As we type this we currently have a regular corporate group class that includes attendees in Denmark & Japan; wedding couples in Norwich & Scotland; and students taking the odd private lesson online if their schedule means they can’t make their session at the studio!

Plus enquiries for Zoom Dance Lessons are increasing.

Zoom Wedding First Dance Lessons Online

We’re getting a lot of enquiries for our wedding first dance lessons to be provided online at the moment. Thanks to our dedicated Zoom Dance Lessons setup, not living close to our studio is no longer a restriction on your ability to experience our dance lessons.

We are experienced in how to translate our dance moves into easy to follow instructions online. Our First Dance choreography lessons are tailored around your choice of song. We work with you to put together a routine you can enjoy on your wedding day.

Worried about whether you’ll forget the moves in between sessions? We record some of your Zoom First Dance lessons practices. You are then sent a download link and can refer back to the videos to assist your memory when practicing.

The great thing with our Zoom First Dance lessons setup is that we can be available at short notice. A lot of our wedding first dance lessons enquiries are coming in only a few weeks before their wedding. We provide lessons five days a week (including Sundays) but we can be flexible should you struggle to find slots.

With prices starting from £35 we have options to suit all budgets, including a number of First Dance package options. If you’d like to discuss our First Dance lessons get in touch or search our availability now.

Zoom Private Dance Lessons

Not able to make your booked lesson? Maybe you’re still nervous about the Coronavirus levels or live too far away to attend our studio? Don’t worry we can still provide dance lessons online via Zoom.

Whether it’s fun solo dance routines, learning the basics of Ballroom and Latin American, or adapting Sequence dances to your front rooms, we’re experienced in compressing the dances into confined spaces.

Did you know that during the 2021 UK lockdown we even adapted the Waltz as an 18 week online course!

Lessons can be booked as purely Zoom Dance Lessons (just choose the Zoom option when booking). But we are also able to switch an existing in-person session to Zoom if you find yourself unable to make a booked appointment at short notice.

Interested in booking yourself a Zoom Dance Lesson with one of our team? You can search our availability and book online.

Corporate and Team Building Online Events

Whilst we are experienced in providing dance sessions for corporate events and team building days we have seen a rise in enquiries for streamed sessions.

We run weekly sessions for EJEF (a English-Japanese language school in Buckinghamshire) which includes regular attendees from Japan. They also have colleagues that have taken part in the Zoom Dance Lessons from around the globe (including Denmark & Tehran).

Carers Wales enlisted us to provide a fun Saturday Night Fever workshop as part of their ‘Me Time‘ project. The project aims to support un-paid carers with their mental health, especially due to the effects of the pandemic.

The Zoom Dance session was a great hit, with one person even taking part from a houseboat! We loved hearing how well it went:

Just to say a huge thanks from Amber and I – it was the best afternoon at work ever!!…So many smiley faces…Thanks again … it was a real blast !!!

YouTube Dance Lessons

During the first UK lockdown we produced four videos a week to hopefully keep our students busy and entertained. With options for Solo dancers, Partners, Sequence and Kids we tried to make sure there was something for everyone.

Since the reopening of the dance school we have still tried to maintain a weekly online dance lesson on our YouTube channel. In fact our viewership quickly went global and only around 12% of our viewership are actually based in the UK!

You can see some of our most recent uploads below:

Subscribe to my channel

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About Learn To Dance

Learn To Dance is a Ballroom and Latin American Dance School based in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.

Offering regular YouTube videos, as well as Zoom Dance Lessons, subscribe to be kept informed when new videos are going live. Send us your suggestions of what you’d like to see us release and we’ll do our best!

Looking for more personal tuition? We provide both in-person and streamed lessons and classes. Check out learndance.co.uk/online for more information.

You can check out our website, or follow us online, at:

Website: learndance.co.uk
Youtube: youtube.com/learndance
Facebook: facebook.com/learndance
Instagram: instagram.com/learndance
Twitter: twitter.com/learndance

The post Zoom Dance Lessons Online with Learn To Dance appeared first on Learn To Dance.

On Sunday 14th March 2021 we held another free live-stream class on YouTube, this time a Beginner Basic Samba dance class.

In this class we started with the Samba Reverse Basic. This is a step forward with the left foot, a bounce on the spot, and then a step back with the right foot (repeating the bounce).

Some time is then spent discussing the Samba pelvic action, using a mild thrusting action by ‘pulling in’ your belly button.

Next we introduce the Samba Whisk. This is a side step with a bounced cross behind.

The Stationary Samba Walk followed which involves a close with one foot, a point back with the other, and a slip back of the front foot. When you then do the subsequent close on the next foot it is closed slightly forward (where you had originally started) to keep the overall movement on the spot.

Bota Fogos are introduced next, moving forward and backward before we start looking at the Voltas. Initially we do our Voltas in straight lines, at both half and then full speed, before looking at the Solo Spot Volta that rotates around on the spot.

Finally, just when we need a little breather, there’s a basic Rhythm Bounce.

Watch the Beginner Basic Samba Lesson

You can watch the roughly 30 minute lesson below. If you want to jump ahead to certain moves we’ve included the timestamps below it:

Lesson Timestamps

[00:01:50] Reverse Basic
[00:07:31] Whisk
[00:11:52] Stationary Samba Walk
[00:17:32] Bota Fogo
[00:23:30] Voltas
[00:26:47] Solo Spot Volta
[00:30:25] Solo Samba Routine

Solo Samba Routine Demo Video

The lesson ends with a basic beginner Solo Samba dance routine to help you practice the steps learnt.

We have chosen the song Lady De Rojo by Bassio for this routine. Before demonstrating we quickly remind you of the basic steps included too!

You can find just a demo of the Solo Samba Routine below:

If you want to check out some more of our solo routines we have a playlist over on YouTube.

Samba Dance Music Playlist

So that you can practice the basic beginner moves we’ve also uploaded a playlist of a selection of Samba tracks. The songs start off slowly then ramp up in speed, and we’ve also included songs used in some of our other lessons.

We hope you enjoy the below playlist:

About Learn To Dance

Learn To Dance is a Ballroom and Latin American Dance School based in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.

Offering regular live-stream classes, as well as useful dance uploads, subcribe to be kept informed when new videos are going live. Send us your suggestions of what you’d like to see us release and we’ll do our best!

Looking for more personal tuition on your Basic Beginner Samba? We provide both in-person and streamed lessons and classes. Check out learndance.co.uk/online for more information.

You can check out our website, or follow us online, at:

Website: learndance.co.uk
Youtube: youtube.com/learndance
Facebook: facebook.com/learndance
Instagram: instagram.com/learndance
Twitter: twitter.com/learndance

The post Beginner Basic Samba Solo Dancing YouTube Lesson appeared first on Learn To Dance.

The video lesson will last for around 30 minutes and we’ll start you off with a few basic beginner Salsa dance steps. There will be a range of steps taught and hopefully you’ll be confident in them all by the end of the class.

Throughout the class we’ll also teach you a simple basic Solo Salsa dance routine.

We’ll talk you through how to do the basic Salsa steps as well as a little on improving the technique of the beginner steps.

The Basic Beginner Salsa Lesson Video

Our lesson will go live on our YouTube channel at 11.30am on Sunday 7th March.

You can join us during the live broadcast and the video will be available to re-watch after the lesson has finished.

Whilst you’re waiting check out our Solo Salsa Dance Routine that we released during lockdown 1.0. This also features some of the basic beginner Salsa steps, as well as a few trickier movements thrown in.

It was our first ever online lesson video, so was a learning curve, but we hope you enjoy it!

Don’t forget if you want to be among the first to know about new videos and lessons subscribe for free to our channel. Make sure to click the ‘notification bell’ to be notified as soon as a new video is available or going live.

We’ll also upload a video demonstration of just the Solo Basic Beginner Salsa dance routine as well as a Salsa dance playlist for you to practice to.

About Learn To Dance

Learn To Dance is a Ballroom and Latin American Dance School based in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.

Offering regular live-stream classes, as well as useful dance uploads, subcribe to be kept informed when new videos are going live. Send us your suggestions of what you’d like to see us release and we’ll do our best!

Looking for more personal tuition on your Basic Beginner Salsa? We provide both in-person and streamed lessons and classes. Check out learndance.co.uk/online for more information.

You can check out our website, or follow us online, at:

Website: learndance.co.uk
Youtube: youtube.com/learndance
Facebook: facebook.com/learndance
Instagram: instagram.com/learndance
Twitter: twitter.com/learndance

The post Basic Beginner Salsa YouTube Lesson appeared first on Learn To Dance.

I’m sure by now everyone has seen the draft plan released by the UK Government and announced on Monday 22nd February.

The roadmap out of lockdown is going to run on a minimum 5 week cycle between restrictions being lifted. This will allow the results of each lockdown easing stage to be reviewed, before deciding if the next step can be safely implemented.

There will be 4 tests evaluated by the government at each stage of the lockdown easing:

• the vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
• evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
• infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
• assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern

Assuming these tests can all be passed satisfactorily, in the 4 weeks following a change in step, then a week’s notice is given to confirm the next stage being implemented.

Read on to find out a summary of each stage, but especially how the lockdown easing affects the Learn To Dance school.

Step 1 (8th & 29th March)

8th March

Schools are reopening for all children and Higher Education students doing practical courses also return.

Whilst this doesn’t change anything for Learn To Dance it does mean that Creative Academy are able to hire studio space from us again. This will provide us with a bit more stability financially and so will be most welcome.

You will also be able to meet with one person, for recreation or exercise, who is not in your household or support bubble.

29th March

From 29th March we should then be able to meet up with another household, or as the ‘Rule of 6’, outdoors (including gardens).

Outdoor sports, including football at the Cherry Orchard, are permitted to resume from 29th March.

The ‘Stay at Home’ rule will cease to be in law but they still recommend staying local and working from home where possible.

At this stage holidays abroad will still not be allowed.

Therefore Step 1 unfortunately does not result in any lockdown easing for the dance school. However we will continue to provide our online streamed lessons and dance classes.

Step 2 (12th April) – Start of dance school lockdown easing

In Step 2 is when we start to see some of the lockdown easing measures for the dance school. The earliest this will take place is from 12th April and its implementation will be confirmed a week before.

Boris has confirmed that the plan for step 2 is to allow the opening of a variety of businesses:

• non-essential retail
• personal care such as hairdressers and nail salons
• libraries and community centres
• indoor gyms and leisure facilities (but only for individuals or same household)
• outdoor attractions
• campsites and holiday lets (without shared facilities)

Pubs and restaurants will be able to serve outdoors with table service. Weddings and similar can take place with up to 15 people.

Whilst we haven’t received any detailed guidance at present the signs point to us being able to offer private lessons again in Step 2. These will continue to be for individuals or same-household and will be non-contact with our instructors.

We are taking provisional private lesson bookings at this stage, but flexibility will be maintained as the situation develops.

Step 3 (17th May) – more Lockdown Easing for Dance Schools

Should things go well than by 17th May (at the earliest) the country will enter Step 3 of the lockdown easing roadmap.

At this stage there is hope that limits on socialising with friends and family can start to be relaxed. Although gatherings outdoors in excess of 30 people will still be illegal.

Indoors the limits will be rule of 6 or 2 households at this stage. We anticipate this will be in line with the previous rule of 6.

Further business openings will be permitted at this point, including:

• Indoor pubs and restaurants
• Cinemas and children’s play areas
• The rest of accommodation
• indoor adult group sports and exercise classes
• indoor performances and sporting events (subject to capacity limits)

Weddings and other social events will be able to host up to 30 people.

At this point the government will begin looking into social distancing and other Covid guidance that could be reduced in Step 4.

Therefore in Step 3 we expect to be able to reopen for group classes. It is likely that this will still be with the capacity limits in place from last year.

Step 4 (21st June) – return to life as we know it???

By Step 4, which will happen no earlier than 21st June, lockdown easing for the dance school could see all social contact limits removed.

Subject to the rules at the time this may mean that we can resume contact lessons and solo dancer rotating. However this would be reliant on all of our teachers having had both their jabs!

At the moment we hope that by the autumn things will start to feel a bit more normal. In fact hopefully our Bournemouth Dance Break will be able to go ahead as scheduled.

All the dates quoted by the government do come with the caveat that these are the earliest they could happen. Any failure of the tests at a particular stage could see a slowdown of the lockdown easing. There will always be at least 5 weeks between Steps.

As much as we are hoping that lockdown easing will allow us to open up the dance school, sooner rather than later, we will always take into consideration the health and safety of our staff and students.

Therefore we may elect to keep certain sessions virtual until such time as we deem it possible to welcome students back safely.

Whilst Coronavirus is likely to be always with us let us hope that this is the start of the end of restrictions. With lockdown now easing we hope to open the doors of the dance school to you all again.

Stay safe and well and we look forward to welcoming you all back again soon!

The post Dance School Lockdown Easing appeared first on Learn To Dance.

This video gives you a taster of what we’re going to be teaching you in our special Valentine’s Day lesson. Antony will demonstrate the entire routine to music, giving audio cues throughout.

The dance starts at a Viennese Waltz pace before slowing down into a Slow Waltz. You may want to focus on the feet first of all, and then when you’re feeling confident look at introducing the arms.

With our live-stream on Sunday Antony will take you through the solo Waltz dance routine step-by-step. Hopefully by the end you’ll then feel confident to practice the routine without our help.

What steps are in the solo Waltz dance routine?

Our solo Waltz incorporates a number of Slow Waltz dance steps:

• Box Steps both forward and backward
• Reverse Turns as a leader
• Natural Turns as a follower
• Change Steps both forward and backward
• Whisk as a leader
• Left Whisk as a leader
• Wing as a follower
• plus a few American Smooth elements

Once the class is finished we’ll also upload a demonstration without any audio cues if you want to test your memory.

We hope you enjoy this video and if you have any questions before our class feel free to drop them in the comments.

Watch the Solo Waltz Dance Routine video

We hope you enjoyed our Solo Waltz dance routine online dance lesson. Don’t forget to share with your friends and family. You can also check out our other online dance lessons.

About Learn To Dance

Learn To Dance is a Ballroom and Latin American Dance School based in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.

Whilst our studio may be closed due to the Coronavirus outbreak, we’re still trying to help people to keep dancing!

You can check out our website, or follow us online, at:

Website: learndance.co.uk
Youtube: youtube.com/learndance
Facebook: facebook.com/learndance
Instagram: instagram.com/learndance
Twitter: twitter.com/learndance

The post Solo Waltz Dance Routine – Fly Me To The Moon appeared first on Learn To Dance.

VIRTUAL DANCE BREAK UPDATE 02/02/2021: Tests have been very well received and so the details below have been updated to reflect the changes. Due to the change in software we have extended the promo code deadline to 13th February. We have also added a Solo Dancer’s workshop.

VIRTUAL DANCE BREAK UPDATE 30/01/2021: We are currently testing a new video social software that will hopefully make interactions more organic than just using Zoom. More details to follow once initial testing has been completed.

We can’t meet in person so we’ve decided to host a VIRTUAL Dance Break this March instead. This will be in place of our annual Glastonbury dance break, which would have been focusing on Ballroom Jive this year.

Now we know what you’re thinking, how is that going to work?!  

Our idea for the virtual weekend is to follow as closely to a normal dance break format as we can (minor revisions/additions may occur as we develop this).

There’ll be elements where we will all be in the same virtual room but also the opportunity to ‘sit’ with people to catch up with other students.

We’ll have fun group activities and workshops and we’re even debating the possibility of a delivered menu!

Schedule for the Weekend

The plan for our virtual dance break is:  

• Friday 12th March (evening)
  • 8pm Welcome Drinks ‘Reception’
    • a virtual ‘Wessex Hotel’ ballroom that you can move around and chat to other people as you approach them
    • a selection of couches and tables that you can sit at to carry out uninterrupted conversations
    • a ‘bar’ area that you can chat to anyone else at or behind the ‘bar’
    • group Quiz Night (with prizes)
• Saturday 13th March  
  • 10am Partner Jive Workshop
  • 11am Solo Jive Workshop
  • 8pm Evening Social with a 50s dress-up theme (optional)
    • A special area of the dance floor with music playlists that you can ‘step’ onto
• Sunday 14th March
  • 9am Morning recap Jive dance workshop

There will also be the option of private Zoom dance classes over the virtual dance break weekend too.

How Much Does the Virtual Dance Break Cost?

For the final few places on our dance break we are offering the special price of £70 per screen.

You can book directly on our website or contact us for more information.

If you have any questions, comments or feedback on this idea let us know. We’re happy to revise the plan to best suit what our students would like to take part in.

The post VIRTUAL Dance Break this March appeared first on Learn To Dance.

Each week of lockdown we will choose one of our streamed classes to make completely free to attend, for one week only!

Which Online Dance Class is free

Our first free online dance class will be our Tuesday night Solo Routines class on Tuesday 19th January.

The solo routine dance classes teach a variety of Ballroom and Latin American based solo routines. We also look at a selection of fun routines, often inspired by musicals.

In this week’s online class we’re going to be recapping our Solo Samba routine from last week. Then we’re going to be teaching the Saturday Night Fever Line Dance.

Details of future free online dance classes will be notified on our social media channels. We will also send details in our weekly ‘What’s On’ newsletter which you can sign up to on our website.

Join the free online dance class

You will need to register in advance to attend the online dance class. The booking window closes 1hr before the start of the class.

A unique link to attend the free class will be automatically generated and emailed 30 minutes before the class starts. Please check your SPAM folder if this doesn’t pop into your inbox.

To attend the free online dance class you just need to click the emailed link. The login details will be the same as you used to book. Some devices may recommend you download a small piece of software or app for a better stream experience.

You can log in to the class anytime after receiving the email. The teacher will normally login around 5 minutes beforehand. If you haven’t streamed a class with us before we recommend testing your login details when you receive the email.

Unlimited Online Dance Videos

If you want to catch up on Solo Samba in advance of the free class check out our catch-up library. Prices range from £3/day to £25/4 weeks for unlimited access to our videos.

You can buy packages, and access the service, at www.learndance.co.uk/online.

Those that take place in our regular online dance classes also receive complimentary access to our video-on-demand library. Please note attending the free class does not include a complimentary pass.

About Learn To Dance

Learn To Dance is a Ballroom and Latin American Dance School based in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.

Whilst our studio may be closed during the Coronavirus outbreak, we’re still trying to help everyone to keep dancing online.

Don’t forget, if you enjoyed our free online dance class please let your family and friends know too.

You can check out our website to keep updated on re-opening plans, or follow us online, at:

Website: learndance.co.uk
Youtube: youtube.com/learndance
Facebook: facebook.com/learndance
Instagram: instagram.com/learndance
Twitter: twitter.com/learndance

The post Free Online Dance Class during lockdown appeared first on Learn To Dance.

In contrast to the videos that we provided over the first lockdown, these will be live interactive classes. We will also have a video-on-demand service. Live class sizes will be limited so that you can still benefit from our attention – even if it’s remotely!

We’re sorry that it’s taken us a few days to update you, following the Prime Minister’s announcement at the weekend. There was some ambiguity in the legislation initially, as to whether we had to fully close. We wanted to get clarification on this before announcing our closure.

Online Streamed Lessons

We will be running our regular class schedule as an online option that is attended virtually. Those registered for a class will receive an exclusive link 30 minutes before the class to join the live stream.

Numbers will be kept limited to allow us to interact with our students and provide hints and tips.

We will adjust our lesson plans to fit within more confined spaces. Helpfully the next few weeks were scheduled to include Salsa, Argentine Tango and Merengue. These are generally much easier to keep compact.

The live online streamed lessons will be recorded (our teacher’s live feed only). These will then be uploaded to our brand new video-on-demand service that will be launching shortly.

Your attendance in the live class will also include weekly complimentary access to our video-on-demand library.

Whilst virtual lessons are not the same as those taken in-person, we hope that our live feedback, as well as the added benefit of the online library, will encourage you to keep your dancing up during this testing time.

Our plan is to launch these virtual classes starting from our Sunday night beginner class on 8th November.

Brand New Video-on-Demand Library

Part of our new online streamed lessons options will be an on-demand library of dance videos.

We will be offering both weekly and monthly subscription options that will give you unlimited access to all our videos.

As well as recordings of the live classes, we will also be uploading our back catalogue of online dance lessons. We will also be adding previously unreleased videos of workshops and dance breaks.

In addition we hope to re-launch our “Technique in Three” video series. The aim is to provide short videos on specific techniques to practice. We originally launched these during the first lockdown. Unfortunately practical issues led us to decide to drop the series at that time.

There will be two tiers available:

• a weekly pass for £10; and
• a monthly pass for £25

Both will have no minimum commitment required. We are also looking at offering a direct debit option to make it easier to manage.

Those that attend our live classes will receive a complimentary weekly pass. Unfortunately at this time this offer does not extend to our kid’s classes.

Further details on both online streamed lessons options will be released over the coming days.

“Zoom” Private Lessons

Both Antony & Denise will continue to offer private lessons via online streaming services.

Lessons can be booked as usual online, or by contacting us.

Those with existing in-person bookings have already been contacted to confirm if they wish to switch to virtual. Our availability may change as we settle into how this is going to work.

We’ll See You Soon

The timing is unfortunate, as things were moving in the right direction for the school, but the situation is unavoidable.

We hope you will enjoy our online videos options; and keep yourselves ready to come back as soon as we are allowed to reopen.

Stay safe and well and we hope to see you all again soon.

Antony, Emma & Denise
LearnToDance

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