• Beginner-Friendly - Workshops & Classes

    Practice Partners: the Good, the Bad, and You

    March 1, 2017 - By 

    Practice partners are a frequently underused resource in dance education and practice. Some people fear that a practice partner will entrench bad habits. Others feel like they can’t ‘learn enough’ working independently without a teacher. Others just get flat-out bored. But, those who have one (or two, or three) swear by them. Are you ready for a practice partner? Most people immediately start thinking about who they would ask to be their practice partner. But, the first thing to ask is if you would make a good practice partner. Until you are ready to really commit to having a practice…

  • Health & Safety - Leading - Social Dancing

    Love ’em or Hate ’em: 6 Polarizing Dance Moves

    August 17, 2016 - By 

    There are a few moves in any partner dance that inevitably divide follows right down the middle: they either love ’em, or hate ’em. So, what’s a lead to do? How do you tell whether you have a follow who absolutely adores dips – or wants you to never, ever, EVER do them? What clues are there that your follow is spin-happy, or spin adverse? What are the moves in partner dance that follows either love fiercely, or hate with a deep passion?

  • Beginner-Friendly - Etiquette - Social Dancing

    Dance Faux-Pas: Are you making yourself an uncomfortable dance partner?

    August 2, 2016 - By 

    Ask almost any dancer, and they’ll tell you that there are some KILLER habits that have nothing to do with your actual ability to dance. When I say ‘killer’, I don’t mean super-cool; I mean they will kill your desirability as a dance partner. For some people, these things are obvious. Others have (somehow) avoided hearing about these tricks. Last, there are those who know the tricks and think they’re doing OK – but in actuality are the worst offenders.