Dance SMART at The Ballroom Dance Center
Currently, we are offering Social Dance on Tuesday evening and a Shag class on Thursday. As soon as we feel the time is right, we will be offering an expanded line-up of group classes for returning and new students to The Ballroom Dance Center that will include many of the classes listed below as well as additional classes.
Features of dance instruction at The Ballroom Dance Center include the following:
Partner Movement Skills – All classes will focus on movement skills, social dance combinations and leading/following. We often hear dancers say, “I just don’t want to look stupid!” All classes will help you develop ease and comfort in social dancing. You may ask if you should focus on just one dance. We have found it often doesn’t matter which dance you do, but rather that you learn fundamental movement skills in partner dancing.
More Dance Opportunities – Additional development of your dance skills will happen at the Friday dance parties and themed balls.
Practice -Any time the Ballroom Dance Center is open, by appointment, you may practice here. Dance is physical as well as social. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will become dancing, which will make you a better dancer and allow you have more fun.
Dances – Dances are a fun way to socialize, exercise and practice what you are learning. In addition, you’ll have loads of fun and meet other students who share your love of dancing. This relaxed setting balances the structure of practice and lessons. You will also learn floor craft, the skill of getting around the dance floor with other dancers on it.
Social Dance
This fun group class is designed for adults who want to be well-rounded social dancers. All levels are welcome, but the material will be focused on a foundation level appropriate for the social dance floor.
Students will learn all the major dance styles they will hear at a party or at one of our fun dance parties. Smooth style dances include the Waltz, Tango and Foxtrot. Rhythm style dances include the Rumba, Cha-cha, and Swing. Club style dances include the Hustle, Slow Rock, Salsa, Merengue and West Coast Swing. In a year, students will usually learn one dance a month, rotating through all in a year, and ending with the Party Survival class to prepare for the Christmas season.
Couples have an option to rotate partners or stay with each other in all our group classes. Also, practice and private lessons help to reinforce the material learned in groups.
Social Plus
This intermediate class continues the foundation laid in our Social Dance class with a five-month rotation of Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha-Cha, Rumba and Swing. Each November, an intermediate Party Survival class is offered. Note that students may “stair step” from our beginner level to our intermediate class by taking the beginner level one month, and then move on to more advanced material in month two in the intermediate class. We recommend two to three rotations in the beginner level, prior dance experience or the teacher’s permission to join the intermediate class. Material is cumulative from week to week, so a make-up private lesson is recommended for absences.
Shag
This fun group class is designed for adults who want to be well-rounded social Shag dancers. All levels are welcome, but the material will be focused on a foundation level appropriate for the social dance floor.
Couples have an option to rotate partners or stay with each other in all our group classes. Practice and private lessons help to reinforce the material learned in groups.
Club Style
This intermediate class is designed for already experienced dancers who have danced for at least a year, have a foundation in social style partner dances, and like a challenging level. Monthly, a different club style dance will be featured, and students will learn intermediate, sometimes advanced, combinations involving musicality and developed partnering. The dances covered will be West Coast Swing, Argentine Tango, Hustle and Salsa. Material is cumulative from week to week, so a make-up private lesson is recommended for absences. Those wanting to advance further in these club dances may sign up for advanced custom specialty classes in their desired style.
Adult Performance Class (Formation)
Adult dancers will learn performance routines that may be danced in our Showcases, at the Fourth Friday Dances and Balls, the Augusta Dance Challenge, local dance/arts events and in volunteer settings such as nursing homes or for charities. The goal of the class is to develop showmanship, confidence, musicality and expressiveness and to communicate meaning and beauty through the art of dancing.
Teen Competitive Ballroom and Rhythm Dance (Advanced Level)
Most major rhythm and ballroom style dances including Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Rumba, Cha-Cha and Swing, with other dances sometimes included such as Salsa or Viennese Waltz, are taught. Some fitness, stretching and conditioning may be included.
Part of the year, dancers strive toward excellence in competitive style routines for our one-day Augusta Dance Challenge held in the studio every August. Dancers must have taken our Tuesday Teen Social class for one to one and one-half years, have prior dance experience, or the teacher’s permission to join.
Material is cumulative from week to week, so a make-up private lesson or practicing with another member of the class is recommended for absences.
Teen Social Dance: Ballroom and Rhythm (Beginner Level)
This beginner class rotates in a six-month rotation through 12 dances, with two different dance styles per month, giving our teens a taste of the most major ballroom, rhythm and club style dances. These include Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Rumba, Cha-cha, Swing, Salsa, West Coast Swing, Hustle, Viennese Waltz, Lindy and Quickstep. Material is cumulative from week to week, so a make-up private lesson or practicing with another member of the class is recommended for absences.
Teen Performance Class (Advanced Level)
Depending on the season, dancers focus on the next Showcase, our annual March major theatrical production, or toward exhibition dancing at one of our special parties such as the October Haunted Eye Ball or the Christmas Snow Ball.
Teen Performance Class (Beginner Level)
This class develops fun group choreography to be performed at our special parties such as the October Haunted Eye Ball or the Christmas Snow Ball as well as at our August Augusta Dance Challenge. Prior dance experience gained from our Teen Social Dance Class is recommended to join this class, or experience in other styles of dance, or with the teacher’s permission. Material is cumulative from week to week, so a make-up private lesson or practicing with another member of the class is recommended for absences.
Youth Ballroom and Rhythm (Beginner Level)
This class is for beginner level dancers from 9 to 12 years old who want to learn to social dance comfortably to a variety of music. They will sometimes learn fun routines for performances. Fun routines may also be a part of the class for performances in the annual March show and the Augusta Dance Challenge show in August.
Private Lessons
For dancers with special interests or a desire to learn more slowly or more quickly than in group classes, private lessons are a great option.
Virtual Private Lessons via Zoom
The Ballroom Dance Center is open for in-person lessons. If you would like the convenience of on-line private lessons from your laptop, tablet, or phone, Zoom lessons are still an available option. Our teaching staff and students have found these lessons very helpful in achieving certain dance goals.
The Zoom technology is simple, very much like Face Time or Skype. Call the studio at 706-854-8888, if you would like to take advantage of this innovative learning format from the comfort of home.
A NOTE ABOUT PARTNERS
We are delighted you will be learning to dance at The Ballroom Dance Center. Please note that we rotate partners for maximum learning and social practice, but dancers who wish to stay together may do so. Simply let your teacher know you do not wish to change partners.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Updated July 3, 2019
Your lesson and well-being are very important to us.
Although we do understand that emergencies occur, our private lessons are highly sought after and booked in advance. If you need to cancel a lesson, please do so no later than 8:00 p.m. the day before your lesson. Monday lessons must be cancelled by 8:00 p.m. Friday. This will allow another student to take advantage of the opened up lesson block.
If you call The Ballroom Dance Center to cancel a lesson and get no answer, please leave a voicemail so that we have a timestamp of your call.
All group and private lessons must be paid for before taking your lesson.
DANCE DESCRIPTIONS
American Ballroom (Smooth)
- Waltz – Elegant, smooth dance in 3/4 time from Austria
- Foxtrot – Only American ballroom dance; big band or jazzy music
- Tango – Argentine origin; dramatic, staccato dance; strong drum roll
- Viennese Waltz – Faster version of the slow waltz
American Style Rhythm
- Rumba – Romantic Latin dance from Cuba
- Swing – East Coast Swing; upbeat with triple steps; big band and pop music, huge in 30s and 40s
- Cha-Cha – Slow Cuban Mambo with characteristic triple step
- Mambo – Fast Cuban Latin dance; precursor of Salsa, breaking on the “2” beat
- Bolero – Slow, romantic Latin dance with sweeping movement
Other Popular Dances
- West Coast Swing – This special dance style originated on the West Coast where dancers adapted swing into a slot to fit better on the screen and on crowded dance floors. This extremely popular style is danced to many types of music, including pop, classic swing, blues, dance beat and, more recently, to slower contemporary lyrical style music. At West Coast Swing events you will see social dancers, competitors and judges on the dance floors until the wee hours of the morning. Also popular are the competitive Jack and Jill events where dancers are paired randomly with partners where you learn to adapt and have a great dance with that person.
- Argentine Tango – An interpretive, improvisational social dance, it allows the dancers to develop a deep connection between themselves, the music and the environment in which they are dancing.
- Carolina Shag – Southern style of swing danced to bluesy, pop and beach music
- Salsa – Popular “first cousin” of Cuban Mambo; smoother, jazzier music, breaking on the “1” beat
- Salsa Rueda – Salsa “square dancing;” trade partners in a circle.
- Hustle – Originally a 70s disco dance, it is popular dance with fast, club style movement. It is danced in a slot to a strong beat.
- Samba – A lively, rhythmical dance developed in Brazil during the 19th century, it is considered the dance of celebration and joy at Carnival celebrations in Rio.
- Merengue – Originating in the Dominican Republic, it is an easy and fun dance to learn, making it a popular social dance.
- Bachata – Originating in the Dominican Republic, Bachata is a fun, energetic Latin dance that is gaining popularity across the country.
Teen Dances
- Advanced Teen – This class is for experienced teen dancers with opportunities to participate in the Augusta Dance Challenge in August.
- Advanced Teen Performance Class – Teens in this class will learn fun routines for performances at the special balls we have, as well as participate in the annual March show and the Augusta Dance Challenge show in August.
- Teen Ballroom and Rhythm (Basic Level) – This class is taught at a beginner/basic level for teens who want to be good social dancers and who want to dance comfortably to a variety of music at dance events.
- Teen Performance Class (Intermediate Level) – Teens in this class will learn fun routines for performances at the special balls we have, as well as participate in the annual March show and the Augusta Dance Challenge show in August.
International Style Standard and Latin
- Quickstep – A fun, light and fast ballroom dance that incorporates very quick steps with alternating slower steps
- Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot and Tango
- Paso Doble – A lively, theatrical, dance modeled after the drama of the Spanish bullfight
- Jive – A lively, uninhibited variation of the Jitterbug with many of the basic patterns similar to those of East Coast Swing
- Cha-Cha, Rumba and Samba
Please note, other Standard and Latin dances are described above under American style dances.