Cheri's FAQ on Partner Dancing
Group Classes and Private Lessons are 55 minutes long. Half sessions are 25 minutes.
$12 per person - 8 persons or more
$14 per person - 7 persons
$16 per person - 6 persons
$20 per person - 5 persons
$25 per person - 4 persons
$33 per person - 3 persons
1 or 2 people make up a Private Lesson and the cost is $100
A class with 8 people or fewer is considered Semi-Private, and the fee is based upon the scale above.
Pay as you go. No contracts. No penalty for missed classes. See Prices page for more information.
Proper footwear is very important to your success in the sport of dance. Regulation dance shoes, with sueded leather soles, provide the right amount of slip versus traction. They are flexible enough to allow proper articulation of the foot.
For those learning ballroom, Latin, and swing dances, Cheri recommends dance shoes by companies such as International, Supadance, Dance Naturals, Freed of London, and others. These brands are made in England or Italy and worn by top professionals in the industry. They can be purchased in the US from Showtime Dance Shoes in Duluth, Georgia. A quality pair of shoes generally costs between $89 to $230 but they will last for years with proper care. For Country Western dances, boots and shoes with the same sueded leather soles are recommend. The boots and low-heeled shoes provide the look more common to the C&W genre. Scottish and English Country dancers wear ghillies, which are soft leather shoes made specifically for these styles of dance.
Beginners may purchase less expensive shoes to start but in time most students learn to recognize and appreciate the value of high quality shoes. The arch of the shoe is made to support the foot properly, leaving no gap, which can be a major cause of foot fatigue. Similarly, the heel cup hugs the foot perfectly, so as to move with the dancer and not cause blisters due to rubbing. Dancers must pay attention to take excellent care of their feet and proper foot wear can prevent injury, blisters, poor ankle alignment, and other issues.
Ballroom and Latin shoes can be ordered online at Showtime Dance Shoes or call 800-433-5541. For Country & Western dance boots and shoes, order online from "Dance Connection". "Tell them Cheri sent you!"
It is recommended to order 2 or 3 pairs for your first order. Inform the company that you will only be keeping one pair. Showtime will promptly refund your money, once they receive the shoes within the return period. Be sure to try on your new dance shoes on a clean carpet or towels. Do not walk on a hard surface as this will burnish the sole and your return may not be accepted.
If you do not wish to purchase dance shoes at this time, bring clean, comfortable, flexible, smooth-soled shoes to class. Bulky sport shoes with rubber soles or stiff, inflexible soles are discouraged. Cleats are prohibited.
Street shoes are not permitted on most dance floors. Carry your shoes to dance class in a shoe bag and change in the waiting area.
No shoes, no shirt, no service, but do be comfortable! Wear clothing which allows ease of movement. Sleeveless tops are best avoided. Tight fitting skirts will make some dances impossible. Flowy skirts, slacks, trousers, or kilts are fine. Dress in layers to allow you to adjust to the temperature of the room.
Of course the more you practice, the faster you’ll improve. Beginners should practice their steps daily even if just for a few minutes to build muscle memory. You do not need a partner to practice; there are plenty of skills to work on all by yourself. However, in reality most dancers have little time to practice between classes and you won't have to sit in the corner if you come to class having not practiced. No dancer is left behind!
No partner—No problem. In the class setting, you may have opportunities to dance with the instructor and other members of the class. Soon you may have many partners wanting to dance with you!
The truth is, learning to dance will take the rest of your life! But, take heart, enjoy the journey; don't fret over the destination. Newcomers may not appear very graceful or skilled in their movements at first. They often lack balance, timing, and elegance, but with time and practice even the most challenged students improve. Many learn to move across the dance floor executing their figures with precision and grace. No matter what, we all have fun.
Cheri generally introduces her students to what she calls "The Four Core Dances." For students of ballroom dance, these dances are Fox Trot, Waltz, Rumba, and East Coast Swing. For Country Western Dancers they are Country 2-Step, East Coast Swing, Waltz, and West Coast Swing. With a basic knowledge in these 4 dances a student can begin to enjoy social dancing with confidence.
Other partner dances include Argentine Tango, Bolero, Cha Cha, Hustle, Jive, Mambo, Merengue, Night-club 2-step, Paso Doble, Polka, Quickstep, Salsa, Samba, Tango, Viennese Waltz.Newcomers have limited information on which to base their selection of an instructor. Even a person with a few months worth of lessons may look like a pro to a beginner! But a seasoned instructor will help ensure a positive outcome and your experience with them should be challenging, exciting, and gratifying. People often form very close, sometimes life-long, bonds with their teachers. Here are some questions to ask yourself in order to select a qualified instructor.
To get started refer to calendar of current classes.