Out on the town

[taylor1990]

I guess this question is more for students than instructors, but feel free to reply either way.

I work at a dance studio and we recently took the students out for a "night out on the town"; this was the first time we did this. We went to a nearby club that had a live DJ and a small dancefloor. The students seemed to have a good time for the most part, but it was also a little overwhelming for some of them. I just want to know if this idea appeals to other students as well, or have you done it at your studio perhaps? I don't really know how common it is among other studios to do this, but overall it was a lot of fun.

[samina]

this is very common in the salsa community -- a wonderful way to practice what you're learning, and definitely fun.

i've seen it in ballroom communities a wee bit...but really only, again, where they've all met at a salsa or hustle joint to let off steam.

[etp777]

there are groups fgrom both of my studios that do it without studios involvement,w ill get together and head to one of local salsa venues. But with the studio we'll geenrally do at least one or two of our studio parties out at Chicago Summer dance, which is free thing in Grant park here in City. they do a one hour group lesson, then have live band playing. it's a lot of fun. The students all seem to really enjoy it.\

[taylor1990]

Well, this wasn't necessarily to have them let steam off, it was for the students to really dance on a crowded dance floor. And I guess it depends on where you go, we were doing a lot of hustle, but also cha-cha, salsa/mambo, swing, merengue, samba... You're not going to be doing a waltz or a tango at a club I suppose, but we were doing quite a few dances. You don't necessarily need a traditional cha-cha or swing to do the dance. Listen to Britney Spears...I think she has quite a few cha-chas on her CDs.

[samina]

as for letting off steam...i've seen the instructors release the pressures of their day, and amateur dancers get the rest of their dance on at after-hours clubs when a 3-hr social wasn't enough of a fix for them, so take that expression however it suits you.

but certainly great idea to use it as an opportunity for students to really dance on a crowded floor. quite different from lessons...

[JEM]

Our studio would arrange "outings" occasionally, usually to local ballrooms with big band music. It was fun and good to get to dance in "real life" - so many students seem reluctant to leave the studio. Personally DH and I went out to dance the first month we started lessons - have met several other couples and now prefer to dance out rather than in the studio. For some, it did seem a bit much for them - they weren't sure of the music, and challenged by dancing near people who couldn't dance and didn't know dance etiquette, but I think it's a great way to learn, and appreciate what we've learned. And everyone always had a good time. Keep it up - take them out!

[tangotime]

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I just want to know if this idea appeals to other students as well, or have you done it at your studio perhaps? I don't really know how common it is among other studios to do this, but overall it was a lot of fun.





This " idea " dates back to the 50s. The A/M and F/A studios sold programmes that included weekly outings ( sometimes week nites others w/e nites ).. let me tell you, after teaching 8 to 10 hrs ( mainly Intern. style ) the last thing i needed was another 2 hrs in a public setting !.

We had about 15 male teachers and ALWAYS twice as many ladies ( the old Life Time clubs, were one on one ) .

Did get to go to some interesting places, Sometimes dinner ,(and we got paid for 2hrs work )

( whats funny, I and the rest of the staff were never too tired to go to the local Mambo venues .:rolleyes: )

[latingal]

I just want to know if this idea appeals to other students as well, or have you done it at your studio perhaps?

Actually there are a few instructors at the studios I use that arrange outings. Great for the social dancer and seems to be a great time for all.

I would love to do something every once in a great while with the pros I work with to get a feeling of dancing with them without concentrating on technique and the "work", but they are competitive pros who don't normally go in for this type of thing.

[lindas3]

Several studios in the Columbus, Ohio area occasionally bring their students to the Sat. night Ballroom Dance. It's great exposure for the studio and fun for the regulars to have new people to dance with. (and watch so we can steal, I mean learn, new moves) Those from the studios seem to be having a good time. Now that I'm taking lessons at FA I'd welcome the opportunity to dance socially with the instructor and other students.

[DancingShoes]

We have at least two American Legion halls that rent to some organizers for ballroom dance. Usually twice a month. Dancers and pros from several studios come. A DJ sets a good mix of ballroom music. It's a social/practice time. Relaxed atmosphere, but all are working on their dance. Big floor and most follow LOD. Nothing structured other than the playlist. We have a lot of instruction and little dancing venues. This idea has been a huge success. The clubs have tiny floors and lots of drunks. We try not to miss a chance to get out and dance.

[taylor1990]

Thanks guys, yeah, I was just asking about it, but I guess from what I've heard, most students aren't taken to a club, maybe just a different location. We have sessions where we allow the students to all dance together on the dancefloor at the studio, but we wanted to take them to an actual club where they could see what it's like to dance with other people that don't necessarily know how to dance ballroom style. It's for the students who are really just doing the dancing for social reasons, not competition.