Our Network of Extraordinary Instructors
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Master Level Instructor
Having built one of the most popular social dance studios, and the most robust curriculum in the industry, Nino’s expertise is in demand worldwide. In addition to being the founder and executive director of MIHTD, Nino has also been a featured faculty member at several dance conventions all over the US and internationally. He has won numerous professional-level competitive titles in West Coast Swing, Hustle, and Salsa. Highly regarded as a thorough technician and true expert of dance connection, body mechanics, and musical interpretation, Nino provides teacher training to other dance professionals, aspiring dance teachers, and studio owners.
He has a degree in Psychology, a Masters in Education, and a background in Leadership Development, so Nino is more than just a talented dancer. This is evident in how his classes and training are on a whole higher level. There are many reasons why Nino’s classes are always packed!
Nino loves to travel, so he started our sister organization, Quick Quick Slow Travel & Events which is all about dance trips & vacations. Thank God Nino loves his work because he is constantly busy running things for the benefit of the entire social dance community. In the rare moments he’s not working, Nino enjoys family time with Dawn, his son Alexander, and his dogs—and studio mascots—Ivy and Lola.
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Master-Level Instructor
Dawn’s students rave about her ability to make anyone comfortable and how she makes even the tricky steps easy and fun. Working at May I Have This Dance since 2001, Dawn wears many hats at the studio including management, design and teaching. Instructing since 2003, she has become one of the top Hustle dancers and teachers in the world, winning and placing in several major Hustle competitions, including the Open Professional level at Swing Dance America, C.A.S.H. Bash, and Disco America. She continues to compete nationally in the Advanced & Pro level for West Coast Swing. With her impeccable taste and sense of style, on and off the dance floor, we always look to her for design and fashion advice. In addition, she also loves to plan and host the frequent MayI theme parties and is "mom" to our four legged studio mascots!
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Master-Level Instructor.
Practically before she could walk, Nicole was getting involved in ballet, tap, acrobatics, and Irish dance. She received a minor degree in dance from Western Illinois University, and has been very active in the local Modern Dance scene, including directing her own company and the Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival. Nicole became an instructor at MayI in 2007 and quickly developed a loyal following of students that are drawn to her personal, comforting, and caring style of teaching and relating to students. She teaches all the social dances, but is most sought after for the classic Ballroom dances and Argentine Tango. Nicole, a cat-lover, finds herself across the aisle on our perennial cats vs dogs debate and she can’t stop looking at all those cute cat pictures on the internet.
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Master Level Instructor
Stephanie is a Chicago native and graduate of the University of Iowa with a B.A. in Dance. While there, she received training in ballet, modern, tap, jazz, and lyrical. Stephanie has taken numerous master classes with choreographers like Twyla Tharp, David Parsons, Billy Siegenfeld, the Colorado Ballet, and the Joffery Ballet. Since graduation, Stephanie has added hip-hop, Hawaiian, Tahitian, and belly dancing to her repertoire and does freelance choreography in many of these unique styles. In 2007 she began training in ballroom and competed Pro/Am for several years while taking classes at May I. She was so impressive with her skills, ability, and personality that she was invited to join the professional staff in 2012. She is still active as a coach on the Baton and Pom Pon circuit, where she was a competitive twirler for 12 years. Stephanie is a huge fan of live music, Chicago sports, and Iowa Hawkeyes football. She can't cook, but give her a bonfire, and she can make a s'more you won't easily forget.
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Senior Level Instructor
Itza was born and raised in Mexico where she began her formal training in dance when she was 12 years old. She received her Bachelors and Professional degree in Stage Dance from the Centro Universitario de danza de la Universidad de Colima. Her undergraduate dance education focused on technique, theory, and movement in ballet, modern, jazz, folkloric, and performance dance. After graduating, Itza worked as a professional dancer performing in nightly shows at five-star resorts in the internationally-popular Mexican vacation regions. Her training and performances included many numbers based on Latin, Ballroom, Jazz, Salsa, Folk, and Disco dance. She moved to Chicago in 2010 and has been part of the MayI family since 2011. Itza says her friends tease her about her adventurous driving skills, which likely began with her buying her first car before even learning to drive.
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Senior Level Instructor
Shimpei was born and raised in Japan. He played soccer and trained in martial arts all of his life. An IT consultant in Tokyo, Shimpei never thought of learning dancing until he went out with his Latin American friends to a salsa bar in Mexico. After moving to Chicago, he started taking various partner dancing classes and found May I Have This Dance in 2012. He took classes as a student and focused more on West Coast Swing, Hustle, Salsa and Zouk. He has been competing and performing West Coast Swing since 2013 and became a MayI instructor in 2018. Besides dancing, he loves to play soccer, workout, watch UFC, play Shogi (Japanese Chess) and build software.
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Earning a Bachelor's degree in Ballet, Elena has also taught Salsa, Zouk, Kizomba, Samba, Bachata, Ballet and Jazz for 19 years in her native Bulgaria and at Congresses throughout Europe before coming to the US in 2017. She is also a certified group fitness instructor and has choreographed and produced shows. Since joining the MayI team, she has added Swing and Ballroom to her repertoire. Always smiling and happy to be dancing, she speaks Bulgarian, Russian, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and English.
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Herb has been dancing all of his life! He comes from a family of social dancers, his mom being his first instructor. His first formal dance background is in jazz and modern dance. Already a popular country and line dance instructor at local establishments and clubs, Herb came to MayI for more formal training in 2013 with a big interest in West Coast Swing. As a quick study and talented leader and follower, he found his passion for all social dancing. He joined the MayI Instructor group in 2017 and is a shining example of the love of dance expressed by the sheer joy he shares and his genuine desire to help everyone have a great time. Aside from dancing, Herb is very active in the fashion business. "I still enjoy making wedding dresses by hand."
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Bev started her artistic endeavors several decades ago in community theatre with acting, singing, dancing, choreographing and directing. She has been a professional swing dance instructor since 1992 and, as the former Dance Director of Chicago’s Windy City Jitterbug Club, she was the chief architect of their Jitterbug, West Coast Swing, Hustle, Nightclub Two-Step, Cha Cha, Waltz and Country Two-Step curriculum. Bev started competing locally in 1993, capturing the Chicago Jitterbug Champion Title in both 1993 and 1995, and she continues to compete, judge, and teach at national Bop and Swing dance events throughout the Midwest and Southern states (hence her love for Carolina Shag). Winning many regional and national competitive events, she is very proud of her participation in the 2007 National Masters Swing Dance Tour and placement in the Top 10 Dance Couples at the U.S. Open. When Bev isn’t dancing, she enjoys her semi-professional singing and acting activities, and she reluctantly admits her guilty pleasure of watching soap operas…she’s addicted!
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Jonathan is a classically trained dancer in ballet and contemporary with a Bachelor of Arts in dance from the University of California San Diego. After college, he gained an interest in ballroom, latin, and social dancing. Jonathan started as a scholarship student at May I Have This Dance in 2019, becoming a studio instructor in 2021. In 2022, he moved to New York City to focus on West Coast Swing. Jonathan has also worked as a staff instructor for Quick Quick Slow Travel. He is excited to be returning to May I, and social dancing with this great community that he’s come to know as home. Outside of teaching dance in Chicago, Jonathan travels frequently on weekends to West Coast Swing events across the country.
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Karina grew up in the Chicago suburbs and graduated from Boston College with dual BAs in International Studies and Creative Writing. Movement in all forms is the most important thing in her life-- a former competitive swimmer and swim coach, she holds several certifications in group exercise, personal training, and yoga, but social dancing is still her favorite way to move. She loves to perform, and when her background in musical theatre brought her to ballroom while in college, she fell in love. After moving back to Chicago, she started dancing at May I and is delighted to be teaching in such a welcoming community. When not on the dance floor, Karina is usually reading, planning her next travel opportunity, or trying new restaurants with one of her six sisters. Her go-to karaoke song is Before He Cheats, by Carrie Underwood, or anything Taylor Swift.
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Deanna fell in love with social dancing in the heart of Texas. She even met her spouse on the dance floor! Deanna learned a variety of country, line dancing, waltz, salsa, bachata, tango and more, all in the wild. Earlier in life she was involved in theatre, competitive and performance dance & cheer teams, studio classes, and a hip hop company or two. To fill a need in the dance-hungry town of Abilene, TX, she began teaching group and private country lessons at the local honkytonk where she first learned. Within a week of moving to Chicago, she latched onto west coast swing and found her home at May I. While she continues to train at our studio, Deanna is also busy with a doctorate at Roosevelt University, working to become a practicing Clinical Psychologist!
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Jonathan started his dance journey as a student at Arthur Murray in August of 2015 while attending Indiana University for a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Minor in French and Marketing. He became an instructor for Arthur Murray Indiana in February 2017, and achieved awards including top instructor, top executive, and a favorite dancer among many. After a few years, he left dance instruction behind to be a Realtor. However, the dance itch never left and he was soon traveling to Chicago for dance including a new addiction to West Coast Swing. When he discovered MayI, his passion for teaching was reignited considering the healthy, welcoming, down-to-earth environment unique to MayI. He has 9 years of Ballroom and Latin training, and is excited to expand his knowledge to West Coast, Hustle, Salsa, Bachata, and Argentine Tango. Besides dancing, Jonathan likes to spend time with his fiancé, another talented dancer named Katie, doing anything together from cooking, playing video games, board games and making the cheesiest jokes.
Hosts
Our hosts are experienced dance students that have been with May I Have This Dance for years. They are the friendliest group of dancers and people you’ll ever meet. On any given night, you’ll see our dance hosts in our classes, parties, or events helping to make everyone welcome, keeping classes balanced, and answering any questions. Hosts are easy to identify because of their official May I Have This Dance logo name badges.
Management Staff
We love our jobs! We're blessed to be working in a fun environment with great people, surrounded by music, dancing, and smiles! Although we work very hard on a daily basis keeping the studio and all of our events running, we enjoy our time with the students, instructors, and hosts. We're here to help you find the perfect class or instructor to help you achieve your dance goals. Call, e-mail, or come visit us and let's get started!
Location
“The MayI” Studio is on the northwest side of Chicago:
5941 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago IL 60646
We are currently working on expanding our offerings to satellite locations. In the past we have had satellites throughout Chicagoland including River North, Michigan Avenue, Gold Coast, Willow Springs, Chicago Ridge, Lincoln Park, Andersonville, and more.
Stay tuned for more Satellite locations. Do you have a suggestion for a Satellite location? Let us know!
We are Like No other
dance studio
Within your first experience, you will notice how genuinely welcoming all the staff and students are, how unintimidating the environment is, and how we achieve the unique balance of professional-quality teaching and having a lot of fun!
Our group classes and events focus mainly on SOCIAL, not competitive dance. We realize that most people want to take lessons so they can enjoy dancing with a special someone, or meet others when going out dancing. Because of this, our lessons emphasize the social skills that are inherently part of this wonderful activity.
However, if you're interested in competitive dancing, we have select instructors competing on the national circuit that can work with you in private lessons to prepare for competitions and performances in West Coast Swing, Hustle, Ballroom, Salsa, Tango, and Country.
We also strive to keep our programs very affordable. Taking lessons from a typical ballroom studio can be very expensive, but not at May I Have This Dance. We welcome and treat everyone like a valued individual, no matter what your level of personal or monetary involvement. You can even participate in a MayI lesson and dance for as little as $10 to $20.
Partners are NOT necessary and we encourage rotation and a social environment. You will meet many dance partners in our classes and parties. Nevertheless, couples are also welcome and may choose not to rotate.
Enthusiasts of all ages—adults, children, and seniors are welcome to participate in our group classes, private lessons, workshops, dance parties, vacations, and performances.
How We Started
Chicago’s Top Dance Studio for over 25 years
May I Have This Dance was created by master dance instructor Nino DiGiulio, who continues to serve as Executive Director and Lead Instructor. In 1993, Nino hit the Chicagoland social dance community by storm with his inspiring dance ability and engaging and thorough teaching style. Within three years his popularity made him the most sought after social dance instructor throughout Chicagoland, as well as nationally. This allowed him to share his passion for social dancing, etiquette, and music with thousands of people at a time.
In 1999, Nino welcomed other professional instructors and trainees to create a larger outreach with a unified vision and commitment to quality under the May I Have This Dance brand. With talent and integrity, this group had a huge impact on the local social dance scene, creating and offering innovative dance classes, private lessons, workshops, boot camps, and intensives.
In 2002, May I Have This Dance opened its first studio on the northwest side of Chicago, while continuing to teach at satellite locations such as the legendary Willowbrook Ballroom, Holy Name Cathedral, and several other locations throughout the city and suburbs.
Currently, May I Have This Dance has a network of over 15 expert and professional dance instructors. The May I Have This Dance Instructor Training program is the most well-rounded and thorough in the social dance industry, so be assured that our instructors are more than just great dancers, they are outstanding teachers! Nino & the May I Have This Dance curriculum and vision are in demand all over the world, and now we are coaching and training other dance professionals and studios to be like MayI!
Our mission is to enrich each individual’s life through the joys of social dancing.
Welcoming Environment
We strive to create an environment whereby everyone can feel a connection to their partners, the music, new friends, the community, and to the fulfilling and exciting world of social dancing. Each individual will have the best experience when learning, dancing, and socializing in a safe and welcoming environment. We foster this by hiring friendly, diverse, and patient staff members who are positive role models for all. Our students and patrons are encouraged to be patient with themselves and others, as well as tolerant of people’s different experiences, backgrounds, skill levels, and abilities. Because of our inclusive nature, unique team spirit, and emphasis on fun and social purpose of dance, we are accessible to everyone--from the complete beginner to the very advanced.
Quality Learning
May I Have This Dance ® puts an extremely high value on the quality of instruction. Learning is dependent on many factors, including excellent content, methodology, and delivery. By being active in the local, national, and international dance communities, we stay current with the latest trends, styles, and the industry’s best practices. Our teaching methodology is based on proven educational principles which accommodate multiple learning preferences. We deliver this instruction in several flexible forms, all with the students’ success and satisfaction in mind. Our professionally-trained instructors have unique strengths and diverse personalities, yet they all share a dedication to the same high standards and practices. The May I Have This Dance ® network of instructors set an excellent example for students with their commitment to perpetual improvement, growth opportunities, and openness to change.
Genuine Passion
May I Have This Dance ® is very passionate about what we do, the product we deliver, and the positive way we touch each other’s lives. This genuine passion drives the success and growth of our community. Integrity is another key quality we look for in our staff members. Our management style builds on this passion and integrity to foster open, direct, and caring communication practices among our staff and students. We encourage our students to stay active by keeping our prices very clear and reasonable, as well as allowing them maximum flexibility in their level of involvement. May I Have This Dance ® believes that we provide an experience where people can learn more than just dance steps, but life skills that can translate beyond the dance floor. Want more information or help deciding where to start? Contact us today and we will personally help you start on the right foot!
Frequently Asked
Questions
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Not at all! In almost all of our group lessons, workshops and dance parties we rotate so you do not need to bring a partner. However, if you bring a partner and prefer not to rotate, just let the instructor know at the beginning of class, and they will accommodate you too.
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Typically business casual or smart casual is fine. For some events like Strictly Ballroom Dance Parties we recommend semi-formal. For weekend classes some will be more casual.
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You do not need professional dance shoes. Anything that has a smooth sole should be fine. You do not want to wear anything with a rubbery bottom like an athletic shoe that will stick to the dance floor. Also, please be considerate of our beautiful floors and avoid marking soles or dirty shoes that can make conditions dangerous for others. As you get more involved in dancing, you may choose to invest in a pair of ballroom shoes. We can send you suggestions where our instructors find their shoes.
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Plenty of free street parking in front of the studio on both sides of Milwaukee Ave. Those that get to class early usually find parking right in front of our door.
Please avoid parking in any of the private lots attached to neighbor businesses. You may get towed!
But no stress, there are tons of free street parking all around.
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We have many options to register for class. You can use our online registration system. Also, you can view our schedule here and register by calling 773.635.3000 to enroll using a Visa MasterCard card with a small processing fee, or Zellepay NinoMIHTD@gmail.com for no processing fee. Registration can also be done during office hours at our studio via cash, ZellePay, check or credit card. If you prefer to mail in a completed registration form, you may send that, along with a check, to:
May I Have This Dance Attn: Registration
5941 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago IL 60646 -
Paying in advance is the only way to guarantee your spot in class. However, if there is space left, walk-in registrations may be allowed. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to class if you want to try registering at the door.
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Not at all! Most people’s first time through our doors is as a total beginner. Our instructors are incredible at getting even those with two-left feet learning to dance in no time. We offer a variety of beginner lessons which are a perfect place for beginners to start or to refresh the basics.
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To respect the comfort of our students we do not allow people just to watch classes. You can always take a workshop or attend one of our dance parties to experience our atmosphere and staff.
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We do not allow videotaping during classes. However, students are welcome to videotape each other after class to capture “video-notes” of what you learned. We also have an incredible video tutorial site will hundreds of instructional videos including much of the content we teach in classes. Check out www.OnlineLearningLounge.com
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We have a variety of age ranges that participate in our classes and parties–from teenagers to 90plus. On any given night we may have a large group from a local college to a roomful of baby boomers. The important thing is that they are all young at heart and are friendly and welcoming no matter what your age. It is a common sight to see people dancing with each other even if they have a 30 or 40 year difference in age!
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We have a drinking fountain. But, you are welcome to bring your own refreshments and snacks if you’d like to enjoy in between classes or during our dance parties. Please avoid foods with strong smells or items that can get messy.
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It’s possible, and does happen quite regularly. Hundreds of couples met during a MayI class or event. However, it is not a “meet market” in any sense. Most people come here to focus on the dancing and increasing their circle of friends. We take pride in providing a friendly, safe, and nurturing atmosphere. Part of that is making sure everyone is comfortable. Luckily the overwhelming majority of our students and patrons exhibit positive behaviors. On the very rare occasion that our staff becomes aware of someone acting inappropriately or making others uncomfortable, we immediately and very discreetly address the situation.
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Yes, please come in a few minutes early to fill out a waiver.
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Typically, each class meeting is 50 min long. However, some workshops may be longer, and occasionally a 4-week series may be compressed to fewer meetings of longer periods (such as two meetings of two hours each).
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Unfortunately, since it is rare to offer the same class more than once each month, we do not allow jumping into other classes as make-ups. We usually recommend taking a private lesson, at an additional expense, to make up for any material you missed. If you cannot schedule a private lesson, then don’t drop out! The instructors usually include a quick review of the previous week’s materials. Just don’t rely on this often, as you don’t want to fall behind or cut yourself short.
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Yes, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. There is a 4% processing fee added to any credit card transaction for classes or privates. Typically we don't accept credit cards at dance parties, based on staffing and keeping the flow of people entering, however on occasion, we may be able to take a card with a $1 added fee. We also accept cash, Zellepay, and check.
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Our dance parties are perfect to practice and have fun! We also welcome students to practice at the studio, see below for more information about practice time
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Yes we offer private dance lessons which are a great way to work one on one with an instructor.
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If you are new to a dance, start with a “Level I” class which is usually designated by a roman numeral “I” after the dance name on our schedule. Or, you can take a class designated as an “Intro” “Sampler” or “Basics” class. Any of these classes are usually represented on our monthly schedule and color coded for new dancers. If you are an experienced dancer, taking classes for the first time with MayI, we still recommend you start with a Level I as we find that even students from other studios benefit greatly from the technique and connection taught in MayI classes. However, if you feel like you would be better suited for a more advanced class, contact us directly to schedule a private evaluation lesson with one of our instructors. They’ll be able to tell you exactly where to start.
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The cancellation policy for group classes can be found on our Group Lessons page and the Private Lessons page for private lessons.
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We welcome dancers to practice material learned at May I Have This Dance by appointment for $12 per person, per hour, or $60 per month. Contact the studio in advance to make sure the studio is open and space is available.
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Many ballroom studios focus on getting their students to enter very costly dance competitions. Many other social dance latin or swing studios focus on fancy patterns that aren’t as socially useful. This results in students of a particular studio only being able to dance with their teachers and maybe some other students from that particular studio only. Even if you’ve achieved an “advanced dancer” status at another studio, that may not necessarily mean that you have been taught the skills it takes to comfortably lead or follow various dancers from various backgrounds. May I Have This Dance is well known for teaching people how to actually lead or follow practically anyone and how to dance successfully with people of all levels and from any studio or background. For specific feedback and tips on how to improve your connection so you can dance with just about anyone, consider taking a few private lessons from a May I Have This Dance instructor.
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It really depends on what you are interested in learning, what your goals are, what music you like to dance to, and what best fits your schedule. May I Have This Dance teachers and classes can break any dance down and make it easy and fun to learn. Nevertheless, if we were to categorize which social dances are the easiest to most challenging to learn at a basic level, it would go something like this:
Easiest to Learn: Merengue, East Coast Swing
Still Pretty Easy: Waltz, Foxtrot, Salsa, Rumba, Bachata, Slow Dancing
Moderate: Hustle, Nightclub Two Step, Country Two Step, Samba, Bolero, Argentine Tango, Cha Cha, Mambo, Tango (Ballroom), Lindy Hop, Polka, Kizomba
Challenging: West Coast Swing, Chicago Steppin’, Zouk
Very Challenging: Viennese Waltz, Quickstep, Freeform/Fusion
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In most classes, you will feel like you’re dancing by the end of the first hour! Most students say they feel ready to test out the waters at a party or social dance after completing at least one 4-week series or a few private lessons. After that, it really depends on how you personally define being ready or feeling successful. Some students take a few months of dance classes and they are happy knowing just a handful of basic steps to a couple dances. Others strive to be among the most skilled dancers so they take several classes every month for a year, two, or more. More than just taking classes or privates, becoming a skilled dancer usually means you should be taking a hybrid approach to learning and practicing. Group lessons are the most common and popular, and they are a lot of fun! Supplementing with some private lessons is always a great idea as you will get that personal, one-on-one, and immediate feedback on the little things that make a huge difference. Finally, you have to apply and practice, and there’s no more pleasurable way to do this than at a May I Have This Dance dance party like the TGIF Dance Parties, SOS: Swing on Sundays, Strictly Ballroom Dance Parties, Latin ConClave!
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This also depends on your natural ability, how much time you can fit dancing into your schedule, and how motivated you are. Although any time you invest in learning to dance is a great benefit to you, your social life, and your skills on the dance floor, it's no coincidence that the best dancers, and those that learn the quickest are putting in a lot of time and effort into their dance development. Part of your development is getting regular practice "in the wild." There are plenty of opportunities for certain dances at nightclubs and other dance parties. Of course, we highly recommend the dance parties we host because everything is strategically planned to help students and dancers get the most of their time on the floor. From the music we select, to the mixer activities, to the sampler lessons before the dancing, and even the staff we have available at each event...it's structured so you can make the most of what you've been learning and put it to good use on the social dance floor. Everyone is different, so there is no just one right answer, but a general guideline we find to be true:
Fast Track: At least 4 class series per month, At least 1 private lesson per week. At least 2 weekly dance parties (TGIF, SB, SOS, or LCC)
Average Track: 2 to 3 group lesson series per month. At least 1 private lesson every two weeks. At least 2 weekly dance parties (TGIF, SB, SOS, or LCC)
Dabbler Track: 1 or 2 group lesson series per month. Occasional private lesson to clean things up. One dance party per week or less.
“Absolutely amazing. Yes it's a dance studio but it’s more like a family that LOVES TO DANCE. They have social dancing and parties and private lessons and such a REASONABLE COST! I love it here!”
— Steph R.