Dance Street
 Ballroom • Latin • Swing   • Social
Creating confident, competent, happy dancers since 1997
 

Dance Studio Homepage

Welcome!  We are glad you found us here!

We love to teaching people how to dance, however it is the "hobby" side of our business.  The Wedding Venue side of things is what keeps the doors open and pays the bills, so it therefore receives a commensurate share of our time & energy. 

Thank you for understanding that we need our dance students to be self-guided in their research.  You will receive our full attention during classes & lessons, but otherwise we expect you to do your homework and figure out which class is right for you.  We've put a lot of effort into describing them.  Please let us know if we've left anything vague or confusing. 

DANCE SCHEDULE & REGISTRATION

See the Adult Essential Skills Syllabus of Patterns

•  All  group class lessons are progressive & build on the previous weeks' skills.  Pop-in students cannot be accommodated. 

•  Adult Essential Skills classes are 40 min. long during Fall & Spring sessions (50 min. Summer session), just enough time to learn without burning out your brain. 

•  Romance Workshops are three-week intensive sessions of 80 min. lessons.  Each lesson is divided between two dance styles, Foxtrot & Swing.  This is our only class where you do NOT have to rotate partners.  It is primarily intended for Wedding Preparation but is also great for couples anticipating a cruise, holiday parties, or just those who have limited learning time and want to dance together!  It is also our only class where you must attend as a partnership since we don't rotate partners. 

•  PLEASE remember to bring a spare pair of shoes to wear!  Straight-from-the-street shoes track in water & dirt that wreak havoc with the wood floor and suede-soled dance shoes. 

•  Children age 13 and over are welcome in classes as long as they can keep up.  Non-participating children, however, are simply too distracting, so please leave them with a sitter unless they are joining us in class.

Quick Answers to FAQs

Can I just call you to get this information?  In a word, no.  Frankly my time is very limited and the only way we can continue to offer adult dance lessons is if students are self-sufficient enough to do their homework.  Read & process the information, send me an email if there's a specific question that's not covered here, and register if the classes sound fun & will work for you.

What classes do you offer?  We currently have three adult class options:  Adult Essential Skills Class I (Foxtrot, Waltz, Swing, & Nightclub), Adult Essential Skills Class II (Progressive Foxtrot, Rumba, Swing, & Nightclub), and intensive  Romance Workshops primarily intended for Wedding Preparation, cruise preparation, or other eminent events. 

These are all beginning-intermediate level classes but will have multiple layers of knowledge, meaning there will be something for anyone to learn unless they are a very advanced dancer.  Where to put your feet is only the very tiniest crawling step.  How you get there, how you move your body, partnering-skills, musicality, style.... there are always elements to refine and nuggets of knowledge to gain out of any class.  A favorite current saying:  We can share the knowledge with you, but we can't understand it for you.  Meaning there is no magic wand and you are going to have to want it/work for it.

Do I have to have a partner to take classes?  The Adult Essential Skills classes welcome singles & couples.  The Romance Workshop is designed for couples only.

When do classes start?  The Adult Essential Skills Classes start in September, January, & May. 
The Romance Workshops are generally offered once each in the Spring, Fall, & Winter seasons.
Classes are always held mid-week.  We do not teach Friday-Monday (that time is reserved for Weddings & family.) 

How do I register?  Our online registration form is available through the Class Schedule page.  

How long do classes last?  Our Fall & Spring semester Adult Essential Skills sessions are 14 weeks of 40 min. classes. Our Summer session is 11 weeks of 50 min. classes. 

Romance Workshops are intensive 3 week sessions of 80 min. lessons. 

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 20 and as many as 50.  Romance Workshops tend to be a little more intimate with groups of about 12. 

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. 

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.   The ones we do have are mid-week & mid-afternoon, suitable for people with flexible schedules.  Sometimes people simply must have evening or weekend lessons in which case we're happy to refer you to other instructors 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 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

The Dance Street Ballroom   433 W. Dean Ave., Spokane, WA    509•326•9545    amanda@dancestreetballroom.com