TOP 5 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PICKING YOUR DANCE CLASS

#1 -WHY YOU WANT TO TAKE A DANCE CLASS

We all have different reasons why we want to take a dance class. If you’re interested in fitness and learning how to dance, it’s important to recognize that this is a different experience than learning choreography to one song.

Whether you are a skilled dancer or a beginner, your motivation (your WHY) and what kind of experience you’re looking for needs to inform your class selection.

#2- YOUR MOTIVATIONS + SKILL

OPEN LEVEL STRUCTURE

If fitness and “how to dance” are your motivation, our open-level classes will get you grooving while teaching you the HOW (aka technique), with the chance to put your skills to work in each class.

Our open level class is structured as a combination of skills and technique and fresh combos each class, with about 50% of each class being dedicated to each. (For non-dancers, a combo is a “mini-dance,” not a full song).

These classes offer a slower instructional pace and beginner to intermediate moves and choreography. They are progressive in skill development, but not necessarily in choreography.

If you want to learn how to refine and HOW to dance in this style, or if you haven’t taken a dance class in a while- this is the class for you.

INTERMEDIATE STRUCTURE

If your motivation is to learn progressive choreography where you are working on the same song week after week to complete full-song choreography, then the intermediate classes are what you’re looking for.

Our intermediate class is structured as a progressive choreography-focussed class- meaning that you will work on choreography to the same song continuously through each class, until that choreography is complete.

These classes offer a faster instructional pace and intermediate moves and choreography. They are progressive in choreography and skill.

These classes is suited to those who are comfortable in this dance style and are more interested in learning a specific piece of choreography than learning “how to dance.”

REMINDER: if you pick an apple but actually an orange, it’s still going to be an apple. Joining a class because it suits your schedule better even is going to end in disappointment if it doesn’t connect with your motivation or goals.

Make sure you pick the right level of class to suit your WHY!

#3- YOUR COMMITMENT + AVAILABILITY

If you know you’re going to miss the occasional class, are unlikely to practice or catch up on choreography from missed classes, or find picking up and retaining choreography challenging, progressive choreography classes may not be suited to needs. These classes move quickly through choreography and require consistent attendance to feel fulfilling and enjoyable.

Even if you’re a skilled dancer, our beginner and open-level classes are better suited to those who are looking for a more casual approach where missing a class isn’t going to severely impact your class experience- or require slowing the pace of the class down for others to offer you the individual instruction you may need. Think of the open level classes as standalone classes, whereas the intermediate classes are one really long class with a completed piece of choreography being the goal.

#4- YOUR DESIRE TO PERFORM

Some people crave the spotlight, and the challenge refining a piece for performance entails.

Others have no desire to take the stage, and find the experience of running a single dance on repeat (drill it til you kill it!) til you hit it just right either boring or stressful.

If you know that you are keen to perform, love finding that perfect costume and drilling it til you kill it, then the intermediate choreography classes in fall and winter offer performance opportunities. Please note that the spring term does not offer a performance opportunity at this time.

While you are not obligated to perform, if you choose to register for an intermediate class please let the instructor know if you are available for and interested in performance when you arrive at your first class.

If you don’t want to be in the limelight or the process of performance prep sounds like a bunch of extra work and boring to boot- stick to open level to keep your joy of dance alive.

#5- YOUR PHYSICAL ABILITY

While we attempt to make our classes as inclusive as possible, certain styles lend themselves to different levels of fitness, flexibility, and physical capabilities.

Balance + Flexibility

All heels and contemporary classes require balance and flexibility.

While you will improve in these areas through the instructional period, training flexibility is not included in the curriculum.

Impact on Knees/Joints

Shuffle and house, hip hop, and Stepcraft are high-impact forms of dance that can be hard on your knees due to the plyometrics involved.

Hip hop, sass hop, floorplay, contemporary, and heels classes all incorporate floorwork (i.e. dance moves on the floor) where direct impact on the knees will occur. If you have sensitive knees and can’t bear weight on your knees, please consider this before registering for these classes or reach out beforehand so we are aware of your condition to ensure it will be an appropriate fit.

Reminder: knee pads are a recommended part of your dance kit for ALL classes!

Stamina

Hip hop, stepcraft, and shuffle and house require cardiovascular stamina. While this builds during class and helps with overall fitness goals, please be mindful of this when selecting your class.

At the end of the day, our goal is to help you connect with the joy of dance, whatever your motivation.

Whether you’re here for fitness, social connection, or craving the limelight, we hope that this info will help you find the class that will bring you the most joy so you can have the most fun.