How to Take Dance Lessons as an Adult

Either alone or as a couple, taking a few lessons can greatly improve your confidence on the dance floor - and they're fun.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dancing Shoes
• Best Of Ballroom Dancing CDs
• Ballroom Dancing Videos
• Telephone Book

1. Decide whether you want to learn a little about several dances or a lot about one kind of dance.

2. Go to a nightclub offering introductory lessons and dancing. Call in advance to find out what kind of dancing is offered that night.

3. After an introduction to several dancing styles at a nightclub, choose a class at a dance studio. Studios are listed in the telephone book, in many community guides and on numerous Web sites.

4. Call the studio. Confirm that the class is for adults, lest you be surrounded by little girls in Mary Janes doing Shirley Temple routines.

5. Ask to observe a class or take the first class free.

6. Choose a studio.

7. Dress in comfortable, leather-soled shoes and moderately formal clothing.

8. Move from partner to partner throughout the lesson, if possible. Dancing with different partners allows you to learn a broader range of dancing styles.

9. Continue attending nightclub dances for practice and to learn new moves.

Tips & Warnings

• It's about confidence, not innate skill.
• Unless you intend to enter dancing contests, avoid instructors who are very particular about steps, take themselves very seriously or don't make the experience fun.

[dancer09]

on 7/7/2009 Try taking an online dance class, similar to what they offer at www.gottadancewithus.com. That way you will feel a little more comfortable.

[weddingdance]

on 11/2/2008 Find the best coach that you can, regardless of your level, and take private lessons to learn correct dance technique. With that, you can learn any step correctly in a group class setting. But if you start with group lessons, you're sure to develop bad habits that you'll pass on to your partner, and will keep you from being able to dance with others comfortably.

on 11/22/2005 Avoid long-term contracts and read the fine print for cancellation conditions. If interested in private coaching, look for an independent teacher. Make it clear if this is for social or more. Take a lesson with different teachers before committing.