Whether you’re new to dance or a seasoned competitor, the following list can apply to universal strategies you can use at every lesson to maximize your learning and enjoyment.

Set your course

This basically means to envision some of the intricacies of this new challenge you are undertaking. Decide, in advance, how you will face a challenge. This will enable you to better overcome it; therefore, you will feel more relieved, less apprehensive and frustrated. As everything in life this requires a plan and a map.

Clear your mind

Before entering the dance studio, clear your mind of any outside concerns, interferences and issues. Remember that dancing serves as a stress reliever so you can use your class time to relax and clear your mind. This activity is supposed to be anxiety-free and enjoyable. Remember, it’s your hobby – not your job!

 Learn at your own pace

Everyone learns to dance at different speeds, so do not compare yourself to others in your class. There are people who just seem to catch on faster than the others, and many people may already have a dance background. Do not hesitate to ask questions if you are doubtful about a certain step. Teachers love questions! (And chances are, you’re not the only person who has them.)

Wear the right clothes

Ensure that your clothes are of the right size and come in proper dance attire depending on the instructions proposed by your instructor. Make sure that your dance clothes fit your body well; otherwise, it can disrupt your dancing. Make sure you are comfortable!

Be open-minded to new possibilities

Do not take for granted that dances like Samba or Viennese Waltz are simply difficult and impossible because you are an older dancer. When you open your heart and mind to all of life’s possibilities, you will be greatly rewarded. In conclusion, willingness matters and pays off the investment.

Find and work on your own style

Each of us has certain inclinations and tastes that make us feel happy and fulfilled.  While it’s nice to try many things, when you do find something that you absolutely love, make sure to make that a central part of your dancing.  Whether it’s latin music, electronic style, or swing dancing, when something brings you joy, make that a regular part of your life.

Happy dancing everyone!!

The post How to Make Your First Dance Lesson a Success! appeared first on Dance Louisville.

You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘two left feet before.’ It is a common excuse to justify the fear that we may have when it comes to trying something new, say ballroom dancing. Don’t get us wrong…walking into a new, unknown environment can be terrifying! But you never know what’s on the other side unless we give things a shot, right?!

No one was born with two left feet, and in any situation, we guarantee that you’re going to do better than you think your first time out. We want you to get rid of any misconceptions you may have and encourage you to live up to your very own potential. You don’t have forever, so why not start today? Sometimes we hear people say I wish I had started this when I was younger…but age is just a number people and many activities, including dancing may actually extend your life! Just keep that in mind…

First and foremost, if we want to overcome a fear we need to start by wanting to do so. Hesitation is probably one of the agents that tends to hold us back, so you may start with a simple decision and see what happens next. Based on that, we want to remind you that at this very first stage you probably won’t be participating in “Dancing with the Starts” (maybe later, who knows?), so let’s take it easy and focus on just trying out a few steps and listening to the music. We are all our harshest critics, but try to avoid early assessments. Every day that you try, you’re making progress.  It would be unfair to judge the entire process at such an early stage.  We don’t have the miracle  pill  for  everything  we  want,  but  what  we  do  have which  is  even  better  than  a magic  pill  or  wand…we have a PLAN! When we plan any project (whether it be personal,  social, or economic) we are a step ahead of the three ugly Fs: Failure,  Frustration,  and  Fear.

What  does  a  plan  for  overcoming a fear of  Ballroom Dance contain?
How could it be carried out?

Try these ingredients:

1. The first step is the first step
Conquering the  initial  nervousness  is  the  key. Starting something from the scratch may be hard, but there’s nothing that practice cannot defeat. Practice makes perfect!

2. Forget about the cliché “I have no rhythm”
Does your heart beat?  Do you breathe?  Do you walk? Then you definitely have rhythm. It’s scientifically proven! We just have to refine it!

3-. Ballroom Dancing has no age limits!
Anyone at any age can dance. Don’t believe me?  Do you remember the 106-year-old lady who danced with the Obamas a couple of  months ago?  When asked what was the secret to still dancing at 106, she said just keep moving.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/barack-obama-michelle-obama-dance-106-year-old-woman-visits-white-house-a6888656.html

So you have all the ingredients, what about the execution?

Once your ingredients are ready and your fear has started to fade away, what  else do you need?  Well…for dancing you need a dance floor or studio for you to step in to! You don’t actually even need a partner! Plenty of group classes are structured for you to rotate so you get a chance to meet new people, and learn at a faster pace. If you have a built in dance partner, then you’re also set – just remember you’re both learning new skills and patience is essential. This is a fun and exciting experience to share, so keep it fun and light!

Enjoy this new adventure and keep us posted on how it goes. Remember that you won’t be the newbie all your life. Try something new today…what do you have to lose? Hope to see you on a dance floor soon!

The post Overcoming Your Fear of Trying Something New appeared first on Dance Louisville.

In ballroom dance lessons, you will most likely need a partner to dance with. Just by going to group classes or lessons you will spend some time with various partners. Chances are that the instructor will keep the partners rotating, so you will get the chance to dance with and meet a lot of new people. After you get to know your classmates, you can always experience new classes, rhythms or styles during different classes and still meet new people along the way.

Getting along with your classmates in your dance lessons and group classes is only the beginning! Beyond regular classes, are gatherings called “social dances”, in which tons of people get together to move themselves to the beat and try out what they have learned, ‘in the wild.’ Thanks to your dance lessons, and the new people you have met through dance classes, you’ve got some moves under your belt, and you can meet anyone by just asking them out for a dance. It’s as simple as that! One great thing about people who dance is, that they always want to do it, so if you ask someone out, they will gladly say yes almost every time!

You will notice that every time you surround yourself with people who are dancing, you will be in a relaxed, safe and joyful environment. You’ll soon find out dance makes people physically and mentally happy, so you will be meeting new people in a time and place where they are at their best. That’s makes everything easier!

In other matters, if you decide to travel, dancing will also open a lot of doors for you, no matter if you speak the local language or not. You can typically hit a local dance studio and sign up for a random group class or lesson, or check the internet for “social dances” or dancing events in the area. Instantly, you will be meeting new people with at least one common interest, and that will make it easier to break the language barrier, and have a good time despite of it.

Dance is the universal language of the world, don’t you want to be a part of that? You never know who you will meet. So give it a shot – meet new people through dance and see how it changes and impacts your life!

The post Meet New People Through Dance appeared first on Dance Louisville.

So, you want to learn to dance, that’s excellent! Finding a dance studio that fits you, will be an easy second step in this pleasant journey called Dancing.

And to help you narrow down your decision, we are going to give you six pointers that you can follow, and help you to make a right decision, but these are all suggestions, the weight that you give to each of these parameters will be up to you, remember that what matters most is you having the more fun!

Professionals

A detail to consider is the experience of those who will be your teachers, in this type of schools you can evaluate if the teachers have been part of some competition in their discipline, or if they have any certifications or even some awards. It always helps to see a previous class, to see if there is good chemistry between the teacher and the students, and that will also give you a chance to see if you like their methods.

Variety

In a dance school you will find different styles of dance, with different levels of difficulty. When choosing you should consider that the academy has more than one style you like, that way you can continue growing your dance knowledge by learning another rhythm after reaching a certain level in other. See the types of dances we teach.

Proximity

You should find a place that you can access easily, so it should be close to work or home. One of the risks of choosing a school away from your environment is, that daily tasks may eventually prevent you from attending classes. In addition, you must value your time, and the less time you spend on your way to the studio the better. Dance Louisville has a convenient east end location.

Schedules

Schedules Like the proximity of the academy, are very important, since these must be compatible with your availability. Always choose a schedule that you know you can meet. It is worthless to choose the best school or the one that is closer to your house, if you are late. You can see our schedule here.

Trial Run

There are schools that allow you to receive a free trial lesson, and there are others that allow you to take a single lesson by paying it, take it in order to test the service and quality. If you are interested in how to choose a ballroom dance studio… you should first and foremost give one a try! For those studios that do not allow trial lessons, it may be possible to witness one session, go there and watch it, take your time to assets the relation between teacher and students and watch how the teacher perform, and if his styles suit you.

Why Dance Louisville?

At Dance Louisville we have been in business for over 11 years. We are a family run dance studio with a professional staff of 6 excellent teachers who truly care about your experience at our studio. We personally invite you to take us up on our FREE FIRST LESSON. It will give you chance to come in and check us out. I’m sure you will have a great time. Give us a call (502) 3774859. See you on the dance floor!

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Thanks for clicking and taking the time to read this.

If we got a chance to sit down together – This is what I’d want to say.

I assume that there was something that intrigued you about dancing?

What was it for you?

Well whatever it is…It’s our job to help you reach your goal!

I know that walking into a dance studio is SUPER intimidating…

All of our students have gone through the exact same emotions.

Don’t worry….

After 20 years of dancing I know the exact steps you need to take.

The good news is the first few steps are very easy!

In fact by the time you’re reading this you may have even taken one or two of them.

Step 1. – Get some 1on1 time with an instructor. 

Being able to sit and talk to one of our instructors is the easiest (least nerve wracking) way to get started.

That’s why we offer a FREE 30-Min Private Lesson to all of our new students.

You can book that by calling (502) 377-4859.

If you’ve already done it.. congrats!

On to step 2…

Step 2. – Book a starter package.

A starter package allows you to take private lessons & group classes for a month!

After teaching A LOT of people to dance over year years I realized this.

You need to try group lessons AND private lessons.

So we created a special package to allow you to try both.

From there you’ll be more educated about which path will take you to your goals.

HINT: For most people in includes both group & private lessons.

The final step???

Step 3. – Doing the right things right.

Once you are taking the starter package….

You’re doing the right thing to ensure you’re on the path to reach your goals!

But how do you DO THE RIGHT THING RIGHT?

I’ve put together some tips on how to get the most out of your lessons.

After years of watching people…

The ones that had the most fun, struggled the least and ultimately achieved their goals, did these things.

Seriously.. all of them!

View my best tips

Again if there is anything I can do to help you on your dance journey.

Please let me us know.

Our staff is full of passionate helpful people and they are all on your team!

The post New Student Tips appeared first on Dance Louisville.

Book your private lessons within 2 weeks (3-4 weeks at a maximum)

This will ensure you don’t forget too much in between your lessons!

Take group classes along with privates

It’s best to take group and private lessons AT THE SAME TIME. Don’t fall into the trap of taking just one or the other. They are both beneficial in different ways so make sure you’re attending both.

Attend Thursday nights

If you’re gonna pick a ‘dance day’ in your calendar…plan on Thursdays. With 2 classes and a practice party this is the #1 night to dance.

Attend the first 15min of the Thursday night practice party

You’re new, so you may not want to stay the whole time but commit to the first 15min. We play the songs from the thursday classes so it’s a perfect way to get your feet wet dancing with others.

Attend a Saturday night dance

Once per month we host a dance party on Saturday night. This is another chance to practice what you’ve learned. This can feel like a big step but you’ll find that everyone will be super supportive. We we all new once 😉

Video your lessons

Use your phone and take a video of what you’ve learned. Here’s the key though, WATCH the video! Make sure you peek at it at least once before your next lesson. It will go a long way to helping refresh your memory.

Don’t cancel your lessons

It’s easy to get discouraged but consistency will help!. Stay the course and you’ll be surprised how quickly you’ll progress! If you have to cancel? Out of respect to your teachers we require a 24 hour notice for cancellation of a private lesson. Ultimately we just want you to get the most out of your time and money being consistency will be the best way to learn fast!

We’re believe in you and we are ALL excited to help you reach your goals!

The post Starter Package Tips appeared first on Dance Louisville.

You’re probably wondering…can there be a relationship between engineering and dancing?

At first glance, it seems there’s no possible connection, and we don’t have scientific evidence to back up the claim but after years of experience on the dance floor, we’ve noticed a strong connection! .After all, experience is to science what water is to the ocean, right?

What are engineers good at? 

Overall engineers tend to be very systematic when it comes to calculations and extremely precise when following instructions and steps. We can attribute it to their academic backgrounds. The have a natural tendency to follow or to design instructions step by step or in their own words, “algorithmically”.

What makes a good dancer? 

Dancing, although though of as very artistic, can be very technical as well. An ability to systematically learn and understand basic fundamental principals can be very helpful!  Students who are able to see the underlying structure to the art, are able to learn more quickly.

Is there proof that engineers make good dancers?

In our experience YES… but our experience isn’t very scientific. So, let’s travel to Boston, to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for a larger sample size and perhaps a more definitive answer!

We all know that MIT is home for one of the world most renowned higher education institutions for engineers. A lesser known fact is that it also has one of the largest and most successful college ballroom dance teams in the nation!

When asked about the success of all these engineers at ballroom dance here is what their coaches had to say: “MIT students are very good at ballroom dancing because they like to be precise,” she says. “The students like to understand the mechanics of how the movement works, and that helps with learning and technique. At first, you wouldn’t think it’s true, but ballroom is a pretty fitting hobby for many students at MIT.”

Based on engineers’ organized way of putting things in perspective, we can see that since learning to dance requires some wide perspective and an important sense of orientation, they have an edge over this. In spite of tackling art, the pathway for learning steps and moves can be logical.  Furthermore, since dancing demands the following of patterns and rules, engineers by nature can easily put this into practice. They feel in their element. That rational and analytic way of acting and bringing things together is definitely part of their lives.

So what’s the takeaway?

The takeaway message is that you do not need to study engineering to be a good dancer. However, if you’re an engineer, you possess a unique way of looking at things that will help you pick up a new hobby like ballroom dancing, more easily. Who knew right? So if you’re looking for a new hobby… we may have given you something to think about.

Why dancing is good for engineers 😉

After long study hours dealing with numbers, many engineers will look for an outlet that lets them use a different part of their brain and relieve some of the daily stress. While this is very often done by hanging out in groups and going for a drink, ballroom dancing can accomplish the same thing in a more healthy way. According to some engineering students at different universities, learning new steps and going for a night our dancing can create a healthy replacement to “a drink after work to unwind”  In any case, many people – engineers included, use dance as a stress reliever!

How can you get started?

There are 2 main ways to get involved in dancing – group classes and private lessons. Which is best? Well, both have an important role in the learning process!

We recommend coming in for a private lesson first, that will get you acquainted with the studio, start learning and also allow you to ask any specific questions you might have. Dancing is a fun hobby!

See how to get your FIRST LESSON FREE

Your instructor can then help you make a plan that’s best for you.  If you have any questions please give us a call 502-377-4859 We are available 7 days a week from 10am – 10pm by phone.

Meet Our Staff

The post Why engineers make good dancers appeared first on Dance Louisville.

• Great workout alternative! Unless you are one of those girls who can eat whatever comes in their way and not gain a pound, you will always appreciate any activity that can help you get into shape. Dancing is a great way to do so, the best way in our opinion. When you dance you move your whole body, literally from your head to your toes, and best thing about it is that you won’t even notice it! For real, it is great exercise, but you will be having so much fun that it will be done effortlessly and you’ll keep wanting to do more!

• Releases Stress. As said before, dancing is a fun activity, you might not be the best in the beginning, but from day one you will feel the great energy that dance rooms have. Whether in group class or private lessons, the studios are full of happy people and smiley faces, the kind of place that gives good vibes, and helps you forget the rest of your day.

• Improve your confidence. Ballroom dance lessons are, at the end of the day, lessons; meaning that every day you will learn something new. Every class there will be several people including yourself, that won’t know how to perform a dance move, or that do not coordinate with some rhythm, at first. By the end of the lessons you will learn something, and you will show it in front of other people who also learned the same. That public learning process will fill your confidence, every day you will leave the room knowing that you’re capable of overcoming and achieving.

• Widen your social network. You will meet new people, you will live new experiences, but more importantly…you will make new friends. No matter if you are the social butterfly, or the person that sits on the couch waiting for someone to talk to –  you will always bond with some special people in a very special environment.

• You get to dress up! Ok, so everyone want to feel pretty, right? Dressing up is exactly that – a good way to feel pretty, you will finally have a perfect excuse to wear or even buy that cute dress and those gorgeous matching shoes with ballroom dance lessons! In fact, you could even get your hair done for special days too. Nothing like a little pampering to go along with your ballroom dancing! Dance lessons are those magical times during the week when you can also devote the much needed ‘me time’ we all need from time to time.

There are many other reasons that women should take ballroom dance lessons, but these are just a few of the highlights! There is something special about the ballroom dance studio, and until you have walked in and experienced it for yourself, you don’t know what you’re missing. Here are our 5 reasons women should take ballroom dance lessons! Happy Dancing!

The post 5 Reasons Women should take Ballroom Dance Lessons appeared first on Dance Louisville.

1. It’s a challenge: It’s a known fact that conquering or mastering something new brings a lot of joy to any man. It could be climbing a mountain, making a touchdown or as simple as fixing a leaky sink. No matter what it is, if it is a challenge, there are big rewards waiting for any man. And guess what? No matter if you already dance, or if you feel that you have two left feet, from day one in ballroom dance lessons there’s always something new to learn. It could be a new step or turn, or maybe is a new rhythm, even dancing with a new partner implies a level of challenge. So get ready to have a lot of fun in each lesson or group class, because after each one you will leave with that great feeling of having conquering a challenge.

2. Leadership: So, for dancing you will need a partner, and that partner will be waiting for the leader (that’s you!) to lead the whole experience. It’s on the men to decide when to turn, when to try a different step, and at the same time, he needs to find a pleasant way to let his partner know what’s happening too. All these skills are the foundation of any great leader, and they will be gained on each lesson at a gradual pace.  At first this will probably be one of the hardest things to learn, but once you get into the swing of it – you’ll be golden!  

3.Creativity: The man is in charge of leading the dance, and with these comes the responsibility of keeping it entertaining, but most importantly fun. This is also a challenge! A challenge that will stimulate the creativity of the men. You might need a bit of guidance at first, but in time the men who dance will inevitably become more creative, in all aspects of your life. 

4. Self-esteem: Imagine this, after some time taking ballroom dance lessons you will become more creative, you will also be a better leader, and what seems more important, you will always have that great feeling of accomplishing goals and conquering challenges. Imagine a man with all these qualities, isn’t he a good man? Well, that is the way that you will feel about yourself, and it follows you into other areas of your life. It takes a small great feeling to have a major impact on your life in general. 

5. It’s a great way to meet women: Not all men will see this as an advantage, but a lot will, and if you are looking to meet new people, ballroom dance lessons are a great place to do so. You will get the chance to dance with a lot of partners in a fun and relaxed environment, not to mention that you will be meeting people with at least one common interest, DANCING. That makes it easy to strike up any conversation! 

There are your top 5 reasons Men should take Ballroom Dance Lessons! Be adventurous, try new things, you never know what might happen. Hope to see you on the dance floor soon!

The post 5 Reasons Men should take Ballroom Dance lessons appeared first on Dance Louisville.

Have you ever felt that you hit a plateau in your dancing? Maybe you have lost focus and feel your enthusiasm for dancing slipping. Maybe you are super excited and can’t imagine EVER losing your love of dance, and you simply want to learn as much as possible as fast as possible. I want all of these thing for you too!

My name is Brian Barakauskas and a ballroom dancer with over 20 years experience I’ve felt the same thing at many points along my journey thorough ballroom dancing. As a teacher its become my mission to teach the lessons that have helped me the most. I sincerely want you to enjoy dancing EVEN MORE THAN I HAVE! Here are my 3 favorite tips to faster learning and avoiding plateaus.

#1. Set a goal for your dancing

This may seem simple but I can’t tell you how many people simply don’t have clear goals. Pick the next thing you want to achieve and write it on a sticky note. I’m serious! Write your goal down RIGHT NOW! Stick that note on your desk by your bed or even on your bathroom mirror. Your goal could be learning the bronze syllabus for Waltz, Foxtrot and Tango. I could be doing a ballroom dance competition. Whatever your goal is write it down!

Another pitfall I see in goal setting is TOO MANY GOALS! If this is you, you might want to read this article on too many goals at once. Trust me, you can’t be good at every all at once. Faster learning in ballroom dancing does not mean do everything at once. Please sort through your goals. Pick the one dance goal that is most important to you right now, and write it down. All those other goals running thorough your mind…don’t worry we will get to those in a second.

#2 Set a time limit for achieving your dance goal

Do you ever wonder why people flock to stores on Black Friday? Its because that’s THE ONLY DAY that you can get those special deals. (honestly the prices are lower in July but I digress) Honestly its a mental trick that retailers play on us to get us to shop. The psychology works. Thats why you NEED TO HAVE A DATE on your goals! Write down the date on your goals. “I want to learn bronze waltz, foxtrot and tango by the fall.” or “I want to dance at the “Ohio Star Ball” this November!”

#3 Find a teacher, mentor or coach

This is one that has been a HUGE TIME SAVER for me personally in dancing but also in my dance studio business as well as in my other hobbies. I even wrote a blog on it. Investing in a ballroom dance coach will do wonders for your progress. Its not only taking dance lessons that will be helpful but dance coaches are EXPERTS AT THE BALLROOM DANCE LEARNING PROCESS! Let me say this again, they are experts at the process for learning ballroom dancing. They are expert goal setters. They have the knowledge to asses you personally and help you set goals that are right for you!

Now let me say this….

As a dance teacher its SHOCKING to me to see how many student don’t take the advice of the coach they are paying. We all want to think we are special or different and our egos sometimes won’t let us submit and listen. (trust me I know. I have a big ego lol) But provided you have a good relationship with your teacher, then trust them! Keep in mind that you won’t always agree. You’ll have to trust them! The title of this blog post was faster learning in Ballroom Dancing while avoiding plateaus. Your teacher is your greatest resource in this process.

Oh and what happens when you get to your ‘pot of gold’ at the end of the rainbow and achieve your goal?

Go back though the process and set another one! Perhaps you can reach a little higher next time. After all its about the journey, not the destination!

All the best in dance,

Brian B

Dance Louisville

PS I know I suck at editing but writing is a learning process for me. One step at a time. LOL

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