Ballroom Dance Lessons FAQs

There are many reasons!

At Fred Astaire Dance Studios, all new dance students can take advantage of our special money-saving introductory offer!

Complete and submit the Intro Offer form to get yours, and we’ll contact you right away to learn about your dance goals and help you set up your first lesson. Once you discover how much fun ballroom dancing can be, we know you’ll be back for more!

Every Fred Astaire Dance Studio offers a special introductory offer for new students. Beyond that, our prices vary as dance lesson programs are designed to fit each student’s specific interests and goals – social dancing, wedding, competitive dancing, etc.

At Fred Astaire Dance Studios, we'll tailor programs to meet your individual goals and budget.

We offer instruction for all partnership dances – from waltz, tango, cha-cha, and salsa, to country western, swing, and club dancing. We can help you with your wedding dance, all your social dance needs – basically, any dance done with a partner.

For those with a competitive edge, we can also help you become a skilled Pro/Am competitor with your instructor at lots of branded Fred Astaire regional, inter-regional, national, and international dance competitions.

Every Fred Astaire Dance Studio dance instructor is a gifted dance educator with a passion for dance. Fred Astaire dance instructors hail from all over the world. Many have fine arts degrees and are actively competing and award-winning professional dancers.

All have completed the rigorous work required to become, and remain, certified in the Fred Astaire Dance Curriculum – a proven teaching method that was developed by Fred Astaire himself, and is unique to our organization.

Fred Astaire dance instructors are dedicated to helping you discover the joy of ballroom dancing, and to making your learning experience enjoyable, educational, rewarding – and FUN!

Absolutely not! We welcome singles and couples at Fred Astaire Dance Studios. If you come in as one of our single students, your dance instructor will be your partner for private lessons, and our group classes and practice sessions will provide plenty of opportunities to meet – and dance with – other dance students with the same interests and goals.

We highly recommend you schedule your lessons close together, especially in the beginning. The less time between lessons means the less you'll forget, the less you'll need to review, and the more quickly you'll reach a confident level in your dancing.

We also recommend private lessons in conjunction with group classes and practice sessions, as it’s the most effective and efficient way for you to learn and stay motivated.

Private lessons consist of one student or a couple working with one or two dance instructors. Private instruction is tailored to your personal needs. Learning at your own pace is the optimal method of comprehension, and that’s what private instruction makes possible.

One common misconception about private lessons is that they take place in seclusion. On the contrary, multiple private lessons are often going on at the same time in our ballroom. We (and our students) have found that learning in this environment gives everyone an advantage in real social dance settings.

Private lessons are by appointment only, and may be scheduled during the dance studio’s business hours by calling them directly.

Our group classes are designed to be taken in addition to private lessons and consist of several students learning from one instructor. Group classes offer a wide variety of dances and topics to better your technique, physical fitness, and understanding of ballroom dance.

All levels of students have the opportunity to participate. Depending on your studio of choice, group classes are typically scheduled during the afternoon and in the evening throughout the week.

Our practice sessions take place in the studio and prepare you for dancing socially in the real world. At practice sessions, we dim the lights, supply the music, and have a fabulous time in a party-type atmosphere.

Practice sessions allow you to apply material learned in your private lessons and group classes without the pressure of the public eye. Students attend to have fun, learn… and dance! Students also have the opportunity to meet and dance with other students and other instructors.

Not necessarily. To accommodate your busy schedule, we try to be as flexible as possible but aren’t always able to schedule the same time every week. To reserve your preferred times, we suggest scheduling your lessons a few weeks in advance.

Group class scheduling can vary depending on type and level of dance, so everyone has an opportunity to attend. Practice sessions are typically scheduled for a set time each week.

We realize some students arrive for lessons straight from work and others may be dressed more casually for their lessons – either is fine. The most important thing is to wear something comfortable that allows you to move easily.

Of course, you’ll also want to select comfortable shoes. We suggest leather-sole shoes or a shoe with a back (similar to what you might wear to go out dancing). Athletic shoes do NOT work well on the ballroom floor because they stick, making it difficult to move your feet.

No, it’s not! Our dance instructors are all highly qualified and welcoming professionals who participate in ongoing dance training throughout their careers.

Our progressive system of instruction and unique trophy system make it easy for you to learn. It will take a bit of time to master the various dances and a repertoire of steps, but a steady approach with periodic practice will produce visible results in less time than you’d think.

We encourage you to keep your lessons scheduled close together. You'll progress more quickly, and it will make your experience more valuable to you. We promise: The learning is fun – and you will be on your way to confident social dancing after your very first dance lesson!