Ballroom Dance Chicago FAQ

  • We have two main studios in Chicago.

    The Home studio is located in the neighborhood of Lakeview at 4039B N. Ravenswood Ave (near Irving Park), Chicago, IL 60613.

    You can reach us by nearby public transportation: Brown Line CTA stop at Irving Park, Ashland Bus # 9, and Irving Park Bus # 80

    Driving Directions: Ravenswood Ave has two directions, running on either side of the Metra tracks. We are located at the Ravenswood on the East side of the Metra tracks. Free parking is available in front of our building.

    The Loft studio is located in the West Loop of Chicago at 845 W Fulton St., Suite 213, Chicago, IL 60607 (in Fulton Market District).

    You can get to the West Loop loft by nearby public transportation: Blue Line CTA stop at Grand, Green & Pink Line CTA stop at Morgan

    Driving Directions: We are located on the South side of Fulton St between Peoria St & Green St.

    Metered and valet parking is available in the neighborhood.

  • For both our Lakeview and West Loop Loft studios, our hours are:

    Monday - Friday: 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm

    Saturdays: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

  • Private lessons are 1 hour long (45 minutes with an instructor and 15 minutes of practice at the end). The last couple of minutes with your instructor are spent scheduling and taking notes.

  • Individual, social lesson (1 hour): $135 – $180, depending on the number of lessons purchased in a package. Per lesson pricing is also available.

    Competition lessons (1 hour): $125 - $200, depending on many factors, such as how many you purchase at a time, how often you come, and how private you want the lessons to be.

    Rates for working with Matthew, Master Instructor, range from $175 - $235/lesson.

    Studio members receive 25% off private lessons, 35% off group classes, and more.

    Don’t feel pressured to decide on the number of lessons right away. You can speak with your instructor about your goals and your time frame.

  • We recommend taking lessons as often as possible. Many students take multiple lessons per week. We suggest coming in at a minimum once per week so that you retain the information you’ve learned and get the most out of your lessons.

    If you are on our competition track, you should speak with your instructor and the Competition Manager to decide on the best frequency for your learning.

  • Yes! We have an entire branch of our school dedicated to training dancers for competition. We teach American smooth and rhythm, which includes: waltz, foxtrot, tango, Viennese waltz, rumba, cha cha, mambo, bolero, and East Coast swing. You can learn all of smooth, all of rhythm or a combination of both.

  • Yes! We can take you as either an amateur couple or Pro-Am with your instructor. We’d be happy to discuss with you what it takes to elevate your dancing to a competitive level.

  • We recommend taking lessons as soon as possible, at least 3 months before your wedding. Couples looking for a choreographed dance should come in at least 6 months early. The more time you give yourself to practice your dance, the more confident and skilled you will become. It’s just like studying for a big exam: you usually get better results when you study for an extended period of time beforehand, as opposed to pulling an all night cram session right before the test. Give yourself the time you need to be successful.

  • Treat your first lesson as a way to get to know the studio and a way for your instructor to learn about you, your needs and goals. Simply have fun and enjoy learning a new skill!

    Wear anything that makes you feel confident and comfortable. Bring shoes that you will wear when you go out dancing or similar to the ones you will wear at your wedding. Sneakers are not recommended. For the full details about your first dance lesson, read more about Your First Visit.

  • Firstly, don't worry. You can begin taking dance lessons without knowing your song. Your instructor can start by exploring different styles of dance with you, and this will help you decide on a song that suits your favorite dance style. We’ve written many blog posts with tips for choosing your first dance song. Contact us if you have questions or would like more suggestions.

  • When you schedule a lesson, you are reserving that 45 minute slot of your instructor’s time. We understand things come up, but we need at least 24 hours to attempt to fill your slot (think of this like buying a ticket for that lesson time. We’re happy to resell your ticket if you give us enough time).

    To cancel a lesson without being charged for the lesson, you must notify us at least 24 hours before your lesson starts (For example, if your scheduled lesson starts at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, you must call or email us before 8 p.m. on Tuesday). If you must cancel within the 24-hour period, you will be charged for the lesson in full. Please note that we do not make exceptions to this policy. To reschedule a lesson, please email info@ballroomdancechicago.com or call (312) 504-5866.

    For refunds of single lessons or lesson packages, we charge a 5% refund fee.

  • All of our lessons and packages of lessons are nonrefundable and non-transferrable.

    After one year, unused lessons retain the original purchase value of the lessons remaining in the package and can be applied to the purchase of a new package.

  • The simple answer: YES!

    We think wine or beer is the perfect accompaniment to dancing, especially if you're taking a lesson with a partner and want to make it a date night!

    We only ask that you bring beer or wine (liquor is not allowed) and that you limit consumption to a 750ml bottle of wine or a six pack of beer per couple.