| Are you a new or former dancer interested in finding a | | | | select one style of dancing because you're interested |
| new dance class? Not sure where to start? Here are | | | | in it or you'd like to see if it works for you, you might |
| two important questions to ask yourself while you | | | | want to do a little research on the various styles of |
| shop around for the best fit for your personality. Once | | | | dance before you jump into a dance class. |
| you've answered these questions, you'll be able to find | | | | Ballet is very beautiful. It requires a lot of grace and |
| the perfect dance class that fits your personality. | | | | muscle strength (more than a lot of people expect). It |
| First question: Are you interested in heading in a | | | | is very formal with little room for experimentation. |
| professional direction or are you interested in learning | | | | Lyrical, on the other hand, is a combination of ballet and |
| dance for fun? | | | | jazz dance. It is set to music with lyrics and has a very |
| This is an important question to ask. Not only does it | | | | narrative style. It is also very beautiful and graceful, but |
| narrow down the choices of dance studios that you | | | | there is room for experimentation. Jazz is a fun form |
| may attend, but it also makes you goal-oriented. Even | | | | of dance much like lyrical but often set to faster |
| if you decide that you are not interested in becoming a | | | | tempos and a little looser in its implementation. Tap is a |
| professional dancer, choosing to learn to dance for fun | | | | fast style of dance where you make beats with metal |
| is still a challenging but rewarding task. | | | | on the bottoms of your tap dance shoes. Contrary to |
| If you decide that you're interested in heading in a | | | | popular belief, it is also a hefty workout - but a fun one! |
| professional direction, first look into dance studios that | | | | Most dance studios offer these forms of dance as |
| are associated with high schools, colleges, universities, | | | | well as a cheerleading class for youngsters. |
| etc. You could take dance while attending college and | | | | If you're interested in learning salsa dancing, flamenco |
| get a degree in dance (which would certainly send you | | | | dancing, ballroom dancing, or swing dancing, there are |
| in a professional direction) or you could audition for a | | | | typically three venues for learning these styles. The |
| highly-selective program nearby. | | | | first is at a dance studio that specializes in couples |
| Even if these options sound a bit daunting to you, | | | | dancing. In my experience, these studios are a little |
| observe some dance studios in your area. See if they | | | | pricier than the studios mentioned above, but you may |
| require you to observe a specific dress code, wear | | | | get more one-on-one instruction. You typically do not |
| your hair in a certain way, arrive a specific amount of | | | | need a partner. The second option is a couples |
| time before classes, etc. This lets you know that this | | | | instruction class where you will need to bring your own |
| studio is serious and interested in strict, professional | | | | partner. This usually is a single teacher (rather than an |
| guidelines. Many ballet studios will require a certain | | | | entire studio) devoted to teaching these forms of |
| dress code, and this doesn't necessarily indicate that | | | | dance. The third option is to scour the internet for |
| the studio is extremely serious compared to others. | | | | venues offering free dance classes on specific nights. |
| Observing a class or two, or speaking with an | | | | These are typically held in bars, so if that makes you |
| instructor will usually help you differentiate between | | | | uncomfortable, I would rule it out. |
| them. | | | | These questions should begin to point you in a specific |
| Second question: What style(s) of dance are you | | | | direction by narrowing down all of the choices available |
| interested in learning? | | | | to you. If you are still uncertain, speak with the studio |
| Dance has many sub-genres: ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, | | | | director or a dance teacher to see if you feel |
| hip-hop, salsa, flamenco, ballroom, swing, cheerleading, | | | | comfortable with them. Attending a dance class should |
| new age, etc. If you're interested in trying them all out | | | | be a positive experience. There may be hard work, |
| and finding your specific niche, go for it! If you'd rather | | | | but you'll love the payoff. |
