| CLASSES |
| Kids | Overview | Ballroom | Latin | Salsa | Swing | West Coast Swing | Hustle | Tango | Technique/Other |
| Kids Classes |
Kids Level 1: Chicago
Dance Kids 1. Kids learn fun steps and cool Latin dances! Good sportsmanship,
grace & balance are stressed. Kids Level 2: Chicago Dance Kids 2. Fun is essential! The kids will learn hot Latin dance moves, slick routines and keep developing more dance skills. Kids Level 3: Chicago Dance Kids 3. Keep on progressing and take the next step in the Chicago Dance Kids program. Kids Performance Group: The Chicago Dance Kids This highly committed group of kids represent Chicago Dance at various events around town! Chicago Dance Kids Let's Do Some Latin . Work on fun basic Latin dance steps & cool routines. Build confidence and learn partnering. Ballroom Wednesdays! - Chicago Dance Kids Summer Program 7 Week Summer Program concentrating on "Ballet for Ballroom" and Ballroom Waltz, Tango and Foxtrot. Guest Instructors. Starts July 9th at the Irving Park Studio Prerequisites: None, all Levels Latin Fridays! - Chicago Dance Kids Summer Program 7 Week Summer Program concentrating on Latin Dances and Hip Hop. Guest Instructors. Starts July 11th at the Irving Park Studio Prerequisites: None, all Levels |
| Overview Classes |
Dancing for Every Occasion
1 (Level 1): A special overview program that introduces you to 8
dances: Waltz, Rumba, Foxtrot, Swing, Salsa, Tango, Merengue and Cha
Cha. The basic patterns of the listed dances are covered. Irving Park : Wednesdays at 7pm River North: Thursdays at 7pm Dancing for Every Occasion 2 (Level 2): A special overview program that
is the follow up to DFOE. Waltz, Rumba, Foxtrot, Swing, Salsa, Tango, and Cha Cha
are reviewed and new patterns are introduced. We also introduce a new
dance: Samba Irving Park : Wednesdays at 8pm River North: Thursdays at 8pm Beyond the Basics (Level 3 and above): An overview program continues the introduction to the social dancing by exploring fun and exciting new variations. Irving Park : Wednesday 7pm River North: Thursday 6pm Ballroom Moves (Level 3 and above): An overview program that rotates through all the ballroom dances during the year. Irving Park : Wednesday at 7pm International Waltz and Cha Cha : More info to come. Wedding and Black Tie (Level 1). Social Dancing for Weddings, Corporate Functions, Proms and Parties. Learn the popular dances that will get you on the floor and keep you dancing at any event: weddings, black tie affairs, gala evenings, company functions, etc. Here is your chance to prepare for all of those upcoming social events. This class will offer an introduction to various popular dances: Foxtrot, Rumba, Swing and Waltz. This is a class of Beginning social dancing covering the dances most commonly seen at formal affairs. Irving Park: Saturdays at 12pm River North: Tuesday at 8pm Wedding and Black Tie (Level 2). A follow-up to one of our most popular classes. In this class we will review the information from Wedding and Black Tie and introduce new patterns in Foxtrot, Swing, Rumba and Waltz |
| Level 1 Latin Classes |
Intro to Latin Club Dancing. Your starting point for Hot Club Dancing! Salsa, Merengue & Bachata. Join the action and have fun at the local hotspots! This class fits the bill! Learn how to feel the Latin beat and move your body while you practice easy leading and following techniques with fun-but-simple patterns. A great class for beginners! Irving Park: Saturdays at 11am River North: Wednesdays at 7pm Samba & Rumba. The
sultry sexy heat of the Rumba and the pulsing rhythm of the
Brazilian Carnivale. Learn the basics of these fun and
exciting Latin dances. Cha-Cha and Merengue. Fun and Fast! Let yourself move to the tropical beat of The Merengue and feel the Heat of the Sassy Cha-Cha. Prerequisites: None Latin Moves. Learn to dance hot and fun Latin dances: Cha Cha and Bolero. Course content and emphasis will cover the basics of these dances with similar patterns in both dances, particularly the ‘diamond basic.’ Samba Beat. Hold your partner and together move to the pulsing beat of Brazilian Carnivale. Cumbia. Break out your Cumbia starting from the basic and adding waist rolls, stop & go, cuddle, hammerlock and more! |
| Level 2 Latin Classes |
Bachata & Cumbia. Learn two of the hottest, most flirtatious dances. Move your body to some of the most popular Latin music being played in the clubs. Bolero/Rumba Rhythms. Learn these romantic and lyrical dances, which are great for a variety of slow music. Burn Up the Floor: (Level 2/3) with Bolero and Paso Doble. Exciting Latin Style Dancing! Bolero is smooth, slow and beautiful while Paso Doble is an exciting, energetic representation of the classic bullfight. The class will highlight more advance patterns and competitive styling. Cha-Cha & Samba. The newest addition to our group classes! We combined two of the hottest Latin club dances of the moment into this fun, high-energy course. Prerequisites: Intro to Latin Club Dancing/ Club Cha-Cha / Latin Moves Class Times: Club Cha Cha. Sassy, intimate and playful. Add fun steps to your Cha Cha repertoire. Intro to International Latin. The style of Latin shown on PBS Championship Ballroom. It is technical and precise. International Latin dances include cha cha, rumba, samba, paso doble and jive. More Latin
Club Dancing. Build on your Latin Club Moves with Salsa, Merengue
& Bachata. Develop more leading and following skills while learning
intermediate combinations. |
| Level 3 Latin Classes |
Latin Legs and Hot Hips. Learn to move your body and shake your hips. Work on your spins and turns. Latin Style & Technique. For every dancer, to work on the fundamentals of good dancing: footwork, balance, turns, etc. More Cha Cha Cha. A dance class for more advanced dancers. Footwork, timing, turns and learn sassy Cha Cha variations. |
| Level 1 Salsa Classes |
Intro to Salsa. Learn to dance basics of the hottest Latin dance on the floor. Course content includes closed and open positions, forward and back steps, side steps, in-place steps (marking), spot turns for leader and follower, hand change variations, head loop or ‘hair comb’, crossover break, cross-body lead, and more. Irving Park: Mondays at 7pm River North: Tuesdays at 6pm |
| Level 2 Salsa Classes |
Spiced Up Salsa. Take your Salsa a step further. Build on the steps and combinations learned in the Intro class. Add exciting turns and variations. Course content in addition to reviewing the basics, crossover break with variations, cross-body lead with variations, and more. Irving Park: Mondays at 8pm River North: Tuesdays at 7pm |
Level 3 Salsa Classes |
Salsa Loco . Spice up your Salsa with a variety of turn combinations. Irving Park: Saturday 1pm Super Salsa. Spice up your Salsa with a class concentrating on turn combinations! Irving Park: Monday 7pm River North: Tuesday 6pm Sizzling Salsa. Set the floor on fire and take your Salsa a step furtner by adding exciting turns and variations! Salsa Suave. Move your Salsa up a notch with some great new moves. Irving Park: Monday 7pm River North: Tuesday 8pm Spicy Salsa. New sultry
moves and lots of Cross Body Lead |
| Level 4 Salsa Classes |
Hot Hot Hot Salsa.
Learn more advanced variations with a focus on developing better partnering
skills. Irving Park: Monday 8pm River North: Friday 6pm Slick Salsa. Add more style to your Salsa with . Irving Park: Monday 7pm River North: Tuesday 8pm Sinful Salsa. Add electric moves to set the floor on fire. Mambo. New York style Mambo. Add variety to your Salsa dancing by learning to dance "On 2." A new combination each week. |
| Ballroom Classes |
Ballroom Level 1: Smooth Moves . Learn
to glide across the floor with this Intro to Ballroom class. Learn the
basic steps of Fox Trot and Waltz in this popular class. Tips
for easy lead and follow as well as individual movement are included in
every class. |
Ballroom Level 2: More Smooth Moves. Serene, Elegant, Graceful, Upbeat and Romantic. If you love Swing and want to dance close with a partner, this dance is for you. Lilting and playful, Foxtrot adds elegance and grace to your dance repertoire. This class will focus on more advanced variations. Add to your basic Foxtrot & Waltz and incorporate some fun and fancy moves, simple footwork, turns and styling that allow you to move quickly around the floor Irving Park: N/A River North: Monday 8pm Ballroom Level 2: Intro to International Ballroom. The style of Ballroom shown on PBS Championship Ballroom. It is technical and precise. International Ballroom is danced in closed position only and includes waltz, fox trot, tango, quickstep and Viennese waltz. Ballroom Level 2 and 3: The Essentials of Ballroom. Come join us and glide around the room with the style of Fred & Ginger in our Advanced Social Ballroom Course. Irving Park: N/A River North: Monday 8pm Ballroom Level 3: Cheek to Cheek. Gain confidence in your dancing. Improve your styling and lead/follow skills while learning new step variations in Waltz & Fox Trot. Ballroom Style & Technique Level 3. For every dancer, to work on the fundamentals of good dancing: footwork, balance, turns, etc. |
| Swing Classes |
Level 1: Jump Start Your Swing: Go! Go! Go! This is high energy, East Coast Swing! A great workout loaded with fun & music that makes you want to shake rattle and roll while you learn the basics of this popular dance. Course content includes closed and open positions, turning basics, outside and inside turns for the follower, leader turns, simple hand change variations, tuck turn, cuddle and more. Irving Park: Tuesdays at 7pm River North: Wednesdays at 8pm Level 2: Swing Time: Learn more variations and fun moves in this energetic dance. Course content includes, in addition to reviewing the basics,tuck-turn plus variations, leader turns, simple hand change variations, free spin, cuddle with variations, head loop (a/k/a hair comb) and more. Irving Park: Tuesdays at 8pm River North: Wednesdays at 7pm Level 2: Lindy Hop Basics: Lindy Hop was so named after Charles Lindbergh's flight to Paris in 1927, when the newspaper headline read: "LINDY HOPS THE ATLANTIC". The dance is smooth and solid, and while there is a constant rhythmic 8-count "pulse" there is no hopping, bopping, or prancing. Level 3: East Meets West: East Coast Swing with a touch of the West. Learn how to incorporate West Coast styling and basic steps into your East Coast Swing. No West Coast knowledge required. Level
3: More Swing Time Swing beyond the basics with more fun moves and
more complex variations! This course is for those who have already taken
beginner swing or who know the basics of single-step, 6-count swing.
This class will review the moves from beginner swing, and then expand
on them with additional and more interesting/complex variations. Content
includes more Lindy timing steps (8-count), hammerlock to sweetheart
(and reverse), continuous wraps, tuck turns, swivels and more. Level 3: Swing with Me, Baby! Put that extra zing in your swing with double turns, spins & loops while improving your styling and lead/follow skills Prerequisites: Swing Time rving Park: Tuesdays at 7pm River North: Wednesdays at 6pm Level 3: Swing Fever This course is your opportunity to review, then refine and expand on, the moves that you already know. Cool and interesting variations will be taught. Content includes: hammerlock, neck wrap, cape, swivels, ducks, tunnels, and more. Also introduced will be simple dips and musical interpretation. Level 4: |
| West Coast Swing Classes |
Level 1: West Coast Swing
Basics Not your typical swing… this is an intro to this increasingly
popular dance. Course content includes 6-count sugar push, left side
pass, right side pass with turn, 8-count whip (with turn variation)
and more. Irving Park: Thursday 7pm River North: Friday 6pm Level 2: West Coast Swing Part 2 of a solid foundation in West Coast Swing. You’ll increase your dancing fun while improving leading and following skills. Learn technique for individual movement, easy lead and follow...AND how to create the leverage and compression connections that make your West Coast Swing feel good to your partner. Irving Park: N/A River North: Friday 7pm Level 3: More West Coast Swing The hottest AND the coolest dance on the West Coast and the state dance of California! Learn more advanced variations. Learn popular Tucks and Whips PLUS syncopated rhythm breaks & pattern extensions. Class Times: May/June session River North: Friday 8pm |
| Hustle Classes |
Level 2: Club Hustle A popular form of swing danced to today’s hot new music. (Not the 70’s version). Course content includes the unusual timing of this dance and a few basic moves in both closed and open position. Irving Park: N/A River North: N/A Level 3: Club Hustle This high-energy dance for upbeat contemporary Pop & Disco music is making a big comeback. With a new & flowing style and easy to learn variations on your basic patterns, including face loops, wraps and spins. Level 3: Hustle & Cha Cha These club dances will keep you on the floor with a fun, fast and flirtacious styling. Prerequisites: Hustle Irving Park: Wednesday 8pm Level 4: More Club Hustle Beyond the Basics -- Keep moving to the beat with fun and stylish patterns to add to the Basics. Learn Turns, Free Spins, Shadows & more. |
| Tango Classes |
Level 1: Only Tango.
Social Tango Smooth, romantic, sensual and sophisticated. Learn your
basic patterns and timing of this passionate dance. Irving Park: N/A River North: Monday 7pm Level
1: Argentine Tango Fundamentals. Learn the basics of this close
and romantic dance that focuses on leader and follower moving in close
harmony with the music. Course content will include basic patterns,
and elements of this dance, with a structure of patterns and timing
to help you learn the basics. Irving Park: Friday 8pm River North: N/A Level
2/3: Argentine Tango. We will start exploring some improvisation because
this dance doesn't have the same reliance on formal structure like many
other dances. Course content will continue to add new elements, and
focus on developing more variety in the use of the basic elements. Irving Park: Friday 7pm River North: Monday 6pm Level 3: Argentine Vals. Valses are similar in tempo to a Viennese Waltz, but generally danced with a ‘hesitation’ timing. Tango steps, adapted to fit the rhythm are used for Vals. Level 3: Argentine Vals & Milonga. Learn the elegant combination of Vals and Milonga. Prerequisites: Argentine Tango Fundamentals Class Times: Level
3: Argentine Milonga. The Milonga has its own steps, and is a lively
dance, somewhat faster than Tango.
|
| Technique and Other |
Ballroom Style
& Technique Level 3. For every dancer, to work on the fundamentals
of good dancing: footwork, balance, turns, etc. Fred/Fred & Ginger/Ginger. In this gay-friendly class, we will have a blast covering fun dancers! This is a great class for men who want to learn more about the follower’s role, and what a different experience it is to follow, and for women who want to learn how to lead. Latin
Craze. Learn and practice a variety of the basic patterns for many Latin dances. No partnering in this class. Enjoy great latin moves while enjoying some great aerobic exercise. Latin
Legs and Hot Hips. Learn to move your body and shake your hips.
Work on your spins and turns. Latin Style & Technique. For every dancer, to work on the fundamentals of good dancing: footwork, balance, turns, etc. Technique of Lead & Follow Level 2. Nightclub Two Step Level 2 This is romantic dancing at it's finest to old and new slow romantic music that bands and DJ's play at Bars, Night Clubs, Discos, Country Clubs, on Cruise Ships and at Weddings. Learn patterns that stay in a small area for crowded dance floors plus patterns that glide across the floor when there's room to travel, and how to blend the two for added versatility. Class Times: May/June session Irving Park: Thursday 8pm River North: N/A Showstoppers Formation. Join a talented group of men and women while we work solo partner & team dancing for an exciting performance production. Irving Park: River North: N/A Ladies Formation. Come & Dance with a wonderful group of women while preparting hot, sassy dance routines with a focus on technique and performance. Irving Park: River North: N/A Men’s Formation. Dance to a slick & swinging routine featuring showy footwork and stylized moves sure to get the ladies hootin’ and hollerin’. Swing Formation: A energic and talented group of men and women that learns a fun and exciting routine, including East Coast or West Coast Swing. Prerequisites: None
|
