Most people are a bit nervous before their first dance class, usually about the same things: where to go, what to do, and whether everyone else has been dancing for years. Here is what actually happens, start to finish, so none of it is a surprise.

Finding a class that fits

Every class on the drop-in schedule is labelled with a level. Plenty of dancers take more than one level in the same week, and choosing is not always obvious, so here is how we describe them. The front desk is always happy to help you pick.

Absolute Beginner (L0). Purely technique-based, focused on the foundational movements, dance vocabulary, and confidence needed to succeed in our choreography-based classes. A good place to start if you have no prior dance experience, or do not feel quite ready for choreography-based classes.
Beginner Choreography (L1). Builds on your dance foundations with a short piece of fun choreography, and introduces performance, textures and musicality, and choreography retention.
Intermediate Choreography (L2). Moves beyond basic technique to develop musicality, quality of movement, and performance through mid-complexity choreography.
Inter/Advanced Choreography (L3). Encourages growth through artistic development, with complex choreography in a fast-paced environment.
Open (All Levels). Accommodates various experience levels in a supportive environment. Most Open classes focus on technique, drills and skill building, with options offered for everyone in the room. Open K-Pop cover classes are the exception: how challenging they are changes week to week, since the choreography comes from the original music video.

Getting here, and getting in

We are at 5562 Sackville Street on the third floor, in the middle of downtown Halifax. There is paid parking on Garrison Grounds across the street and behind our building, street parking nearby, and a bus stop seconds away.

Come 5 to 10 minutes early. That gives you time to sign in, change your shoes, put your bag down, and find a spot in the room. Latecomers are not admitted 15 minutes after class starts.

The first ten minutes

The front desk is the first thing you see. Tell whoever is there that it is your first class. They will check you in and show you where the change rooms, washrooms, water fountain and your studio are.

Then you pick a spot, wherever you feel comfortable and can see well. If you are new, or new to this style or level, we suggest dancing closer to the sides: somewhere you can still see clearly, but where you are less likely to bump into anyone if you go the wrong way or end up a couple of steps behind when the class runs the choreography. It is completely okay if that happens. Standing there just makes for a safer, easier learning space for you and for everyone else in the room.

How the hour actually runs

Most classes run about an hour, and most follow the same shape.

Warm-up. Moving and stretching to get your body ready for the hour ahead.
Foundations. Often folded into the warm-up, or done straight after: steps, grooves, or technique for the style you came for.
Choreography, in a choreography class. The instructor teaches a short routine in sections, repeating each one, then stacking them together.
Running it. The class dances the routine through a few times, usually in smaller groups so there is room to move. We always say not to expect perfection every time you run it: just aim to do one thing better than the run before.
Filming, if you want to. There is often a chance to film in groups at the end. It is completely optional.

If you find picking up choreography challenging, that is totally normal. It is a skill that takes time and practice, so be patient and kind with yourself. It also helps to build your vocabulary in Absolute Beginner and Open technique classes, where you get familiar with the steps themselves. Then, when a step turns up in a routine, you can focus on retaining and performing the sequence rather than learning the move from scratch.

Technique classes such as Jazz Technique and Heels Technique skip the routine and spend the hour on foundations and quality of movement instead.

The filming at the end

Most choreography classes finish with a chance to film in small groups, while everyone else watches from the side. It is completely optional. Join in, or sit it out and clap for the others, and nobody will think twice either way.

If you do film, the video lands in the app for you to download, usually within 24 hours. Videos are one of the most useful tools you have as a dancer. What a movement feels like and what it actually looks like are rarely the same thing, and seeing it back is how you catch the difference. Keep them, and a few months from now you can watch a routine you found impossible next to one you have just nailed. Watch your progress and celebrate your wins. If you share one online, please tag the studio and your instructor.

When watching other groups, cheering them on is a big part of a dance class here. It is an exchange of energy: dancing in front of a room that is rooting for you is far easier than dancing in front of a silent one, and when it is your turn to watch, you get to give that back. Help keep our classes cheerful and supportive.

What nobody tells first-timers

You probably will not get the whole routine. Learning choreography is a skill of its own, and it develops over months. Nobody is grading you. Focus on having fun and on improving one small thing each time, and you will notice the progress. Before you know it you will be craving the feeling of a challenging routine.

Nobody is watching you as closely as you think. Everyone else is looking at the mirror and counting in their head.

One class is not a fair test. The first one is mostly nerves and logistics. A few classes in, you’ll start to feel more comfortable, and from there you get to explore which styles and instructors fit your vibe and the way you learn. We always suggest mixing things up and diversifying your training.

After class

Our lobby is a great place to hang out, chat with other students, ask the instructors or the front desk questions, and freshen up before heading out. This is where friendships are made, so do not be afraid to say hi to a stranger. They just might become your new bestie.

If you cancel a booking more than 2 hours before class starts, the class goes straight back on your account to use another time. Inside 2 hours it counts as a late cancellation.

Ready when you are

New dancers usually start by trying a few classes and instructors before committing to a pass or a regular membership. Whatever is currently available to buy is on the pricing page.

Still want to see the place first? Book a free info session and we will show you around, answer everything, and help you choose your first class. Otherwise, read what to wear, pick something off the schedule, and we will see you at the studio.