Dance Studio Homepage
Welcome! Let us help you find out whether dancing is a
passing fancy for you or a new life-long hobby.
Either way we hope you'll enjoy the learning experience.
Quick Answers to FAQs
Should I start with Group Classes or Private Lessons?
As long as your schedule permits regular class
attendance we encourage you to start with group classes. Classes
are a fun, social, economical way to acquire your basics.
Do I have to have a partner
to take classes? Nope, singles are welcome!
We rotate partners to develop everyone's
lead/follow skills. Balance is achieved
through our pool of intermediate dancers who
enjoy helping out as needed.
When do classes start? Usually at the beginning of the
month but pay attention to the calendar.
Do
you know what's going to be taught several months from now?
Swing I generally happens any month that we do not have a
Romance Workshop (except August) but as for specifics. . .
no. Future classes depend on current
classes.
How
do I register? Our online registration form is
available through the
Class Schedule page.
You're also welcome to just show up at the first night of
classes. Either way, no pre-payment is necessary.
Just bring a check or cash to the first class.
How long do classes last? Sessions
are generally 4 weeks of 40 min. classes, but due to
holidays they are sometimes compressed into 3 weeks of 55
min. classes. Romance Workshops are intensive 3 week
sessions of 80 min. lessons encompassing two different dance styles.
No matter what, practice at home is essential for progress
and improvement.
How
many people are in a group class? Average, 15.
As few as 8 and as many as 40
What class should I start with? Brand-new
dancers need to start with one of our ENTRY LEVEL
classes, usually SWING I, WALTZ I, FOXTROT I, or a ROMANCE
WORKSHOP. These are where we start from scratch with
essential elements such as frame, lead/follow, balance,
rock-step, timing, etc. In order to take the
beginning level of another dance you need to have this
essential knowledge. These classes feature the most socially useful and easily
grasped of the partner-style dances. The Romance Workshop is
especially great for
anyone with a wedding, cruise, or other event on the
horizon.
Can I start with an intermediate class if I already have
dance experience? Not usually. Why?
Because we presume a certain set of skills from the
beginning class and if you don't know those particular
techniques, patterns, and leads then it's not fair to the
other class members. It's mostly about partnering
skills not the moves you do or don't know.
What
should I wear? Comfortable, cool clothes in layers.
Straight-from-the-street shoes are hard on the floor so we
appreciate you bringing shoes to change into that have
non-marking soles and will stay on your feet. Dance
shoes are available for purchase if you decide to make
dancing a regular hobby. ($65 incl. tax & shipping for DSB students.)
What's the age range in classes? Anywhere from 13
& up, but most of our group-class students are 28-58.
Do I have to rotate partners? In classes, yes.
In the Romance Workshop, no.
How long does it take to learn? Everyone learns at
a different pace. Some will be ready to show off their
new skills after the first couple of weeks, others will want
to take the beginning class multiple times before they debut
in public. You truly don't know your aptitude for this
until you try it. People who never thought they'd be
able to dance are amazed at how well they take
to partner-style dancing. Others wonder at why their
general athletic prowess doesn't carry over to this new
activity. Truly, it's hard to predict but short, daily
PRACTICE sessions at home (5-10 min.) will make a huge
impact!
Private
Lessons: We do have some private lesson openings but not
many. Sometimes people's schedules simply cannot
be bent to match the group class schedule. If that is
the case for you we may send you to another
instructor we trust.
Can I bring my kids with me? If they want to learn
how to dance and are old enough to handle adult-oriented
classes they are absolutely welcome! I love teaching
young, unencumbered minds! (Our minimum age is 13
without special permission.) If they are not
participating in classes, though, please treat this as
adult-time and get a sitter. While many kids are fine
sitting quietly with a book for 40 minutes others cannot
keep from running (literally) in circles through the rest of
the studio. This is very distracting for me and the
other students so thank you in advance for your
understanding.
CANDID ADMISSIONS. . . .
Teaching people how to dance feeds my soul but it is not my
only interest nor does it
pay the bills. Hosting weddings does the latter and
therefore gets the lion's share of my working time.
That means it'll be tough to reach me on the phone or get me
to respond to non-specific emails such as "Tell me about
dance lessons. . . " (Response: read the
website.)
While dancing is a thriving past-time
here in Spokane there are not currently a lot of studios and
instructors to choose from. This is one reason I've
decided to continue teaching even though I can't give each
student my full attention and answer
all of their questions before they start classes.
Since you've gotten this far it means you're interested in
learning, so I guess I am asking you to take a leap of faith
and just TRY IT.
Why
bother with us at all since our availability is so limited?
Frankly, Dance Street is the best place in town for
brand-new dancers to gain some confidence as well as some
solid dance skills. We are a fun, friendly, welcoming
bunch who are always happy to help people find out whether
dancing is their next passion or just a passing fancy.
Our classes are a great way to meet new people,
kick off a date-night with your partner, or have fun with a group of
friends. They're also an excellent way to move your
body and stretch your muscles while expanding your brain.
Dancing is the one physical skill shown to have a delaying
effect on dementia symptoms because it works both brain and
body. If learning how to dance is on your life-list
let us help you check that box.
We've
been teaching Spokane the essentials of Ballroom, Latin, and
Swing dancing since 1997. We pride ourselves on
offering excellent dance instruction in a relaxed and
friendly environment. Our group classes are
low-commitment and very budget friendly. We hope they
will fit into your schedule and that you will decide to see
if dancing is your next life-long hobby. Happy
Learning!
Amanda Hansen,
Owner/Dance Instructor/Wedding
Guru
Dance
Street Ballroom
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