The Beginners Guide To Ballroom Dance Lessons

You’ve spent more time not taking learning how to dance.    

Knowing that, the divide between the non-dance world, and the dance party version of it can seem as wide as the Grand Canyon.  With a little help from this guide, we can close that gap.  

The Beginners Guide To Ballroom Dance Lessons 

Step 1: Forget Everything You’ve Heard 

You may have heard a few “Dance Myths” over the years.  If not, we’ll jog your memory, here are “6 Myths About Dance Classes”.  Consider them all false, but let’s start at the top of the Myth pyramid:  Two Left Feet. 

The Truth Behind Two Left Feet 

Bottom Line:  Learning to dance is a process; A recipe.  The “Two Left Feet” label halts that process from taking shape due to its “permanent malfunction” quality.  In reality, most people claiming this have either not taken a lesson, or have made an unfair assessment too early in the process.  

Another Angle:  Kids who are learning to ride a bike are at the beginning of a process, but no one labels permanently. They are just encouraged to give the process time and repetition.  Same with dancing.    

Step 2:  Harness Your Motivation 

Are You Facing A Dance Crisis?  

Perhaps you want to re-invent yourself: 

Any of these external factors offers enough pressure to push you through the door.  Even if learning to dance has been a fringe wish list item in your life, nothing will make that materialize faster than an awkward office party, or a new stage in your life.    

Note: You don’t need to be a professional ballroom dancer to impress your co-workers at your office party.  Have a look at “Win The Holiday Party Season With Ballroom Dance Lessons” for more insight.  

Step 3:  Make Contact On Your Terms 

Call, E-mail, walk in, or comment on an Instagram post – however you’d like to start the dialogue is fine (a letter may be a bit time consuming).  The nice thing is that the person corresponding with you will be, drumroll please, a person.  An actual dance professional that will: 

Note:  Your fire for taking ballroom lessons can get doused if you put too much time between your first contact and your first dance appointment.  We recommend 2-4 days if possible.  

Step 4:  The Essentials 

There are a few things that you’ll need to have for your first ballroom lesson 

Note:  You do not need dance experience, dance shoes, or a dance partner.  For more on that concern, we recommend:  “Do I Need A Dance Partner To Learn Ballroom Dancing?” 

Step 5:  The Information 

No amount of research, not even a ballroom blog article (wink, wink), can deliver the experience of being at an Arthur Murray and taking a lesson. Even the greatest, most vivid, explanations pale in comparison to the first hand impressions you receive from the instruction, the environment, and the way it all makes you feel.