sample Ballroom Dance Lesson

In a lesson, I or one of my instructors works with you, at your own pace, on one or more dances, explaining and demonstrating the steps and rhythm patterns for each.

Primarily we're working on the communication of the Lead to the Follower, so that you as a couple move seamlessly, easily and elegantly as one unit. You are a team. There's generally nothing particularly difficult about the dances and their steps and rhythms, but learning the various techniques and tricks of Leading clearly, so that your follower knows what you want her to do, is the key.

We will work with you to determine the best dance for your chosen song, or if you haven't selected a one , begin working with you on the basic elements of the most common and useful dances, one of which will, in all likelihood, be the right dance for your First Dance song. (Sometimes couples fall in love with a dance, in which case we will suggest possible songs for it.) Depending on the amount of time we have, while focusing on the best dance for your Wedding song, we generally plan on working with you on at least one Ballroom style dance, one or more Latin styles, and Swing, the right balance of giving you the skills to dance to virtually any style of music, always having fun. There will be turns and accent elements for the dance, we will choreograph a simple beginning and an elegant ending, probably throw in a dip (or a lift!), and you will have an incredible dance, plus having learned a skill that will last a lifetime.

Every dance and every couple is different, of course, and depending on what you want, your needs, the time we have and your interest, a tool we sometimes use is to delve a little into technical aspects of the dance or dances, but always with an eye on the ball of our goal: what we want to accomplish for your wedding dance specifically but never forgetting there is a lifetime of just enjoying going out dancing.

We teach Social Style dancing, not competitive dance couples, as a general rule, and thus our emphasis is different than most other dance studios. The requirements, and in fact, the dances themselves are actually different if you are looking for competitive style, so let me know up front if you are interested in competition instead of,or in addition to, learning how to dance for your wedding.