Do I need a partner to join?

You do NOT need a partner to sign up.  However we try to balance classes as best we can so sometimes there is a waiting list.  Please register early to save your spot.

What clothes should I wear?

Our studio has an easygoing, casual feel. ‘Nice’ casual clothes are recommended while workout wear, shorts and tank tops would be considered inappropriate. We also ask that you avoid perfumes as some students may be sensitive or even allergic. For a more detailed review of clothing and etiquette tips please visit our etiquette guide.

What shoes should I wear?

The best shoe is one that is comfortable and offers good balance. For beginners we recommend a comfortable dress shoe; rubber soled sneakers make turning much more difficult. For ladies we recommend a heel height that you would be comfortable walking in. A flat shoe would also be just fine.

If you expect to carry on with your dancing for longer than a month or two then we suggest that you buy some dance shoes. They are more comfortable and easier to dance in than street shoes as well as safer for your partner.

What is the age range at your studio?

We have a very wide demographic – people of all ages love to dance! Most of our students are between 30 and 70 years old, but we also have people in their early 20’s and 90’s. If you’re under 18, you’ll need to accompanied by your parent or bring a signed note of permission from your parents and their phone number.

How do I get the most out of my lessons?

To get the most out of your lessons you need to dance! Come to the practice parties, attend the workshops, and take regular private lessons to make sure you’re on track. 

Do you switch partners in your classes?

Yes, we encourage rotating partners for many reasons:

1. It helps you learn to lead/follow better by having to be sensitive to someone else's signals. 

2. It keeps you on your toes, so to speak - sometimes couples dancing together all the time get in a rut - the same patterns in the same sequence - so changing it up keeps things fresh.

3. When rotating, sometimes you will dance with someone more advanced and sometimes you will dance with someone less advanced.  Dancing with someone more advanced can be fun and can help you "get" a difficult pattern more easily then dancing with someone who might just be learning a new pattern as well.  Dancing with someone less advanced can also make you a better dancer by giving you the opportunity to think about the roles of both partners and how a step can be danced together better.

4. It helps to build a community so that you know a variety of people when you come to studio social events.  Attending your first studio dance event can be less intimidating when you already know someone else from your class that will be attending as well. 

However, having said all that, if you prefer not to rotate partners, just let your teacher know and when a rotation happens, step to the side or out of the direction of rotation so that those who do rotate will know to go to the next partner down the line.   

When should I start attending dance parties?

After your first lesson!  Yes, we’re not kidding!

The sooner you attend the dance parties, the better your progress will be.  Learning to dance is like learning a language and the best way to learn a language is through immersion.  When you come to a dance you're immersing yourself - you'll be listening to the music, seeing other dancers and of course dancing yourself.  Even if it's just one step over and over again, by the end, you will be pretty comfortable with that one step and be ready to move on to something new in the next class.  Plus, everyone at our dances is pretty nice and happy to help as needed.

How do I register?

You can register by phone at 604-881-1234 or email at dancingfordessert@gmail.com We accept debit, credit, cash, cheque or etransfer.

What if we missed the first class of a series?

This is a tricky one. If you’ve never danced before you should probably either wait until the next start date or take a private lesson to catch up. If you have some dance experience please talk to us so we get a feel for how quickly you’d pick up the material.