If you feel you want to dance, but aren't sure where to start - read on! Whether you wish to dance socially or perform, meet new friends or renew romance, get fit or release stress - we will help find the right path that meets your goal.
At LaVida Studio we offer Group Classes, Private Lessons, Practice Sessions, Dance Socials, Performances and Dance Shows on stage.
Come meet new friends, enjoy time with your spouse or significant other, or prepare for a wedding or special event. We're here for you! All instructors live for and love what they do here at LaVida. If you are an absolute beginner, or have “two left feet” and no rhythm, don't worry! We specialize in taking total beginners from zero skills, to the level of ease and confidence of a skilled dancer.
I'm not sure what social dance should I start learning?
Can I come to your Social Dance Night even if I don't know how to dance yet?
Do I need to have a dance partner to learn social dances like Salsa, Tango, Zouk, Ballroom?
What should I expect from Group Classes?
What is Series of classes?
What Level should I sign up for?
Can I start by taking Private Lessons?
What shoes and dress attire should I wear to a dance class?
What is your Annual Dance Show? Can I perform in it?
Do I need to have dance experience to be part of Ladies Performance Team?
How can I be better in touch with the studio's dance community? Are you on Facebook?
Dance styles
Before deciding what dance to start learning, first ask yourself: "If I were to known how to dance, where would I go dancing?"
What is your goal? If your goal is to spend time with your spouse and learn variety of dances to be able to dance at cruises, private parties, wedding and corporate events, then starting with our Ballroom dance classes would be the best choice. Our Absolute Beginner 8 week series gives you an introduction in 4 dances: Foxtrot, Rumba, ChaCha, Waltz. This music you will often hear at the above mentioned events.
If your goal is to meet new friends, date or renew romance, then Seattle dance scenes like Salsa, Zouk, West Coast Swing and Argentine tango dance communities would surely welcome you.
Our main tip in choosing the dance style to learn is to first attend the Social Dance Night of that specific dance style. Just come, watch how people dance, interact, dress, and listen to the music. Do you like this scene? Do you like the music? Would you enjoy being part of it if you were to learn this dance style? If answer is yes, then you got your answer!
Social Dance Nights
At LaVida we hold weekly practice sessions and monthly Social Dance Nights: Salsa night, Argentine Tango night called "Milonga", Zouk night and West Coast Swing night. Each night offers introduction to the dance class for those who are new to that particular style. This is a perfect time to bring your friends, get taste of the dance and have fun learning and dancing same night. See the current schedule on the right column of the page.
No Dance Partner Required
For social partner dances (like Argentine Tango, Salsa, Ballroom, Zouk) students may come to the group classes without a partner. We try our best to use the help of our volunteers to make sure that every class has an even number of leads and follows. We also allow students to rotate, providing everyone the opportunity to dance with different partners. Couples have a choice of rotating or not.
Did you know? At the Social Dance Nights majority of people are single, or have no dance partner. So don't make youself not having a dance partner stop you from learning to dance. You will meet people and make friends during your dance-filed journey!
Group Classes
Group classes are the most popular form of learning dance. Levels that we offer take place in a collective setting. Each class is 55-min.
See schedules for Argentine Tango, Salsa, Zouk, Ballroom (Foxtrot, Swing, Walza, Cha-Cha, Samba, Rumba), Performance Team and Pre-performance classes.
Series of Group Classes
We offer classes in the Series of 4 weeks or 8 weeks. Each Series take place at the same day and time once per week, unless otherwise noted. For our 4 week Series we allow to start on the first or second week only. For the 8 week series offered in Ballroom we welcome drop-ins (one class).
Group Class Levels
•Level 1 - Absolute Beginner
•Level 1-2 - Beginner/Intermediate
•Level 2-3 - Intermediate/Advanced
In Level 1 we teach using a specific syllabus of steps. You will see an A and B marked next to the level. You will need to be able to demonstrate the steps in A and B before moving on to the next level. For example: In tango, you would complete Level 1-A, Level 1-B, before moving to Level 1-2.
You must complete Level 1 before moving to Level 1-2.
If you would like to join Level 1-2 or higher right from the start - you certainly can. Just contact us for our complimentary 10min evaluation.
Private Lessons
Private lessons are an important part of learning dance. Students can learn from group classes, but private lessons are invaluable when it comes to learning correctly from the start, avoiding mistakes, and preventing bad habits that may form and would be very hard to correct later on. Private lessons are also a great choice for those who can't commit to the schedule of group class series. Private lessons is also a great addition to weekly group classes. Spreading out private lessons between group classes and practice sessions/dance socials is the best option for rapid progress.
During the private lessons, the teacher fine-tunes your dancing and technique, clarifies topics that were missed during the group classes, and customizes instruction to your personal needs.
Each lesson is 50 min, and can be taken by an individual dancer or by a dance couple. The lessons are offered in packages, and expire 1 year from your date of purchase.
Contact us to schedule your private lesson.
Shoes and Dancewear
You do not need special dance shoes at the beginning of your dancing journey, but you probably will be looking for a pair in a short while. For starters, wear comfortable shoes with a non-rubber sole, like leather or plastic, this way you avoid them sticking to the hardwood flooring which can cause knee or ankle problems.
You can buy dance shoes online, in a local dance store, like Petticoat Junction (Lynnwood) or have them made by dance shoe professionals in our area, like Art's Dance Shoes (Kirkland). At the studio we offer high quality Odile shoes for men and women to dance Argentine Tango and other Latin dances.
At LaVida we offer high quality Dance wear and clothing line!
There are no restrictions on what you should or should not wear to your dance class; just keep in mind a couple of simple things:
- you should feel comfortable moving around in your clothes
- your clothes should smell fresh
- we do not restrict our students from using any perfume/fragrance/cream/lotion - just be mindful of those around you and do not spill the whole bottle on yourself =)
- also be mindful of the food you eat prior to dancing. Garlic, curry, onion are usually the ones that have distinct smell. Feel free to pickup an Altoids at our front desk next time you go out for dinner prior to class.
Annual Dance Show
If you've always been dreaming to perform, it's never too late! Our Annual Dance Show is a staged production written and choreographed by the studio's director & faculty. It is performed by instructors, youth, and adult students in various dance styles: Argentine tango, salsa, bachata, zouk, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, ballroom, and more. Every dance production is a cross between a fairy tale and the Nutcracker, an intriguing story about friendship, love, magic and life values, told on stage only through the medium of dance. Each dance style represents an idea and tells part of the story. It is appreciated by adults and kids. Come to our next Dance Show! Dates TBA.
Ladies Performance Team
Our Ladies Performance Team at LaVida is dedicated to building strong, confident, and high-level female dancers that may have not started from a young age. Classes mix a variety of stretching and cardio exercises with dance styles such as International Latin, Jazz, and Hip-Hop. After technical strength is built, choreography and show-dance routines are created for the group to later perform around local stages. Dedication to be a part of this group is required, and progress is guaranteed. This team is proof that one can begin to dance from ANY age if they put in the hard work. Passion for dance and commitment to rehearsals are expected. Performances take place at various events, including the annually staged show, recitals, and other events. Auditions required if joining after October 1st. Contact us to be auditioned.
If you can not commit to twice per week performance group training, come to our Pre-Performance class. This 1.5 hour class once per week is a great way to have a jump start on training.
Facebook Page and Groups
Like our LaVida Dance Studio business page
Join LaVida Dance Studio Group
Join Eastside Seattle Salsa Dancing Group
Join Eastside Argentine Tango Group
Join Eastside Seattle Zouk Dance Group
Our LaVida team is driven by a unifying purpose - passion for dance. We would love to help spark yours. Always feel free to email us directly at info@lavidastudio.com for a consultation about what dance style and classes are best for you. We want you to enjoy dancing as much as we do!
LaVida Dance Studio has a great location in Bellevue, near highways I-405 and I-520. In this a central location - everyone from Downtown or Suburban Bellevue, Seattle, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Renton, Redmond, Issaquah, Sammamish can reach us with ease via highway or back roads.
Go ahead and browse through our website, read some Yelp testimonials, or view our gallery and videos. Feel free to contact us with any questions! See you soon!
