Wanna watch some good moves?

There are enough dance movies out there to begin with. “Dirty Dancing.” “Shall We Dance.” “Strictly Ballroom.” “Mad Hot Ballroom.” “Showgirls.”

OK, not the last one.

After you’ve watched some dance movies, you could turn on the TV and catch “Dancing With the Stars” or “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann” or “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”

Again, forget the last one.

Finally, when you’re tired of watching other people dance, then it’s time to sign up for a class and begin the process of learning yourself. You probably won’t go pro and might never get to wear both sequins and feathers at the same time, but you will know some moves to get you off the couch and on to the floor.

And here’s the good news:

“It doesn’t matter if you can’t dance,” says Tamiko Phillips, who is taking a class with her husband, John, at The Dancing Clarks’ Ballroom Dance Studio. Many other classes are offered in the area, too, ranging from social dances to salsa.

Dance classes start with the basics, says Judy Clark, dance instructor with her husband, Larry, at The Dancing Clarks’.

“We first get their feet going and get the footwork,” she says.

Then classes focus on learning to lead and follow. Learning begins with the foundation up, Mrs. Clark says, so be patient.

“Some people come thinking they’re going to learn everything in one or two classes, and they find out real quick they’re not.”

Other than learning new moves, you’ll be getting a lot of benefits from dancing, too.

Of course, it does a body good.

“Once you get it going, it’s a total body workout,” Mrs. Clark says.

It’s also a great for your mind, she says.

“Even mentally, it works your brain.”

Dancing can be good for your self-esteem as you learn something new, and don’t underestimate the power of your new abilities when you hit the dance floor at all those upcoming weddings.

“It’s nice to know these things in social situations,” says Martha Greer, director of the Center for Community Arts at Missouri Western State University, where the Western Institute is offering a social dance class and a salsa class.

“You never know, you might just have to do the waltz.”

It’s a great social outing, says Dr. Jason Baker, an associate professor of biology at Western and the beginning social dance instructor.

“It does,” Mrs. Clark agrees, noting that members of her class often become friends in the process. “It becomes a social event.”

And if you’re a couple, you can’t beat time in each others’ arms.

Mrs. Phillips has watched her parents ballroom dance for 30 years, “and I can see it keeps them together ...” she says. It also keeps them interested in each other and gives them something to share.

Now, at 73, her parents still dance four times a week.

But before you’re hitting the floor four times a week, you must get off the couch, grab a partner and learn some moves.

And don’t think twice.

“Never hesitate to do it,” Dr. Baker says. “Just do it...”

You’ll never know if you’re a good dancer until you try it, he says. And he doesn’t care if you think you have two left feet.

“I’m gonna teach you to dance.”

Lifestyles reporter Kristen Hare can be reached at kristenhare@npgco.com.