10 Reasons to Take Dance Class With Your Partner

1. Shared Activity: Dance lessons provide a shared activity for couples, fostering a sense of togetherness and creating shared memories. It's an opportunity to spend quality time together while doing something enjoyable.
   

2. Improved Communication: Partner dancing requires effective communication and connection. Learning dance moves together helps enhance your ability to communicate non-verbally, strengthening the bond between partners.
   

3. Physical Exercise: Dancing is a fun and engaging form of physical exercise. Taking dance lessons together ensures that both partners stay active, promoting health and well-being.
   

4. Connection and Intimacy: Partner dancing often involves close physical contact, promoting a sense of connection and intimacy. This can contribute to a deeper emotional connection between partners.
   

5. Increased Trust: Partner dancing, especially styles like salsa or ballroom, involves trusting your partner to lead or follow. This builds trust and mutual reliance, which can positively impact the trust within the relationship.
   

6. Stress Relief: Dancing is known to be a stress-relieving activity. The combination of music, movement, and the joy of dancing can help alleviate stress and create a positive atmosphere for both partners.
   

7. Enhanced Coordination: Learning dance moves together improves coordination between partners. This synchronization not only makes you better dancers but can also carry over into other aspects of your relationship.
   

8. Social Engagement: Taking dance lessons often involves interacting with other people, creating a social and enjoyable environment. It provides opportunities to meet new people and potentially make friends with similar interests.
   

9. Fun and Playfulness: Dancing is inherently fun, and taking lessons with your partner adds an element of playfulness to your relationship. It's an opportunity to let loose, be creative, and enjoy each other's company in a lighthearted way.

10. Long-Term Hobby: Learning to dance together can become a long-term hobby that you both enjoy. Whether it's participating in dance classes, attending social dance events, or practicing at home, it provides an ongoing shared activity that can contribute to the longevity of your relationship.

Check out our Valentine’s page for details on our exclusive couples class, and private lesson packages

Expectations

COVID-19 Update

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Rotating Partners In Salsa Class

In classes (and at socials!) it is a practice to rotate partners. In fact, at a social it is customary that you dance no more than 2 - 3 songs with the same partner. In classes, particularly new classes students often scoff at the idea of sharing their partner and become very reluctant; we like to joke that you will get them back - don’t worry!

In fact, some types of salsa they change partners at each new move (so you can thank us later for only making you rotate a few times!)

We’ve included some of the reasons why it’s great to change partners in dance class. Do you have other reasons? Feel free to share them with us and we will include them!

1) Its What We Do!
In the dance community it is a practice that when you attend events you ask strangers and fellow dancers to dance.  With this in mind, we like to teach our students this practice right from class one!

2) Make a New Friend
Socializing is one of the many benefits of partner dancing, this is done through the meeting & problem solving with a new acquaintance. Many students will develop friendships, possibly relationships, and even use meeting new people as an opportunity to network (don’t be creepy/aggressive/weird about it tho!)

3) Blind Spots
When leading and following with someone you know typically students will compensate (back lead, anticipate, not fully lead / decide). When partnered with an acquaintance, students further develop their skills they may not have realized they needed to develop.

4) Personal Growth
Dance can bring up issues (feeling frustrated, overwhelmed learning new things etc) that can be underground, so if someone is having a tense moment that has the potential to escalate, our instructors are trained to recognize that and it helps to shuffle up

5) Comfort Zone
Meeting new people can be hard, and many are not used to being in close proximity with a stranger. So before students head to a social, getting used to this in a controlled class setting is helpful

Dance Class Expectations

Educating Your Dance Expectations

 

1.   Attendance
Please be on time, and stay for the duration of the class. It is disrespectful & disruptive to the instructor and fellow students when students are coming in and out of class. Early is on time, on time is late, and late is not cool. Please let your instructor know if you need to leave early.  

2.   Hygiene
Please be mindful of your body odour (wear deodorant & reapply if necessary), avoid excessive amount of cologne/perfume, and shower regularly. We suggest you keep makeup to a minimum as well, since sweating can cause it to run and sting your eyes. We offer spray deodorant, and mints please use them, and if need be, bring a towel :). 

3.   Communication 
Please remember that there is often lots happening in a dance class, exchanges with your partner are encouraged and are is helpful when learning. Please keep them at a low volume (no one should hear you over the music), and refrain from talking when the instructor is explaining. 

4.   Group Classes
Please be mindful that if you have signed up for a group class and there will be a range of others in the studio learning with you. Group classes do not guarantee one on one time with the instructor, although we do make a valiant effort to give one on one time. If you are interested in individual time with an instructor feel free to book a private lesson 
Our student to teacher ratio are as follows. 
Beginner Classes 1:30, 2:31+
Pre Intermediate & Intermediate 1:24. 

5.   Attire
Please keep in mind you will be moving and you will be dancing with a partner, attire must be respectful, and appropriate for dance class. We ask that you keep jewelry (earrings, rings, watches, necklaces etc) to a minimum to avoid any unnecessary injuries. If you wouldn't wear it to the grocery store chances are you shouldn't be wearing it to class. 

6.   Intoxicants
Students who come to class visibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be asked to leave. Not only do you become a safety concern for yourself but for others. As well, it creates a distracting environment for fellow students and takes away from their learning experience.

7.   Attitude
Everyone has challenging days but dance class is the one place where students can put down the stress of daily life. Come into class with an open mind, positivity, and an encouraging attitude! This will not only make it a more enjoyable experience and help you to learn faster, but it will make it a better environment for all your partners and fellow students! 

8.   Partners For a range of reasons we do rotate partners throughout the class, and all students are expected to participate in this practice. Check out our other blog on the reasons why we rotate partners for further explanation or ask your instructor about the benefits. 

9.   Distractions
Aside from those who require their phone on them for emergencies or work related reasons, please keep your phone off, on silent, and in a cubbie. 

10. Safe Space
We understand that learning to dance can be a vulnerable thing. It's brand-new, most people feel like they have 2 left feet, and everyone makes lots of mistakes when they first learning (just like anything new). It is imperative that all students feel welcome, regardless of age, gender, race, orientation, and/or everything in between! Please keep an eye out on your fellow students and if anyone you feel is having a bit of a hard time with partner dancing dynamic please let the instructor know!