Classes

Quick links:
Current Class Schedule
How to Register
Eligibility
Rules and Regulations

We offer classes in multiple syllabus levels, and our schedule and offerings change each term according to our members' needs. To find out more information on the dances and levels, check out our dance info page.

Winter 2012 Class Schedule

Class	Dances	Time	Dates (Sundays)	Cost
Pre-Bronze Latin	Cha-cha, Rumba, Jive and Samba	3:00-4:00	Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12, March 4, 11, 18	$35/term
Pre-Bronze Ballroom	Waltz, Tango, Quickstep and Foxtrot	4:00-5:00	Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12, March 4, 11, 18	$35/term
Bronze Latin	Cha-cha and Rumba	3:00-4:00	Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12, March 4, 11, 18	$40/term
Bronze Ballroom	Waltz and Foxtrot	4:00-5:00	Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12, March 4, 11, 18	$40/term
Latin Technique	Cha-cha, Rumba, Jive and Samba	5:00-6:00	Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12, March 4, 11, 18	$45/term
Ballroom Technique	Waltz, Tango, Quickstep and Foxtrot	6:00-7:00	Jan. 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12, March 4, 11, 18	$45/term

All classes are held in PAC Studios 1 and 2.

Discounts
If you take a technique class with its corresponding Pre-Bronze or Bronze class, take $5 off, plus you get $5 off if you take more than one class! So, for example, PBL and Latin Technique together costs $70, not $80.
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How To Get Started

Interested in joining the club? Here is a quick step-by-step procedure to start. This section (and others on this page) should tell you all you need to know!

We encourage anyone in the University of Waterloo community interested in learning and enjoying ballroom dance to join us. We offer a variety of registration options to cater to your needs. We believe that ballroom dancing should be accessible to everyone so we keep our prices as low as possible.

Everyone that participates in any of our events or classes must register as a club member. By registering in any of our classes you automatically become a member of UWBDC. You are then able to participate in any of our practice sessions or club events, and register for workshops.

Registration Procedure

• Step 1: Check your eligibility here. To join our club, you need to have a PAC membership. All full time UW students have one. Other university affiliates can purchase one from the Athletics Office in the PAC. More info is given on the University of Waterloo Campus Recreation Membership info page.
• Step 2: Choose your dance classes. Would you like to dance gracefully with a ballgown? Or do you prefer hot Latin rhythm? Information on dances and dance classes is given on the class list and dance info page.
• Step 3: Come to a registration session. Check the events page for the dates and locations of registration sessions. This is important as our classes have enrollment caps and may fill up quickly. You will need your Watcard and lesson fee (cash or cheque only). If you can bring a pen to fill out forms, it will be great!
  
  Pricing information is given on the class list.
• Step 4: Enjoy dancing!

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Eligibility

Regrettably we are currently only able to offer memberships to current University of Waterloo students or members of the University community that have purchased a Campus Recreation Membership. If you are not a current student, you must purchase your campus recreation membership before you register for us. Memberships can be obtained from the athletics office in the PAC. As a guideline, only the following are eligible for such memberships.

• University Faculty
• University Staff
• University Alumni
• Spouse of a student, staff, faculty, or alumni
• Guest of a PAC membership holder

Guests generally must purchase a guest pass ($5/day) from the PAC Athletics Office.

More information is given on the University of Waterloo Campus Recreation Membership info page.

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UWBDC Regulations

We have a few rules that you should be aware of before registering:

• No shoes that have been worn outdoors may be worn in any of our dance events. This includes classes, practice sessions, social dances, and workshops. You are welcome to dance in socks if you have no suitable shoes. Dance shoes are not required. Any pair of shoes that has not been worn outside is fine.
• In all of our instructional events (classes and workshops) we request that you rotate partners. We do not strictly enforce this policy but we operate our club in a way that does not require anyone to sign up with a partner. This is very helpful in the learning process and encourages socialization between all members. During social dances or practice sessions, no such rule applies, but we still strongly encourage rotation.
• As a general rule we do not accept requests for a refund. For details please consult our refund policy.
• Any behaviour that makes any of our other members feel uncomfortable is unacceptable. A warning will be given on first occurrence. If the behaviour is repeated your membership will be revoked and you will be banned from all club events. No refund will be given in this case.


Etiquette

Attire

We do not allow outdoor shoes in the studios. Dance shoes are good but not necessary. If you don't have dance shoes just wear socks. Clean shoes are also acceptable but runners do not spin well on wood floors. At the beginner level, you will be fine either way. We do not recommend that our beginner students purchase dance shoes (until you know you love the sport), but if you are interested, please ask us for some recommendations.

You don't have to dress up for practice. Comfort is much more important than fashion. Tight clothing is not recommended as dance requires a wide range of motion. Hygiene

Please consider your partners before coming to practice as you will be working quite closely with them. They will be aware of the smell of your breath and whether you are wearing deodorant or not. Please wash your hands carefully before practice as well.

Noise

No talking while the instructor teaches. The studios have very bad acoustics. Please be quiet while our instructors are talking so that everyone can hear the lessons. Even small chatter can be disruptive, so again, please no talking during instruction! Much like the movies or lectures, turn off your cell phones too.

Changing Partners

Some of you may have signed up as a couple, others joined as individuals. We have asked the instructors to ensure plenty of partner rotations occur throughout the lesson. Changing partners is extremely helpful for improving your dancing, it will help you learn to lead and follow, you will become familiar with other club members and make new friends. If you are not comfortable with partner exchanges, or there is someone you are uncomfortable dancing with please talk to an executive representative prior to the beginning of class. You are not required to dance with anyone with whom you do not feel comfortable! The point is to have fun.

From time to time there is an imbalance of men and women. When someone has courteously danced an exercise alone, please be proactive to include them in the next rotation. Everyone deserves an equal chance!

Be on Time

Please be on time and avoid missing classes. Each class builds on the previous material and missed classes may be difficult to recover. If you are late or miss a class, please don't expect the instructor to repeat the material just for you, as this is unfair to other dancers in the class.

We have made an effort to arrange as much instruction as time allows and expect our members to respect the time allotted to other classes. If you are not enrolled in the class following the one you have just completed we request you to convene in the hall making way for the new class. We hope people will be conversational and make a point to meet each other after class, but not in such a way as to disrupt the following class.

We recommend that you show up at least 10 minutes early for each class, to warm up. Even if there is no studio space to warm up in, you can stretch and put your shoes on in the hallway, without interrupting the ongoing classes!

Practice Sessions

The regularly-scheduled practice sessions will be held until the exam periods, as indicated on our calendar of events. We highly encourage you to come out! The practices are very important to develop your dancing skills and are a lot of fun as well.

Executives will be at each practice session (we are the DJs). If you need any help or simply want to dance with us, please feel free to ask! We are not teachers, but we are happy to dance with you.

Confirmation of Enrollment

To confirm we do not have anyone free-loading classes we have arranged and paid for together, you may be requested to show your watcard as proof of identity. We have your registration on file. Please be patient with us, as it will take some time to become familiar with everyone.

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