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The mission and goal of Tri-State Social Dance, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and surrounding areas is to educate and support the full experience of social partner dancing.
How is Tri-State Social Dance different from other schools? Many studios and instructors focus on steps and sequences, aiming primarily for an attractive appearance and entertainment for audiences and judges in performances and competitions (indeed, we enjoy and train in this artistic aspect of dancing ourselves.) However, our real passion is for helping people reach the joyful creativity and spontaneity that dancing can provide, when truly communicating with a partner rather than just dancing nearby and at the same time. Conventional training often leaves even accomplished dancers with a sense of constraint and limitation due to their being able to follow mainly pre-arranged sequences and routines. Further, it is quite common to find that people can dance easily only with their usual instructor or partner. Ladies almost always enjoy dancing with gentlemen who lead clearly and confidently (commenting from time to time on the relative scarcity of such partners.) Men, on the other hand, sometimes report feeling unsure of themselves (wondering if a missed lead is totally their responsibility, or whether the woman needs to have learned the same patterns.) Our different approach to teaching and learning avoids these obstacles from the beginning and remediates previously formed limitations.
Tri-State Social Dance concentrates on personally convenient and scheduled private lessons (for individuals, couples or small groups) and periodic group workshops designed to build and enhance both men’s and women’s fundamental partner communication skills and their resulting enjoyment of social dancing. All of the usual ballroom, latin, swing, etc., dances are taught. We can also assist in making any dance occasion more participatory and fun. The owners of Tri-State Social Dance originally met at a dance, and 42 years later are still learning, dancing and enjoying sharing their enthusiasm with others.
Tri-State Social Dance offers the following:
- Private Lessons for individuals, couples or small groups, by appointment, in the central downtown area or other locations in greater Cincinnati (including your place.)
- Full-Day Dance WITH Your Partner © (although no partner is required) Workshops (usually Saturdays), in which we focus on one dance per day. After three 90-minute training sessions, a 90-minute open dance is held, with mixed recorded music (welcoming requests) covering many styles but emphasizing the dance featured earlier in the day. In the three training sessions, a series of standard dance sequences is introduced or reviewed. Then (and this is the gist of our unique approach), emphasis is placed on the branch points (options) where leaders signal and initiate different figures, and followers receive these signals and respond instantly and appropriately. Several branch points are explored and practiced each workshop day, and all participants rotate partners frequently for greater practice (and feedback) in communicating and dancing together. Such training leads to greater skill and enjoyment in social dancing for both women and men, with regular or changing partners, and is worthwhile even for competitors or performers. Other teachers are welcome to propose, or will occasionally be invited to present, cooperative workshops. Cost is $50/person for the entire day, payable on registration. Comments on previous workshops include "I so enjoyed our afternoon of dancing - the instruction, the dinner, my fellow dancers", "I had a ball (no pun intended) and really enjoyed meeting so many interesting folks" and "Thank you so much. I had a really good time, learned a lot and also much enjoyed getting to know the other people who share a love of dancing. I will definitely come to your next workshop."
- Dance Excursions, in which groups of participants travel together for dance events or activities locally or elsewhere, at least once per month.
- Participation or assistance with Dance-Related Events and Activities.
Please call or email for more information, to make suggestions and requests, to indicate interest in participating, or to register (payments accepted by cash, check or credit card.) Check back often as this web site and the offerings of Tri-State Social Dance are updated regularly. We hope to see you dancing!e to see you dancing!
Tri-State Social Dance
Cincinnati, OH
513-265-1309
