Welcome to the world of partner dancing!

What is ballroom dance?

Ballroom dance encompasses a range of partner dances performed both socially and competitively. Unlike other solo dance styles, ballroom dance is a conversation between two people making it creative, social, and fun! With traditional styles from the slow waltz to something more uptempo like salsa or mambo, there is a dance style for everyone.

Is ballroom dance for me?

There are a million reasons people find their way to ballroom. Some people start dancing because of an upcoming event (getting married, check out our wedding dance info). Others find their way onto the dance floor as a way to connect and spend meaningful time with their partner or themselves. Still others dance to reawaken a creative and spicy side of themselves that may have gotten lost or suppressed amid the stress and busyness of adult life. No matter why you are here, our community can’t wait to dance with you. Still feeling nervous? You are not alone. Read on to dive into our thoughts on some of the most common dance worries.

What are group classes, private lessons, and practice sessions and which ones are right for me?

At Ignis we offer private lessons and group classes and practice sessions.

All of our private lessons are 45 minutes long and taught by one of our amazing expert instructors. During that time, students focus on skills and techniques appropriate to their level. At Ignis we use the DVIDA syllabus for all of our ballroom dance styles. For club/living styles (like West Coast Swing, salsa/bachata, Lindy Hop, etc.), we complement this syllabus with expert teaching directly from the communities who regularly dance these styles socially and competitively.

During group classes, teachers will introduce new concepts and moves that will be expanded upon during private lessons. Group classes focus on a single dance style. Some group classes are level specific and others are open to all levels. For a full explanation of each group lesson type, read more at the bottom of this page.

During practice sessions, there is no set lesson plan. The teachers will play music from a number of different styles and students get a chance to practice their skills and floor craft with dancers of all levels. Students can use this time to reinforce concepts from group and private lessons while socializing with our community.

We recommend a regular balance of group and private lessons. Most students take one private lesson per week. Some take more. Some take less (we don’t recommend less than 1 private lesson every other week as it is hard to build on progress).

Finally, we actively encourage our students to attend social dance events both at Ignis and out in the community. Socials are the perfect way to lighten the emphasis on practice and improvement and instead focus on why we dance, for the joy of dancing! Whether the social is the monthly ballroom dance at Ignis or one of the many Boston area socials, you will meet new people, pick up some new moves, and just have fun!

What is the difference between competitive dancing and social dancing?

In competitions, dancers are judged based on technical precision, styling, artistic expression, rhythm, and the effectiveness of the lead-follow relationship. Judges look at how well dancers execute steps, present themselves, and convey the dance's character and emotion. Overall performance quality, including choreography and adherence to style, also plays a crucial role in scoring. Competitions are the perfect way to lean into your competitive side, evaluate your dance progress against other local dancers, and give you a goal to strive for. In contrast, social dancing is all about having fun dancing with other Boston area dancers. No one is going to judge you if you stepped with the right foot instead of the left or if your form was a little off. It is all about fun, meeting new friends, and having a great time! While all of the local dances are always open to beginners, you may not feel ready for the social scene right away. And that is ok! For now dance here at Ignis and, when you feel ready, venture out with friends to explore the vibrant Boston social scene.

I have heard people talk about bronze, silver, and gold dancing. What does that mean?

Each ballroom syllabus uses its own system for describing the various dance levels. In DVIDA (and most others) that breaks down as bronze, silver, and gold levels. These levels help us layer your dance training properly so that you can build strong foundational skills to prepare you for more advanced dancing.

All of our dancers start as Bronze dancers. This is our foundational program where you will learn all the necessary skills to become a successful social dancer. It is often referred to as the most important level, as more advanced skills will depend on your mastery of these basics. After bronze comes silver and gold. These levels focus on more advanced social techniques and serious competitive dancing.