For grown-ups with two left feet
Starting to dance as an adult in Toronto
Most adults who walk into a dance studio have never danced before. If you’re nervous, curious and not sure where to begin, this is the page for you: how to pick a style, what the first class is really like, and what happens after.
- Rated 4.9 on Google
- Founded by World and British champions
- Adults only
- No partner needed
You’re not the only beginner in the room
The fear is always the same: everyone else will already know what they’re doing. In a beginner course, they won’t. Classes are built for people starting from zero, partners rotate so nobody’s stuck with one person, and no partner or experience is needed. Adult programs are for anyone 18 and over, whether you’re in your twenties or your seventies. Starting later? Read starting to dance in your 50s, 60s and beyond.
Plenty of people come on their own; our page on going to dance class alone covers what that’s like. Plenty come with a friend or a partner. Both are completely normal.
If you can clap along to a song you like, you have enough rhythm to start.
Pick a first style
Salsa and bachata are the most popular first dances at Beach Ballroom, and both have four-week beginner courses. If neither appeals, there are other good starting points.
Salsa
What your first month really feels like: salsa dancing in Toronto for beginners.
Bachata
The partner dance people fall for quietly. Read what bachata is.
Can’t decide?
An honest comparison: salsa vs bachata.
Ballroom
Most adults start ballroom with the waltz or foxtrot.
No partner at all
Rows, not couples: line dancing for beginners.
Want the full picture first? Browse every dance style we teach.
What a beginner course looks like
Beginner courses at Beach Ballroom run four consecutive weeks, one class a week, for $109. Each class builds on the last, and classes are kept small so a coach can actually see and correct you. If you miss one, speak to your instructor and you’ll be helped to catch up. After Level 1 you can move up a level, come to the weekly socials, or add private lessons.
We’ll tell you the next start date when you book. If you’d rather compare a course with a class pass, a membership or private lessons, our breakdown of courses, passes and private lessons sets them side by side.
The practical bits
Wear comfortable clothes you can move in and flat shoes with a smooth sole; there’s no need to buy dance shoes yet. Our page on what to wear to a first class has the details. In winter, bring your shoes in a bag and change at the studio, because wet boots don’t work on a dance floor.
Arrive on time: doors close five minutes after a class starts and late entry isn’t permitted. The studio is at 1501 Queen Street East in the Beaches. There’s no private lot, but several Green P lots and street parking are a short walk away. There are no showers, but there are three private gender-neutral bathrooms and a changing room.
After the first month
The moment it starts to feel like dancing is usually your first social. Latin Thursdays and Country Fridays both start with a short beginner-friendly class at 8:00, then the floor opens. It’s $10 for the class and the social. More in our guide to social dancing in Toronto.
And if you’re looking for a way to get a partner or friend involved, a dance night is high on our list of date night ideas in Toronto.
Take the first step
Book a Level 1 course and come as you are. If you’ve danced before or aren’t sure which path fits, a $99 consultation with a senior coach will point you the right way.