Accessible Dance Lessons

Thank you for attending or planning to attend the Accessible Lessons!

If you are on this page, there's a good chance you have some questions for what to expect or are looking for resources to practice for the future.

The styles of dance I teach in these lessons are for social dancing and do not necessarily reflect intricate styling required of competitive dancing. You are welcome to ask me about the difference in technique between social dance and competitive dance.

These notes have been prepared prior to the lessons and therefore may change during the course of the lesson. (E.g., I may add moves after we learn them.) Please be patient for any updates as my webmistress has a full-time job.

If you have feedback about how the lesson went or have a suggestion for future lessons that we weren't able to discuss in person, please email ballroom@trickssi.com. Thanks!

What We Are Learning/Have Learned in Lessons

Waltz

Description

The waltz is dance to slower music with the count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. In other words, two sets of 1, 2, 3. Your foot will alternate with each step you take, just as though you were walking, stepping forward with the heel of your foot and stepping to the side and back on the ball of your foot.

Counts - Basic Step

Leaders

  1. Step forward on your left foot, with the heel striking the floor first.
  2. Step to the right side on your right foot, toe first, and the step should go no wider than your own shoulder width apart. The left foot stays where it is.
  3. Bring your left foot in next to your right foot (this is called "collect"). Both feet should be next to each other underneath you. Your right foot will step backward next.
  4. Step back on your right foot with your toes striking the floor first. Move your body over your foot so it is not sticking out behind you.
  5. Step to the left side on your left foot, toe first, and the step should go no wider than your own shoulder width apart. The right foot stays where it is.
  6. Bring your right foot in next to your left foot. Both feet should be next to each other underneath you. Your left foot will step forward next.

Followers

  • Step back on your right foot with your toes striking the floor first. Move your body over your foot so it is not sticking out behind you.
  • Step to the left side on your left foot, toe first, and the step should go no wider than your own shoulder width apart. The right foot stays where it is.
  • Bring your right foot in next to your left foot. Both feet should be next to each other underneath you. Your left foot will step forward next.
  • Step forward on your left foot, with the heel striking the floor first.
  • Step to the side on your right foot, toe first, and the step should go no wider than your own shoulder width apart. The left foot stays where it is.
  • Bring your left foot in next to your right foot (this is called "collect"). Both feet should be next to each other underneath you. Your right foot will step backward next.

    • Frame (How You Hold Your Body)

    Leaders

    Leaders will loosely hold the follower's right hand in their left hand, out to the side and around the eyeline level of the follower regardless of their height. Do not interlace fingers; they remain together. Leaders' left arm is slightly rounded. Leaders' right hand will have fingers closed together (what I call a "spade") and rest at a downward angle on the scapula (high back ribcage) of the partner.

    Followers

    Followers will rest their right hand with fingers closed together in the leaders' left hand. Keep the elbow pointed down instead of outward. Followers' left hand will rest with thumb outward, fingers together upon the leaders' deltoid muscle on the right side upper arm. If your partner is much taller than you, you can hold closer to their elbow. If they are much shorter, you can hold closer to the top of their shoulder. Do NOT put any weight onto your leader's arm, or "rest" your arm on them.

    Swing

    Swing is danced to faster music. There are many different kinds of swing, but the specific kind of swing I teach at these lessons is called single-step East Coast swing. The full set of the basic is "step, (pause), step, (pause), rock step" or "1, (and), 2, (and), 3 and" in a total of six counts, with the second and fourth count being a "pause" or "hold." When dancing to music, the "downbeat" is found on the 2 and 4 of a 1, 2, 3, 4 progression.

    Yes, this means that our 6-count steps are going into a 4-count beat. Worry not! It is SUPPOSED to overlap like that and you aren't supposed to only do 4 counts of stepping. Keep going, stay on the beat, and disregard the 6-in-4 counting as best as possible. This is why I typically teach saying "step, step, rock step" instead of using counts.

    Counts - Basic Step

    Leaders

    1. "Step" Step sideways to the left onto your left foot. the step should go no wider than your own shoulder width apart. The right foot may lift up off the floor. (and): Remain with your weight on your left foot.
    2. "Step" Step sideways to the right onto your right foot. the step should go no wider than your own shoulder width apart. The left foot may lift up off the floor. (and): Remain with your weight on your right foot.
    3. "Rock" Step backward (but think "under") just a little bit on your left foot and lift your right foot off the floor. You MUST shift your weight onto your left foot and off your right. Do not point your toe back or extend it behind yourself as if you were doing a ballet tendu derrière. You will always rock backward with your left foot. And: "Step" Step back in place on your right foot with your left foot prepared to step out to the left again.

      4. Followers

    4. "Step" Step sideways to the right onto your left foot. the step should go no wider than your own shoulder width apart. The left foot may lift up off the floor. (and): Remain with your weight on your right foot.
    5. "Step" Step sideways to the right onto your left foot. the step should go no wider than your own shoulder width apart. The right foot may lift up off the floor. (and): Remain with your weight on your left foot.
    6. "Rock" Step backward (but think "under") just a little bit on your right foot and lift your left foot off the floor. You MUST shift your weight onto your right foot and off your left. Do not point your toe back or extend it behind yourself as if you were doing a ballet tendu derrière. You will always rock backward with your right foot. And: "Step" Step back in place on your left foot with your right foot prepared to step out to the right again.

      7. Frame (How You Hold Your Body)

      Leaders

      Leaders will loosely hold their followers' right hand in their left hand, down and to the side of their bodies, and in between. The thumb should be on top of the big part of the follower's hand. Do not interlace fingers; they remain together. Leaders' right hand will have fingers closed together (what I call a "spade") and rest at a downward angle on the scapula (high back ribcage) of the partner.

      Followers

      Followers will rest their right hand with fingers closed together in the leaders' left hand. Keep the arm loose and down to the side. Followers' left hand will rest with thumb outward, fingers together upon the leaders' deltoid muscle on the right side upper arm. If your partner is much taller than you, you can hold closer to their elbow. If they are much shorter, you can hold closer to the top of their shoulder. Do NOT put any weight onto your leader's arm, or "rest" your arm on them.

      Resources for After Lessons

      Your Local Dance Studios

      Rather than look into chains like Fred Astaire, I highly encourage you to seek out local college clubs (some offer free lessons for the community!) or privately-owned studio. If you are local to Columbus, I recommend studios such as Emerald City Ballroom or the Crystal Ballroom Dance Center.

      If you are not local to Columbus, please Google (your city) + ballroom dance, or + social dance.

      Many local studios will have deals on attending a free first lesson before committing to a package deal for private lessons or classes. I encourage you to try private lessons if you learn better in a 1-on-1 situation!

      Music

      While I cannot legally distribute music to you for practice here, you can find the past playlists of my formal ball events here on my website. If you search for the title of the song and the artist/source, you will likely find most of them. I have modified some songs for length or speed but if you have access to free music software that modulates tempo, you will be able to adjust it to the proper tempo. You can also search for "ballroom dance music (waltz or single step East Coast swing)" and you will typically find something suitable.

      Further Questions?

      If you have further questions that you want to ask me personally, I ask that you follow the 3 Before Me rule. What does that mean? Please google and check 3 separate sources before reaching out to me for personal help. Remember, dance takes a long time to learn, and I have patrons who pay to regularly schedule 1-on-1 lessons with me. I am also retired from professional teaching outside of the volunteer work I do on the convention circuit, where we met.

      For your first source, please check my FAQs. They will probably answer some basic questions:

      If you have feedback about how the lesson went or have a suggestion for future lessons that we weren't able to discuss in person, or if you weren't able to find the answer to your question after reviewing my FAQs and checking google, please email ballroom@trickssi.com. Thank you for attending and I hope to see you next time!

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