At Century Dancesport we most definitely make a conscious effort to make dancing affordable for all budgets, through various different packages and payment plans to suit individual needs. However it is also our believe that private lessons give you the best instruction and best value for your money. Private lessons offer the personal training and individualized plan that each person needs to learn the basic foundation of dance. Through private lessons the teacher has the ability 2 teach the 6 elements of dance, Step pattern, Footwork, Timing, Lead and Follow, Style and Continuity. In a group class however it is really only possible to teach the first three effectively, step pattern, footwork and timing. The following three elements are taught most effectively during private lessons based on the individual. Can you learn how to dance from Group Classes? Yes. Are Group Classes alone the best way to learn? I would say no. Are group classes a great compliment to private lessons? 100% yes!

Whether you are learning to dance or learning to play piano, ski, or even paint, the key to improvement is repetition of the correct techniques. I am often asked how often should I come in for my private lessons? Well basically as often as you can. The closer you can keep your lessons together the more you will retain from lesson to lesson and the less review will be needed each time you come in for your next lesson. But as I am often told it is just not financially possible for me to come in too often for private lessons. Questions arise, can I take 1 lesson every other week and then just practice at home in-between? How about, I just do group classes? Basically a good way to look at this is not to look at your private lessons and group classes as 2 separate options.

In Century Dancesport and in any other good studio the group lessons should represent what is being taught in private lessons, and vice versa. As I said earlier, improvement of anything being learnt is repetition of the correct techniques. Sure you can do just group classes and learn the step patterns and even in some classes learn an element of technique. But how do you know that you have interpreted the information correctly? Are you a good dancer because you have learnt many many step patterns from various different classes? Also on the flip side, you may have learnt the ins and outs of the technique of leading or any other technique for that matter but can you really do it? Have you put it into practice with another partner other than your teacher?

By looking at private lessons and group classes as a perfect partnership you can have the best of both worlds. Use your private lessons for that personalized knowledge that is essential for your progress and then use group classes as a way to fill in the gaps where a private lesson is not financially possible. Learn a step pattern in a class and then take it to your private lesson instructor to help develop it. Learn a new technique in your private lesson and take it to a group class to practice it with a variety of different partners. The packages we provide at Century Dancesport include a combination of Private lessons and Group Classes that can be used at each persons individual leisure. Not to mention the fun Dance Parties that are also included in our packages. However you decide to learn to dance, have fun! Happy Dancing.

Anyway back to ballroom dancing. The wonderful thing about ballroom dancing is it continues to stand the test of time and keeps evolving so that it can be something every age and every ability can enjoy. Back in the day when our grandparents were dancing ballroom it was danced to those Big Band sounds that were current for that era. Would you be surprised to know that many of the same dances are danced in today’s age but to our current day music. Artists including, Pink, Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Buble, to name just a few. Would it be fair to say that thinking of your grandparents dance you think of them Waltzing around or maybe at the most Swinging? Did you know that there are at least 30 different dances that come under the ballroom umbrella. We have different categories for these many different dances ranging from the American Style to the International Style, to social dances, to country dances. I think you would also be surprised to know that in a ballroom dance studio you can learn anything from Rumba to Waltz, from Jive to Argentine Tango, from Hustle to Salsa, Swing to night club 2 step. Also whether you are in your teens or in retirement age, ballroom dancing has a dance to suit everybody and music.

Now lets talk about those sparkly costumes… Agreed is the fact that ballroom dancing can look a little over the top from the outside point of view. The truth of the matter is not even the dancers would want to be seen in normal circumstances in their competition clothes, make up and lets not forget fake tan! Unlike for example ice skating where one couple or single takes to the ice at one time, ballroom dance competitions can have up to 24 couples on the floor at one time in the large ballrooms, but at the minimum 6 couples. With around 1 minute 40 seconds per dance for judges to judge all the couples on the floor and either choose couples that will go to the next round or decide on placements in the final. Couples are almost forced to do anything that might catch the judges eyes including brightly “rhinestone” costumes. As for the fake tan, the very bright lights can wash out even the most tanned natural skin color, again forcing couples to go for the extra sun kissed look.

Then came Dancing With The Stars. Originally from England the show started many moons ago as ‘Come Dancing’. It was then revamped into ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, and so was born a world wide epidemic of ballroom dance, now named ‘Dancing With The Stars’ in America. Although ‘Dancing With The Stars’ has been wonderful for the awareness of ballroom dancing and has probably brought ballroom dancing into peoples lives that would never expect to like it, it still has the element of sparkly ballroom dancer syndrome. This I am not saying is a bad thing. For the TV, performance and competition element I can not see it being any other way. I would like to tell you that there are people ballroom dancing out there in their jeans and t-shirt, pants and blouse, skirt and tank. To take us back to my original question, What is Ballroom Dancing? Well its something for everybody!! Whether you like the glitz and glamour, or just want to casually swing around the floor in your jeans. Whether you like fast or slow dances. Whether you like Big Band or Hip Hop music. Whether you are young or old. I think if you haven’t ballroom danced before you will be very pleasantly surprised how it really is for you too. Give it a go!

Firstly- A supported shoe is always much easier to dance in, this means something that supports the heel. As the lady dancer we often do many of the steps traveling backwards, we may even lift our feet of the ground for a dip. We don’t want to be falling out of our shoes or loosing a shoe under our wedding dress where potentially both the bride and groom could trip on it and end up in a heap on the floor.

Secondly- If you barely feel comfortable walking in high heels then you are not miraculously going to be able to dance in them. If your common daily shoes are flat with the occasional kitten heel for special occasions then a 4 inch wedge is probably not the shoe for you. Walking forward down the isle as gracefully as possible in your chosen shoe is one thing, dancing backwards in front of all your family and friends is another.

Thirdly- Any choice of shoe should probably be practiced in prior to your dance. Take your wedding shoes to your dance lesson or at least a version of the shoes that are very similar. It doesn’t hurt to break in a pair of shoes that you are basically going to be standing in all day. Avoid those unwanted blisters and also get used to dancing in your shoes of choice.

Taking your first dance steps together as husband and wife is an important occasion and one that will be remembered for the rest of your life. Make sure to take those steps in comfort and with grace, choose the correct shoes to ensure that.


Patience is a key to becoming a good instructor. We must realize as a teacher that everybody learns at different speeds and learns in different ways. It is firstly important to find out why a student would like to learn to dance, set a goal and prepare a plan to achieve their personal goal. We must as a teacher know that it is going to require repetition for anybodies learning process. Don’t feel like you need to move onto the next thing too quickly, the repetition is good for the students muscle memory. We are all happy when we feel success. Success can come in many different forms and for a beginner dancer that may be as simple as making it the whole way around the floor in foxtrot without stopping or staying on time in rumba for a whole song. By being patient the experience for you and the student is much more rewarding.

2- Balance

Now I’m not talking about standing on one leg without wobbling. I am talking about having a good balance of all the elements required in a lesson. There are 6 elements of dance, initially starting with the first 3 (See previous post for the 6 elements) Ultimately we are preparing a student for practical use of their dance. Whether it be a wedding dance, social party, showcase or competition the elements all add a valuable part. For example if I am a gentleman dancer preparing for a social dance and my teacher has only taught me step patterns but has not taught me how to lead (Even in a simple form) I will not feel success when dancing in a party. If I am a female dancer that is preparing for a competition and my teacher has diligently worked on my rumba walks but without repetition of my routines I will be unsuccessful in the competition when it comes to continuity. All students at all levels will progress and be better all round dancers by maintaining a balance of all elements in their lessons.

3-Preperation

How do we know what to teach? With a well thought out plan that has been based on the students goals. Goals that have been decided based on individual desires and needs. As the professional it is our job to have a good understanding of why the individual would like to learn to dance. With this information we can then guide the student in the best direction to achieve what they desire. A doctor would not let a patient self diagnose we must also in the same sense give our recommendation. This will ultimately create a plan, with review of previous lesson, learning elements, continuity of dance, and preview of next lesson. You will always know what you are doing on your next lesson, and more importantly so will your student. Don’t go into to your lesson not knowing what you are going to teach.

1- Step Pattern

The step pattern is the combination of steps put together to create mini sequences. These sequences can then be linked to create routines or variations.

2- Footwork

Footwork is the action in which we use the foot to create the technical element of the dance. For example heel, toe actions commonly used in the smooth and standard dances to create rise and fall. Ball, flat footwork commonly used in the rhythm and Latin dances.

3- Timing

Timing is the beats of the music we move our feet to. For example a box step can be danced in waltz to a 1, 2, 3, timing. This is the feet being placed on the floor to those specific beats. A box step can also be danced in rumba but with a slow, quick quick timing, making the 2 dances very different in appearance. All dances have their own unique timing.

4- Lead and Follow

Lead is what the gentleman is doing to maneuver the lady around the floor and through changes of direction within step patterns. Follow is the lady reacting to the mans lead. The lead and follow element is paramount to 2 people ultimately moving as a 1 in harmony.

5- Style

Style is the element that is added to create the character of each individual dance. This can be done through hip action, arm style, body position, movement across the floor. It can be grace and elegance common for waltz, the staccato action common for Tango or even the sexy hip action used in most Latin dances. Although style is the icing on the cake to create the “Look” it is achieved by the technical elements in 1-4.

6- Continuity

Continuity is the ability to maintain the consistency of the dance. Whether it be to link the step patterns together with ease or maintain the timing of the dance throughout the music or even be consistent with the correct footwork we all aim to achieve that perfect dance performance. A perfect dance performance is ultimately unrealistic but to become as consistent as possible is definitely a good feeling and will build confidence in your dancing.

The first point of contact between partners is the gentleman’s left hand held out in a position which somewhat looks like he is holding a beer. The lady then takes her right hand and places her four fingers on top of the mans beer hold and thumb under his thumb. Gently closing the palms together into a hold and creating the 1st point of contact.

2.

The forgotten point of contact. For all the ladies that have been wrestled around the floor with point of contact number 1 and probably another hand firmly grabbing at your left should blade. Also for the men that have exhausted them selves dragging a lady around the floor that just didn’t seem to want to follow. Both men and women will appreciate this forgotten point. It is simply the mans right inside wrist facing in an upright position, fingers and thumbs are held together and palm is angled to mans own body. The wrist is going to act like a shelf for the ladies left underarm. The lady places her left underarm on top of the mans wrist with good connection. The lady should not be too light or too heavy, a certain amount of connection is required.

3.

Now that the mans wrist is in perfect position he simply lays his closed right hand onto the ladies left shoulder blade. No need to grab or hang on because Position number 2 is there to do the leading. Position number 3 will primarily be used for opening and closing of promenade position.

4.

The lady now gets to take her left hand and place it on the mans upper right arm. By taking her thumb and middle finger and creating a very loose looking c shape she finds the small dent in the mans right upper arm which is directly below the deltoids and above the triceps. Without gripping the lady places a small amount of connection towards the man with her hand.

5.

The fifth point of contact is not typically used for beginner dancers. We tend to use this last connection for a more intermediate to advance dancer because this is the point where we bring our bodies together. It is quite a difficult task to master moving as one unit when in such close contact. In the simplest form if you line up the ladies right shoulder to the center of the mans chest and then line up the mans right shoulder with the center on the ladies chest you will now be standing in an off center position. Now bring the bodies together and you have the 5 points of contact.

There are many other elements that go into making the perfect frame but if you stick with these basic points of contact all the other elements are just icing on the cake. Although World Championship competition level dancers look really quite different to a beginner social dancer they are still using these points of contact as a necessity to be able to lead, follow and move comfortably as a unit.

For many people many hours of preparation are put into all the details of their wedding day. From the perfect wedding dress, type of floral decorations, who is sitting where, what type of cake, when, where, who, the list goes on. How many of us put such importance on the wedding dance though?

It has become more and more popular recently to see some quite elaborate wedding dances with many videos floating around on you tube of the most elaborate of all. However I’m not talking about doing a major dance performance I’m talking about just feeling comfortable and confident in taking your first dance steps together as husband and wife. I think it would be another true statement that standing up and dancing in front of an audience consisting of friends and family probably scares the life out of most people. Wouldn’t it be nice to not feel like you need some dutch courage before you dance, or want to crawl in a hole while you are dancing? To be able to take to the floor and cherish the moment like any other moment in your wedding.

Just by taking the time to make sure that this detail of the wedding has been covered just like all the rest of the details. Whether you want some basic steps just to feel comfortable moving together on the dance floor, a choreographed routine, or the performance of a lifetime, take the dance lessons necessary to feel comfortable and confident. If you have spent your whole life being a none dancer don’t expect it all to come together on the night. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a mover and groover lets make sure your dance partner is going to move and groove in the same way as you during your wedding dance. Maybe you have a little dance experience and would like to raise the bar on what’s expected from a wedding dance. By taking few or many dance lessons in preparation for this big part of your wedding day you are basically putting the icing on the cake.