FAQ

Photo courtesy Twisted Oaks

Everything you need to know to get ready for partner dance lessons!

If your question isn’t here, find more info on our general Policies page or drop us a line and we’ll be happy to help!

Click on a question below to show the answer.

Where are you located?

We operate out of three studios in Philadelphia. The majority of our ballroom lessons are held on Kater Street, because this residential studio is ONLY used for private sessions and has the most availability. We also share two commercial spaces with sister company, Philly Dance Fitness. These locations have more limited availability in late evenings and weekend afternoons/evenings.

  • Hawthorne — 1336 Kater Street (free parking!)
  • Midtown — 1301 Locust St. 2nd Floor
  • Rittenhouse — 1923 Chestnut St., 2nd Floor

Where can I park?

At the Kater St location, metered street parking is generally easy to find a block away on South Street, or head south to look for free 2-hour spots. If you can’t find a space, contact us for access to the gated driveway behind the property. Street spots can be more difficult to come by near the Midtown and Rittenhouse commercial studios. There are several paid lots in these areas, which range from $15-40. If you want to avoid that expense, we recommend allotting extra time to search for street parking or taking public transportation or a cab.

What are your pandemic safety protocols?

  • Per city mandate, our business requires that clients show proof of covid-19 vaccination to attend indoor group classes. For private lessons, the protocol can be adjusted based on the group. Everyone can remain masked, or you can show proof of vaccination and have the option to dance without face masks.
  • Our instructors are all fully vaccinated but often opt to remain masked. Likewise, regardless of vaccination status, if you feel more comfortable wearing a mask during your lesson, you are totally welcome to do so.
  • Our studios are stocked with hand sanitizer and regularly disinfected.

What should I wear?

You’ll be moving around, so wear anything comfortable along with shoes that you would put on for a dance party. If you’re preparing for a wedding dance, bring the shoes you’ll be wearing so you can practice in them. It’s important to get used to your footwear so you have no painful surprises on the big day.

What time should I arrive?

About 5-10 minutes before your scheduled start time is perfect.

What if I’m not a good dancer?

We’ve seen it all and we were once beginners, too, so no judgement. We’re equipped to work with you no matter where you’re at. During our first session, we can gauge your speed and move at your pace.

What’s your cancellation policy?

Scheduling of lessons requires reservation of studio space and instructor time. Therefore we ask that cancellations be made at least 48 hours in advance. There is no charge to cancel or reschedule lessons with two or more days notice. After that, the full amount will be deducted to account for the lost instructor and studio time.

If we’re preparing a first dance, how long before the wedding should we start lessons?

If you’re learning ballroom basics, ideally 2-3 months before the wedding. If you want a choreographed routine, we recommend starting at least 3 months out, but even better if you get going 6-8 months in advance. The learning process will be even more enjoyable when you have plenty of time to space out your lessons and practice. But, even a couple of lessons are better than none, so we encourage you to reach out even if you’ve already passed these benchmarks!

How many lessons will I need?

We recommend a minimum of 5 lessons to get comfortable with the basics of a particular style or to prepare for a first dance. Some people need more, and others less.

What if we haven’t chosen a song?

We’d be happy to help you select which song will lead to the best dance for you. Try to narrow down a couple of selections before your first lesson. We can discuss some pros and cons ahead of time via email or phone, or show you how some steps would fit with each option when you come in. We’ve even taught some clients the basic steps of two different patterns at their first lesson to help them decide which suited them better.

Can I divide a dance package with different people?

Yes! The services can’t be transferred (meaning that you can’t just give a pre-paid lesson on your account to a friend), but you can absolutely share a package with different partners. So you could take a few lessons to prepare for a first dance, a few to work on a parent dance, and a few to learn some fun styles to dance the whole night away!

FAQ - Ballroom Bliss - Wedding Dance Instruction