To say Vic Bonneau was reluctant to take ballroom dance lessons would have been an understatement.

“My wife had been pushing me to take lessons for years,” Bonneau said. “We had bought lessons at an auction, and they were about to expire and I remember thinking ‘I really, really don’t want to do this.’ ”

That reluctance quickly translated into enthusiasm.

“It wasn’t easy, but it was a lot of fun,” the Butler Twp. man said. “It’s been amazing. I never expected to feel this way about it.”

Vic and Karen Bonneau so enjoy dancing that they got rid of their pool table, so they could install a dance floor in their home.

The Bonneaus are not alone in their love of the ballroom, as shows like “Dancing With the Stars” have created a steady stream of interest and excitement about ballroom and Latin dance in recent years. Even the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra is getting in on the act as “Ballroom With a Twist,” the second concert in the SuperPops Series, takes center stage at the Schuster Center this weekend.

“We are having our best year ever, and we have been in the Dayton market for more than 20 years,” said Barbara Haller, owner of the Arthur Murray dance studio in Miamisburg. “I’ve seen a steady increase in the awareness of and popularity of ballroom dance over the past few years.”

Haller has spent plenty of time in the ballroom, as she and her husband Timothy are four-time United States National Professional Theatrical Arts Champions. They danced together competitively for close to a decade from 1991-2000.

But even if you think you have two left feet and you can’t tell the difference between a samba and a rumba, there are plenty of reasons to get out on the dance floor.

Dance for fun

Susan Moulton had driven past the Arthur Murray billboard more times than she could count, but she finally did something about it six weeks ago.

“I thought, ‘You know what, it’s time to start,’ ” Moulton said.

The Beavercreek woman is the first to admit that the first few weeks weren’t easy.

“I’ll be honest, the first lesson, I wanted to bolt,” she said. “But, now, I look so forward to it.”

Moulton takes both private and group lessons and looks forward to the weekly dance parties.

“The more experienced dancers are so welcoming and so helpful,” she said. “It’s just such a great experience.”

While dancing has enhanced the Bonneaus’ date nights, the couple, married 32 years, also appreciates the social aspect of the ballroom.

“We have met some great people,” Vic said.

Dance for fitness

Initially, Moulton’s dance schedule meant less time participating in her more traditional workouts.

“I was a little worried because dancing isn’t like being on the treadmill,” she said. “But I soon discovered it is a workout.”

Bonneau said that dancing helps him and his wife, both in their mid-50s, stay in good shape.

“If you’re not in shape, you can’t get out and dance more than a couple songs,” he said.

It’s about more than getting an aerobic workout, dance also enhances posture and balance. And then there’s the cognitive benefits. It’s that combination of mind and body that increases the health benefits of dance.

“In ballroom, you are using your body in concert with your brain and that has tremendous health benefits especially for older adults,” Haller said.

Beyond physical fitness, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine showed a reduced incidence of dementia in older adults who were frequent dancers in comparison to those who rarely or never danced. Researchers cited the mental challenge of memorizing steps as one of the possible contributing factors.

Getting started

“I think the hardest part is going in there the first time — knowing nothing — because you really put yourself out there,” Moulton said. “You just have to get that out of your head.”

The first few weeks might be a bit shaky as you get the basics down, but then the fun begins.

“It blew my mind how it all clicked,” Moulton said.

There are many dance studios that offer ballroom and Latin dance lessons throughout the Miami Valley and some community recreation centers and, even, churches offer dance lessons and host events. There is also a Dayton Swing, Latin and Ballroom Dance Meetup group that hosts regular events.

And you don’t have to drag your spouse, significant other or best friend with you as lessons are offered for individuals as well as couples. And all ages can enjoy the dance floor as Haller has taught students in their early 20s as well as those in their 80s. She even knows of a student in Canada who just turned 100.

“And once you have the basics down, you will want to keep doing it,” Haller said. “It really is a life altering experience because it’s more than dancing, it incorporates grace, poise and a physical workout all while you’re having fun.”