Ok, the big day has finally arrived. You have found a studio that suits your needs, booked your first lesson and are starting to get just a little excited. Now what? What should I wear? What should I bring? How does this work? Deep breaths, in this article we are looking at surviving (and loving) your first dance lesson.
So what do I wear?
Start off with clothes that are comfortable, won’t chafe and are light. The likelihood is that you are going to be generating some body heat during your lesson, so you don’t want to wear clothes that are tight or constrictive to movement. Think casual and comfortable. If the studio has a formal policy then ladies can opt for smart pants, a skirt or dress while the gents can opt for smart pants and a button up shirt. Most studios are fine with casual attire.
With regards to shoes it is best to start off in sneakers or shoes that have straps that will keep them on your feet. There’s nothing like chasing your shoe across the dance floor… Things like slip slops or “plakkies” don’t work and may result in blisters from the shoe moving independently to the foot. Ladies if you have comfortable heels and are feeling brave then by all means wear them. Gents, office shoes can also work as an alternative to sneakers. Later on proper dance shoes can be bought but for now stick to shoes that aren’t going to try and make a break for it and that are comfortable.
If you have long hair or hair that will get in your face then it is best to clip it back or tie it up before your lesson so that it doesn’t get in your way.
What should I bring with me?
A bottle of water. Staying hydrated is important when you start to generate body heat and burn up the floor. It also gives you a chance to take a breather if you need it.
If you know that you sweat or um, glow, then it would be a good idea to bring along a small towel to freshen up with.
A bag. Or something that you can put all your thing in while your are busy dancing. Most studios have lockers or a place where you can leave your valuables.
Are there dance ‘rules’ that I should know about?
There are a few dance etiquette guidelines to keep everyone happy and safe on the floor, three simple ones are:
If you have to walk across the dance floor it is better (and safer) to walk around the outside of the floor than through the middle. You don’t want to ‘meet’ anyone by accident or interfere in others’ lessons.
The floor is usually split into three invisible squares or lanes. The split goes like this: the first square is the smallest and is in the middle of the floor, it is used for the Latin dances or for dances that stay on the spot and don’t need much space. The second square is a bit bigger and goes around the middle square. This zone is for your beginner couples or less advanced couples who are practising Ballroom, this is so that they can ‘travel’ and aren’t restricted to one spot. The last square is the biggest, it encompasses the two other squares and reaches the edge of the floor. This zone is for your advanced Ballroom dancers who need the space to move around, and are generally moving at speed.
When dancing Ballrooms we always travel in an anti-clock wise direction. This helps the flow and no one is fighting to go in their own direction. It would be chaos!
Don’t worry if this sounds like a lot to remember, you’ll soon get use to how the floor works, and if you get confused or uncertain your dance instructor is there to help and guide you.
I’m at the studio, now what?
The first thing to do is to take a deep breath and walk in the door. If someone hasn’t greeted you already then head for the main desk. A secretary or dance instructor will be there to help. You may be asked to fill in a short form or give some information on yourself and what you are looking for, this is so that your instructor knows what you want. You may be introduced to your instructor right away or asked to take a seat if the instructor is still teaching. Each instructor has a different personalised approach to teaching a first lesson, but the chances are that he/she will likely show you the rumba, foxtrot and maybe a social dance like the boogie. Don’t worry, you are in their hands now and that initial, “Oh my word what am I doing?” feeling is getting smaller and smaller.
You are ready to start your dance journey, the last thing you need to remember is to have a great attitude and an open mind. You are about to try something that is probably outside your comfort zone and it is going to challenge you, but here’s the thing, its’s a good challenge! Once you get past the initial jitters, chances are that you are going to have a blast and keep coming back for more.
GO GET ‘EM!
Lauren
Lauren Kruger is the creator and author of Dance101. She is a qualified dance instructor and current S.A National Silver Ballroom Champion. She teaches at Five6seven8 Dance Studio, which you can check out here: http://www.five6seven8.co.za/
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