Class Levels

Dance Levels & What to Expect

Level	What to Expect	Prerequisites
Beginner	No prior knowledge needed. Learn basic steps, dance frame, floor etiquette, and partner safety.	None—perfect for first-time dancers!
Beginner-Intermediate	Reinforces basics with deeper technique drilling. Dancers gain confidence with fundamental patterns.	Comfort with basic steps and rhythm.
Improver	Dancers are comfortable with the basics and begin refining technique, improving frame, and enhancing partner connection.	Ability to execute basic steps confidently and maintain timing.
Intermediate	Focuses on frame maintenance, hand-to-hand connection, and incorporating turns or step variations. No full advanced patterns.	Strong understanding of fundamental movements, good frame control, and ability to follow/lead turns.
Advanced	Designed for dancers with fluid movement and mastery of fundamentals. Teaches sophisticated moves, styling, and adaptability.	Strong execution of dance techniques, comfort with musicality, and ability to dance complex patterns.
All Levels	Open to everyone! These classes provide foundational concepts for newer dancers while offering deeper refinement for experienced dancers. Instructors layer instruction to meet everyone’s needs.	A willingness to learn, explore, and adapt—dancers of all backgrounds can participate.

Dance Workshop Descriptions – ECH 2025

Beyond Basics & Patterns

(Beginner - Intermediate | Lindy Hop)

James & Maya

Lindy Hop is about expression, improvisation, and orchestrated chaos! This class introduces foundational Lindy Hop concepts with a focus on accessibility and agendered dance dynamics.
We’ll cover the core movements of Lindy, then dive into rhythm and musicality in a way that helps you break out of patterns and truly dance the dance. Come learn everything you need to enjoy Lindy Hop on the social floor!

Dancing With Community

(All Levels | Various Styles)

James

How do dancers connect? How do we engage within our scenes? How do we celebrate through dance? In this workshop, we’ll explore the ways that communities come together to dance—beyond just partner dancing. Through creative movement, play, and interactive exercises, we’ll discover new ways to connect with each other and bring our whole selves to the dance floor.

Defying Gravity – Going Above and Beyond the Expected

(All Levels | Personal Dance Growth & Expression)

Shannon & Jason

What kind of dancer do you want to be? The sought-after partner? The flash-and-flair showstopper?
This class is about breaking free from limiting beliefs, gender norms, and societal expectations that may be holding you back in dance. We’ll explore what it means to trust yourself, embrace your own movement, and reach new heights in your dancing—both physically and mentally.

Fusion Fun-damentals

(Intermediate+ | Various Styles)

Remy

Come learn how fun fusion can be! We will walk you through the basics and get you dancing out of the lines of traditional dance. This class focuses on adaptability, connection, and improvisation—perfect for social dancers looking to explore movement beyond structured styles.

Fusion Fundamentals

(Intermediate+ | Partnered Social Dance)

Remy

Looking to expand your social dance skills across multiple styles? This class will cover key fundamentals of fusion dancing, emphasizing connection, adaptability, and improvisation. Whether you lead or follow, you’ll develop tools to seamlessly blend different dance techniques into a fluid and expressive experience on the dance floor.

From the Ballroom to the Dance Hall – Country Waltz

(Advanced | Country Waltz)

Shannon & Jason

Country waltz at the higher levels isn’t far from ballroom smooth waltz. With the right styling, foot placement, and body technique, we’ll adapt elegant ballroom techniques into danceable, leadable, and followable steps for the country dance floor.
Expect a sequence of compound steps that will elevate skills for both leads and follows while adapting to different tempos and styles of country waltz. A solid knowledge of country waltz basics and turns is required. Good companion classes: Synch and Synergy and Spinderella.

Morning Mobility and Musicality

(All Levels | Warm-Up & Body Awareness)

Shannon & Jason

Get your blood pumping and your joints moving! This class is for all dancers—whether you need a warm-up, a stretch, or a moment to tune into your body before diving into a full day of dance.
We’ll start with gentle movements to wake up the mind and body, then gradually build to more dynamic movement and musicality exercises. A perfect way to start your day!

Move Your Feet to the Cha-Cha Beat

(All Levels | Cha-Cha Basics & Beyond)

Shannon & Jason

The cha-cha is all about foot speed, stability, and body control—and it looks damn hot on the dance floor!
We’ll focus on sharp weight changes, quick movements, and smooth transitions as we snap, break, and chassé our way through a building sequence of cha-cha steps to Latin, pop, and country music. No partner or prior cha-cha experience needed—just bring yourself!

Partner Turns & Spins

(Intermediate+ | Partner Dance Technique)

Rob

Spins and turns can feel exhilarating or dizzying—let’s make sure it’s the former! In this class, we’ll break down technique for controlled turns, spotting, and partner connection to help you execute smooth, confident rotations. Whether you’re leading or following, expect drills and exercises to level up your turning skills.

Spilling the Tea from the Cups

(Intermediate - Advanced | Various Styles)

Léo

Ever tried a tea cup move and felt like you were either soaring or barely hanging on? Whether it left you exhilarated or slightly terrified, this class will help you master it with ease and confidence! We’ll refine your technique to stay relaxed yet controlled, making those dynamic turns feel effortless. Explore tea cup-inspired moves in Waltz, Country Two-Step, and at least one more high-energy style. Come ready to twirl, refine, and spill some tea—without losing your balance!

Spinderella

(All Levels | Spins & Turns Technique)

Shannon & Jason

"Spinderella" is a title reserved for those who love the giddy thrill of spinning across the dance floor. But how do we execute those fabulous spins and twirls without turning into a human weed whacker?
We’ll focus on body control, foot placement, and pressure for chaînes, spirals, spots, and spins—for BOTH leads and follows. By the end, you'll be dizzy with the awesome power of Spinderella!

Start Having Fun

(Intermediate - Advanced | West Coast Swing)

James

If you've been dancing West Coast Swing for a while and found yourself wondering, "I know the basic patterns, but how do I start dancing like the experienced dancers I see at socials? They don't even do the basic patterns!"—this class is for you.
We’ll explore how to break away from memorized patterns, stylize your dancing to the music, and engage with your partner dynamically. Comfort with WCS basics, side passes, sugar push, and whip is highly recommended.

Synch and Synergy on the Dance floor

(All Levels | Partner Connection & Musicality)

Shannon & Jason

Dancing with a partner is more than just steps—it’s connection, timing, and clear communication. This class will help you refine your ability to stay in sync with your partner while also navigating a crowded dance floor.
We’ll explore physical cues, body mechanics, and how to communicate effectively—whether leading or following. It’s time to take your partnering skills to the next level!

Twirl, Duck, and Tunnel – Two-Step

(Advanced | Country Two-Step)

Shannon & Jason

Ready to spin, twirl, duck, and tunnel? We can do that. We'll connect a well-known step to a sorta-kinda known step to a what-the-heck-was-that step for a sequence that will be just as impressive to dance as it is to watch.
Not every partner will be able to execute all these moves, so we’ll also cover fun variations with slightly less chaos. Come warmed up and ready to move—maybe catch the Morning Mobility and Musicality class beforehand!

Where's My Yellow Brick Road?

(All Levels | Dance Leadership & Growth)

Shannon & Jason

So, you’re thinking about making dance more than a hobby?
Spoiler alert: There is no paved road to get to where you want to go. There are no apps, maps, or street view searches you can use to clarify the road ahead when you want to take your social dancing to the next level as a performance artist, instructor, or leader in the dance world.
But we can give you some commonalities that unite all of those things and show you how to use them to achieve your goal of organizing, performing, or teaching. Take the time to invest in yourself and join me for a frank and transformative conversation designed to help you define and follow your own path as a performer, teacher, and leader in the dance community.

Will It Macarena?

(All Levels+ | Various Styles)

Remy

A wild trivia journey to ask the age-old question... Can you Macarena to anything? Expect fun and unique genre pairings with scenarios to work on musicality and variations in basic movements.