Learning partnership dancing is much like learning any other sport. It requires time and repetition. It also requires accurate and consistent instruction. Here are the types of instructions that we specifically offer. You may find other teachers/studios define their lessons differently. We have Private Instruction, Group Classes and Semi-Private Lessions.

Private Instruction

A private lesson consists of a single student or dance couple and an instructor. It is a great way to go about learning to dance for several reasons. First of all, you will progress much faster because you are working one on one with a professional instructor. Also, you will be concentrating on the specific dances that you are interested in. Before you make a commitment to taking private lessons, your instructor should assess your needs and interests and design a lesson plan that is personalized for YOU. This is normally done on an introductory or “get acquainted” lesson. An introductory lesson gives the student a chance to try out a lesson and get a feel for the instructor. It is important that you feel comfortable with the instructor’s personality, as well as his/her approach to teaching. Everyone learns differently. The key benefit of private instruction is to have the instructor adapt to your learning style, rather than you adjust to his/her teaching style.   CLICK HERE for rates and current specials

Group Class Instruction

In group class instruction you experience learning within a group of students, often trading partners among them. You get the practical application that is not necessarily a part of a private lesson.

The quality of group class instruction is as varied as the group class offerings themselves. Some things to consider when choosing a group class program are

• Is the class being taught to a particular level, i.e. beginner, intermediate, etc.?
• Does the class specify what dances and figures will be taught?
• Will the instructor rotate partners?
• Is the class size limited?

If a class is not specified for a particular learning level, the beginner student will feel overwhelmed, the experienced student will be bored, and the in-between students will feel neglected because all the instructor’s attention will go towards helping the beginners catch up and trying to come up with ways to challenge the experienced dancers. Not good!

Ideally, group classes are taught in courses and require students to begin at the onset. The course should have a curriculum with specific outcomes in mind. It should state the specific dance or dances that will be taught and the variations within each dance.

While many couples want to dance only with each other, it is extremely helpful in developing one’s lead/follow skills to practice with a variety of partners. This is one of the biggest benefits of group instruction. An experienced group class instructor will use a partner rotation system that will ensure fairness to everyone.

Finally, you should know what size class to expect. Are you going to show up for the first night of class and find yourself in a gymnasium-sized room with 40 other couples? The most amazing instructor on the planet cannot effectively teach dance to a class that size! A reasonable class size will vary depending upon the level of students and the material being taught, but avoid classes that are so large you will not get any attention.   CLICK HERE for current schedule of classes

Semi-Private Classes

In a semi-private class, a student can experience the ideal balance between private instruction and group class learning. A semi-private class is an instructor working with 2 to 4 dance couples. Like a group class, a semi-private class is taught in a course with a specific agenda of dances, variations and outcomes. Like a private lesson, each student receives individual attention and recommendations for learning better. This is one of my favorite methods of instruction!