DANCE CLASSES

Below are details of our current and upcoming dance classes and courses. Please make a selection from the following list:

Social Ballroom & Latin for Beginners
No dance experience needed!
DANCES: Waltz | Rhythm Foxtrot | Cha Cha

If you're completely new to dancing, this is the place to start! In our beginner dance courses we teach you the dances most useful at social gatherings such as weddings, balls and parties. We teach moves in those dances which can be easily led and can be used on dance floors where there’s not much space. You will learn how to lead (for men) and follow (for ladies) so you can dance with anyone. We also teach you how to listen to music so you can pick out the beat to stay in time and you’ll be taught the characteristics of each dance so you can choose which one will suit the music you’re listening to. We also cover dance floor etiquette so all our dancers can enjoy sharing the floor at the same time.

The hardest step is walking in the door and you won’t regret taking it – you’ll be opening up a whole new social world for yourself.

NEXT COURSE: 7.15pm Thursday 9 February 2012
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Social Ballroom & Latin Stage 2
DANCES: Waltz | Rhythm Foxtrot | Quickstep | Cha Cha | Samba | Rumba | Jive

For those who have already completed the Beginners course, we continue to revise and consolidate what you’ve learnt plus you’ll learn the basics of the rest of the Ballroom and Latin American social dances.

NEXT COURSE: 8.30pm Tuesday 17th January 2012
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Social Ballroom & Latin Dance Club
DANCES: Ballroom | Latin American | any other dance that’s fun and social

Our Dance Club is for dancers who have learnt the basics of the Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba & Jive and want to have somewhere to dance each week to keep in practice, learn new moves and socialise with other dance junkies. You will learn other dances as well (e.g. New Vogue, Viennese Waltz etc) as the class continues throughout the year.

This is a fantastic class to choose if you want to continue advancing your social dancing but don’t want to join a technical Medal Test class

STARTS: Class re-starts 8.30pm Wednesday 18 January 2012 but you can join at any time during the year.
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Showcase Performance Team

You will be taught dance routines which have been choreographed to chosen pieces of music with the aim of performing them in front of an audience at themed parties (although there’ll be no pressure for you to do so if you just want to be part of the team for classes only). The dance styles will vary for each song so you’ll be learning some new dances as well.

NEXT COURSE: 8.30pm Monday 16th January 2012
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Medal Test Dancing

Many people enjoy the challenge of achieving International standards. Medal Test dancing focuses on the more technical aspects of dance and perfecting your execution of set moves. You will learn stunning moves in a choreographed routine format and be examined by an internationally qualified Examiner. This is an exceptionally rewarding hobby. The medal levels are ranked as follows:

  • Bronze
  • Bronze Bar
  • Silver
  • Silver Bar
  • Gold
  • Gold Cross
  • First Bar to Gold Cross
  • Second Bar to Gold Cross
  • Oscar

    Medal Test classes in all dance styles can start at any time during the year but we generally don’t start more than one in each style each year at the most. If you are interested in joining one of these classes you should put your name on our waiting list to be sure you don’t miss out.

    • Ballroom Medal Classes
    The five dances in the International Style Ballroom syllabus are: Modern Waltz | Ballroom Tango | Slow Foxtrot | Viennese Waltz | Quickstep

  • At Bronze Level you learn routines in two dances, the Waltz & Quickstep.
  • Bronze Bar is a three dance medal so as well as increasing the challenge of your Waltz & Quickstep routines, you learn to dance the Slow Foxtrot (not to be confused with the Rhythm Foxtrot which is only used for social dancing, not medals).
  • Silver is also a three dance medal but instead of a new Waltz routine, we introduce the Tango.
  • Silver Bar & Gold are both four dance medals so for each level we have new, more challenging routines in the Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango and Quickstep.
  • In the Gold Cross & Bars to Gold Cross classes we add the Viennese Waltz to the other four dances – five dances in total for these medal tests.
  • In the previous levels there is no requirement to dance for your medal test with anyone watching other than the Examiner and there is no dress code to adhere to. At Oscar level however, you are required to perform your dances in public (friends, family, studio members), be dressed in appropriate ballroom attire and the most difficult of manoeuvres, the Fleckerls, are required to be included in your Viennese Waltz routine.

    • Latin American Medal Classes
    The five dances in the International Style Latin American syllabus are: Cha Cha Cha | Samba | Rumba | Paso Doble | Jive

  • At Bronze Level you learn routines in two dances, the Cha Cha & Samba.
  • Bronze Bar is a three dance medal so as well as increasing the challenge of your Cha Cha & Samba routines, you learn a Jive routine.
  • Silver is also a three dance medal but instead of a new Jive routine, we introduce the Rumba.
  • Silver Bar & Gold are both four dance medals so for each level we have new, more challenging routines in the Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba & Jive.
  • In the Gold Cross & Bars to Gold Cross classes we add the Paso Doble to the other four dances – five dances in total for these medal tests.
  • In the previous levels there is no requirement to dance for your medal test with anyone watching other than the Examiner and there is no dress code to adhere to. At Oscar level however, you are required to perform your dances in public (friends, family, studio members) and be dressed in appropriate latin american attire.

    • New Vogue Medal Classes
    There are fifteen dances in the New Vogue syllabus. They are: Swing Waltz | Tracie Leigh Waltz | Twilight Waltz | Lucille Waltz | Parma Waltz | Merrilyn | Charmaine | Barclay Blues | Carousel | Excelsior Schottische | Evening Three Step | Gypsy Tap | Tango Terrific | Tangoette | La Bomba

    The New Vogue dance style is an Australian form of sequence dancing. All New Vogue dances are based on sequences of dance steps which are continually repeated. The dances therefore are very easy for a beginner to learn.

  • At Bronze Level you learn Gypsy Tap & Merrilyn.
  • Bronze Bar is a three dance medal consisting of Tangoette, Charmaine & Parma Waltz.
  • Silver is also a three dance medal where you will dance Evening Three Step, Swing Waltz & Tango Terrific.
  • The four Silver Bar dances are Barclay Blues, Lucille Waltz, Excelsior Schottische & La Bomba.
  • At Gold level your four dances are Tracie Leigh Waltz, Carousel and any other two of your choice
  • In the First Bar to Gold Cross level we add the Twilight Waltz to your choice of four other dances – five dances in total for these medal tests.
  • By the time you get to Second Bar to Gold Cross you have learnt all 15 of the dances and can choose any five for this medal.
  • In the previous levels there is no requirement to dance for your medal test with anyone watching other than the Examiner and there is no dress code to adhere to. At Oscar level however, you are required to perform your dances in public (friends, family, studio members), be dressed in appropriate ballroom attire and you have to dance all fifteen of the dances with performance entries and exits.

    • Salsa

    Salsa is a Latin dance form with origins from the Cuban Son. It is normally a partner dance although it can be danced solo (shines) and in a round-dance format (rueda). It has become a popular dance all around the world and has evolved into many different styles due to geographical and cultural differences.

    In our Studio we teach a generic Salsa (breaking on ‘1’) using moves common to all styles so you can dance it with anyone from anywhere.

    NEXT COURSE: A new Beginners class is still to be scheduled. It would be a good idea to add your name on our waiting list to be contacted when details have been finalised.

    CURRENT COURSE: 6.00pm Mondays re-starting 16 January 2012. The current class is beyond the basics now but if you’re already confident with the rhythm, timing, basic moves and turns of the salsa you are welcome to join in.
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    Argentine Tango

    The Argentine Tango is a beautiful, improvisational social dance that has developed over the last century in the City of Buenos Aires. It is a true dance of leading and following. Argentine Tango has a passionate, dramatic character and it’s seemingly complicated use of leg and foot actions make it very interesting to watch.

    The music of Argentine Tango is the heart of the dance. It can be calm or rhythmically driving. Tango is unique in the world of music because it has the depth usually associated with classical music. These days dancers enjoy a wide range of music from Golden Era recordings, dramatic orchestrals, ‘techno’ tango, and sometimes ‘non-tango tangos’ which are songs of any genre that are enjoyable for dancing Argentine Tango.

    NEXT COURSE: 6.00pm Tuesdays starting 17 January 2012.

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    Jitterbug

    If you love the fast & lively Swing style music, this is the course for you so you can ‘cut a rug’ to your Big Band favourites. We take the best moves from dances like East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Balboa etc and blend them together with the ebullient Swing character to create this crowd-stopping dance we call the Jitterbug.

    NEXT COURSE: Still to be scheduled. It would be a good idea to add your name on our waiting list to be contacted when details have been finalised.

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    East Coast Swing / Jive

    A descendant of the Lindy Hop and Jitterbug, this dance is also known as Triple Swing. It dates back to the 1920’s where the black community discovered the Charleston and Lindy Hop while dancing to Jazz music. It followed the development of ‘Ragtime’ and then ‘Swing’ music. During World War II the American Forces introduced this dance to Britain, together with the popular orchestras of the day such as Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey and of course Glen Miller.

    Sometime after war’s end, the faster version stayed in Europe and became known as the Jive.

    NEXT COURSE: Still to be scheduled. It would be a good idea to add your name on our waiting list to be contacted when details have been finalised.

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    West Coast Swing

    The West Coast Swing is directly related to East Coast Swing and was undoubtedly born due to the style of music being played in the 1940’s and the need for a dance that did not take up so much room. The West Coast Swing has evolved into a ‘slot’ dance that allows more dancers into a small area. Smooth, without any bounce, the partners will stay in the slot with the lady providing most of the movement across and past the man. Rarely will you see high kicks or moves which require the dancer to leave the floor.

    The music is basically slow to medium tempo swing style however good music for this dance has come from a variety of styles including Blues, Rock & Roll and Country Western.

    Sometime after war’s end, the faster version stayed in Europe and became known as the Jive.

    NEXT COURSE: Still to be scheduled. It would be a good idea to add your name on our waiting list to be contacted when details have been finalised.

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    Mambo

    The Mambo as we now know it grew out of the Danzon (national music of Cuba) and grasped the imagination of the American dance scene at the close of World War II. In recent years, due to successful ‘Mambo’ songs and movies, this dance has become popular once again.

    The Mambo is sometimes described as a fast Rumba however the music is quite distinct with the combination of Swing/Jazz and Latin. It’s a spot dance that is spicy and exciting made up of a variety of moves that include turns, breaks, swivels and spins.

    NEXT COURSE: Still to be scheduled. It would be a good idea to add your name on our waiting list to be contacted when details have been finalised.

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    Country & Western

    DANCES: Texan Two-Step | Night Club Two-Step | Triple Two-Step | Honky Tonk Waltz | Polka | Cowboy Cha Cha

    If you love the music of Hank Williams, Merle Haggard, Charley Pride, Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, George Strait, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Toby Keith, Brooks & Dunn, Keith Urban etc etc...

    If you want an excuse to slap on your Stetson and pull on your Texan boots...

    NEXT COURSE: Still to be scheduled. It would be a good idea to add your name on our waiting list to be contacted when details have been finalised.

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    Hustle

    The Hustle is a member of the Swing family, and is like the West Coast Swing in pattern. It has a distinct flavor utilizing Disco style music and it revived partner style dancing among nightclub punters in the 70s. It is a fast, smooth dance with the lady spinning almost constantly while her partner draws her close and sends her away.

    NEXT COURSE: Still to be scheduled. It would be a good idea to add your name on our waiting list to be contacted when details have been finalised.

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