BALLROOM & LATIN
at Topaz Dancentre
Here at Topaz, we offer social dance classes in Ballroom and Latin dancing. Remembering how challenging it is for the single dancer to learn partner dancing, Colette encourages her single dancers to dance with each other, making the lessons very sociable. If you turn up with a partner then of course you are welcome to dance with each other for the whole lesson, or to mingle separately, whichever suits you! We are proud of the friendly, welcoming atmosphere that we have developed at Topaz.
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In order to ensure a good understanding of the different dance styles, the class focuses on one style for a block of 5 weeks. The tendency is to alternate between Ballroom and Latin styles, making sure that you get the opportunity to learn a wide range of new steps, techniques and routines. We’re particularly keen on footwork and on helping our students to develop their leading and following skills.
The Beginners class is for people with no experience of dance, or only limited experience of ballroom/latin who wish to start again. We rotate through the standard ballroom and latin dances of quickstep, waltz, ballroom tango, cha cha, rumba, latin jive and latin samba, spending 5 weeks on each dance to learn a routine of 5 or 6 basic steps that most represent that dance in style and rhythm. We also include the social dances of slow rhythm and rock and roll. Each lesson includes alot of repetition and practise and there is no pressure on dancers if they miss lessons for any reason. When a dancer has completed the cycle of dances and is showing a basic level of competence then they're invited to join the Improvers class. Dancers can expect to be in the beginners class for 9 months to a year.
New dancers are asked to join only during weeks 1 or 2 of whichever block of 5 weeks is running and they should contact Topaz HERE to find out when the next start dates are. Dancers are welcome either with or without a partner. Those who don't have a partner all dance with each other, rotating partners during the lesson.
The Improvers class is for people who have progressed through Beginners and have an interest in learning more challenging figures and rhythms or who have danced before and have a basic awareness of the dances listed above. In addition, we pick up Slow Foxtrot. We have 2 start dates a year. Working on 4 dances in 6 months, we revise the Beginners routines (dancers are not expected to remember these) and develop them into something more interesting. Typically, dancers find this is more challenging than Beginners and they try not to miss lessons. Dancers can expect to be in Improvers for a number of years.
There are two start dates a year and dancers only progress from Beginner to Improver by invitation on those dates. As with Beginners, dancers are welcome either with or without a partner and those who don't have a partner rotate partners during the lesson.
Characterisation is for people who have been enjoying Improvers for at least. All dancers rotate partners.
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In all of the classes, the whole class is taught together as a single group. There's lots of repetition of individual figures and routines and dancers are encouraged to ask questions. During the course of the lesson the teacher observes everyone dancing and also dances with them. Dancers should dress comfortably and be free to move. Shoes need to have lowish heels, slippy soles (avoid rubber), and they should stay on your feet as you move (avoid sling-backs and flip-flops). Before buying your first dance shoes, we recommend attending a few lessons and seeing what your fellow dancers are wearing. The teacher can provide guidance on where to find dance shoes and what to look for.
We now offer specialist Ballroom and Latin footwear through our online dancewear shop.
Please CLICK HERE
if you are looking for shoes, or if you want to invest in some
Topaz dancewear for rehearsals then