Ballroom Dance Lessons: Recommendations?

I did the Arthur Murray thing a few times. It was ok, I guess. The wife lost interest as soon as 'Dancing With The Stars' ended. Thank God, too, cause lessons can get pretty expensive.

Before you go, I suggest having a clear idea what style of dance you want to learn. If you have no clue, you're going to spend a lot of time trying and learning the basics of a lot of different styles you may have no interest in really learning in depth.

 

Matt Leinart.


Hahahaha...now you can't make that joke you were coming up with when you read the thread title. I know it was right there for the taking and all, but too late.






I know nothing of ballroom dancing. Sorry.

 

SSQQ dance studio.

Supposedly that's the hip place to learn how to dance in Houston. Never been myself, but I got a lot of young family and they say all the older high schoolers, college kids, and young adults go there, and older guys looking to meet girls too...but I'm guessing that's their salsa classes. I'm sure I've been of no help at all, but here's there website if you care:

www.ssqq.com

 

I have been a dance instructor for a studio in NY before. It depends on what you want to learn, and how quickly you want to learn it.

If you want to be good, quickly, and really know what you are you doing, then take private lessons.

The group classes, will teach you basics, and you will learn how to dance but it will take you a lot longer before you get everything you need to just be able to dance fluidly and have fun.

Go out social dancing at least once a week outside of class, more if at all possible. Dance with more partners than just your girl. Once you learn the steps and are out social dancing try finding events where you can dance to live music rather than records or DJ'd events. There will be a huge difference between you and any others that go out social dancing, and the rest of the class.

You may want to go out social dancing first, and see if they have a free intro mini-lesson at the beginning of the evening. Talk to the instructor of the place. Talk to other dancers and ask them where they took lessons.

Have fun, try hard, and just keep practicing.

 

pasox2 response in 3...2...1...

 

i used to take Ballroom dancing classes at UH for $10 a semester. yes, 10 BUCKS! it was taught by a couple who really did it just to do it. you were taught everything from tango to cha cha to swing. and of course the girl to guy ratio was insane. the great thing about going ballroom dancing is you hardly get turned down a dance when asking a total stranger. it's always a great icebreaker.

 

Which clubs do you go that have ballroom dancing?

 

This is the only one I know too. I've been there once but my brother and his wife take ballroom classes every week at SSQQ.

 

I got a lesson for ya. Any man ballroom dancing has no room for balls.

 

The club called, I'm Just Doing this To Get Laid club. Near Richmond and Fountain View.

 

you wouldn't be saying that if you've seen some of the chicks who go to those classes!!

once again, pasox2 reply in 3...2...1....

 

what's wrong with it if it works?

 

Did you get laid?

 

Hello all. Thanks for remembering me. Finally got time at work today to check in.

I'm going to start with the social dance club at UH. It is very inexpensive, and a good way to be introduced to the dances and social partner dance in general. Here is the official web site :

http://www.uh.edu/~uhdance/

and here is the yahoo group for notices http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uh-ballroom/

I'm teaching cha cha and jive in the intermediate there this semester.

Studios : SSQQ is a fair introductory place, very social, inexpensive, but insular. They don't want students to compete or attend social dance outside that studio, generally.

Two studios in town have more challenging material, instructors and advanced dancers : The Dance Place has a fantastic floor and many high quality private, independant instructors. They also offer a number of good group classes. They also host a general dance for the local amatuer ballroom society USA Dance on the second Sat. of each month. That's well attended and there are usually showcases. King Dancing Center is the studio where I take most of my lessons and it has some fantastic, high level instructors. There are some excellent group classes too.

There's also a community calender of chinese and vietnamese dances, that are held at different places on the westside. The Haihwa festival is a big dance show held in Nov. Oh, there's Jeffrey's studio Dancing for Life, on Fondren across from Elvia's, too. I need to get more information on that, later.

I'd suggest you get some experience with a group like UH, or visiting social dances and talking with people, to see what you like, and want to pursue. Dance lessons can be very expensive. It really feels fantastic, though, when you get good, good enough to enjoy yourself and make something wonderful happen with your partner.

I'll find a photo later for yall of my partner. She makes dancing really fun. Wonderful girl - smart, independant, successful, sexy. I like girls like that.

 

Double step,

Where can you just go and dance some Cha Cha or foxtrot without being in a class or competing? Are there such places?

There are plenty of salsa and merengue and overall LatinAmerican music places... I know all my salsa and merengue and cumbia already... just want to know where I can paso doble...