Social dancing is a fantastic way to stay in shape, or get in shape, while having a great time! It requires no previous skill and is very easy on the hips and knees. You’ll meet fun, interesting people, and after every lesson you’ll notice significant improvement in the way you dance. We’ll help you progress at your own rate, whatever that may be, and make sure that you leave each lesson feeling great. Dancing is a wonderful activity for stress relief or just as a break from your everyday routine. You’ll also have an excuse to get closer to that special someone!
All classes are open to everyone, and a good portion of the dancers in some of our classes are not affiliated with Berkeley. (If you’re asked for a student ID at the door to Hearst Gym, just tell them you’re here for the ballroom dance class.)
None at all! Our social classes and practicums are meant for everyone, and don’t presume any dancing experience.
No, not at all. We rotate partners several times in every class so you’ll be dancing with many different people.
You do not have to. We strongly recommend that you do, because you’ll learn leading and following skills much faster if you dance with lots of different people. Then, when you go back to your original partner at the end of class, you’ll have a much better time dancing with each other, because you’ll both be better dancers for having danced with other people.
You’re welcome to drop in anytime – all classes are taught at a beginning level, and every class will do a quick review and overview of the dance. We also rotate through the dances so that if you miss one week, you can come to a later class during the semester.
You certainly don’t need to, though you’re welcome to if you want to. Most people come in their everyday clothes. There’s no need to wear ballroom shoes for social classes, though if you have a pair, or a pair of dress shoes (or even socks/jazz shoes), it makes dancing much easier. Many social dancers dance in their sneakers or everyday shoes.
Our current prices for various social lessons are listed
here. Our social dance prices are some of the lowest in the Bay Area! Non-students may have to pay a higher fee for classes because we want to keep ballroom affordable for students, who are often on a tight budget.
Hearst Gym is on the south side of the Berkeley campus, across from the Berkeley Art Museum, just west of the Hearst parking structure and tennis courts, and about 100 meters east of Sproul Plaza. There is a map, directions, parking instructions, and public transit information on our
Directions page.
We teach all sorts of different dances, including “official” International and American dances (the dances you see at ballroom competitions: Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba, Jive, East Coast Swing, Bolero, Mambo, Paso Doble, as well as “club” dances (Salsa, Meringue, West Coast Swing, Jitterbug, Lindy Hop, Nightclub Two-Step, Hustle, Argentine Tango, Polka, and many more). We rotate through the most popular dances every semester, and occasionally add instruction on more unusual dances. Check out our
calendar for the dances taught this semester.
Please note that for the sake of our patrons with sensitivities, we request you please refrain from wearing perfumes, colognes, or scented lotions.
