If this is your first time at linedancing, we all welcome you!

Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and this also applies to linedancing. The fun is in learning something new that will benefit you in different ways.

This is very IMPORTANT. Please don’t be too hard on yourself in the first six weeks. It takes about that time for a little co-ordination to kick in and for brain cells to start to work. So many people give up just when they are really starting to improve; that is AFTER SIX WEEKS!!!!!!!! It definitely starts to get easier.

This is very, very IMPORTANT AS WELL. If you can’t come for a couple of weeks, don’t give up. Just come when you can and learn the dances that are being taught at the time. I keep repeating the beginner dances every few months, and what you miss out on the first time round, you’ll pick up the second and third time you do the beginner’s course.

Practice, practice, practice! Practice may not make perfect, but it will increase your confidence and help you learn a dance. Don't just practice the dance in class - run thru' it at home, at work, at school ... anywhere and anytime you have the chance (and the room). Also practice the basic steps ... vines, shuffles etc. Grab a copy of the dance sheet  from the instructor to help you practice.
 
Don't be discouraged if you seem to be the worst dancer in the class - everyone started off as a novice. Today's two left-foot stumbler may be tomorrow's champion.

Proper footwear is very important. No, I don't mean y'all have to all wear cowboy boots. Rather, you need to wear shoes or boots that are comfortable and provide just the right amount of traction. Leather (or smooth) soled footwear is best, but not compulsory - especially for beginners. For my first year or so, I wore a pair of sneakers where the tread had been worn flat. If there is too much traction (i.e. grip), then your ankles will be quite sore afterwards (this is also the case if the floor is in a poor condition). If there is not enough traction, then you'll be slip-sliding all over the floor. Oh, and the rest of your outfit is entirely up to you (comfortable, cool clothing with layers in winter).

If you bump into someone, briefly apologise and keep on dancing.  Bumps, and worse, are a fact of life on the dance floor. No matter how good you may be, you'll still occasionally bump into people.

At the moment I teach 16 Beginner dances in about 15 weeks. I teach these in block form, 3 times a year(exactly the same dances EACH TIME!!!). If you aren’t satisfied that you have learnt one well, you know I will be teaching the same dance again in the next course.

We learn the dances for 5 weeks in a row at least and then dance them regularly after that, so don’t worry if you don’t pick them up immediately.

When you feel ready, you can stay for the Early-Intermediate session, held after the Beginners' class. The dances are beginning to be more varied and interesting.  The cost of the Beginners' class entitles you to stay on after beginners for as long as you wish.

The dances that I teach in the early-intermediate session are regularly put on at the back of the Beginners’ session, so that eventually you can pick and choose the dances that you want to do, depending upon your pace of learning.

Also, if you can come twice a week, you will pick the dances up far more quickly, and remember them. But of course that  it is not imperative. At least try and come to my socials once or twice a month. I have a beginner/early intermediate party on a Saturday afternoon once a month where I walk thru all of the dances at least twice - and we do them twice!!!

Once a month I have a night party where I split the floor and do the beginner (with one walk-thru) / early intermediate dances at the front.

Now for three extra reasons for learning linedancing: 

Remember, everyone has been the beginner at some point in time.

Please, if you have any feedback on classes, don’t hesitate to ring me at home in business hours (9-4pm). Please check my class times - of course I won’t be home then!!!

If you have an email address, please give it to me, as it is an easy way for me to contact you about parties and happenings in class, etc.