Frequently Asked Questions
Ballroom Dance Lessons FAQs
We understand that you may have questions before getting started with ballroom dance lessons. For your convenience, this Dance FAQ page answers the questions we hear most often inside our Oro Valley dance studio. Please browse these FAQs, and contact us if there’s anything else we can explain to help you feel comfortable, confident, and ready. At Fred Astaire Dance Studios of Oro Valley, AZ, we know the hardest step is often the first one you take through our door. Once you do, you’ll find a warm, welcoming, and 100% non-judgmental environment that makes you want to keep dancing. Start ballroom dancing today!
There are LOTS of great reasons!
(1) NO other Dance Studio is better prepared to help you discover the lifelong joy of ballroom dancing!
(2) You’ll feel a warm energy and sense of “FADS Community” that is welcoming, 100% non-judgmental, and truly joyful from the first time you walk into our Oro Valley studio!
(3) Our proven, proprietary dance curriculum helps you learn dance steps with confidence and ease.
(4) Our unique teaching system includes private instruction, group lessons, and practice parties, helping you learn as much as possible in a shorter amount of time while giving you a comfortable group setting to practice your new dance skills with fellow students.
(5) Our Dance Instructors are friendly, highly qualified, and fully committed to making your experience enjoyable, educational, rewarding, and FUN!
(6) Fred Astaire Dance Studios also gives students advantages many independent dance studios cannot offer, including an online Studio Dance Store with many dance-related items to help you look and feel your best, both on and off the ballroom dance floor, plus exciting Regional, Inter-Regional, and National Amateur and Pro-Am dance competitions that give Fred Astaire dance students inspiring chances to compete, travel, and improve their dancing in supportive, exciting environments. Don’t wait another day. Contact Fred Astaire Dance Studios of Oro Valley, AZ, and discover that “Life’s Better When you Dance!”
At Fred Astaire Dance Studios, all new dance students can take advantage of our special money-saving Introductory Offer! Simply complete and submit the Intro Offer form on this website to claim yours, and we’ll contact you right away to learn about your dance goals and help schedule your first lesson. Once you experience how much fun ballroom dancing in Oro Valley can be, we know you’ll want to come back for more!
Every Fred Astaire Dance Studio offers a special Introductory Offer for new students. After that, our prices vary because dance lesson programs are created around each student’s specific interests and goals, including social dancing, wedding dance, competitive dancing, beginner dance lessons, and more. At Fred Astaire Dance Studios, we will customize programs to fit your individual goals and budget.
We provide instruction for all partnership dances, from waltz, tango, cha-cha, and salsa to country western, swing, and club dancing. We can help with your wedding dance, your social dance goals, and basically any dance performed with a partner. For those with a competitive spirit, we can also help you become a skilled Pro/Am competitor with your Instructor at branded Fred Astaire Regional, Inter-Regional, National, and International dance competitions!
Every Fred Astaire Dance Studio Dance Instructor is a talented dance educator with a true passion for dance. Fred Astaire dance instructors come from all over the world. Many hold Fine Arts degrees and are actively competing, award-winning professional dancers. All have completed the rigorous training required to become, and remain, certified in the Fred Astaire Dance Curriculum, a proven teaching method developed by Fred Astaire himself and unique to our organization. Together, Fred Astaire Dance Instructors are dedicated to helping you discover the joy of ballroom dance and making your learning experience enjoyable, educational, rewarding, and FUN!
Absolutely not! We welcome singles <i>and</i> couples at Fred Astaire Dance Studios of Oro Valley. If you join us as a single student, your Dance Instructor will be your partner for private dance lessons, and our group classes and practice sessions will give you plenty of opportunities to meet and dance with other students who share similar interests and goals!
We highly recommend scheduling your lessons close together, especially when you are first starting. Less time between lessons means you will forget less, need less review, and reach a confident level in your dancing more quickly. We also recommend private lessons along with group classes and practice sessions because this is the most effective and efficient way to learn, stay motivated, and enjoy your ballroom dance lessons.
Private lessons include one student or a couple working with one or two Dance Instructors. Private instruction is customized around your personal needs. Learning at your own pace is one of the best ways to understand and retain what you are learning, and that is exactly what private instruction makes possible. A common misconception about private lessons is that they happen in seclusion. In reality, several private lessons often take place at the same time in our ballroom! We and our students have found that learning in this setting gives everyone an advantage in real social dance situations. Private lessons are by appointment only and may be scheduled during the Dance Studio’s business hours by calling directly.
Our group classes are designed to support private lessons and include several students learning from one Dance Instructor. Group classes offer many dance styles and topics that help improve your technique, physical fitness, rhythm, and understanding of ballroom dance. Students of all levels have the chance to participate. Depending on your studio of choice, group classes are usually scheduled during the afternoon and evening throughout the week.
Our practice sessions take place in the studio and help prepare you for social dancing in the real world. During practice sessions, we dim the lights, play the music, and enjoy a party-style atmosphere. Practice sessions let you apply the 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 opportunities to meet and dance with other students, as well as other Instructors.
Not always. To accommodate your busy schedule, we try to be as flexible as possible, though we may not always be able to schedule the exact same time every week. To reserve your preferred lesson times, we suggest scheduling your lessons a few weeks in advance and in order. Group class scheduling may vary based on dance type and level, so everyone has an opportunity to attend. Practice sessions are typically scheduled for a set time each week.
We understand that some students come to lessons directly from work while others may dress more casually, and either is fine. The most important thing is wearing something comfortable that lets you move easily. You will also want to choose comfortable shoes. We suggest leather-sole shoes for gentlemen and shoes with backs for ladies, similar to what you might wear for a night out dancing. Athletic shoes do NOT work well on the ballroom dance floor because they grip too much, making it harder to move your feet.
No, it is not! Our Dance Instructors are highly qualified, welcoming professionals who continue dance training throughout their careers. Our progressive instruction system and unique trophy system also make learning easier and more enjoyable. It will take some time to master different dances and build a repertoire of steps, but a steady approach with regular practice can produce visible results sooner than you may expect. We strongly encourage keeping your lessons scheduled close together. You will progress faster, get more value from your experience, and feel more confident. We promise: learning is fun, and you can be on your way to confident social dancing after your very first dance lesson!