Too Many Choices, Anyone Recommend a Studio for Beginners?

[ioantheodore]

So I've been living with my girlfriend for a few years, and I work full time, and go to school full time. We don't have as much fun as we used to, so I thought we could take dancing lessons together. I'm 23 years old, I looked at some places to take couples dance lessons in my area... and there are probably over 50 places within 20 miles of me... too many choices.

So I guess my question is, I know nothing about dance or pop culture, I was hoping to do something my girlfriend would enjoy (and me too), be able to socialize with people our age, etc. What is a good type of dance to start with, for noobs.. and does anyone know of dance studios in my area in New York, and could recommend a place to go to? Seems like a lot of competition, and some are bad and some are good, I can't really tell the difference though. Any tips on prices, types of dance, scheduling, instruction, etc for when I pick out a place to go to.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Ioan Theodore

[Larinda McRaven]

Welcome to Dance Forums.

[_malakawa_]

i think that most of the studio's has introductory lesson for free or for few $$.

as a ballroom and latin dancer and teacher - of course that I'll recommend you ballroom and latin.

I don't know much about studios in NY. But I am working in a Fred Astaire Dance Studio. And my BF used to teach in Fred Astaire West Side Studio, Manhattan. ;)

[davedove]

Have you asked your girlfriend for input on this? You don't want to sign up for ballroom classes if she has no interest in that.

Once you have that input, try out the closest studio, or the cheapest, or whatever. Just pick one and try it.

[ioantheodore]

We've talked about dancing in the past, and if we did dance what kind we would do. And we were both equally clueless. So I don't think it would matter if I asked her what kind of dancing she wants to do, just as it wouldn't matter if I was asked what kind of dancing I want to do. Since I have no idea what the differences are, or any clue about any of it. I guess I would want dancing that is popular for people my age, and in my area.

Also, I was hoping to surprise her, so I don't want to spoil it and ask her what kind of dancing lessons she wants to take.

So I'm up for suggestions, what is a popular dancing style for people in their mid twenties right now? Something that we will be able to use fairly regularly, and not something just at weddings or whatever.

[_malakawa_]

We've talked about dancing in the past, and if we did dance what kind we would do. And we were both equally clueless. So I don't think it would matter if I asked her what kind of dancing she wants to do, just as it wouldn't matter if I was asked what kind of dancing I want to do. Since I have no idea what the differences are, or any clue about any of it. I guess I would want dancing that is popular for people my age, and in my area.

Also, I was hoping to surprise her, so I don't want to spoil it and ask her what kind of dancing lessons she wants to take.

So I'm up for suggestions, what is a popular dancing style for people in their mid twenties right now? Something that we will be able to use fairly regularly, and not something just at weddings or whatever.

as i said before - ballroom and latin. latin you can use in almost every club you'll go.

[LatinDancer006]

I'd say dump her and find some one more exciting. J/K. I'm being facetious. Ballroom/Latin take a lot of work and effort. I would not recommend it unless you genuinely have an interest in it and/or you know she has some interest in it.

[Larinda McRaven]

As stated above, most ballroom studios offer a free introductory lesson. Take it at a studio close to you. After that they will give you an opportunity to purchase a small package of lessons, maybe 5 or 10. Take it.

After that you will then have a better idea which dances you guys like and if you want to continue at all, or if you even like the studio.

Do not buy a big package of 40 or 50. Buy 10 at the most.

[ioantheodore]

Are there any known review sites for some of these places? sort of like reviewing a product online, from consumer reports or something. A website where people rated service from these studios, prices etc?

[Larinda McRaven]

No place for ratings. www.ballroomdancers.com (http://www.ballroomdancers.com) has a nice listing of studios searchable by location. Pick a few that sound nice, close, and reasonable. Let us know, and we can steer you to ones we know of or have reputable teachers. Don't worry or make your choice based on big competitive tachers, since you aren't even sure whar kind of dancing you like, let alone competing. You just need to find the right place to get started until you understand what you want.

(Huntington Station, that is Long Island right? I think we did a show there once called "Ballroom Feat", with Jonathan and Katusha, Tony Dovaloni with Tatiana Logasheva...)

[jennyisdancing]

So I've been living with my girlfriend for a few years, and I work full time, and go to school full time. We don't have as much fun as we used to, so I thought we could take dancing lessons together. I'm 23 years old, I looked at some places to take couples dance lessons in my area, which is Huntington Station, NY.. and there are probably over 50 places within 20 miles of me... too many choices.

So I guess my question is, I know nothing about dance or pop culture, I was hoping to do something my girlfriend would enjoy (and me too), be able to socialize with people our age, etc. What is a good type of dance to start with, for noobs.. and does anyone know of dance studios in my area in New York, and could recommend a place to go to? Seems like a lot of competition, and some are bad and some are good, I can't really tell the difference though. Any tips on prices, types of dance, scheduling, instruction, etc for when I pick out a place to go to.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Ioan Theodore

Hi there...I am not that familiar with the NY area scene but in general terms, it seems to me that ballroom tends to attract an older crowd for social dancing (serious competitions have young dancers though). If you want to hang with people in your age group, then salsa, West Coast Swing or Lindy might be better.

I suggest you pick a dance where both of you like the music; it's much more motivating to learn to dance when you enjoy the songs. Salsa obviously is salsa music, Lindy is mostly big band swing music, and West Coast Swing can be danced to a wide variety of music including current pop/R&B/hip-hop. Hope that helps and good luck!

[ioantheodore]

[removed link]

If you click on that link, it shows my street and all the dance places around it. Anyone recognize any of those, and they are reputable for quality service/pricing?

I think I'll start to call all of them one by one, and find out prices/services.

[waltzgirl]

I agree with jenny. Of course, we all love ballroom and latin, but mostly those dances are danced only at dance studios (who have parties, so there are opprotunities to social dance). But if you are interested in going dancing at "regular" places where people your age go, salsa or one of the varieties of swing would be your best bet. I second the suggestion to choose a type of music you like and learn to dance to it.

[Larinda McRaven]

Sorry Ioan, your link and post won't work since you are a new member, and you are restricted by our spam filter from posting anything other than simple text. I recommend the Fred Astaire and Arthur Murrays on that page. The rest look like childrens tap jaz and ballet.

The FADS and AM will have very good beginner programs. Again, do not sign up for anything big, just get a little tiny program to start with, nothing more than 10 lessons.

[Kassia]

I would suggest that once you start dance that you try out different teachers too...

[Chris Stratton]

SUNY Stony Brook has a ballroom team that runs the occasional dance with a younger crowd; in the city NYU and Columbia have active teams with their own events, or effect of lowering of the average age when they go together to a studio event.