Thanks For Dancing With Us!

Group classes at Ballroom Dance Chicago are for dancers who wish to join a welcoming learning environment where they can let loose, have fun, meet new people, and get familiar with a new skill.

At Ballroom Dance Chicago, we believe that the most effective way to learn to dance is through customizable private lessons. In a private setting, you can expect personalized attention to detail when it comes to leading and following skills, technique, connection, and overall fundamentals. Private lessons allow you to dig deeper into understanding movement, and allow for valuable individualized feedback. We find that the more understanding you have of these fundamentals, the more comfortable and confident you are as you progress and learn new material.

However, because we value community so much, we offer BYOB group classes that focus equally on learning to dance and socializing. Group classes provide an opportunity to learn a variety of movements, and gain insight on dancing in a social setting. Group classes also provide an opportunity to experience dancing with a variety of people (if you choose), which makes you a more experienced and better dancer! Group classes might be right for you if you:

Enjoy having a great time

Want to learn something new

Want to meet new people

Want to join a fun community of like-minded individuals

Are sick of the tired old dinner and a movie date

Are looking to improve your dance skills

Need something fun to break up your work week

Can't resist the urge to dance

Sounds like you? Contact us today to register.

We welcome solo dancers to come to our Daytime Classes, Social Group Classes, Dance Practice Sessions and Accelerated Intro Lessons, so if you’re solo, join us in these class options!

Our group class syllabus at Ballroom Dance Chicago stands apart from traditional ballroom studios. Unlike rigid syllabi focused on dance competitions, our syllabus is designed for social dancing in real-life settings like bars, wedding receptions, or even at home.

We prioritize leading and following techniques while exploring musicality in various dance styles. Each week, you'll discover new dance concepts that enhance your ability to connect with the music and move expressively with your partner. Our classes are about more than just learning fancy moves; they're about connecting to the music and enjoying the dance experience.

Students can jump in at any time; while we continue building on material throughout the group class sessions, students don’t need to come consistently to feel like they know what’s going on.

If you have specific questions about the dance styles covered or want more details about our syllabus, please don't hesitate to reach out to us!

Think of it like an open gym - a time and space for you to come practice whatever you want to work on. An instructor will be there for music and dance support, but will not be teaching anything new.

What better way to overcome your fear of dancing in front of others than to join a welcoming community filled with dancers of all levels and experience?! Ballroom Dance Chicago offers a safe learning environment where you can practice and gain more comfort with your moves without the risk of feeling judged. We know that the more comfortable you feel, the more confident you will become. That’s why group classes have plenty of time for practicing and gaining confidence, along with time for instruction and advice from your teacher.

If you’re uncertain about dancing in front of people, we recommend starting with private lessons so that you can gain confidence and certainty from the individual instruction and attention. Now, we know what you’re thinking, “I don’t want a teacher watching and scrutinizing me!” but let us reassure you: we’re here to make you feel comfortable dancing. That means we’ll be honest, constructive, and caring, but never judgmental. We were all beginners once, and can empathize with your tentativeness. But have no fear, we’re trained to work with beginners and inspire people of all levels to find the joy of dancing together.

At Ballroom Dance Chicago, we offer a variety of group classes to suit different preferences. While the majority of our group classes do not rotate partners, as many students attend as a date night with their partner and prefer to stay together, we also have classes where partner rotation is promoted.

If you’re looking for a group class with partner rotation, we welcome both solo dancers and those with partners in our Daytime Classes, Social Group Classes, and Accelerated Intro Lessons!

Group classes are not specifically designed for wedding preparation; they are more for learning how to dance in social environments! However, engaged couples are more than welcome to join our group classes for a general introduction to dancing.

For couples focusing on their first dance, we highly recommend private lessons. These sessions provide personalized attention, tailored techniques, and allow you to achieve your specific dance goals for your wedding day. Private instruction ensures your first dance is personal, beautiful, and truly memorable.

Ballroom Dance Chicago is the top rated studio in Chicago for couples preparing to dance for their wedding, so we know our stuff! If you’d like to read reviews of past wedding students, check out our reviews. We have dozens of 5 star reviews on the Knot from students who found private instruction incredibly helpful.

If you are interested in a complimentary consultation to experience what private lessons are like at Ballroom Dance Chicago, please contact us and be sure to check out more information on our First Dance Lessons page.

Wear anything that you feel comfortable moving in – whether that’s workout gear, formal wear, or anything in between. Typically, our clients come dressed in slacks, jeans, t-shirts, and day dresses, but feel free to dress to your personal taste. As long as you feel comfortable in your outfit, it’s fine by us!

For footwear, we recommend wearing shoes with a leather, suede, or non-grip bottom that enclose your foot so that you can slide easily on the floor, and your shoes stay firmly attached to your feet. For this reason, dancing in flip-flops or sneakers is not permitted. Dress shoes, flats, low heels with straps, or pumps, usually work the best. Ladies, if you’re uncomfortable wearing heels, don’t! Dancing in flats is completely fine. 

As you begin taking classes, you may discover that you’d like to purchase dance shoes. Speak to your instructor about what kind of shoes would work for the dance you’re learning/would like to learn, and they can send you in the right direction for purchasing dance shoes.  

While fashion does have a place on the dance floor, there are specific trends to reconsider/avoid while dancing:

Long necklaces generally become a nuisance when you dance as you begin to spin, and your necklace flies out in front of you. By wearing shorter necklaces, your partner will appreciate not being hit in the chest/face as they’re leading you into a turn.

Large rings can also become problematic if you’re doing a dance with a lot of changes to the hand hold, such as swing or salsa.

Tops with drapey and excessive fabric for the sleeves can hinder the arm connection between you and your dance partner. Wear at your own risk!

If you want to wear short skirts/dresses while dancing, just make sure to wear shorts underneath.

Keep in mind you’ll be touching people’s underarms. Sleeveless clothing is not the best idea for social dancing.

Save your studded clothing for another going-out occasion. No one likes being poked.

If you have long hair, make sure to put it up in a bun, so that when you’re spinning, you don’t whip your dance partner/yourself in the eyes!

For group classes at Ballroom Dance Chicago, only wine or beer is permitted. One bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer is allowed for every couple. Feel free to bring any non-alcoholic beverages as well! Ballroom Dance Chicago provides water, glassware, and bottle openers for each class, so don’t worry about bringing anything beyond your drink of choice.

Classes at our sister studio, Ballroom College, are also BYOB.

We only offer four-week courses at our Lakeview studio; however, regular multi-level, drop-in group classes are offered at both Lakeview and the West Loop.

If you’re considering group classes in West Loop, it’s important to remember that you will need a partner to attend.

Make-Up and Refund Policy:

For our Four Week Sessions, please note that we are unable to offer refunds or credits for any missed classes.

For drop-in classes, if you need to reschedule, just let us know at least 24 hours before your class. Please remember, if a class is missed without a 24-hour notice, we're unable to offer a refund or credit for that session.

Our class sizes are intentionally kept small to enhance your learning experience, and this policy plays a key role in helping us manage the schedule effectively for everyone. Thanks so much for your understanding and cooperation!

Cancellation/Transfer Policies:

If you need to cancel the entire 4-week course, in order to receive a full refund, we must receive notice 14 days before the time of your first class. Cancelations received at least 7 days before the start of the course are eligible for studio credit. Cancellation with less than 7 days are not eligible for a refund or credit. There are no exceptions to this refund policy.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, you can do this via phone (312) 504-5866) or email. We are not offering any partial refunds or transfers at this time.