Questions

If you have a question, take a look here and see if you find the answers. If not, feel free to get in touch and we will do our best to answer.

Do I need a partner?

Our lessons are for couples only as we do not rotate partners during the class. If you are an individual wishing to join in and learn during the classes just find a willing partner to accompany you for the class and learn together.

What do I wear?

For social group and private lesson we do not have a strict dress code and prefer you to come comfortably in clothes and shoes that you can move in. Our advice would be to wear a few layers for cold evenings when it gets warm in the classes, and shoes that will stay on your feet without the latest mega-grip sole or mining boots! For competitors or more serious dancers we encourage you to wear dance wear or smarter clothes where possible, including dance shoes.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes, please book in advance so we are aware who to expect at classes, and who to inform if there are any changes or similar. Quite often some of the classes can be full (we are quite strict setting a sensible teaching capacity for our venues) so we start a waiting list. Prices are stated on the Classes section. Bare in mind it is best to join a new beginners course near to the start date, within the first one or two weeks, otherwise the class has started to progress beyond beginners and it can be difficult to catch up without prior experience. For private lessons you will need to book in advance with a confirmed time and date for your lesson.

What if I miss a week?

If you attend our group lessons, never worry about missing the odd week here or there - we all lead busy lives. We will always do our best to help you catch up and our lessons revise previous weeks as we progress too. Sometimes you might find our other classes running on another day that you could join instead that might be at the same level; just ask us if you're not sure. For private lessons, you must give us 48 hours notice if you cannot attend as we will have to try to fill your slot at otherwise too short notice. Unfortunately cancellation within 48 hours incurs full charges for the lesson. Where you attend a course that is pre-paid, it will not be possible to cancel or refund if you give less than seven days notification of your intention to do so prior to the start of the course. This is largely due to when we reserve you a place and the course has only just met its minimum attendance to go ahead including your place.

What dances do you teach?

Our group lessons will teach you either Ballroom & Latin American or Argentine Tango depending on which classes you attend. Ballroom & Latin American classes start at a beginner level with introductions to Waltz, Quickstep, Jive, Cha Cha Cha and Social Foxtrot. Occasionally we might show you something a little different just for fun! For novice and above levels we introduce you to Tango, Rumba, then Samba and Slow Foxtrot. From time to time we teach other dances, including some of the more famous sequence dances for special occasions. For private lessons, we teach many styles of partner dance but our main coaching is with the ten Ballroom & Latin American dances.

My partner has two left feet. Can you help?

We have never yet met anyone with two left feet. Neither have we met anyone that we haven't been able to teach some dancing too. Everyone learns in different ways and at different speeds but sometimes the slower learners end up with a more thorough understanding and become better dancers in the longer term. Just be patient with yourself and your partner, enjoy learning and you'll be dancing in no time.

Can I cancel my membership?

To the best of our knowledge, no-one has ever cancelled their membership with us! However, you can stop your membership at any time but it is not possible to refund your membership fee. For classes or items where you pay in advance from us regrettably no refunds can be given unless in the unlikely event that the event, class or function was not able to go ahead in which case you would be entitled to a full or part refund as appropriate.

Are you qualified?

Very much so! All of our teachers are fully qualified professional teachers with the ISTD or IDTA in the UK. These are highly respected organisations around the world. In addition we also hold a scrutineering qualification with the BDC. We also continue our professional development regularly with some of the world's leading Dancesport coaches and have active full time professional dancers, demonstrators and tutors. This allows us to bring the very latest choreography and technique developments to our students and dancers.

I have a medical condition. Can I dance?

In honesty, we don't know. If you are unsure then please consult your doctor or a medical professional to advise you. Dancing does require some physical exertion but to what extent is up to you. At the top level of Dancesport the body is working extremely hard all of the time, but at the beginning, very much less so. The Latin dances can be quite fast paced and it is true that dancing does keep you fit and active. We all have to work suitably with what we've got but do please check it out properly if you are unsure.