Discover proven strategies to accelerate your ballroom dance learning and see faster results from your dance lessons.

7 Ways to Speed Up Your Dance Progress

Let’s clear something up right now: Sleeping on your dance shoes won’t help.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get down to business. Learning how to dance is a wonderful hobby full of benefits for both the body, mind, and soul. So, naturally, any dance student excited about improvement will want to speed up their progress. Let’s take a look at 7 ways to do it.

Whether you’re preparing for a special event, eager to reach a new level, or simply want to maximize your investment in dance lessons, these strategies will help you see faster results while enjoying the journey.

Strategy 1: Back to Back Lessons

Turning a 45 minute lesson into a 90 minute lesson can be the difference between feeling a little awkward to having a major breakthrough.

Think of this like a workout. Every visit to the gym needs some ramp up time to get into “gym-mode”. This is usually followed by cardio, weight training, and then some kind of cool down activity.

Your dance lessons work the same way. Once you get warmed up and moving, your Arthur Murray dance teachers want to help you hit the stride of your lessons, the flow state, if you will. The longer they can sustain that, the bigger the level of improvement.

Why It Works:

When you extend your lesson time, you:

• Spend less time “warming up” and more time in peak learning mode
• Allow concepts to sink in through repetition within the same session
• Give your instructor more time to refine and polish your technique
• Create momentum that carries into your next visit

Strategy 2: Accelerate Your Schedule

Your dance lesson is on Thursday night, your next one is on Thursday night, and until you accelerate your schedule a bit, you may have a lot to remember on Thursday nights.

If your dance lessons were a book, how long would it take to get a feel for the story if you only read on Thursday nights? Going further, how much time do you think you’d spend re-reading to get back into the flow of the story?

Once a week lessons is rooted in the same way we consumed network television before Netflix and Hulu. You’d watch your shows once a week, at their regularly scheduled time, and hope you didn’t forget anything vital.

The Modern Approach:

Today’s successful dance students treat their lessons more like a streaming series. They binge when they can, maintain momentum, and never let too much time pass between sessions. Even adding one extra lesson per week can dramatically speed up your progress.

Strategy 3: Try an “Off Day”

One of the most underutilized tips to make faster progress is coming in on an “off day”.

This isn’t meant to replace your regular lessons, but adding a lesson in between your regular appointments can be the glue between lessons. Here’s an example:

Let’s say you come in on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Your best learning day is probably Thursday, and here’s why: there’s only 2 days of separation from your Tuesday lesson.

This means that Tuesday is your day to get back into “dance mode” after a 4 day break.

Now let’s add in a lesson on Friday or Monday. This shortens the gap and makes your regular Tuesday lesson much more productive. Not to mention, your Tuesday lessons will start to feel the same way that your Thursdays have.

The Science Behind It:

Motor learning research shows that shorter gaps between practice sessions lead to better retention. By adding an off-day lesson, you’re essentially shortening your “forgetting curve” and spending less time reviewing and more time advancing.

Strategy 4: Insert a Group Class

Think of your private lessons like fitness appointments with your personal trainer. You’re working one on one with an agenda built around your dance progress. Now think of your Group Classes at Arthur Murray like a drop-in cardio class.

While it may not be as tailored to your specific private lesson plan, it’s keeping your overall dance progress active and helps to prevent atrophy.

This makes your next lesson with your trainer/teacher even more productive.

Group Class Benefits for Progress:

Group Classes offer unique advantages that accelerate your learning:

• Pattern Exposure: You’ll encounter steps and variations you might not see in private lessons
• Different Teaching Perspectives: Multiple instructors offer different ways of explaining concepts
• Social Dancing Experience: Dancing with various partners builds adaptability
• Rhythm and Timing: Group settings naturally reinforce musicality and timing

Strategy 5: Take a Coaching Lesson

There are so many great reasons to work with a dance coach. In short, working with a dance coach (also referred to as a “coaching lesson”) is nothing short of a supercharge for your dance momentum.

With concentrated material that is built to do everything from finishing routines to starting new dances, every coaching lesson is designed to eliminate many of the learning traffic jams you can experience along the way.

What Makes Coaching Different:

A dance coach brings:

• Specialized Expertise: Deep knowledge in specific dances or techniques
• Fresh Eyes: An outside perspective on your dancing that can spot issues your regular instructor might miss
• Advanced Concepts: Access to higher-level technique and styling
• Intensive Focus: Concentrated work on specific areas that need development

Strategy 6: Try a Surge

Whether it’s getting in shape, a big presentation at work, or prepping for a test, we all can benefit from a concentrated time and effort.

A surge would be the perfect way to kickstart a new project like a dance routine, a new level, or integrating a new dance into your program.

Doing a concentrated surge in your lessons isn’t a permanent commitment in your schedule, but can create the muscle memory necessary to make the skills you learn permanent.

When to Use a Surge:

Consider a lesson surge when you’re:

• Preparing for a wedding, cruise, or special event
• Starting a new dance that requires extra attention
• Working on a performance or competition routine
• Breaking through a plateau in your progress
• Getting back into dancing after a break

A surge typically involves 3-5 additional lessons over a short period, creating intensive immersion in your dancing.

Strategy 7: Practice Parties

For some students, the Practice Parties are a great chance to connect with other students and enjoy an evening of dancing together. For others, the Practice Party is a hands-on lab to put skills into action with a variety of dance partners.

Here’s the good news: The Practice Party can be both things.

Remember this quote: Information without application builds frustration. So treat every Practice Party as an opportunity to work on applying the information you’ve learned. It’s a safe and secure environment, built for you to try things out, and it’s also fun at the same time.

Maximizing Your Practice Party Experience:

To get the most from Practice Parties:

• Dance with Different Partners: Each partner challenges you differently and builds adaptability
• Try New Things: Use the relaxed environment to experiment with patterns you’ve been learning
• Ask for Feedback: Staff members are there to help; don’t hesitate to ask questions
• Stay for the Whole Event: The more you dance, the more you ingrain your skills
• Make it a Habit: Regular attendance compounds your progress over time

Creating Your Acceleration Plan

The strategies above aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, they work best in combination. Here’s how to create your personal acceleration plan:

For Beginners

Start by ensuring consistent lesson attendance and adding Group Classes to your schedule. Attend every Practice Party you can. These foundational habits will accelerate your early progress significantly.

For Intermediate Students

Consider adding an off-day lesson and trying back-to-back sessions periodically. A coaching lesson can provide the breakthrough you need to advance to the next level.

For Advanced Students

Implement surge periods before events or competitions. Combine coaching lessons with increased frequency to refine your technique and artistry.

Final Thought

There aren’t any shortcuts to great dance progress. The learning process is a journey with ups and downs. The good news is that when you work hard for your progress, you appreciate the breakthroughs so much more.

While it may sound exciting to take a pill to receive instant latin hip motion, would that be an achievement? No. The areas in our lives where we’ve challenged ourselves, stretched beyond comfort, and fought off frustration is where achievements are earned.

While it is a journey to achievement, that doesn’t mean we can’t upgrade the method of travel. Using the 7 tips above will certainly add momentum and reduce the time until achievement in a fraction of the time.

Whether it’s a temporary boost or a long term strategic upgrade, your Arthur Murray community will be there to recognize and celebrate your achievements along the way.

Ready to accelerate your dance progress? Talk to your instructor about implementing these strategies, and watch your dancing transform faster than you ever thought possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lessons per week is optimal for fast progress?

For most students seeking accelerated progress, 2-3 private lessons per week combined with Group Classes and Practice Parties is ideal. This frequency provides enough repetition for muscle memory development while preventing burnout. Your Arthur Murray instructor can help determine the right schedule for your goals.

Will taking more lessons make me a better dancer faster?

Yes, to a point. Increased lesson frequency accelerates progress by reducing the time your brain spends “forgetting” between sessions. However, quality matters as much as quantity. Make sure you’re fully engaged during each lesson and supplementing with Practice Parties to apply what you learn.

How do Practice Parties help speed up my progress?

Practice Parties provide essential real-world application of your lessons. Dancing with multiple partners, navigating a social floor, and dancing to varied music all build skills that can’t be developed in private lessons alone. They also reinforce muscle memory through additional dancing time.

Should I focus on one dance or learn multiple dances to progress faster?

Both approaches have merit. Learning multiple dances builds versatile skills and keeps your brain engaged. However, if you have a specific goal (like a wedding dance), focusing on one or two dances can accelerate progress in those areas. Your instructor can help you find the right balance.

What’s the best way to prepare for a dance event in a short timeframe?

Use a combination of the surge approach and increased Practice Party attendance. Add extra lessons in the weeks leading up to your event, focus on the specific dances you’ll need, and use Practice Parties to build confidence dancing in a social setting. A coaching lesson can provide polish for special occasions.

How do I know if I’m making progress?

Progress shows up in many ways: increased comfort on the dance floor, ability to hold conversations while dancing, smoother transitions between patterns, and feedback from your instructor. Keep a dance journal to track improvements, and review it periodically to see how far you’ve come.