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Partner Dance Instruction in Waltz, Swing, and Blues in Seattle | Classes

A wide variety of people learning to dance at Dance for Joy

Dance for Joy! offers great dance instruction in a great environment!

We teach solid skills in Waltz, East-Coast Swing, Foxtrot, Blues and other dance styles that connect you to your partner and to the music while you're both having fun. You learn as you play!

Classes

Creating a Collaborative, and Inclusive Community

2024–2025 DFJ Wednesday Night Classes

5 week sessions, 1.25 hour classes
Classes are 6:30-7:45pm and 7:45-9:00pm

Each class includes 10 minutes of practice

All classes held at:
Om Culture in Wallingford
2210 N Pacific Street

We teach to both Traditional & Eclectic/Alternative music so you can dance to anything! Each class will introduce ways to play and be creative! Taught by Lilli Ann and Claire Carey, mother and daughter national and international instructors for over 15 years.

$110/class
To register for classes see our registration page.

Session 1 — Fall

  • Sep 18–Oct 16
  • 6:30-7:45 — Beginning Cross-step Waltz: Begin this highly creative and flexible dance. It’s flow is unique and the moves are absolutely beautiful. Pre-requisite — Some waltz or partner dance required.
  • 7:45-9:00pm — Int/Adv Cross-step Collaborative Weekend Review: You came to the weekend and would like a refresher! OR you didn’t make it to the weekend and you’d like to know what we did. Lilli Ann and Claire will review a variety of moves taken from all instructors from the weekend. Don’t miss it!

Session 2 — Late Fall

  • Nov 6–Dec 11 (No class Nov 27th)
  • 6:30-7:45 — Beginning East Coast Swing: This is the perfect starting point for your partner dance experience. We will get you going so that you can dance at local dances and other events and parties. Flexible and super fun!
  • 7:45-9:00pm — Cross-step/Blues Fusion: Cross-step and Blues tuck in very well together and some cross-step moves are perfect in blues rhythm. We will work with second level Cross-step Waltz moves by teaching and perfecting them first and then putting them into a Blues context. It’s really a 2-for-1 kind of class! Pre-requisite: Must have taken Beginning Cross-step and above.

Session 3 — Early Winter

  • Jan 8–Feb 5
  • 6:30-7:45 — Int/Adv Foxtrot- SQQ/SQQS and New Concepts: Foxtrot was originally a Ragtime dance in the era of one-steps and has been continuously danced in a variety of ways ever since the the 19-teens. We will play with some of sweet those variations and timings — you’re going to love the versatility!
  • 7:45-9:00pm — Latin Waltz: A 3/4 time variation to salsa but slower allowing the sensuality to linger in these classic moves. We will dance to both Latin waltzes and lovely contemporary tunes. And we will teach you how to mix it up with your regular Waltz — it is social floor ready!

Session 4 — Late Winter

  • Feb 26–Mar 26
  • 6:30-7:45 — Intermediate East Coast Swing: Tuck turns, push turns and more. Build on your basics with lively moves meant to amp up your East Coast Swing dance!
  • 7:45-9:00pm — Int/Adv Cross-step New Steps: New material and concepts

Session 5 — Spring

  • Apr 16–May 14
  • 6:30-7:45 — Cross-step Waltz: Intermediate Classics — so many amazing moves. Our archive is steadily growing and we love to revisit some of our favs from the past.
  • 7:45-9:00pm — Int/Adv Cross-step Waltz Oldies: Some of the best of the Oldies, but very goodies

Look for an all-new Cross-step waltz dance in the 2024/25 season!

Reminders: If you would like to be reminded, send us an email and we will let you know when sign ups are available, so you don’t miss a thing!

Class Locations

Wallingford

Om Culture in Wallingford
2210 N Pacific Street, Seattle

Private Lessons

If you need to get up-to-speed for that upcoming wedding or class reunion, quickly improve specific skills, or don't see the right class for you, private lessons are the answer! go to our Registration page, e-mail Lilli Ann, or call her at 206-264-5646 to find out more!

FAQs

New to dance or new to Dance for Joy? Not sure if this is for you? If you are a new student, you may try your first class session for 1/2 price, or 2 people for the price of one if you'd like to bring a friend. Or you may try the first night of the class only for just $5! See our Registration page.

Where are the classes? See locations at left for directions and parking.

What shoes and clothes do I wear? Clean, non-marking low heeled or flat soled shoes are best. All dance spaces have beautiful floors and we are committed to keeping them that way — please wipe off the bottom of your shoes before walking in. Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in — most people dress casually.

Missing classes? Going to miss a couple of classes due to vacation or work and know this before the class session begins? Class pro-rations are taken on a case-by-case basis. If you miss a class during the session, arrive a bit early the next week and we will catch you up. We also usually review the previous weeks material in the first part of class and review all material on the final day of class.

What are the advantages of registering early? For all classes, please register early — space is limited, and we seek to balance roles (relatively equal number of leads and follows) and will wait-list if necessary to maintain that balance.

Other questions? email lilli@att.net or call 206-264-5646

Dance for Joy classes in Portland

For information on classes with Uwe Hessinger in Portland, go to PortlandDanceEclectic.com