Frequently asked questions

1.      What kind of dance do you teach?

• Although we practice many forms of dance, we specialize in the different forms of partner dancing.  At the moment, we offer instruction more so in the social and ballroom styles of partner dancing. 

2.      What is partner dancing and what are the styles?

•  By definition, partner dancing is the interaction developed between two people.  As a result, harmony between their movements is often expressed.  Although in the beginning, partner dancing was mostly related to social dance, in today’s society, because of the development of the arts, you can encounter different styles of partner dancing.  For instance, there is social dancing, which is the harmonious movement between two people as a result of actions and reactions (leading and following).  Its main purpose is to create a fluent conversation between the couple using movement.  Also there is show dancing, which is the embellishment of natural movements, often combined with acrobatics, with its main purpose being to provide an appealing performance to the audience.  Then, of course, there is ballroom dancing, which is a codified method of dance primarily used to classify and judge the progress of a couple, ultimately creating standards for generations to follow.  Its intention is to provide a specific technique to the art of dancing, paving the way to what is known today as dance sport.

3.      I want to be good quick.  What should I do?

• You would be surprised as to how many people ask this question.  Obviously, the answer depends upon the dedication you offer to the understanding of the movements.  Unlike the common belief, partner dancing is not based on the memorization of movements or patterns, but instead on the understanding of gravity and momentum and how to use it properly in order to create a flow of movement.  Therefore, we strongly suggest that if your goal is to become a good dancer quickly, you must pay attention to the control over your own body before jumping into advanced partnering work.  Keep in mind, there is a big difference between being a dancer and a performer.

4.      Is it better for me to take private lessons or group classes?

•  The ideal type of instruction is directly related to the personality of the students and upon the style that appeals to them the most.  For instance, if your goal is to become good in social settings, like nightclubs and parties, your focus should be geared toward learning leading and following, in which case, group settings are more efficient.  You have to consider rotating partners every so often, for in this manner, you can be sure that it is the lead that produces the move, as opposed to the memorization of steps.  But, if your goal is to concentrate on a higher level, such as performances and competitions, or basically, you just want to impress people with your quality of motion, we recommend private instruction, because there are a lot of minor details that are essential tools to the efficient development of the movement.  Each one is unique to the student.  Therefore, it’s more difficult for the instructor to offer specific corrections when teaching a group class.  You have to acknowledge that the movement will strictly depend upon the alignment of the body and its weight, because gravity has a lot of influence within the way that you and your partner react to specific motions.

5.      How long does it take for me to become a good dancer?

•   Generally speaking, the learning curve of an average person can be easily compared to the amount of time it would take anyone to gain a degree in a high education program (for example: a university degree).   For instance, in a normal university setting, the instruction is divided into a series of eight semesters, in which the students are able to determine a specific topic that they will focus on.  Obviously, this kind of teaching will guarantee a higher level of knowledge that will enable the students not only to understand their field thoroughly but also give them enough of a basis to become a guide for following generations.  Partner dancing should be taken the same way.  But if your purpose is only to become proficient in social dancing, it shouldn’t take you more than two years to do so.  However, if you would like to pursue a higher level of dancing, and you wish to follow a more competitive career, of course the learning process will take longer than two years.  The art of dancing is considered a work in progress. There is always space for improvement

6.  What is the syllabus?

• In the world of ballroom dancing, there is a series of codified patterns that were designed with the idea of classifying the students into different levels. It also was created with the intention of giving a guideline to the teachers so that they could provide a more standardized method of learning. As social dancing became more popular within the higher societal circles, the demand for instruction became more evident. Therefore, to prevent confusion within the teaching methods, they decided to fabricate a set of patterns that would become the global standards for ballroom dancing.
• Even though there are many syllabi, one of the most recognized is the ISTD (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing). This particular syllabus is divided into three main levels. The first level is known as “Basic Figures”, which is divided into two sections; the first being composed of about six patterns and the second composed of ten more patterns that, in many cases, are variations and amalgamations of the first six. The next level is known as “Standard Figures”. This level is composed of between eight and ten more patterns that will obviously involve a deeper understanding of the connections between the dancers. The third level is composed of six or more variations of the patterns that have a higher difficulty level. In the United States, the levels of the syllabus are commonly known as bronze, silver and gold. Even though independent schools have developed their own syllabi, the majority of them preserve a very similar set of patterns, with the main difference being in the names.