Rates -
Group classes
really ARE cheaper than the movies, so if you have questions
about pricing please ask us!
Most people start with 1
session per month ($35/single, $65/couple.) The session fee
includes our Practice-Dance at the end of the month.
1
session per month - $35/single, $65/couple -
usually 4 classes
2 sessions per month - $55/single,
$100/couple - usually 8
classes
3 + sessions per month - $75/single,
$140/couple - usually 12-20
classes!
What are group classes?
Group classes are a fun and affordable
way to learn.
A "session"
is generally 4 classes, once a week at the same
time for one month.
Classes run on a set
schedule most of the year - mid-week in the evenings. They
involve a group of 8-40 students learning together while
rotating partners. This allows new students to mingle with
our advanced helpers which builds skills much more quickly, and
the more people you dance with the better leader/follower you
will become.
We teach beginning classes for brand new dancers, for those who need to
dust the rust off old skills, and for anyone new to our studio.
We also teach intermediate and advanced classes when there is enough
interest. We offer a variety of the most popular and
useful dances in a group-class format, including Swing, Salsa,
Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, West Coast Swing, and Nightclub Two Step.
Who can
take group classes? They are suitable for
everyone from teens to seniors, singles & couples, beginners to
experienced dancers. What matters most is a student's willing
attitude to learn and to meet new people. The one caveat
is that you need to have decent hearing. Group classes are
very frustrating for those with hearing difficulties.
BANKERS'
HOURS: While the set schedule keeps group classes very
affordable the trade-off is that they are not very flexible.
Group classes are not a good choice for those who work out of
town during the week, travel frequently, work swing shift, or
who have variable schedules that they cannot somewhat control.
We wish would could accommodate every would-be student's
schedule but alas it is simply not possible.
What class should I start
with? BRAND-NEW students must start with an ENTRY LEVEL
class: Swing I, Foxtrot I, Waltz I, or
the Romance Workshop. These are the best place to obtain the essential skills necessary to all
dancers - frame, lead/follow, balance, vocabulary, true weight
changes, etc. This knowledge will be presumed in all other
level I classes. Once you're comfortable with your
essential skills all of the other level I classes are open to
you. Level II classes are the intermediate level of that dance and
require that you complete the level I class at Dance Street, or a
checkout with the instructor. Even if you've danced elsewhere we
suggest taking the level I classes anytime you switch studios.
Each teacher has their own distinct style and set of skills they
expect you to learn in a beginning class, and intermediate level
classes presume that knowledge. Level III classes are by
special arrangement only.
When are classes?
Our schedule varies but they are always mid-week in the
evenings. We do not offer any classes on the weekends,
including Friday nights. Please see
the
Class Calendar for the current
schedule. Each "session" is generally 4 classes, once a
week at the same day/time for one month, and sessions usually
start at the beginning of each month.
Even though a session of any given class is completed in one
month there will often be an intermediate level class the
following month, or another beginning level class that is a
natural companion. Our almost-monthly Practice-Dance is included in each
session fee.
Classes &
Workshops must be stared on the first week of the session unless
you obtain special permission. Our lessons are
always progressive, building on the last week's skills, and it's
very stressful to start out a week behind everyone else.
How long are
the classes? Classes are 40 min. long (the point where
most people's brains become full for the night.)
How long will I have to
take classes? The answer to this question varies for
everyone. It depends on your goals, whether you just want to
get by in one dance or be a competent dancer in a variety of styles.
It depends on your ability. Not everyone is ready to move on
from a beginning class by the end of the session. People learn
at different paces, and there is no shame in repeating a class.
Many of our advanced dancers still come to the beginning sessions.
They're there primarily for the social and exercise aspects, but they also learn
or remember something every time they take a class. Your brain can only absorb
so much information at once, and maybe it takes 4 or 5 or 100 times
of hearing us say "lead her rock step" before you actually
internalize what that means and start doing it automatically.
So I guess the answer is, as long as you're having a good time and
still getting something out of it.
Refunds
- there are no
refunds, but credits will be given if you are unable to complete the
session after the first class. No credits will be issued after
the second class of a session. Credits will be good for one
year from the date they are issued. The one exception is if a
class is cancelled by the instructor.
Make-up
Classes - We're sorry, but there's no practical way to
offer make-up classes. Group classes are inexpensive because
they run on a set schedule. We agree to provide the class and
you agree to attend it. When students miss a class they
usually try to catch up during the review at the beginning of the
next class (except in the case of the last class, of course.)
We will also do our best to assign you a Dance Monkey at the
next class to help you catch up with the group.
What to Wear
& Dance Shoes - CLOTHING: We
suggest wearing comfortable clothing in layers that you can discard
as you heat up from the physical activity. We do not have a
dress code except "smell nice", and you'll see students in
everything from yoga pants to jeans to suits. We do recommend
staying away from sleeveless shirts to avoid the dewy underarm
factor, but it's not a rule.
"Smell
nice" means please use deodorant, don't smoke right before
class, and chew gum or a breath mint. It also means stay
away from loads of powerful cologne or perfume. "Thank you"
from your instructors and fellow students!
SHOES to
start with: Avoid wearing
flip-flops, clogs, or slides that may slip off your feet.
Please bring shoes with non-marking soles to change into once you're
here. Dirt and water can
quickly make a mess of the dance floor when you wear shoes straight
from the street.
You don't have to start out with official dance shoes. Dry and clean
shoes from your closet are fine to begin with. Running shoes,
dress shoes, or strapped on casual shoes are good beginning choices.
DANCE
SHOES: Just like any
sport or activity, dancing does have specialty equipment. The most distinctive feature
of this style of dance shoe is the suede-sole. This element
allows them to glide smoothly across the dance floor and spin easily
and quickly. It also provides the traction necessary to stop on command
which is also very important.
Alas, there
are no good retail shops in town. We order our dance shoes
through catalogs, and represent a line called Very Fine Dance
Shoes. The cost for non-students is $85, and for our
students it's $65 (including shipping and tax.) For men
the choice is really about color. There are a handful of
styles, but they pretty much all look the same. Does he
want matte black, patent, brown, or two-tone? Their
Latin-heeled shoes have very little support and we do not
recommend them, so it'll be a basic 1" heel for the guys' shoes.
For women there are a LOT of options. I recommend that
your first pair be a basic black sandal which can be worn with
skirts or pants. Heel sizes range from 1" to 3".
Most of mine are 2.5" which really isn't as tall as it sounds.
Choose a shoe with solid strapping, and I generally favor those
with a quick-release buckle. A few excellent styles
include:
S1002
(not a quick buckle, but SO cute & secure!),
5011
(very stable),
1617.
The ladies' open-toe shoes run true to sandal size.
Avoid mesh & glitter. The former tears and the latter
sheds on everything. Those with narrow toe openings can be
binding on average width feet, but probably a good choice for
those with narrow feet. Exchanges are permitted as long as
the shoes don't leave the studio and are not worn on anything
but carpet. You will have to pay the extra shipping,
however, so it's smart to choose wisely in the first place.
Narrow & wide options are available by special order, which is a
$20 surcharge. Special orders are non-refundable.
WEDDING
SHOES: Consider making your wedding shoes actual dance
shoes. They're relatively comfortable, the price is
comparable, and you'll be better able to "perform" that fabulous
first dance. The only caveat is to have a pair of wedding
flip-flops available to wear outdoors, or boots if you're
talking about a winter wedding. These are some excellent
wedding styles:
1659 White Satin,
1662b White Satin (I have &
LOVE these!),
5008 White Leather,
S92332 White Satin & Silver Trim.
Dance shoes
require some particular care. They should never be worn outside as the suede-soles will absorb water,
oil, and other nasty gunk instantly. Most dancers carry their
shoes with them in a discreet black bag. You'll get over the dorkiness
of this once you discover what a difference this proper piece of equipment makes in your dancing!
They also need maintenance
on their soles every once in awhile. When they start to look
shiny and feel slick it's time to use an angled wire brush to rough
them back up. You should always stroke the soles in one
direction, roughly enough to raise the leather grain, and watch out
for your hand as you stroke! Any of our regular dancers would
be happy to give you a
tutorial in this skill.
Anyone who
decides to make dancing even a part-time hobby should invest in
a pair of suede-soled dance shoes.
Not all shoes are created equal, so feel free to ask me which
styles are the best choices for you. If you won't listen
to me, listen to Art Crane, a dancer of one year who thought his
dress shoes were fine, until he finally got dance shoes:
"Hi Amanda
I want to tell you that I have
owned a lot of shoes in my life…..work boots, cowboy boots, ski
boots, hiking boots, dress shoes, tennis shoes…..but by far the
best purchase are my new dance shoes! What an amazing
difference from the street shoes. They are flexible,
comfortable and best of all makes turning a breeze! Now I can
start to work on my Lindy Hop Slide! Thanks Amanda…the fit is
perfect!
Art"
Private-groups -
Private-group lessons are a flat fee of $100 for up to 30 people.
They are essentially a group class that you put together on your
own, choosing from a variety of possible days and times (but not
weekends.) These
lessons are a lot of fun for families, bridal parties, groups of
co-workers, or any other group that wants to learn together.
Private-groups allow you choose what dance (or dances) you want to
learn and to start at any time of the month. The groups must
have equal numbers of leaders and followers, usually guys and gals,
but we also welcome same-sex groups as well as
bachelorette groups who want to learn Salsa. Caveat:
Teens & older only, please. The attention span required to
learn this style of dance is extremely rare amongst pre-teen
children.