Dance! Eclectic

While the details of how I work with private students and beginning classes differs slightly, the intention is the same for both -- to demonstrate to them that they already know more about dancing than they think they do, and that it's easy to learn and fun to dance.

First I ask a few questions designed to put them at ease, and then we walk...to music with a strong, simple beat. Then, taking small steps, we add to that walk until suddenly, they realize they're dancing. It often happens before they even know it.

I started learning to dance as a little girl and continue to learn to this day. There is no "there," there, in dance. Dance is a journey, not a destination and the learning continues indefinitely. Specifically, I've studied with local, regional, national and international dancers and teachers in all kinds of dance from ballet to modern, jazz, tap, swing/lindy, "ballroom" dance styles, African and other world dance forms. I've also studied the history and ethnology of American music, dance and culture in the extended 20th Century. 

In addition, I'm an experienced classroom teacher with postgraduate work in learning modalities. I understand how people learn and how to teach students so their learning experience is successful and pleasant for them.

I teach classes and private lessons in several studios in North East Seattle.

Private Lessons

* Private lessons are private — no other teachers or students on the floor, no other music being played.

* Free consultations before or between lessons.

* Private lessons are by appointment -- for couples, singles and private groups. 

* Lessons are an hour long.  

* Rate for an individual or a couple is $110/hour. Add $20/person/hour for groups, up to 6 people.

* There are no packages or required number of lessons, students can schedule the exact number of lessons you want.

* Students can add or subtract lessons as needed.

* Students prepay your first and last lessons to confirm any number of lessons.

* Additional lessons can be paid in advance or at the time of the lesson by cash, check, Paypal or credit card.  I accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.

Classes

* When we fully reopen from COVID we'll teach beginning and intermediate classes on Sundays and Mondays and hold a weekly dance in NE Seattle.

* Monday’s class and dance is in Northgate, just north of the Northgate Mall. 

* The class is beginner-friendly, drop-in and progressive.

* Both class and dance are open to the public.

* Currently class and dance are $15. This may change when we reopen

* Sunday’s classes are in the University District on the “Ave.”

* We teach beginning and intermediate classes in various styles of swing, waltz, blues and latin dances.

* Pre-registration required.

* Currently classes are $60/6 week session. This may change when we reopen

* Find more information on our website.

I have my son to thank for my dance teaching career.

I've been dancing all my life -- starting about when I could walk and jump. Classes started at age 6 -- with ballet, tap and figure skating.  Ballet continued and modern dance was added through high school, and of course I danced socially in high school and at the university. If I had been allowed to think of dance as a career option, I would have been a professional dancer, probably in modern dance. Instead, I got a degree in education and became a classroom teacher.  

Years later, my young teenage son saw some older kids dancing in the school cafeteria and decided he wanted to learn to dance. Helping him find swing dance classes and teachers got me back on the dance floor. From there, he joined a teen lindy hop performance team and I became an assistant teacher and the head chaperone for their travels to competitions. The kids placed fourth in their first competition -- the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships at Disneyland -- competing against experienced adults. Quite an accomplishment for them.

That experience reawakened my passion for dance and I happily jumped in with both feet, learning both roles, lead and follow, in a myriad of social dances. It soon became obvious to me that I could combine my classroom teacher training and experience, and my dancing, into teaching dance and have my dream job -- which is exactly what I did.  :-)

I've worked with all age groups, children starting about age 9, through teens, young adults, adults, senior citizens. I've also worked with people who want to social dance for fun, for exercise and fitness, for a grade in school and at university, and for their wedding. I've worked with individuals, couples, large and small groups -- 4 to 400 people.

Many examples come to mind. Two are: The groom who is a detailed perfectionist in his work -- and was determined to dance at his wedding, though not looking forward to the "torture" of learning how. He surprised himself by learning to dance skillfully and gracefully in only a few short weeks. And he and his fiancé created an amazingly beautiful dance, including turns, leans, and a spectacular lift and dip at the end. Another is a woman, preparing for her daughter's wedding, who skillfully managed a complicated life and career, only to shrink into hesitant timidity on the dance floor...until she found her inner "roar"... and showed up on the dance floor as the confident woman she knew how to be -- after only a few dance lessons with her husband.

Teaching is an art. People who are flashy dancers are not necessarily good teachers. Look for someone who puts you -- the student -- first. A teacher who pays attention to you, the student, and teaches, in small bites, to your strengths and needs....a teacher who breaks things down and explains them so they make sense to you...a teacher who makes understanding and learning easy for you. Someone who is positive and encouraging.

What is my goal in learning? Do I want to get it "right" above all else? Do I want to have fun and create my personal movement style within the dance? Do I want it to look "right" according to others? Do I want it to "feel" right with the music and my partner? How do I learn best? -- by watching, hearing explanations, practicing -- all three?