Group Dance Classes
Joining Group Dance Classes is the way many people begin learning to dance and you don’t need a partner! It’s a great way to meet new friends in a fun, social environment where the focus is on a healthy, musical activity.
Here are some links for you:
See our Dance Recommendations page. Class levels and a curriculum overview are listed below. Ask for a Planning Chat and we’ll help you decide which classes and levels are the best fit for you and when is best to move to the next higher level.
What do the dances look like? Click for a view of groups of people having fun and dancing all their own different varieties of style at different social events. If the dance you’d like is not currently on the calendar, you can make a class request or join a class of a similar style to continue your dancing progress. Many dances use the same type of movement and partnering. Make Class Requests
How are the Classes set up?
Classes are grouped by skill levels, each level building on skills learned in earlier classes. New dancers should begin with Level 1.
Singles and Couples are welcome, choose to change partners or not.
Classes begin the first week of a month and continue adding skills and steps for 3-4 weeks. At the end of a Beginner-1 class, the next 4 weeks will continue as Basics Foundations, so a total of 6-8 weeks of one dance. Our instructors brilliantly blur the lines between levels based on assessment of the students in each class. The instructor might introduce new patterns sooner, etc., depending on students’ skills and the difficulty of the dance.
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Online Registration ends the day before a class and Earlybird Discounts end the last day of the previous month. It’s always best to PREREGISTER, either paid online or “will pay @ door”. Not “teckie”? We’ll be happy to book your classes for you! Call our landline 503.241.0460 — or email Linda —
Walk-ins are also welcome. Check DAILY CALENDAR UPDATES on the afternoon of the class or event. To create your account profile before dropping in Click HERE
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What can I expect at the first dance class? And after that.
Classes usually begin the first week of a month and are 45 minutes each week with 15 minutes practice. Each monthly series is 3 to 4 weeks (example: 4 Mondays @ 7pm).
Wear casual clothing and shoes that are snug-fitting with leather or smooth-soles, so they don’t stick to the floor. And plan to arrive a few minutes early to sign in with the DanceWell staff, meet the teacher, get a name tag and breathe a little …
When the class starts, Enjoy! learn the new skills, meet the other students and learning something new. Feel free to ask questions. Each week review last week’s material, add new material –and add practice !
DanceWell instructors brilliantly blur the lines between levels based on an initial assessment of the students who sign up for the class. If a beginner class already have some dance skills, the instructor might introduce new patterns sooner, etc.
The Long Game
DanceWell offers classes in 2 locations: Parkrose and Aloha Beaverton OR. See the Dance List: Ballroom, Latin, Swing, Country & Nightclub dances
We feel it’s important to teach movement and lead/follow skills as well as dance patterns. It’s one thing to be able to get around the dance floor – it’s another to get around the dance floor with PANACHE!
Starting with Level 1, work your way to Level 4 gradually. Practice lots and plan to repeat each class level many times. Each series is a little different and steps taught vary.
But focus on skills instead of steps and develop “auto-pilot” mind/body movement. After all, how many times do pros have to swing a golf club? How many hours practice to play a musical instrument or become a pool shark? And it takes thousands of shots from each location on the basketball court to boost your game.
We offer a Rewards Points Program, ONLINE BOOKING — This way we get an idea of class numbers. And once you can handle learning several dances at a time, we offer an Unlimited Class and Party Card.
Practice at our weekly dance parties which are open to the public. Private lesson appointments are available by request.
Curriculum Overview
Classes are grouped by skill levels, each level building on skills learned in earlier classes.
- Beginner Month 1: INTRO [no experience] –
- Beginner Month 2 FOUNDATIONS [1-6 months actual dance experience]
- Intermediate Skill Level 3: [6 months to 2 years actual dance experience]
- Advanced Skill Level 4: [2 years plus actual dance experience]
- SWING-1 (a Beginner or Intro class) –no skills needed. repeat to “set” your basic skills on auto-pilot.
- SWING-2 (Beyond Beginner or Improver class) should have 2-4 months experience in beginner steps before joining this class and plan to remain in this class level for a year or longer.
- SWING-3 or 4 (Intermediate to Advanced class) Students in this class should have already been studying this dance for 1 year or more. There are many variations to learn.
Repeating our classes is encouraged to build a solid foundation in social dancing while developing skill and style. How long you should I stay in a certain class level? This is directly related to how much dance time you put in outside of class… Speed up the process! Attend our dance socials and private lessons to practice the new steps you’ve learned.
Skill-Set: LITTLE OR NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED. For brand new dancers and also for those who have experienced some sort of dance rhythms and partnering. A half hour private lesson or two can be of help if you get started if you wish.
Your BEGINNER goals: 1) Learn simple Rhythms to music. 2) Learn balanced movement with a partner. 3) Learn some partnering “lead/follow” skills” turning, traveling, twirling and more. 4) Learn usually the first 5-7 patterns of a certain dance. 5) “Get by” at a dance event.
Note: All patterns at a level cannot be taught in one 4-week series. Each time you repeat a class series you’ll learn better form, partnering and movement skills and a few more patterns too.
ADD MORE DANCE STYLES: Each new dance learned improves your general timing, partnering and movement skills. BALLROOM like Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango. SWING like East Coast Single, East Coast Triple, 4-count Swing, West Coast… NIGHTCLUB & COUNTRY like Nightclub 2-Step, Hustle, Country 2-Step… LATIN like Cha Cha, Rumba, Salsa.
Skill-Set: 3 MONTHS DANCE EXPERIENCE IN THE DANCE LISTED. For those who can already comfortably transition with partners between many basic patterns.
Your goals in an Basics & Beyond class: 1) Improve your partnering skills and style. 2) Improve turning, traveling, twirling. 3) Add to your repertoire of dance moves, usually steps 8-10 of the foundation social patterns. Note: all these variations cannot be taught in one 4-week series.
Repeating class series lets you “forget” the steps and begin to shine.
Skill-Set: 1 TO 2+ YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE PARTICULAR DANCE BEING TAUGHT. Continuously improving your skills, ready to add new exciting moves to your dance repertoire. For those already comfortable with their lead/follow skills in a particular dance style.
Your goals in an INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED class: 1) Understand and use the fundamentals learned earlier. 2) Apply your skills to more difficult steps. 3) Add to and improve your dancing skills with more advanced form and finessed movement. Become free to express yourself.
**You can stay at this level for a long long time. Many many new variations to learn!
Skill-Set: 2-3 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE DANCE BEING TAUGHT. Continuously improving your skills, able to quickly review and add or create new combinations. Preparation for Medals Testing if desired.
Your goals in an ADVANCED class: 1) Review of all steps in a certain level. 2) Continue improving technique skills, lead/follow and variations. True mastery of the dance!
Some things to take note of when learning to dance:
Repeating “Class Levels” does not mean repeating the exact same steps each time. There are more steps in a ‘level’ than can be taught in one month. It’s one thing to be able to get around the dance floor – it’s quite another to get around the dance floor with PANACHE!
Advanced DanceWell students are encouraged to continue to repeat Beginner or Intermediate classes often to focus on skills instead of steps. And watch for Technique Workshops!
Planning ahead for your new hobby. Plan to wear comfortable clean clothes and thin-soled, snug-fitting shoes that are NOT “non-skid. (Specialized dancing shoes do support dance movements better…)
Enjoy treating yourself to a private lesson appointments in-person or virtually! Get some personal attention to speed your learning curve and improve your skills! And practice your new skills often; on your own and at our parties & socials.
Learning a variety of different dances gives you more options for nights out… Need more details about group classes or dances in general? Go HERE Need help? EMAIL or call Linda 503.241.0460
Remember Dance is not just about the steps — it’s about everything in between the steps. We hope you’ll try to “get” that fundamental movement and footwork of the dance and work to make your partner-to-partner connection good either as lead or follower.
Quick Links
Contact Details
Need help? EMAIL or call Linda 503.241.0460.
DANCEWELL PDX SCHOOLS
BEAVERTON (near Aloha) 3425 SW 185th Ave., 97006
NE PORTLAND (Parkrose) 4848 NE 105th Ave.,97220
Click HERE for maps and directions.
