CLASS EXPECTATIONS

No partner is necessary. Please rotate partners in class, this will help develop your skills more quickly. Nevertheless, you may stay with one partner if you choose.

Please register in advance and early in order to get into the class of your choice.

If you are new to dancing or need to focus on your fundamentals, basic classes are the best way to go. Another good way to get started is with private lessons. All other classes have pre-requisites that you should meet before enrolling. These pre-requisites are listed in the Course Guide. If you are not sure which class is right for you, please contact us and we can help you determine what your best options are.

GROUP COURSES come in many different forms including:

Group Lesson Class Series: These are usually progressive multi-week classes (usually 4 to 8 weeks) in which each week builds off the previous week’s material. Students should be able to commit to each class meeting. Each meeting of class is typically 1 hour. Each meeting usually starts with a quick review of the previous week’s material and then new material is introduced that builds off of what has been learned. The class size can vary from 4 to 50, but most classes usually have about 20 participants.

Workshops: These are usually 90 minute to 4 hour lessons in one evening or weekend.

Intensives/Seminars: These are usually day-long lessons that pack a lot into the program. Most occur on weekends.

Retreats: These are like Intensives but usually last for more than a day, as in a weekend retreat.

Catch-All: These are the lessons that run before a nightclub dance or before an event, where the class size can be very large and the audience level varies from complete novice to the advanced dancer. These lessons are usually an hour or less; introduce the basics; and cover at least one fancier combination.

Boot Camps: These are usually invite/audition only classes. Stringent pre-requisites required. These classes are quick-paced and very demanding on the student. Typically a boot camp is at least 8-weeks in length, meeting for at least 2 hours each week.

SHOES: We recommend soles that allow you to slide safely across the dance floor, such as leather, smooth plastic, or suede. Rubber-soled shoes are not recommended. If you are interested in purchasing dance shoes, e-mail us and we will send you links to common vendors.

CLOTHING: Although we don’t have a strict dress policy, the norm for our classes is: weekday evening classes are usually nicer-casual to club attire; weekend day attire is usually more casual as in nice jeans or workout pants & top; Friday and Saturday evenings and special events are usually club or more formal attire. Please be considerate of others when selecting your attire. Sleeved-shirts are highly recommended. If you tend to sweat, a change of shirt may be a good idea to bring along.

OTHER:
The only other things you have to bring are your smile and enthusiasm. We do recommend that you bring a notebook and pen to keep notes on all that you learn and should practice.

Video Cameras are not allowed in class. After class, you can videotape other students or have someone videotape you in order to take a video note of the class material. In the future, instructional videos and video notebooks featuring the professional instructors will be available for a reasonable price. Check with your private lesson instructor about videotaping private lessons.

At May I Have This Dance™, we truly believe that participating in our events and lessons is not only a great way to learn how to dance--but also a fun and safe way to meet other wonderful people, get exercise, gain confidence, and contribute to a healthy lifestyle. We highly recommend that all of our students read the article on social dance etiquette posted in the Lounge area of this website. Of course, please let us know if you ever have any suggestions on how we can make your and other’s experience better!

Contact info@mayihavethisdance.com

TESTING OUT

All 200, 300, 400 and above-level classes have pre-requisites that must be met before enrolling in the class. You can fulfill these requirements by successfully completing the suggested preceding classes. If you feel that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to jump into a higher-level class, you may opt to “test out” and skip the basic-level classes. To do this, you need to make an appointment for a 30 minute skills assessment private lesson with one of the May I Have This Dance™ instructors before enrolling in the class desired. There is a pro-rated fee for the 30-minute testing out private session.

When scheduling your private skills assessment session, mention the class that you would like to join and that you want to “test out” of the pre-requisites. This way, you will be booked with the appropriate instructor and they will be ready to efficiently evaluate your skill and ability during the 30 minute session.

It is important to note than many upper-level classes require instructor approval. Please make sure that you obtain this much in advance of the start of class. In order to keep everyone’s experience positive and optimal for learning, we may suggest more appropriate options for students that try to enroll in classes that they are not ready for.

If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please contact us. One of our friendly staff members will help you decide which classes and learning opportunities are best for you.

Contact info@mayIhavethisdance.com or (773) 635-3000.

Copyright © 2004. May I Have This Dance Inc. All Rights Reserved