The best way to start your dance journey at Joy in Motion is to sign up for a beginner drop-in class or series in a dance style that interests you. Alternatively, you can book a private lesson for assessment and a personalized program of study.
All you need to do is keep an open mind, and communicate your goals and needs. Our curriculum is designed to provide you with a strong foundation, while making plenty of room for fun along the way. We applaud your courage at being willing to try something new and invite you to enjoy and appreciate each part of the journey. Remember that we were all beginners at one point!
Group classes are lessons taught by an instructor where you learn alongside other students. Private lessons, on the other hand, are one-on-one (or sometimes one-on-two) sessions with your instructor. They provide an exclusive and customized learning experience.
Casual, activewear is generally the ideal choice for classes, but wear whatever makes you feel comfortable and able to move freely on the dance floor.
It’s best to avoid rubber-soled shoes, as their grip doesn’t allow for turns or pivots. Socks are fine to begin! We suggest you invest in dance shoes soon after starting if possible, as they help with proper footwork and technique. What type of shoes you need depends on your dance style. Don’t worry, we’ll cover this topic in class! Heels over 1″ are not recommended for beginners.
Please attend to your hygiene, as dancing involves close contact with other humans. Brush your teeth, put on deodorant, and perhaps bring a towel or change of clothes if you tend to sweat profusely. To be kind to our friends with allergies and sensitivities, we find it helpful to avoid fragrances.
The primary avenues of improvement include:
Group classes: You get to learn alongside your peers and try techniques with multiple partners, which is essential for well-rounded learning.
Private lessons: Individualized instruction allows you to target your weaknesses and leverage your strengths to accelerate your learning in all other avenues. Private lessons are useful for dancers at all levels.
Social dances: While socials are a great time to discover or verify the techniques that you have successfully incorporated into your dance, it is NOT the time to be evaluating yourself or others. The purpose of a social dance is to enjoy your hard work and get to know your community. It also helps you to integrate the lessons you’ve been working on through experiential learning, which happens most easily if you DON’T spend your time overthinking it!
Practice: Personal solo and partner practice are very valuable to the absorption of your lessons and the development of your personal style. It doesn’t take much time to have a measurable impact! 5-15 minutes every 1-4 days is more than enough for most people. We advise you to avoid over practicing, as that can have the opposite effect.
Most of our dancers come on their own, and our default assumption for classes is that students will rotate amongst all of the available pairings. However, if you prefer to bring a partner to stay with for classes, that’s perfectly fine. The pair that chooses not to rotate will miss out on the benefits it provides, but your comfort is of the utmost importance. Your instructors know both roles, and so can fill in where needed in classes and private lessons.
Absolutely! Dancing is a great form of exercise and can be an effective way to lose weight sustainably. When you dance, you engage in constant movement, which boosts your cardio and increases blood flow throughout your body. This elevated activity level accelerates your metabolism compared to when your body is at rest. As you continue to dance regularly, you likely will start to shed pounds gradually. It’s a fun and enjoyable way to stay active and work towards your weight loss goals.
We completely support any aims you have regarding your health and your body, and we feel very strongly about the holistic advantages of a healthy lifestyle. That said, we also want to remind you that you are completely welcome no matter your body shape or physical ability. We invite you wholeheartedly to come as you are.