In this update:

• Lesson bookings - apologies and requests
• Lesson themes for this week
• New cycle starting soon
• Short video from the awards night
• Dance Fitness

Lesson bookings
Apologies to those who found the studio was not available for their booked lessons over the weekend. There was a communication breakdown that resulted in the studio being double booked. Thank you for your understanding. Your teachers have ideally by now organised makeup lessons.

On the topic of lesson cancellations. Please do your utmost to give your teacher fair warning if you need to cancel. That allows us to organise other students. When you cancel - especially if it is late - rent still needs to be paid for the space and your teacher will be left at the studio with no lessons (and thus no pay). I am sure you can imagine the issues this causes. We understand that emergencies can happen and account for that, but if possible, then please give us plenty or notice. We have been able to avoid cancellation fees and we would like to keep it that way.

Lesson themes for this week
We are still teaching the same dances:

• Tuesday Street Latin (6:30pm) - Kizomba and bachata
• ​Wednesday Latin and ballroom (7:30pm) - Quickstep and Rumba
• Thursday Swing and Rock & Roll (6:30pm) - R'n'R and blues

But the difference this week is that we will start to focus more on linking figures so that you can dance them socially.

Next cycle
In two weeks we start the new cycle. There has been a request for argentine tango so that will be in the mix. But please let me know of other styles you would like to see taught.


Also, that means there is another intro 4 week cycle for beginners who are new to the studio. Please let anyone you know who is thinking about learning to dance know about this course.

Short video of the awards night
If you want to see a few highlights from the evening, then take a look below.

Dance Fitness
I am currently speaking with people about proving a dance fitness program during the day. This will be separate from our current offering, but we will offer discount to active Destine Dancers who are interested and others part of the Wickers community. Please let me know if you are interested. Also let me know of anyone who might like to teach it - I am currently in talks only so there is opportunity for anyone.


Have a great week
​Clint

​Thanks to those who came to the awards night last week. It was good to get back into these after lock down. You can see the photos on Facebook and Instagram.
 
This week we are still doing the same lessons:

• Tuesday Street Latin (6:30pm) - Kizomba and bachata
• ​Wednesday Latin and ballroom (7:30pm) - Quickstep and Rumba
• Thursday Swing and Rock & Roll (6:30pm) - R'n'R and blues

But there will be a focus this week on consolidating what has been covered thus far. We will also be changing styles in a couple weeks so let us know if there is something you would like to see taught.
 
Thanks in advance
 
Clint Steele

This week we will be having social dance after the group lesson on Wednesday. That’s because we are doing a staff training and awards night, and we will not be running the other dance lessons we normally run.

The awards night part will be a small one – still getting in the swing of things after COVID. So if you want to arrive at around 7:15, then you can watch the awards, do a group dance class and then hang around for the social. Note that the social is free, but the group class has the usual price.

The bar will also be open so you can buy a drink or two as well.

Let me know what styles you would like to dance via this survey so we can get a playlist sorted - https://forms.gle/eWTxA9LN4X1XWwTdA

Apart from that, we are running the usual group dance lessons this week:

• Tuesday Street Latin (6:30pm) Kizomba and bachata
• ​Wednesday Latin and ballroom (7:30pm) Quickstep and Rumba
• Thursday Swing and Rock & Roll (6:30pm) R'n'R and blues

​See you on the dance floor
Clint

In this update:

• Lessons this week
• More socials to come
• The use of feeling to learn dance faster

 
Lessons this week

• Tuesday 6:30pm - Bachata and Kizomba
• Wednesday 7:30pm - Rumba and Quickstep
• Thursday 6:30pm - Rock and roll and blues

More socials to come
The catchup at the club last week was an excellent event. It was a pleasant Sunday afternoon of dance and music - with a few drinks from the bar. That's why we will be doing the same again on a regular basis. You might therefore see the occasional email and social media post about more bands playing at the club with an invite to come along and join us for a dance.
 
Dancing with feeling
I have been talking with the teachers about some of the things that we notice holding students back - this is so we can keep coming up with ideas to help you learn faster. A key one is the lack of feeling (or intuition). Instead, some students get very cerebral. This will never work in ballroom dance. You need to operate on the faster instinctive level. One way to get this to happen is to ask your teacher what to focus on. Maybe the weight distribution across your feet, the smoothness of your arms, the location of your partner. They key is to notice these things without judging. We call this the inner game. So next lesson, be mindful of being aware of what you feel without thinking (or judging) too much. And talk to your teacher about this.