How should I dress for dance classes?
Dress comfortably and casually for class. Men should not wear suit jackets. They restrict your movement. Anything from jeans and t-shirts to dress slacks and a nice shirt is acceptable. Ladies may wear jeans, slacks, skirts, whatever you feel comfortable in. It’s a good idea to dress in layers: start with a sweater until you get warm. Bring a water bottle too.
What kind of shoes do I need?
I prefer that you bring a change of shoes to class, whether you have dance shoes or not. It is important to keep the dance floor clean and dry, especially for those wearing suede-soled dance shoes. You don’t have to buy dance shoes right away but you may want to consider getting a pair later on.
Smooth-soled shoes are best so you will glide rather than grip the floor. Do not wear sandals, hiking boots, running shoes, flip flops, slip-on shoes of any kind or very high heels. Bare feet and socks are not permitted as they are simply unsafe.
There are dance shoes specifically designed for ballroom, Latin and swing dancing. They are extremely comfortable and well worth the investment if you want to be able to dance your best. They are no more expensive than a pair of dress shoes. For ladies the most significant advantage is that the heels are placed right under your centre of balance rather than at the back of the shoe which makes it wobbly. You will not feel wobbly in a pair of dance shoes. I recommend wearing a heel no higher than 2 inches. You can get everything from beautiful open-toed Latin sandals to lace up practice shoes which look best with slacks and are the most comfortable of all. Men’s dance shoes look like dress shoes but are more lightweight and have a very flexible sole which allows you to bend your arches and move your feet easily. You have an option of a suede sole or a special new sole that allows you to wear your shoes on the street as well.
Do you teach American or International styles of dance?
I teach what I refer to as social dancing, which is a basic grounding in the common partner dances, that will enable you to be a good leader or follower. My classes are not intended to prepare you for competition.
Ballroom and Latin dances come in 2 flavors, American Style and International Style. I lean more to the American Style but, because I am not focused on competitions, I may not teach to the same strict standards and follow the same syllabus that a ballroom dance studio might.
American Style dancing has always been more popular for social dancing in North America. The International or English Style is more popular in Europe. The American Style “Ballroom” or “Smooth” dances as they are referred to consist of the Fox Trot, Waltz, Tango and Viennese Waltz and allow for greater freedom and expression. They may be danced in closed or open position, allowing for additional innovative tricks and creative arm and hand styling. The step lists or Syllabus in American Style is traditionally longer than that of the International Style. The International “Standard” dances are Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz and Quickstep and are danced only in closed position. The technique for both styles is similar. The American Style “Rhythm” dances which are Cha Cha, Rumba, Mambo, Samba, Bolero, Merengue and Swing, also have a greater variety of patterns and are more suited for social dancing. The International Style “Latin” dances, Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Paso Doble and Jive, are more disciplined and technical. The technique is slightly different between the two styles and changes throughout the years.
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