FAQ
Questions Often Asked About Ballroom Dance Lessons
Why take dance lessons; I've gotten by this long without dancing?
People derive a lot of pleasure from a good hour of dancing in a clean bright place with a skillful partner at the end of a usually tiring, busy day. Besides, going to dance is FUN! Dancing lessons are really insurance against loneliness. You will always be able to make new friends through your dancing and be able to go along with the crowd and have fun. What do we get out of life if we don't get pleasure? Isn't that what we are all looking and working for, anyway?
Why take lessons?
I don't want to be an expert – I already dance well enough to get by, besides having fun.
If you're well educated academically, that's 8 years in grammar school, 4 years in high school, and, for some, 4 years in college, for a total of 16 years spent in pursuit of an education. Your success in a business is gauged by academic learning, but your actual pursuit of happiness is gauged by social learning. You have too much "on the ball" to be content with second-rate ambitions. Would you prefer sitting at home instead of being at a fun party with a nice group of friends? NO, you wouldn't! Dancers take more dance lessons for the same reasons.
Why should I get better, when my partners aren't that good themselves?
No matter how limited your partners – you could still look better on the dance floor with better styling, confidence, and correct habits. Your friends will admire your initiative, for it is self-improvement. They will be proud of your fine dancing and sparkling personality when you are an accomplished dancer. Plus, getting better yourself is just how you attract better partners! Wouldn't that be more fun?
Why should I take the time? I'm already very busy.
Did you ever hear the expression, "if you want something done, give it to the busiest person you know"? When you stop and think of all the good times being a good dancer brings you, it makes the sacrifice you could put aside until we make you a really good dancer? Actually a 100-hour course is only a little over four days of your whole life in hours. Enjoyable, relaxing hours of fun, but yet, with a constructive purpose. And you do want to be prepared for that next big dance, don't you?
Am I too old, lacking in ability, or unattractive for dancing well?
Socrates said, "Everybody is eloquent enough on what he knows." You won't feel ridiculous when you are dancing beautifully. Confidence develops when we excel at something, and "Pretty is as pretty does". Grace, poise, attractiveness, new friends, fun and confidence can't be bought, but you can purchase the means with which to obtain them.
What does it cost to learn to dance well?
Our prices vary greatly depending on the number of lessons taken. There is no obligation for the trial lessons, and it gives you and idea about how we teach. It will also show us something about your dancing and hel0p us to recommend something suitable for you. After you have a sample of our lessons, you will be better able to judge the value of our lessons.
Aren't dance lessons expensive?
If you have ever taken any type of private instruction such as driving a car, learning a musical instrument, playing golf, etc., you will find the rates usually run about the same as dance lessons. We think once you've been introduced to our system and have seen how quickly and efficiently you can learn and will be taught, you'll agree that it's worth it. Also, let's not forget that aside from taking care of you dancing, you're also going to get confidence, relaxation, and the exercise you want. Our studio offers superior personnel, nice locations, and pleasant surroundings. You'll soon forget the cost, but you will always enjoy the value. COMPARISON: Professional hair care at $50 a month is $600 a year. For 10 years, that equals $6000. Go without it for one month and see what your hair goes back to! The terrific part of learning to dance is that once you've don't it and it becomes a part of you, you never have to invest in it again. In fact, the more you use it, the better you will get. A whole year of fun, relaxation, and dance instructions, and, afterwards, a lifetime of good times, parties, recognition, and dancing; how do you put a price on fun, popularity and new friends? Aren't you worth it?
Remember – Good Dancers Are Made, Not Born. The Sooner You Act, The Sooner The Fun Of Dancing Will Be Yours. So, Act Now And Don't Wait Any Longer For The Good Times To Start!!
What To Wear?
The dress codes for dance events range widely, but however casual or dressy the event, you'll want to choose clothes that are both easy to dance in and kind to your partner. Learn about the hazards of suit jackets and spaghetti-strap dresses, and the joys of silk.
Ballroom Dance Shoes
It's important to choose appropriate shoes for ballroom dancing. This section compares the pros and cons of various dance-shoe options, including rubber-soled shoes (ugh!), leather-soled street shoes, character shoes, Jazz shoes, suede-bottomed sneakers, bowling shoes, Lindy Hop shoes, and ballroom dance shoes.
Ballroom dance shoes are lightweight shoes with either suede (chrome leather) or smooth leather soles. Flats for men and women have 1 or 1.5 inch heels and generally cost $100-120, although there are some cheaper domestic models. Ladies' high-heeled shoes typically have 2 to 3 inch heels and run about $60-120.
Shoes should be chosen not only for appearance but also for comfort, support, performance, and protection. Some ballroom dance shoes are built poorly; in particular, look out for sharp edges near your ankle and for interior seams that will abrade your foot.
Some women prefer closed-toed shoes because they offer a little more protection against being stepped on than do open-toed models, and because they shield your toenails from your partner's shoes. Women's shoes sold for Latin dancing tend to have a higher, slimmer heel and a softer, more flexible sole than do those intended for Standard dancing. Ladies: if high heels hurt, try adding arch supports, or consider wearing flats. Any orthopedist will tell you that high heels are not particularly good for your feet.
The performance of a shoe depends primarily on its sole. New or well-brushed suede (chrome leather) soles are generally considered to offer just the right degree of traction on a wooden dance floor. More-slippery smooth-leather soles may be found on less expensive ballroom shoes.
The performance of a shoe depends primarily on its sole. New or well-brushed suede (chrome leather) soles are generally considered to offer just the right degree of traction on a wooden dance floor. Slipperier smooth-leather soles may be found on less expensive ballroom shoes.
Vendors
Buying ballroom shoes can be tricky unless you're fortunate enough to have a well-stocked ballroom shoe vendor in your area. Dance supply stores such as Capezio will carry Jazz and character shoes, and some of their outlets will also offer a narrow range of ballroom shoes. Ballroom dance studios often sell several models of ballroom shoes, but their stock on hand is usually limited, meaning that you might not be able to try on the model that you want in your size.
If you can't find a good ballroom shoe at a local store or studio, you can try shopping at dance competitions or dance camps. Shoe vendors often set up shop at ballroom dance competitions and ballroom dance camps, and they tend to bring large stocks of shoes; you can try on many pairs, and you're likely to find the model that you want in your size. The vendors will typically operate outside of the ballroom in which the competition or camp is held, so you usually do not require admission to the event to shop for shoes.
If neither competitions nor camps are convenient, consider purchasing ballroom shoes by mail order. Mail-order vendors generally offer a wide range of shoes and hold large inventories. The obvious disadvantage to mail order is that it's hard to evaluate a shoe from a catalog picture. However, most mail-order stores have reasonable exchange policies; if you return the shoe clean and unworn, they will not only accept it but also absorb the cost of shipping you a different pair. For widest selection, I suggest that you order free catalogs from some or all of the vendors below, or visit their web sites.
Note: if a vendor's toll-free (800) or (888) phone number is unreachable from your calling area, try the toll number provided.
Some U.S. Mail-Order Dance Shoe Vendors
If you're shopping in the San Francisco Bay Area, you may wish to visit the web site of the
University of California Ballroom Dancers for a list of local dance-shoe vendors.
Sizes
Dance shoes are typically made and sold according to European shoes sizes, which are generally but not always 1.5 sizes smaller than their American counterparts. That is, a man who wears an American size 10 will usually wear a European size 8.5. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, so it's best to discuss sizes with the salesperson.
