don’t do it nearly enough.
Mandi Blake has some dancing in her Blackwater Ranch series, and there have been dance scenes in Jen Turano’s books, which are absolutely hilarious!! There are some dance scenes in other books I’ve read, too, but trying to name those would take a lot of space!! Some of my favorite scenes are in my old Betty Neels books, though. Almost all of her books had at least one ball, some had more than one. What’s interesting to me is that no matter what time period a book is written in, if dancing is involved, they might do a two-step, or maybe a line dance, or in a historical they might do a square dance, but they will ALWAYS come back to a slow dance like a waltz, or a slow song where the couple can be close, which can make for some great dialogue or uncomfortable couples!
I’ve never read any of Betty’s books. I’ll have to look for them. And yes, a slow dance is a must!
I love this! And you’re so right. There’s something so intimate about dancing. The bits of the scene you’ve shared is just great and I can’t wait to read the rest.
One of my favorite scenes in my novel Someplace Familiar is a scene during which Livy and Jack share a slow dance. Their chemistry is undeniable and dizzying. I just looooved writing it!
Thanks for a great post!
Dizzying chemistry?! I need to read this!
I love seeing people dance too! Its so romantic and magical. I believe Pepper Basham’s book, Facade, featured dancing. That book was sooo good! Thank you for the chance to win.
I’m sure Pepper writes an excellent dance scene!
I can’t think of any books that dance scenes just movies.
My favorite dances in movies are Anastasia, Sleeping with the Enemy, Hope Floats, Beauty and the Beast, and Singin’ in the Rain. What are yours?
Hey Janice, I got to write my first dance scene after 18 published books. The publisher I usually write for doesn’t allow the hero and heroine to dance. It was so fun finally getting to write my H&H dancing at a wedding she hosted at her inn.
They aren’t allowed to dance?!!!!! Whaaaaaaaa?! I’m glad you finally got to write one!
There is a great deal of romance in a dance scene. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE comes first to my mind.
Yes, yes, yes!! There is so much tension in that scene!
I am pulling a blank. I cannot think of any right now. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
If you think of one, come on back and share it! Thanks for stopping by!
The only books I can come up with that have dancing in them is the Regency books I read. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to step into the pages and see the type of dances they did back then? And maybe participate in? I can just imagine a handsome Duke asking for a turn on the ballroom floor :-)
Make’s my romantic heart flutter!
You’d be the talk of the countryside!!! :)
I really like The Anderson Family (3 books in 1)
Who is the author?
I remember having to learn to do ball room dancing in high school had to learn the waltz with chair. Don’t think my chair was very coordinated. I don’t remember any except the Madison, Mexican hat dance and chicken dance. I guess I don’t think about dancing scenes. I know in historical’s you often have barn and square dancing and regencies the ballroom dancing.
I know I have read dancing but cant remember any books as I guess for me dancing isn’t something I think about. I will have to take more notice.
“Don’t think my chair was very coordinated.” Oh my! I needed this laugh today!!!
I love the dancing in A.M. Heath’s Dance With Me!
I’ll definitely check that out! Thanks, Abigail!
I enjoyed the dance scene in Me and the Sweet Snowstorm by Jessie Gussman :)
The book I’m reading right now had a dance scene in it from the best friend/sister getting married! It’s a new to me author so I won’t share the author until I know if it’s clean. I do like dancing scenes in books. Jessica Scarlett had a great dancing scene in one of her books!
Ok, in Behind the Scenes by Jen Turano there is an absolutely hysterical ballroom dance. I think the dance is called the “go as you please” and Permillia thinks you can actually go as you please. One of my favorite dance scenes!!