Best Dance Classes in Portland, ME

Our dress code consists of no jeans, t-shirts, shorts, sneakers(unless they are dance or bowling sneakers), stiletto(spike)heels, work boots, flip flops or open-backed shoes unless they are latin dance shoes.

While we do suggest that our patrons purchase shoes designed specifically for dancing, it is not necessary. We do however have a few recommendations on what type of shoe is best to dance in if you do not purchase specially designed dance shoes. Women should not wear a shoe that merely slips on their foot or that has a thick wedge sole. Instead the shoe should tie or have a strap to help hold it on the foot and the sole should allow you to bend your foot. Leather-soled shoes are the next best option to dance shoes. Ideally the soles of women's and men's shoes should be smooth. Rubber soles or soles with a thick tread have a tendency to stick to our hardwood dance floor thereby inhibiting your ability to dance properly. Black soled shoes are frowned upon as they have a tendency to leave black marks on the floor. Dance sneakers or bowling sneakers are acceptable. Narrow spike heals, flip flops, work boots,open backed shoes, bare feet or stocking feet ARE NOT allowed on our dance floor. In order to help protect our hardwood dance floor, we ask that you carry in the shoes you intend to dance in and put them on in the lobby. That protects our floor from sand, salt, water, snow and other outside elements.

No. Although, we have found that the best way to learn to lead and follow happens when you change partners throughout the classes. This not only teaches you how to adjust to any partner, but also helps compensate for the weaknesses of your regular partner thereby avoiding frivolous arguments while you are learning. However, if you insist on staying with your regular partner, we ask that you step out of the rotation line so as not to interrupt the normal flow of the class.

No, you do not need to pre-register for our group dance lessons. Our Wednesday group lessons are offered on a drop in basis with a new session beginning every two weeks. These lessons are progressive in nature. The basics are taught during the first week and new moves are added during the second week. As such, it is recommended that new students only join at the beginning of a two week session. We currently offer a mixed level beginner, advanced beginner/intermediate level lesson on Wednesdays unless otherwise noted. In order to allow the instructors to begin their classes in a timely fashion, we request that you arrive at least 10-15 minutes prior to the beginning of the class in order to allow sufficient time to change your shoes and pay your admission fee. Please consult our monthly calendar to see what lessons are being offered during the current month.

With all the recent media focus on dancing, the age range of our clientele has increased to include those in their 20's right on up through their 80's and even sometimes 90's. Ballroom dancing is not only a great way to meet people, but it offers many important health benefits as well. In comparison walking 2.5 to 4.5 miles per hour only burns about 210 to 315 calories per hour.