Everything you've always wanted to know about
learning to dance but were afraid to ask!
FAQs
I have two left feet. I'm not kidding. Plus, I have no dance
experience whatsoever. I'm afraid I'll look like an idiot.
Guess what: this is my most frequently heard statement of all!
The vast majority of my students feel this way before
they start, so you'll be in good company. As they leave their
first hour of class, thay are so relieved! In beginners'
classes, everybody is a beginner, so no one needs to worry about
looking worse than anyone else; we'll be too busy laughing at
ourselves and having fun. We'll teach you at your own rate, and
you'll be relieved to know it's probably not that different from
any other novice. And when you leave, you'll know how to dance!
Visit our Student Testimonials page (see left sidebar under "About
Us") to hear what former beginners like you have said.
Do I need a partner?
No, a partner is never necessary; there are plenty of
people to dance with in class. But it's fun to bring a partner
or a friend to class, because then you'll have someone to practice
with, and go out dancing with outside of class.
I've tried to learn to dance at drop-in lessons around town
and never really "got it." Is there a difference between
committing to a 6 or 8-week class, and just dropping into a lesson
here and there at a dance night?
There is a huge difference in benefits! You are absolutely
guaranteed to learn more and retain more of what you
learned than you could ever do by dropping in and out of dance
classes. Why? We review the previous week's material every week;
you'll practice your new moves with others who learned the same
material; you'll consistently reinforce what you learned each
week, which builds "muscle memory", an essential ingredient
in learning to dance. And you'll be dancing with the same students
(who are at your level of experience) every week, so your comfort
level and connection to your classmates will help you even more.
What if I need to miss a class?
Most people need to miss one or two classes; you can make it
up next term, or just catch up in class since we do a review every
week.
Will I look like those ballroom dancers on Dancing With The
Stars?
Sort of. You'll be learning real-life social partner dancing,
not the stylized competition-style dancing which functions as
a competitive sport. If you see the words bronze, silver or gold
used in dance class descriptions at other studios, you'll know
the dance style offered there is International Style, the specific
style used only in competitions, not socially. Social
dancing, also known as American style, is the style offered at
OUT to Dance. Whether swing, Latin or ballroom, social dance is
a simple step-by step process, and it's absolutely within everyone's
capability. (Yes, even you!) At OUT to Dance there is no competition
in classes; just a casual, relaxed atmophere full of music, fun
and discovery. But you'll still end up looking great on the dance
floor, and we can get you a feather boa if it'll help!
I'm tempted to take two classes.Will I get confused or tired?
No, quite the opposite; most folks find at the end of the class
that they're just getting warmed up, and the hour flies by! That's
why we offer $20 discounts for your second class; since you're
already there, why not learn some more? It's an investment in
your social skills and fitness!
What kind of shoes should I wear?
If possible, wear comfortable smooth-soled shoes, something that
slides rather than sticks, like leather or plastic soles. If it's
winter or rainy, bring a change of shoes to keep the dance floor
dry and free of grit.
I can't decide between group classes or private lessons.
In group classes you'll get both learning time and practice time
with a variety of dancers at your level; it's a wonderful social
evening! In private lessons you'll learn about twice as quickly
as in group class and will focus more on your technique. To retain
what you've learned in your private lessons, you'll want to practice
a bit on your own. See our private
lessons page for more information.
What's the average age of students in your classes?
Really, there is no average age; every class is different, so
we make no promises. But you can expect to find people in there
20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s; plus some older folks and younger folks.
We also occasionally have teens in classes; sometimes they come
with parents, and sometimes they're on their own.
I'm really busy. So just give me one good reason why
I should take a class at OUT to Dance.
Just one? I can't! Here's a few.
For the rest of your life you'll go to weddings, parties,
clubs and events, and you'll actually be able to dance, and then
you'll feel so good and look so cool dancing!
Plus, in dance class you'll have a blast and you'll look forward
to that night all week; you'll get some weekly exercise without
even noticing you're exercising; you'll meet some really nice
people in a fun environment; you'll have learned a new skill you'll
use for the rest of your life; your posture and self-esteem will
probably improve; you'll have broken out of your rut and tried
something new and really useful, and hugely fun. And then you'll
have one more question: why did I wait so long?
"I can't begin to tell you how much fun I've
been having in dance class. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Susanne P., Dedham, MA
When joining our dance classes, note that our OUT to Dance studio
locations, West Roxbury and Roslindale, are within twenty minutes
of downtown Boston, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, Brighton,
Allston, Brookline, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Dedham, Norwood, Needham,
Westwood, Milton and Quincy; and within 25 to 35 minutes of Cambridge,
Somerville, Arlington, Wellesley, Natick, Waltham, Braintree, Brockton,
Stoughton, Canton, Foxboro, Weymouth and surrounding towns.
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