THE BALLROOM DANCE COMPANY
YOUTH PROGRAM
We offer two tracks for students to follow, depending on your child's area of interest. Students can focus on performance or competition after mastering their initial "Intro to Dance" class (which exposes them to a wide variety of styles!).
We are the only studio in Oregon with multiple championship level accomplished professional instructors who reliably produce Oregon’s top competitors, including multiple national title winners.
To maximize potential, we provide age-specific, skill-specific, and style-focused classes for youth students.
Kids receive a substantial youth discount for all adult group classes. Plus many of our instructors offer partial scholarships to all youth for private lessons!
We are the largest ballroom & latin studio in the entire country and the only northwest studio with a regulation competition size floor for competitors to learn and practice.
Beginners will learn:
- At least two styles of dance including but not limited to waltz, samba, tango, west coast swing, cha cha, viennese waltz, hustle, quickstep, foxtrot, paso doble, nightclub two step, folk dance, east coast swing, country two step, rumba, jive, merengue, salsa.
- Choreography and technique
- Lead, follow and teamwork skills
Progression:
- We offer multiple levels of ballroom and latin classes
- Moving to the next higher level of class is similar to skipping a grade (or multiple grades) in school. This will require reliable group class attendance, private lessons and skill. Intermediate and advanced level class students have been taking group classes and private lessons for many years, so catching up to them will require hard work.
- When we have sufficient numbers of similarly skilled kids (or teens), we often create a new group class specific to their skill level. We strongly encourage students to take advantage of these, as well as our competitor and performance team classes, which cultivate the fastest learning curve. Students learn faster through spending as much time dancing as possible. Group classes are the least expensive means to gaining maximum floor time.
- It is OK for students to remain in their current skill level class. If you feel your child has exceptional ability, speak with your teacher about the steps necessary to progress to the next class level.
- We offer performance and competition opportunities for students of all ages and skill levels.
In class, students are expected to:
In class, students are expected to:
- Wear closed-toe leather soled dress or ballroom dance shoes
- Students with long hair must wear it pulled back in pony tail or bun
- Treat teachers and students with respect and kindness
- Advanced class students are expected to wear a shirt & tie (boys) and dressy clothing with hair pulled back (girls)
- At competitions, students are expected to wear studio logo attire
- Children who are disruptive to the class will be given a time-out. Children who are tired during class are allowed to sit out and rest for part of the class.
Performance:
- We host semi-annual showcases, open to all students via audition
- We host public dance parties at least once a week. Students of all levels are welcome to perform at these events.
- Click HERE to learn more about performance opportunities, and how to prepare for performance.
Competition:
- Click HERE to view upcoming dancesport competitions.
- Click HERE to learn more about competition opportunities, and how to prepare for competition.
- If your child wishes to compete, your first step is to find an age-appropriate partner.
Experience is not as important as dedication. Group classes are a great place to find partners.
We also encourage you to ask friends at school.
Even a newcomer can quickly become a successful competitor if they reliably attend classes.
- Youth recieve discounts for our adult group classes, and many of our instructors give youth discounts for private lessons.
- Superior technique is necessary for success in competition.
- Our intermediate and advanced group classes are pattern-focused, not technique focused.
Consequently taking intermediate or advanced level group classes will not be sufficient for achieving great success in competition.
- Couples who compete should take private lessons to learn choreography consistent with NDCA and USA Dance rules, allowable in competition.
Rules restrict which patterns couples may execute in competition, and which order they are allowed to execute the figures.
Couples are given simple routines, which they will execute at a higher standard of perfection.
Though fancy patterns are fun, they are also not allowed in the beginning levels of competition.
- Although private lessons are not required for competitors, dancers serious about winning and rising through competitive levels realistically must take regular private lessons --
at least once a week. Private lessons are more expensive than group classes, because they cultivate the highest level of dance through 1-on-1 specialized instruction. Other competitive youth couples take up to 5 private lessons a week. It is not realistic to expect your child to progress as fast as other competitors, if they do not recieve as much 1-on-1 training.
The Ballroom Dance Company
8900 SW Commercial Street
Tigard, OR 97223
(503) 639 - 4861
