Dances we teach
Smooth Dances
Waltz
Tango
Foxtrot
Viennese Waltz
Quickstep
Peabody
Latin Dances
Rumba
Salsa
Bachata
Cha Cha
Merengue
Samba
Bolero
Mambo
Swing Dances
East Coast Swing
West Coast Swing
Club Swing/Straight-time Hustle
Syncopated Hustle
Jitterbug
Slow Dances
Nightclub Two-Step
Foxxy
Specialty Dances
Argentine Tango
Country Two-Step
Polka
We specialize in American Social. Interested in International, or don't see a dance you would like to learn? We'd love to chat about accomodating you!
Pricing
a la carte
Private Lesson
$80
One 50-minute private lesson
for a student or couple with a single instructor
We are in the process of developing packages and other options.
Please let us know if you have other requests.
Just getting started?
We're here to help
We would be happy to work with you to determine which dances would be the best for you to learn. Depending on the frequency of your lessons, we can select one or two dances to focus on, or we can dabble in many of them. Some students are looking to learn just enough variety to be able to dance to most songs, while others are interested in learning every dance that might be on the card at a local social. Which dances interest you might be determined by your music preferences, your past dance experiences, or an event for which you are preparing. The more details you provide, the better we are able to tailor your lessons to your individual needs.
For the brand-new student who does not know anything about partner dancing, we usually suggest starting with a set of four or five dances. We feel that this gives you good coverage of the music you will hear at a standard wedding or dance party, and introduces you to many of the different genres of partner dancing.
Although some ballroom events can be quite formal, there is no set dress code for lessons. We encourage you to wear comfortable clothes that do not inhibit your movement. Some things to consider:
- Make sure you have the full range of movement for your legs. Tight skirts tend to make things difficult, as do pants of a material that causes friction when your legs pass each other.
- Wear clothing on your torso that would cover where a partner might need to put their hands.
- Ensure that you can reach your arms above your head without having to adjust your outfit.
- If you are wearing heavy jewelry or have longer hair, check to make sure it will not hit your partner if you spin, or get caught if your partner puts their hand on your back.
- Check your rings; large rings can be painful to your partner when you are holding their hands or get caught in their clothing.
- Depending on the frame you will be using, you may wish to remove items from your front pants pockets.
Ballroom shoes are not required for beginning lessons, but they do make lessons easier. We would be happy to provide ballroom shoe recommendations if you are interested in purchasing a pair. If you are planning to wear street shoes to a lesson, some things to consider:
- Make sure the soles of your shoes are not dirty from another activity.
- Any shoe with a spike (cleats, spiked work boots, spiked non-dance heels) can damage the floor and should not be worn for a lesson.
- Having a sole that can slide on the floor will be a big benefit. Tennis shoes or other shoes with good traction will be more difficult to dance in than a dress shoe with more of a slippery sole.
- Make sure your shoes will stay on your feet as you kick, spin, and caper around the dance floor. Flip-flops or shoes without backs are likely to fall off or trip you as you dance.
- If you are wearing a shoe with a significant heel, make sure the heel of the shoe is placed under your heel bone and in line with your ankle, rather than behind it. Some fashion heels place the heel on the far back of the shoe, which will put your balance in the wrong place while you dance.
If you are learning to dance for a particular event, we always encourage wearing similar clothes and shoes to your lessons as you get closer to the big day. This will help you get comfortable moving in your fancy attire.
No! Ballroom dancing is inherently partner dancing, but you do not need to learn as a couple. If you take a private lesson as a single student, your instructor will dance with you during your lesson. If you attend a class we teach, we encourage rotation to make sure everyone has the chance to practice with a variety of partners.
There are many ballroom events happening all the time in the Pittsburgh area. Some of these focus on specific dances, while others include a wide array of dances on the dance card. The current calendar of upcoming events can be found here.
Most of our students started learning ballroom with us from scratch. Your private lessons are for you, so we will make sure the pace aligns with your needs.
Both Aaron and Anne come to the ballroom from prior dance backgrounds. We are able to build upon what you already know in order to make your lessons valuable to you. We are always excited to incorporate your unique skills into your lessons and choreography.