Do I have to
take private lessons in order to participate in group classes?
NO! We don't subscribe to that model of instruction.
Do you learn faster if you take both private lessons and group
classes? Sure. But speed isn't everything, and we want
as many people to be able to learn how to dance as possible.
If you need assistance putting together the right combination of
lessons for your dancing goal and budget we'll be happy to help you
figure it out.
What are private lessons? Private Dance Lessons are the most
personalized and flexible form of instruction. They move at
your specific pace, and focus on your particular strengths and
weaknesses. You're welcome to schedule your lessons for the
same day and time for weeks in a row, to take several lessons in one
week, or to schedule each lesson week to week depending upon your
schedule. No partner is necessary, and lessons can generally
be scheduled Monday-Thursday, from 10am until 8pm, depending on our
class and event schedules. Friday and weekend lessons are
occasionally available as well, but not on a regular basis due to
our event schedule.
How long are
the lessons? All classes and lessons are 50 min. long.
How many
lessons will be necessary? After
evaluating your first lesson, we'll be happy to recommend the number
of lessons we think you'll need to achieve your goal. We know
life is busy, too, and understand that you may not be able to take
as many lessons as we recommend. We absolutely do not require
any long-term commitments from you, and are happy to teach you even
1 or 2 lessons if that will help you feel more at ease for an
upcoming event.
Rates - The price is the
same for a single, a couple, or two couples. For more than two
couples please see the "private-group" rates.
1 lesson at a time - $70
4 lesson block - $240
8 lesson
block - $450
12 lesson block -
$600
What to Wear -
CLOTHING: We
suggest wearing comfortable clothing in layers that you can discard
as you heat up from the physical activity. We do not have a
dress code except "smell nice", and you'll see students in
everything from yoga pants to jeans to suits. We do recommend
staying away from sleeveless shirts to avoid the dewy underarm
factor, but it's not a rule.
"Smell
nice" means please use deodorant, don't smoke right before
class, and chew gum or a breath mint. It also means stay
away from loads of powerful cologne or perfume. Thank you
from your instructors and fellow students!
SHOES: Avoid wearing
flip-flops, clogs, or slides that may slip off your feet.
Please bring shoes with non-marking soles to change into once you're
here. Dirt and water can
quickly make a mess of the dance floor when you wear shoes straight
from the street.
You don't have to start out with dance shoes. Dry and clean
shoes from your closet are fine to begin with. Running shoes,
dress shoes, or strapped on casual shoes are good beginning choices.
Dance Shoes - Just like any
sport or activity, dancing does have specialty equipment - SHOES. What are dance shoes?
Their most distinctive feature is their suede-soles. This element
allows them to glide smoothly across the dance floor and spin easily
and quickly. It also provides the traction necessary to stop on command
- very important!
Dance shoes should never be worn outside as the suede-soles will absorb water,
oil, and other nasty gunk instantly. Most dancers carry their
shoes with them in a discreet black bag. You'll get over the dorkiness of this once you discover what a
difference this proper piece of athletic equipment makes in your dancing!
Dance shoes need maintenance
on their soles every once in awhile. If they start to look
shiny and feel slick, it's time to use an angled wire brush to rough
them back up. You should always stroke the soles in one
direction, roughly enough to raise the leather grain, and watch out
for your hand as you stroke! Any of us are happy to give you a
demonstration of this skill.
Where do you find dance shoes? Alas, there are
no good retail shops in town. We order our dance shoes through
catalogs and online. One of the best sources is Melissa, the
other dance instructor here at Dance Street. She reps a line
called "Very Fine Dance Shoes." I have several pairs of these
myself and have been very happy with them. They have lots of
styles from high and strappy to low and closed, and everything in
between. Ladies' styles are $79 and men's are $89. This
may seem like a high cost, but consider that any other sport
requires a LOT more equipment investment, and shoes last a very long
time. Melissa can be contacted at 509•993•1204
to set up a footwear consultation, or catch her after class if
you're already taking lessons.
Private-groups -
Private-group lessons are a flat fee of $100 for up to 30 people.
They are essentially a group class that you put together on your
own, choosing from a variety of possible days and times. These
lessons are a lot of fun for families, bridal parties, groups of
co-workers, or any other group that wants to learn together.
Private-groups allow you choose what dance (or dances) you want to
learn and to start at any time of the month. The groups must
have equal numbers of leaders and followers (unless it's a
bachelorette group learning Salsa.) Small-group package discounts are
available for groups of 6-16.