3 Pillars of Dance [Group Classes]

Do I have to take group classes? Can't I just do private lessons? While you may certainly begin ballroom with private lessons if you wish, eventually you'll want to add in group classes to up level your skills. Here's why:

Group classes, private lessons, and dance parties are designed to work together. You’ll learn best when your dance program includes all three pillars.

Let's take a look at Group Classes

Group classes are essential to learning to lead and follow well. Dancing with a variety of partners teaches you how to adapt to anything than can happen on the dance floor. And we learn 30% faster with partner rotation, so group classes are the perfect way to improve your social dance skills.

For leaders: If you only dance with your partner, they'll eventually learn to compensate for your mistakes. You'll try lead something - it won't be quite clear or correct, but they'll understand what you're trying to do and follow the move anyway. So you'll never learn to step up and become a smooth and confident leader. Your partner may not complain, but they honestly won't enjoy dancing with you as much as they could. Every follower longs to dance with a strong leader who can effortlessly guide them around the dance floor.

For followers: If you only dance with your partner, you may never experience how dancing is supposed to feel. You'll struggle more learning steps and won't "get it" as quickly as you would if you had the chance to dance with a more experienced partner. It's amazing how just one dance with another partner (or teacher) can instantly give you that aha moment and accelerate your growth as a dancer. And dancing with a beginner can help you step up as a partner so you learn to follow smoothly and gracefully, even if the lead isn’t perfect.

Why You Need Group Classes:

People who take only private lessons (or only dance with their partner or teacher) limit their growth and stunt their lead/follow skills. If you only dance with one person you'll get stuck longer than necessary trying to learn simple skills.

Group classes and dance parties train you to respond to the full spectrum of possibilities on the dance floor. This makes you a more confident leader and a more graceful follower.

So to become the best dancer you can be, it’s helpful to dance with a variety of partners.

Terror Tales from the Ballroom...

I once danced with a wonderful competitive ballroom dancer. She'd spent tens of thousands of dollars training with her teacher via private lessons for years. She put in the time, she really cared, but she didn't do group classes. And sadly, she couldn't follow basic moves on the social dance floor. She didn't have the skills to recognize and respond to different cues. She knew one way to do things and that was it. If I entered or exited a move differently than her teacher, she got totally lost. It did not compute. She really couldn't follow moves on the dance floor - which was a shame because she loved dancing.

Years ago, I had a lovely couple who took private lessons with me. The leader enjoyed learning long choreographed combinations of patterns because that made him feel confident and like he was really dancing. They looked great on the dance floor because "look at all those fancy moves!". But when I danced with him it was clear that he really didn't know how to lead these intricate steps. But he was totally unaware that his lead was lackluster because his partner adjusted for his mistakes. His wife never hinted that she was disappointed, but she really wanted her partner become a stronger leader and she didn't enjoy having to just go through the motions.

I once had a student who took a lot of private lessons with me. Because we were able to work so deeply on frame, posture, and technique he really became a strong dancer. When we danced together everything clicked and he looked great. But he would get tripped up at parties. He was so used to his partner (a teacher) doing everything correctly that he didn't know what to do when a fellow student turned early, or late, or the wrong way. He didn't know how to adjust his lead to adapt to different partners, and that really limited him. Because if the only way to get to enjoy dancing is to pay for private lessons to dance with a professional - you're missing out on so much enjoyment.

When To Take Group Classes?

Take group classes before you think you're ready for them. So many people think they have to take tons of private lessons to feel comfortable and confident before they step foot in a group class.

Remember our beginner group classes are designed for people who've never stepped foot on a dance floor, and they're more forgiving, supportive, and fun than you might imagine. We don't assume you know anything, have rhythm, or are naturally coordinated. We take you from zero dance skills and show you step-by-step what to do so you can learn and enjoy ballroom dancing.

So if you want take a few private lessons to put your mind at ease that's totally fine. Just don't wait too long before you try a group class. It honestly sounds scarier than it is, and once you experience it you'll see just how comfortable and enjoyable it is to learn with a group.