Curriculum Overview

OUR CLASSES FALL INTO THREE CATEGORIES:

CORE (C)
Where you should start! These classes should be taken in sequential order: For example: Salsa I Salsa II Salsa III. It is very common for students to repeat some Core classes in order to master the material before they move on.

INT/ADV (I/A)
Once successfully completing all of the material in the Core classes for a particular dance, you can take ANY of that dance's I/A-level classes in ANY ORDER. Every dance has various number of I/A-level classes. For example, Rumba has about 10, while West Coast Swing has over 40! I/A-level classes come in Series, Workshop, or Special Program form and usually have creative or descriptive titles. Some are offered regularly, some are only offered once a year. An I/A-level class is usually listed on our monthly schedules with an I/A icon next to it

MASTERY (M)
For those that thrive on the most demanding of classes, technique, and a deep understanding of the dances, we offer these high-level classes. Once you've taken several I/A-level classes and/or private lessons, you may qualify for M-level. Instructor approval is required for M-level classes. An M-level class is usually listed on our monthly schedules with an M icon next to it.

ONE-OF-A-KIND CURRICULUM

Nino and the May I Have This Dance staff have created the most comprehensive and unique social dance curriculum that focuses on the social aspects of dance. While most other studios use a "Bronze, Silver, Gold" syllabus that is geared towards ballroom dance competitions and the purchase of costly private-lesson packages, our curriculum is group class based and will get dancers ready to dance with a variety of partners quickly. This robust offering includes 14 "main" dances and an additional 35 "extra-curricular" dances. Each dance has an average of 20 courses available. One of our most popular dances, West Coast Swing, has over 75 courses alone!

That may seem like a lot, and it is. Dance addicts or those who strive to be expert dancers may feel like kids in a candy store when you see all that we have to offer.

However, don't let it overwhelm you. If the entire curriculum is too much to consider, then just start perusing our Core Guide, where we just list the main dances and the 2 to 4 Core classes for each dance.

MORE INFO

Check out our FAQ, Frequently Asked Questions, page for some guidance in which dances are easier to start with, or how many lessons are recommended to meet your goals.

So where do you begin?...

NEW STUDENTS (Beginners)

Getting started is easy. BASIC LEVEL SERIES are usually designated with a "I" after it, such as "Salsa I" or "Waltz I," etc. BASIC LEVEL WORKSHOPS or Sampler Series are usually designated with a "Basic" or "Intro" such as "Intro to Ballroom Dance" or "Black-Tie Basics." Any of these classes would be a great place to start!

TO HELP YOU FIND THESE CLASSES, our printed schedules have a dashed box around all the classes that are perfect places for new students to start. Of course, PRIVATE LESSONS are always a great option too! CONTACT US, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED GUIDANCE. Our Studio Coordinators can guide you to the best class(es) that fit your interests and schedule.

AFTER YOU'VE TAKEN YOUR FIRST CLASS AT MAYI...

So you've completed your first Series, or taken a few private lessons. You realize how fun social dancing is. What should you take next?

The NEXT LEVEL class. Usually designated with a "II" such as "Salsa II" or "Waltz II." REPEAT a class, and in fact the best dancers usually repeat their basics in order to really master the material. Or TRY a DIFFERENT STYLE of dance (level 1).

You can learn a dance well just by taking our CORE classes, which all follow this sequential number system. Each dance varies, but typically consists of 2, 3, or 4 core classes that should be taken in sequential order.

If you want to really excel, complete all the core classes, then continue with the upper level classes -- Int/Adv-Level (I/A) and Mastery-Level (M).

EXPERIENCED STUDENTS/DANCERS NEW TO MAYI

Taken dance classes elsewhere, but don't know where to start with us? We find that our classes cover certain important aspects of social dance that aren't included by other studios or teachers, so we always recommend starting with our basics. Our attention to connection, lead/follow skills, and universal fundamentals is unique and beneficial for all dancers even in these basic classes.

However, if you are confident that you are more advanced in any particular dance, you can get a MayI instructor's approval to jump into a higher level Core or even an I/A-Level (Intermediate/Advanced), or M-Level (Mastery) class. The most common, and best, way to get instructor approval is to schedule an evaluation private lesson. Some instructors can do half-hour private lessons to evaluate your level and suggest classes. These lessons are at an additional cost, which varies by instructor. Typically, you can get evaluated in 2 to 4 dances in a half-hour private.

If a private evaluation lesson doesn't fit your schedule or budget, it is possible to attend one of our dance parties and ask one of our instructors to dance. Before the dance, tell the instructor that you are interested in taking some classes and would like them to do a quick evaluation of you during the dance so they can recommend which classes to take. This would not cost anything (other than the entry for the dance), but there is no guarantee that an instructor will be available to dance or that one dance would be enough to adequately evaluate your dancing.

Once again, if you need any help or have any questions, please contact us. We're here to help!