Take a breath, you’ve done the hard part.

You’ve made contact. You’ve made the call and booked your first dance lesson. But now you’re wondering what comes next. We’ll help you get started; follow these 5 steps for a great dance lesson.

5 Steps For a Great Dance Lesson

Here’s the thing – your dance lesson doesn’t start when you walk through the studio doors. It starts the moment you decide to prepare for it. The students who make the fastest progress aren’t necessarily the most talented. They’re the ones who set themselves up for success before the lesson even begins.

1. Get In The Groove

Listen to some fun and exciting dance music on your way to your lesson. This will put you in a dancing frame of mind. Dance music can be anything from Pitbull to Frank Sinatra. Warming up and transitioning from the outside world to the Arthur Murray world can be as simple as two clicks on your digital music collection.

Your brain doesn’t shift gears instantly. If you’ve been sitting in traffic or stressing about work, you need a mental transition. Music is the fastest way to get there. In fact, many top students create specific playlists for their drive to the studio – it’s that effective.

What kind of music works? Whatever matches the dances you’re working on. If you’re focusing on Latin dances, cue up some Salsa and Cha-Cha tracks. Working on Smooth? Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble are your friends.

2. Bring the Right Dance Shoes

There’s an old saying: “a good dancer can dance in any shoes.” And yes this is true; but don’t forget, you’re going to the studio for a lesson to learn to be a great dancer. So here are some quick suggestions on dance shoes.

Here are my dance shoe recommendations for women:

A smooth shoe which is closed toed

A rhythm shoe which is open toed

A practice shoe – which is more like a man’s shoes but with a higher heel

Here are my dance shoe recommendations for men:

A smooth shoe – should look like a pair of dress shoes

A Latin shoe – you may have two pairs of smooth shoes before you jump into these

Why do shoes matter so much? Because dance shoes are designed to help you move correctly. The soles allow for proper pivoting. The heels are positioned for balance. Regular street shoes work against you – they grip when you need to slide and slip when you need to stick.

3. Show Up A Little Early

There are all sorts of breakthroughs you can make on your dance lessons. However, that becomes limited if you are 5-10 minutes late to your dance lessons. Remember, we want you to have the mental and physical edge, right? Show up early and this will give you time to check in, change your shoes, visit with some friends, and warm-up.

How early is early enough? 10-15 minutes gives you breathing room. You can use the restroom, put your bag away, say hello to the staff, and mentally prepare. Rushing in at the last second puts you in catch-up mode – and that’s not where breakthroughs happen.

4. Warm-Up

Did you know that in most Arthur Murray studios it’s okay to warm-up on the dance floor before your lesson? Yes, even if there are other lessons going on. Warming up starts with the easiest step you know, to shake the rust off. From there, add one layer of technique for each level of your dancing. If you’ve broken a sweat before your lesson starts – you’re becoming advanced in warming up.

Think of your lesson like an athletic event. Would a basketball player walk onto the court cold and start shooting three-pointers? Of course not. They warm up first. Dancing is no different.

A good warm-up routine:

• Basic footwork from your simplest dance (usually Waltz or Foxtrot)
• A few box steps to loosen up your frame
• Some turns or spins at half-speed
• Hip movement if you’re working on Latin dances

By the time your teacher greets you, your body is ready to learn – not just wake up.

5. Take Notes

If you haven’t checked it out yet, I strongly recommend that you take a look at “Master These 14 Dance Notebook Hacks” for great ideas on setting up a great dance notebook. Taking dance notes is a great way to lock in the information when your lesson is over, and to jog your memory before your lesson.

Here’s what separates casual students from serious dancers: notes. Your teacher will give you corrections, tips, and breakthroughs during your lesson. Without notes, most of that information evaporates within 24 hours. With notes, you have a permanent record to review, practice, and build upon.

Don’t worry about writing during the lesson – that can disrupt the flow. Take 2-3 minutes immediately after to jot down the key points. What dance did you work on? What was the main correction? What felt different or better?

Bonus: Set a Goal for Each Lesson

Before you even arrive at the studio, ask yourself: what do I want to accomplish today? Maybe it’s improving your posture in Foxtrot. Maybe it’s finally nailing that spin you’ve been struggling with. Maybe it’s just staying relaxed and having fun.

A focused lesson beats a wandering one every time. Share your goal with your teacher at the start, and you’ll be amazed at how much more targeted your time becomes.

The Bottom Line

Great dancers aren’t born – they’re built, one lesson at a time. And the lessons that build the most are the ones you prepare for. Music on the drive. Right shoes on your feet. Early arrival. Proper warm-up. Notes afterward.

Do this consistently, and you won’t just have great lessons. You’ll have rapid, visible progress that everyone notices – including you.

Curious how this feels on the dance floor? Book an introductory lesson at the studio nearest you, or get in touch with any questions.