It’s up to you! At your first lesson, we will start to explore the roles of the leader and follower to help you get a sense for which one feels more natural to you and your partner. We do not limit our students to specific roles and often teach both parts to both partners. Not only does this help you to understand each role more fully, but it also gives you an opportunity to explore different ways of communicating with your partner. 

No. We are inclusive of gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, transgender, questioning, or anyone else who might identify themselves differently. If you have an interest in learning to dance, we'd love to teach you! We have a rich culture at the studio that represents many different people, but we are not an exclusively queer space.

Typically, there are multiple private lessons going on in the space in a given hour. You will have the full attention of your instructor, and all instructors work as a team to make sure the needs of each student are met within the space. When you start focusing on what you're learning, you won't even realize others are in the space. 

We are open for lessons Tuesday through Friday from 1-10pm and Saturday from 11am-4pm. We have two locations in Chicago: Lakeview and West Loop. Please see our contact page for more information.

Yes, of course you can! We can start with styles of music you like and explore songs from there. A lot of the early learning process is focused more on moving with your partner and understanding how music affects our movement choices. Also, some people approach their first dance by choosing first a dance style and then finding a song that fits the style. Whether it’s a Private Lesson or the First Dance Prep Classes, there’s never a bad time to start.

The frequency and number of lessons is unique to each individual and couple. The more time you allow yourselves to get comfortable moving together, the more confident you will feel. Like any new skill, allowing yourself time and experience is better than cramming a ton of new information into a short period of time. At Gay Wedding Dance and Ballroom Dance Chicago, we see learning to dance as a fun and exciting process to be shared with your partner, rather than a means to an end. So, we recommend getting started sooner rather than later to achieve your full potential as dance partners before the big day.

We require at least 24 hours notification to cancel or reschedule your lesson. (For example, if your scheduled lesson starts at 8pm on Wednesday, you must call or email us before 8pm on Tuesday). If you change your appointment within the 24-hour window, you will be charged for the missed lesson.  

Regardless of the difference in level of experience between you and your partner, you should plan to take lessons together. It’s important to know not just how to dance but how to dance together. Besides, dance lessons are a fantastic way to spend some quality time with your significant other. Experienced instructors, like who we have at Ballroom Dance Chicago and Gay Wedding Dance, are able to teach to varying skills levels at the same time. 

Absolutely. Some instruction is always better than none so that you can feel that much more confident dancing together on your big day. We offer Private Lessons that are a focused block of hours dedicated to preparing wedding couples who haven’t left enough time to prepare.