Getting Started at Let's Dance L.A.

Getting Started at LDLA

How do I get started?
You need a few things:

Decide what style of dancing you want to learn.
A schedule to let you know which day your desired class is being taught.
A Getting Started Package.
Download our New Student Registration Sheet.
Bring proof of current school registration for College discount. (12 Units)
Show up to class!
Sign up for our weekly newsletter announcements

Our Registration forms and newsletters are available in PDF format. If you don't have it, you will need to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the newsletter.

When should I start?

All Level One classes start at the beginning of each month; your first class will be the first week of the month. On the day of your first class, plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before class is scheduled to begin. This will give you time to find parking, register as a new student, sign in for class, meet new friends, etc. Even better, come in any day before your class and preregister.

What if I can't make first Class?

We allow people to start as late as the second week. After that we recommend that you wait the two weeks until the start of the next class. Every week the teachers builds upon what was taught the previous weeks. By week three the students have a head start and either you will get frustrated or hold back the rest of the class.

How much are the classes?

An adult group class card starts at $62.00. This is good for six group classes. This can be used for any class in your level. Every time you take a class we punch a hole in the card. After six punches the card is used up and you simply purchase a new card. There are discount cards for students and now teachers.

What about private lessons?

Privates are booked on an appointment basis with individual teachers. On that lesson you can work on any of your particular problems. These cost $69.00 to $72.00 with a LDLA teacher and $77.00 to $83.00 with a LDLA director. For a single, a private is equal to about four or five group lessons. If you want to get out there in a hurry, private lessons will accelerate your learning.

Do I need a partner?

No, you do not need a partner. 95% of our students are singles. When it comes to leaders and followers LDLA has very balanced classes. Every class has frequent rotations so you will have the opportunity to dance with many partners of various levels.

What if I have my own partner?

IIt is the unamimous opinion of the best teachers that rotation in group classes with out a doubt accelerates the learning process of everyone in the class. Since many of our upper level students take beginning level classes to improve their own basics or just to help out, by rotating you'll get to dance with them and improve faster. When couples choose not to rotate you have a case of the blind leading the blind. More often than not these couples get frustrated and give up after a few lessons! By dancing with various dancers of different levels you will get a better perspective of what a good lead will feel like. In large classes you may rotate through ten partners or so and then jump back to your partner over and over. Start up the rotation a few steps away from your partner and by the time you rotate to each other you will have an idea what you both need. Invariably, beginner couples that stay together get lost together!

What should I wear?

The most important thing is that you are cool and comfortable. Some people come straight from work and others are in shorts. The shoes you wear are more important. Comfortable shoes that stay securely on your feet are imperative. The soles should be thin and flexible if possible. Thong sandals, platform shoes, and shoes with sticky rubber soles will make your life harder.

What level should I take? /How long will I be in level 1?

New Dancers: Definitely Level One. You will be in this level for approximately three cycles. Your first cycle is just figuring out what your feet are doing, next time you are starting to focus on arms and lead/follow skills, the third time you are adding in rhythm and body action. At this point you will be starting to move somewhat naturally. Also those that stay after and practice or take private lessons will progress much faster than someone who just does this once a week.
Club Dancers New to Lets Dance: Club dancers are sometimes very rhythmical with nice body action. What is missing are the partnering skills that allow them to dance with the good dancers. Also we have standardized names for the skills, elements and patterns. In level 2 we don't teach those things, we just say the name and expect you do what we request. Having the terminology makes everything quicker and easier. It is also unfair to those who have honestly acheived that level to have to wait while we reteach ONE person (who skipped level 1) something everybody else knows already.
Students from Other Schools: Every school has a different system for determining the levels of the students and classes. One school's level 4 may be equal to another school's level 3 or a third schools level 2. A safe bet is always drop down a level AND to also take the beginners class. Understanding the foundations that the teacher is building upon is crucial to getting the most out of a class.
Advanced LDLA Students: The class you have been promoted to AND the Level one class. All advanced athletes and artists always spend time working on the basic skills of their trade. A golfer continuously works on his golf swing even after they've achieved the Masters Division. True Greats at anything can never be too meticulous in their basics
"Soy Latino, ya se bailar". Most Latinos grow up HEARING the music which means they may be more rhythmic- but knowing HOW to LEAD or FOLLOW is not genetic. Yes you probably will zip through level 1 but you will miss the secrets of spinning fast or how to lead which are taught in level 1. Be honest, you came to us because you wanted to get better. The experts at Let's Dance will make you better than you ever imagined. Tenga fe!

What Style of Salsa Do You Teach?

There is not one style of Salsa there are many: Cuban, Puerto Rican, Columbian, Brazilian, New York, Miami, and yes even Los Angeles style. Styles develop because the best dancers in each club develop their own styles and the masses follow. As the music changes and mutates so does the dance. The Mambo music of the 40s is nothing like the DLG/Los Van Van timba style Salsa or the Luis Enrique/Eddie Santiago Salsa Romantica style or the Albita/ Hansel Martinez/Johnny Polanco Charanga style. When you go out dancing, you don't just dance with one style, you dance with whoever asks you. We teach lead and follow. For men that means you'll be able to lead, for ladies you'll be able to follow anyone than can lead or any style. Do men and women learn the same? No at first, dancing is much more difficult for men because they not only have to learn their own part they have to lead the girl. In the first two weeks most of the info is geared towards the guys. By the third week it changes though. Now the lady has to begin to do multiple spins and turns and follow a beginner guy's lead. How long will it take you to learn? Truthfully no one can tell you ahead of time because everybody has a different learning rate.

I'm scared. Will this be fun?

We Promise!