Ballroom dance lessons in central London

Ballroom is a family of partner dances built on one shared foundation: posture, a steady frame, and the ability to lead and follow without discussing it first. Learn that foundation once and every dance below opens up.

The five ballroom dances

Waltz is the one most people picture. Slow, rising and falling, counted in three. It is forgiving of beginners and the usual place to start.

Quickstep is light and fast, full of hops and runs. It looks harder than it is once the timing lands.

Foxtrot is the smooth, walking dance of old Hollywood. Simple to watch, and the one that teaches you the most about moving well.

Tango is sharp and deliberate, danced with a lower, more grounded frame than the others. No rise and fall, all intention.

Viennese waltz is the fast one, turning continuously around the floor. Most people come to it once the slow waltz feels comfortable.

Where to start

Most beginners start with waltz or foxtrot, because the timing is steady and you can dance them socially fairly quickly. If you have a specific event in mind, we work backwards from that instead.

Progress is not measured in steps. What changes first is how you stand and how you move, and the figures follow from there.

Ballroom for a wedding first dance

A first dance does not have to be complicated to look good. A confident waltz or foxtrot, danced calmly and in time, reads far better on the day than choreography you are counting through in your head. We teach both, and we can work to your song.

Social, competitive, or somewhere in between

Some people learn so they can dance at weddings and parties without feeling awkward. Others are working towards competitions and Pro-Am events. Most want something in between: a skill of their own, an hour a week that is not work, and a reason to stand up straighter. All three are welcome here.

Your first ballroom lesson

New students start with a 50 minute private introductory lesson for £35 per person, and you can come on your own or with a partner. You will be dancing in it. Wear something you can move in, and bring smooth soled shoes if you have them.