You do not need a partner for any activity at the studio. Our single to couple ratio in group class is about 50/50. Due to the way we teach group class, you will have the opportunity to dance with multiple partners throughout the lesson. In private lessons, the instructor will be your partner if you do not have one. Our dances are typical social events with friendly students! If you have attended group class, those from class are likely to dance with you. If not, it may take a few dances to get acquainted.
Where Can I Dance Near Berryville?
The most comfortable place to dance will be here at the studio at our 2nd and 4th Saturday dances. We teach a lesson before each dance at 7:30pm. After the hour long lesson the dance runs from 8:30pm to 10:30pm. Admission price is $10. Each dance has door prizes, refreshments and every dance style is announced throughout the night. Our students often visit local night clubs or lodges and partnership dance. Ask at our studio where our students currently go out dancing.
Students have commented in the past about dancing at these locations. Some do not have the typical ballroom dance atmosphere. However, when students go out together, their preferred form of dance often becomes partnership dancing, regardless of where they are. Learn more by joining our e-mail list or group class, students often make announcements in class about dance opportunities.
What Music Should I Buy? There are many options when it comes to music. In class, you will learn what makes music correspond with the dance. Dance music is available through internet sites like www.dancevision.com. I recommend a more casual approach for the novice student. Learn a bit about each dance. Find out what each dance is meant to express. For example, the Rumba is a romantic dance, danced at a particular range of tempi or speeds. You probably already have romantic music at home which is suitable for the Rumba. As you learn more about dance, your musical interests will probably develop and change. Avoid a narrow definition of musical styles; rather, find the broad definition of each dance. Specifics will come with time and practice.
How Can I Supplement My Learning?
Supplements can be wonderful tools when used as aids, rather than substitutes, for dance instruction. Students sometimes want to take the short cut to learning or the easy way to the top. I recommend taking the long hard road at first. This will produce more constructive learning and benefits than any reference in a book or video, especially when those references often stay on the shelf at home.
Before using supplements, learn how to learn. Learn the language of structured dance, and how to think like a dancer. Learn your role as a follower or leader, so that you can use your supplementary materials with better understanding. Discuss your supplements with your instructor. It is best to tailor your learning aids to fit your individual needs. Here are some examples of ways
to enhance your learning experience, in order of importance:
Private lessons: Private lessons are the best way to learn. Nothing can beat the connection between a human teaching another human. Private lessons focus on your personal needs as a dancer. Where you have difficulty, time is taken. Where it comes naturally, little time is spent. Instructors will learn your learning style and teach you better with time, just as you will learn their teaching style and become a more efficient student.
Group classes: Group classes allow you to apply your partnership learning with other students of different levels. This is what you would encounter in the real world, varying degrees of ability. The instructors attention is split among many, so you do not get as much personal attention. However a great deal of information is still offered. When first taking group class, try it with a light heart. Learn the basics. As more information is added, try it only if you feel comfortable with the first piece of information. After a few classes you can add more. Be prepared to meet others who share an interest in dancing, and be ready to laugh and have fun. Group class schedules can be found on our web site at www.berryvilleballroom.com.
Dances/Parties: These are wonderful places to practice what you have
learned. I encourage everyone to try what they know, enjoy the free lesson that starts out most dances. If you are learning German, its a good idea to go to Germany. Dance is best applied on a dance floor.
Notes: Taking notes is one of the best ways to solidify information. It shows that you understand the lesson enough to put it in words. Use your own words; words that make sense to you will be the best way to make sense of what you have learned at a later time. This is where your notes are going to be worth more than someone elses. Your notes are written by you and for you. Many students underutilize this as a process. Sometimes the act of trying to write notes is worth more than the notes themselves. Ask your instructor how to take effective notes. When you come across a road block in your note taking, fixing that road block could be your first question on your next lesson. There is a logical way to dictate movement as it pertains to the human body and ballroom dance. This too can be a learning process, and can be very helpful in providing a framework from which to think about partnership dance.
Record lessons: Sometimes all one needs is a jump start to remember something. I do not advise using recorded lessons in place of trying to recall something new. Use notes and recorded lessons only
after you put forth effort in the memory process. Using your own recall skills strengthens memory. Only after you have tried for some time to no avail should you resort to other resources. Recording a part of a lesson can be very helpful nonetheless. I recommend recording only the last five to ten minutes of the lesson. As instructors teach, they narrow down what it is you need to hear as a student to advance in your dancing. That does not come easily. People respond very differently to different stimuli. You only need to record the lesson after the learning portion is complete and the instructor is solidifying the information taught. That way the instructor can repeat the words and concepts to which you responded to well. In doing this you wont have to wade through a lot of material when practicing and your practice time will be efficient.
Professional Videos/Books: These can be good references as well, use these to supplement your learning, not replace it. Be careful not to use videos/books as a quick answer when practicing. The act of learning requires time to ponder, not just time to look up. If you have only one instructor these can be helpful, as information will be given from a different point of view. You will not, however, create a rapport with the video instructor or author and therefore their recorded instruction will not get better and better. The video and book will say the same thing no matter how often you use it as a reference. It is good for stability, not so much for creativity and growth.
Practice: Practice time is very important; use your supplements during this time. Learning something new is like setting a newfound jewel in an uncut field of grass. Once you leave the field, a faint path to the jewel can be seen. If you leave for too long the path will disappear. If you walk that path again and again, in a short time the path becomes more noticeable. Trying to remember something is one of the most important things to practice. Just trying to remember helps your brain create neural pathways to that piece of information. With time and practice those neural pathways will be strong enough to recall at a moments notice. With enough of these pathways connecting, you will string together a path long enough for a three minute moonlight dance across the floor.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Good Dancer?
Good is highly subjective. You will probably learn a few patterns in an hour. With in a couple of weeks you will probably be able to lead a partner. In a few months you will probably be able to start making movement look dance specific (e.g. you will be able to make Waltz look graceful, rather than just walking in a box pattern.) In six months you will be polished. In a year, you will not be keeping track, because you will enjoy the process of learning, and you will understand that dance is not a destination, but rather a journey to be enjoyed. Some things, like balance, will never be perfected; they will continually improve as you practice. There will not be a point where your instructor will say, Your balance is done, you will never have to practice balance again. Everyone is unique in his or her abilities and goals. As you learn, your goals will change. You will find that things you thought would be hard, where in fact easy, and things you did not know existed were hard.
When will you feel comfortable enough to dance with someone in public? That is a question of self esteem not ability. People are not on the dance floor to judge you; you judge yourself. You dont need to be concerned about being judged unless you are at a competition. We all have varying talents and abilities. Social dancers appreciate friendly and congenial partnership more than technical expertise. No one enjoys being lectured to or criticized on the dance floor. When you learn to enjoy dance you are ready to go dancing.
Dont forget to praise and compliment your partners!
What Are The Benefits Of Dance?
Benefits of dance include but are not limited to:
Adding fun to your life. Many enjoy the lessons while they take them, and also have more enriching social events for the rest of their lives.
Exercise: The best exercise is the type that you will do.
Relaxation: Melt away the stress of work and life for a few hours.
Being recognized and admired for being a good dancer: We all like being noticed, even for a dance move that was just invented.
Increased self-confidence: Knowing what to expect before you walk on the dance floor will shine through you when you walk into a social environment.
Sense achievement: Whether you just learned a new move, style or just asked someone to dance for the first time. This feeling will come often.
Expanding your social life: Due to the fact that it takes two to partnership dance, this social sport will help you meet people easily. It will also help you in social settings, as dance is a part of many cultures.
Acquire more grace and poise: This will take time and should be a long term goal. Grace will show in your interactions during daily life, and poise will help with the long term health benefits of carrying yourself well.
Self-improvement: This comes in many ways, most of which are not even related to dance. Enjoy finding these out.
And much much more
Should I Do Social or Competitive, American or International, Smooth Standard, Latin, Or Swing?
first reaction to this question may be that you didnt even know these were options. The main two categories of dance are American and International. Each style has an American and International flavor, (eg American Waltz vs. International Waltz.) To simplify, Smooth is the American word for the dances that travel like the Foxtrot, Waltz and Tango. Standard is the International equivalent and includes Quickstep and Paso Doble. The Latin dances, for the most part, stay in one place and use a specific hip styling that is unique to that dances country of origin. Swing comes in many flavors, generally stays in once area and has its own unique hip styling. The American style is generally more beneficial to the social dancer. Its structure allows for more flexibility on the dance floor. International tends to be more for the competitor as the lines created with the body are generally stronger and connection with a partner is more substantial. At Social Graces, we focus on a wide range of American styles. Which is right for you? It is ok to start in one and change your mind over time as your tastes change. Tell your instructor your musical interests and where you would like to dance and let them guide you in your decision.
Dont forget,
The best reason for taking lessons is to enjoy the learning process. If you dislike taking notes, dont take notes. If you wish to focus on a different dance, do so. Use the tools of the studio as guides and have fun with the process of learn ing. Dance then becomes an enjoyable experience rather than a goal to be achieved. You will be a happier student for it.
