Training
Ballroom dance training in Beaverton (Aloha) and Parkrose, Portland: medals, DanceSport competitions, showcases and teacher training.
Set goals, dance better, and go as far as you like.
Three ways to train at DanceWell PDX
Train in Beaverton (Aloha) or Parkrose, in private lessons, a group, or both. No partner needed: you can dance with your instructor.
Not sure where to start? Book a private lesson and your instructor will help you pick a goal.
Student Medals
A fun way to set goals, learn faster and see your progress.
Private lessons
You and your instructor set goals just for you. You choose the pace and the dances.
Medals routine class
Learn a full routine to music in a small, relaxed group, using the figures from your level. Finish the routine and earn a certificate!
Mix both if you like. Either way, your dancing, poise and confidence will grow. A step-by-step medals program is one of the best ways to become a great dancer.
How it works
You and your instructor pick your dances and a level, then work through the figures step by step. Move up a level when you're ready.
Ask your instructor for details and costs.
American Smooth & Rhythm: dances and levels
Smooth:
- Waltz
- Tango
- Foxtrot
- Viennese Waltz
Rhythm:
- Cha Cha
- Rumba
- Samba
- East Coast Swing
- Bolero
- Mambo
- Merengue
- West Coast Swing
- Bronze I: 2 to 6 dances, from any of the 12 above. Focus: timing and rhythm, footwork and continuity.
- Bronze II: 4 to 8 dances. You can mix Smooth and Rhythm. Adds lead and follow.
- Bronze III and Full Bronze; Silver I, II, III and Full Silver; Intermediate and Full Gold: at least 4 dances, in one style (Smooth or Rhythm). Adds style, poise, balance, control and body contact.
Each level asks a little more than the one before.
International Standard & Latin: dances and levels
Standard:
- Waltz
- Tango
- Foxtrot
- Viennese Waltz
- Quickstep
Latin:
- Cha Cha
- Rumba
- Samba
- Paso Doble
- Jive
- Preliminary Bronze I (Standard only): 2 to 5 dances. Focus: timing and rhythm, footwork and continuity.
- Intermediate Bronze: 4 to 8 dances, from Standard or Latin. Adds lead and follow.
- Bronze III and Full Bronze; Silver I, II, III and Full Silver; Intermediate and Full Gold: at least 4 dances, in one style (Standard or Latin). Adds style, poise, balance, control and body contact.
Medals FAQ
Which level, and how many dances?
Your instructor will help you pick a starting level. Go at your own pace: work on a few dances or all of them.
How many lessons will I need?
Everyone is different. It depends on your experience, how fast you pick up the steps, and how much you practice.
Who do I dance with?
Usually your instructor, or a partner if you have one.
What does it cost?
Ask your instructor for details and costs.
No partner to practice with? Dance with your instructor. Then get ready for would-be partners asking you to dance as they watch you improve!
DanceSport Competitions
A clear goal, a big dance weekend, and lots of fun.
A DanceSport competition is a ballroom event for all ages and levels. It's usually held at a hotel, with dancing and shows from morning till midnight, often for two days. You'll see everyone from beginners to some of the best dancers in the world.
Why compete?
A date to aim for keeps you focused, so you get more from every lesson. Students who compete tend to learn faster and dance with more style.
Just a beginner?
You're welcome! The Newcomer division is for students who've been dancing just a few months.
Who do I dance with?
Bring a partner, or dance with your instructor. That's called Pro-Am (student and teacher), and it's how most people start.
Want to try it?
Great! You and your instructor will make a plan together, and they'll fill you in on everything you need.
Ask your instructor for details and costs.
Not into competing? Showcases & performance teams
Most dancers don't compete to win. It's about setting a goal, working hard, and then doing it. If you'd rather skip the judges, DanceWell PDX offers both:
Showcases
Dance a routine for a friendly crowd of friends, family and fellow students.
Performance teams
Learn a routine with a group and perform it together. A fun goal, with plenty of team spirit.
Ask your instructor what's coming up.
Instructor Training
Teacher training is done one-to-one in private lessons, at your pace.
A structured program for dancers who want to learn both roles and the fine details that make partner dancing work. It covers Ballroom Smooth, Latin Rhythm, Swing and Nightclub dances. It's great for quickly improving your own dancing, and it can prepare you to become a certified ballroom dance teacher. No partner needed.
What you'll learn
- To dance well as both leader and follower
- Any or all of the 17 dances in the DVIDA Bronze American syllabus
- Technique, music and history of each dance
- How to teach private and group lessons, if you'd like
- How to get ready for DVIDA certification, if you'd like
Dancing both roles
You'll learn and dance both parts. That's standard in professional training: to teach a step, you need to show both the lead's and the follow's part.
DVIDA (Dance Vision International Dance Association) is a member of the National Dance Council of America. Its teacher certification is well known at studios across the U.S.
How to train
- One-to-one (now): teacher training is done in private lessons, at your pace. Start when you like and finish when you're ready.
- Group class (when there's interest): a group training class can run when enough people want one. Group trainees take all group classes free.
Interested in a group? Contact us and we'll let you know.
Ask your instructor for details and costs.
The 17 dances, by section
- Bronze Smooth (4): Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz
- Bronze Rhythm I (4): Rumba, Cha Cha, Bolero, East Coast Swing
- Bronze Rhythm II (4): Merengue, Mambo, Samba, West Coast Swing
- Bronze Nightclub (5): Salsa, Hustle, Nightclub Two-Step, Lindy Hop, Argentine Tango
What to expect
It's a hands-on course. Because it's a teaching course, you'll practice presenting and teaching each step, and you'll take regular course exams on your dancing, knowledge and presentation.
Practice makes the difference: plan on 1 to 4 hours a week.
Missed a course exam? You can schedule a make-up exam with your instructor.
Books & materials
You'll use the DVIDA manuals for your section and the Ballroom Teachers College workbook, ordered through DanceWell PDX. Dance Vision videos are optional but helpful. Your instructor will tell you what you need.
Just want to learn? Audit the course
You can audit the course to learn the dances without presentations or exams. Auditors don't receive a Certificate of Completion.
Dress & shoes
Look neat and professional, and wear proper dance shoes. They're the foundation of your dancing. Most trainees wear a basic suede-soled practice shoe, which is comfortable for long hours. Any dance shoe store has them.