WILL I NEED TO BRING A DANCE PARTNER?

No, there are people already at the dance studio available for you do dance with if you do not bring a partner.  We encourage people to invite their significant other to attend classes with them for the simple fact that you will have the advantage of practicing at home with your partner.  However, it is not a necessesity.

HOW SHOULD I DRESS?

Dress comfortably... sweats, jeans, dance wear, casual, tights, whatever, there is no specific dress code. Remember dance is an excellent form of cardiovascular exercise so be prepared, you may sweat.

WHAT SHOES SHOULD I WEAR?

For the Ladies, 
   Comfort -  remember you will be on your feet the entire time and you do not want them to hurt.
   Heel support - we will be doing spins and other high action foot work and you do not want your foot to slide out of your shoe.
   Small heel - Most of the time, ladies, when you go out you more than likely will have some sort of a heel on.  You do not want to be caught off guard because you are not accustomed to dancing in heels.  For this reason, it is a good idea to practice in something close to what you will be wearing out.
   Hard or suede bottom - because we will be doing spins and other footwork, you do not want a shoe that will prevent you from completing your turns.  It is challenging enough for a beginner or intermediate student to spin, we do not want the shoe gripping the floor to make it any more difficult.
Recommended shoes - Pumps and Dance shoes (ex. Capezio, Bloch, etc.)
Shoes not recommended to wear - Sandals, flats, flip flops, slide ins, gym shoes, or any other rubber bottom shoes.

For the Men,
   Comfort - remember you will be on your feet the entire time and you do not want them to hurt.
   Hard bottom - because we will be doing spins and other footwork, you do not want a shoe that will prevent you from completing your turns. It is challenging enough for a beginner or intermediate student to spin, we do not want the shoe gripping the floor to make it any more difficult.
Recommended shoes for men - Dress shoes (a.k.a. church shoes, slip and slides, noise makers) and Dance shoes (ex. Capezio, Bloch, etc.)
Shoes not recommended to wear - Gym shoes, boots, sandals, or any other rubber bottom shoes.
  

DO I HAVE TO REGISTER OR ARE WALK-INS ACCEPTABLE?

Walk-ins are acceptable.  We understand that everyone cannot make it to all of the classes all of the time.  For that reason, we just have the sign in and attend system.  There is neither a mandatory pre-registration nor a mandatory pay-in-advance method.  Just come on in!

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE BEFORE I BECOME GOOD?

Everyone learns at a different pace.  It all depends on how bad you want it, if you have a dance background, if you have good rhythm and generally, if you are a fast learner.  One main factor that determines how quickly someone can become good is frequency.  Just like any other activity in life, the more you do it the better you will become.  We encourage students to attend classes more than once a week.  By doing this, you keep your mind in "Dance mode", which is a state of mind where you are able to learn and retain a move or a step much quicker than you normally would due to being more in tune with your body.  It becomes more natural for you.  Also, we encourage students to take the dance home.  Whenever you have free time, practice some of the steps you learned in class.  If you have the advantage of practicing with someone at home, do so.  It is like homework.  One major frustration people may have when they attend class only once a week is that they are not learning quick enough.  Well, that is true.  By the time you wait an entire week for class to come back around, you have to relearn what you already learned in the previous classes before you can move on. 

I HAVE NO DANCE EXPERIENCE.  SHOULD I TAKE A PRIVATE LESSON BEFORE I COME TO CLASS?

No, it is not necessary.  The purpose of people attending class is to learn.  It is a learning environment.  It is expected that you will not learn and be an avid dancer the first few times you attend.  You have to crawl before you can walk, and walk before you can run, and run before you can jump.  With that in mind, everyone has fun learning what they do not already know. Some may pick up on it faster than others, but do not become discouraged!  Dance is an art and it requires patience, practice, and determination to master it. The more advanced students understand that the pace of class at times may not be as fast as they prefer and the newer students understand that the pace of class may not be as slow as they prefer at times.  With this understanding, no one is pressured.  Dance is fun.  We keep it that way.

Yes.  As long as you have two feet, we can teach you.  Just like anything else, be persistent!  You may have to work harder at it, but eventually you will get it.

MY SPOUSE OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS NOT INTERESTED IN ATTENDING CLASSES, SHOULD I COME?

Yes.  Try not to let your significant other hinder you from attending classes (ex. "My partner is not interested in learning, so I am not coming").   If you really want to learn how to ballroom, attend the classes with or without them.  Hopefully they will see your progression and it may encourage them to participate and share the experience with you.  There are not many couples that enjoy watching other people dance with their mate while they sit because they do not know how to dance. (Believe it, it's encouragement enough)

WHEN SHOULD I TAKE A PRIVATE LESSON?

Private lessons are usually intended for those who want to advance at a much quicker rate than the regular class student.  We recommend for those who are interested in private lessons to have a good understanding of the basics before they attend a private lesson.  Our beginner lessons always incorporates the very basic footwork and basic moves. Even if you have no previous dance experience and have never taken a class a day in your life, this usually brings everyone up to speed.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT LEVEL I AM?

It is encouraged for individuals to attend a class below your anticipated skill level to familiarize yourself with the terminology and style of our class.  Once you have participated in the lesson, it is recommended that you consult with the instructor to determine what level you are. 

HOW DO I ADVANCE TO THE NEXT SKILL LEVEL?

For the ladies,
First, you must express to the instructor your interest in advancing.  Second, you will be asked to demonstrate your skills by dancing with the instructor.  Afterwards, he will determine if you are ready for advancement.

For the Men,
First, you must express to the instructor your interest in advancing.  Second, you will be asked to demonstrate your skills on the scheduled test date.  Based upon your knowledge, performance and ability to execute the required dance moves, it will be determined if you are ready for advancement.