10 Things To Do After Your First Ballroom Dance Class

We get a lot of questions about what to do after that first ballroom dance lesson — especially how to prepare for the next few. Here are ten things that will help. Most are simple, and they make a big difference in how you dance.

1. Wait to Practice

It may be a surprise, but it’s better not to practice right after your first private lesson. Why? You don’t have the knowledge or the muscle memory of proper technique yet, and practicing alone — with no feedback from your pro — tends to build bad habits that are frustrating to undo later. Even the best teacher can’t teach you everything in one lesson. So wait to practice!

2. Book Your Next Lesson as Soon as Possible

Keep your first few lessons close together. You’ll remember and retain more, spend less time reviewing old material, and get to new steps sooner. When you start something new, after a week off you may remember only 50% of what you learned; after two weeks, maybe 10%. If your schedule allows, aim for a private lesson, group class, or practice party every day — or at least every other day.

3. Write It Down

What you write down, you remember. Moving from short-term to long-term memory takes work, and you can help it along by writing or sketching what you learned. It doesn’t matter what language you use or how rough the drawing is — write it the way you understand it, as soon as you can. Before your next lesson, read back what you wrote to recall it fast.

4. Live Like a Dancer

Dancers take care of their bodies, because their bodies are their instruments. Drink plenty of water, eat as balanced a meal as you can (that means skipping the fast food!), and get enough sleep to recover as you learn. Cutting back on unhealthy habits helps your body bounce back faster.

5. Listen to More Music

Listen to all kinds of music and try to find the beat — if you can find the beat, you can dance to it. Next time you’re driving, turn on the radio and find the beat. Try different styles and tempos; it doesn’t matter whether it’s cha-cha, waltz, or foxtrot. To help, we even built an online radio where you can see the dance style, the song name, and the beats per minute. Try the Dance Passion Radio here.

6. Work on Your Posture

Whenever you can, stand up nice and tall and stretch your back. Better posture will make you look and dance better. If your job keeps you behind a computer, try this: sit on the edge of your chair and keep your back straight. Just doing that starts to improve your posture.

7. Attend Group Classes and Practice Parties

Don’t wait — jump into the deep end and join the fun of a group. You’ll meet people who share your passion and find support from the instructors and the more advanced students alike. Two left feet? No problem — everyone starts somewhere. Dance, laugh, and enjoy the time together; even after the most stressful day, dancing will turn it around.

8. Watch YouTube

Find the best dancing on YouTube and watch it — there are countless hours of great dancing out there. Look for professional or championship performances. Keep in mind there are two major styles, American and International, and adding one of those (plus a recent year) sharpens your results. For example: “American foxtrot championship pro.”

9. Buy Dance Shoes

If you really enjoy dancing, invest in dance shoes. Find a local dance store and ask your teacher or the salesperson plenty of questions. The best dance shoes are the ones you don’t feel while wearing them. You don’t need the most expensive pair or the cheapest — good-quality dance shoes usually run about $40 to $70. The big difference from regular shoes is extra arch support, designed to protect your feet.

10. Share Your Positive Experience

When you share your dance experience, your friends find out how great the studio is. The more people who discover it, the stronger the community — which means more dance partners for you. Plus, who doesn’t want their friends out on the dance floor with them? The more you share, the more chances you’ll have to dance with the people you enjoy.

Now that you know what to do after your first lesson, there’s no better time to book one. Contact us to schedule your free introductory private lesson — it’s never too late to start dancing. We hope to hear from you soon!