GENERAL QUESTIONS

WHAT TYPE OF DANCE LESSONS DO YOU OFFER?

At Brooklyn Dance Lessons we offer a few different types of lessons to meet everyone’s needs and desires. Our boutiques are primarily focused on offering exceptional private dance lessons, but part of our mission is also to help people overcome stereotypes and embrace the joy of dancing. For this reason, together with private lessons, we offer one-time group Dance Experiences, and Dance Cycles.

The Group Dance Experiences are the group version of our popular private Dance Experiences and they are intended for a more casual approach to dancing. Our Dance Cycles, instead, are perfect for those who want to give it a try and start learning a specific style. They are normally 4 lessons over 4 weeks and they get renewed every time we have a minimum number of students interested in continuing. All the upcoming group classes are available on our Social Dance page.

CAN I POP INTO THE BOUTIQUES DURING WORKING HOURS?

Unless you have an appointment, our boutiques do not accept walk-ins. We teach by appointment only, which means you must have purchased a lesson and received a booking confirmation for a specific day and time.

At Brooklyn Dance Lessons we offer a few different types of lessons to meet everyone’s needs and desires. Our boutiques are primarily focused on offering exceptional private dance lessons, but part of our mission is also to help people overcome stereotypes and embrace the joy of dancing. For this reason, together with private lessons, we offer one-time group Dance Experiences, and Dance Cycles.

The Group Dance Experiences are the group version of our popular private Dance Experiences and they are intended for a more casual approach to dancing. Our Dance Cycles, instead, are perfect for those who want to give it a try and start learning a specific style. They are normally 4 lessons over 4 weeks and they get renewed every time we have a minimum number of students interested in continuing. All the upcoming group classes are available on our Social Dance page.

WHEN DO YOU TEACH CLASSES?

We receive by appointment only Monday to Sunday.
Mon to Fri
11 am – 9 pm
Sat to Sun
10 am – 7 pm

WHAT IS A WILDCARD?

The wildcard is an option designed to help our students manage last-minute cancellations or take advantage of our additional services.

Depending on the package or dance membership you sign up for, the wildcard allows you to book a makeup 60-minute private lesson at a discounted price (subject to our 48-hour cancellation policy), use one of our boutiques for a 2-hour practice session, or get an admission for two at one of our Comfy Dance Events.

The wildcard may be included in your package or available for purchase as an add-on.

Please refer to our terms and conditions for all the details on how to use the wildcard.

CAN YOU TEACH AT HOME OR PRIVATE LOCATION?

Yes, we can travel to your private location or studio within 4mi from our Boutique. This option has some restrictions and different fees compared to the regular lesson packages. Please contact us if you need more details.

WHERE CAN I CHECK THE STUDIO'S AVAILABILITY?

You can easily view our studio’s availability through our instant booking system on our website. After choosing a single or trial lesson, you will be redirected to a page displaying the current studio availability.

WHAT SHOES SHOULD I WEAR? DO I NEED DANCE SHOES?

We recommend you bring a clean and comfortable pair of shoes for the lesson. You can also be barefoot or in socks if you prefer. Please no wet or dirty shoes during the class – we aim to keep the studio clean and spotless for you and for us!

Dance shoes are not required. However, we recommend considering dance shoes if you are going to take more than 3 lessons. We do sell dance shoes at our studio for professional, amatorial, and “just for fun” levels starting from $35.

WE'RE RUNNING LATE, CAN WE STILL GET THE FULL LESSON?

Our lessons are typically scheduled back-to-back, so we’re unable to extend the lesson length if students arrive late.

DO YOU TRAIN PROFESSIONAL DANCERS?

Yes, we do.

EXPIRATION, REFUND, AND CANCELLATION

DO LESSONS EXPIRE?

Yes, they do!

Please be aware that each Brooklyn Dance Lessons package has a usage period (“Usage Period”). After that period the package is to be considered expired. Check our expiration policy here.

CAN I GET A REFUND?

Due to the current policy of the payment system provider (“Payment System”) in use (Square by Block Inc.), and to keep our business sustainable, as of July 15, 2023 we are not able to process any refund. This includes accidental charges, mistakes, or any other reasons why the customer might request a refund.

Any purchase made prior July 15th, 2023 are not refundable.

Check out our refund policy here.

WHAT'S YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?

As much as we want to help everyone with last-minute changes, feeling unwell, and emergencies; the cancellation or rescheduling of a lesson must be made AT LEAST 48 hours prior to the scheduled lesson time. Lessons that are less than 48 hours away are non-refundable.

Rescheduling lessons in less than 48 hours means not being able to provide Brooklyn Dance Lessons values to you and other people. 48 hours give us a bit of margin to try to adjust the schedule, find you a new spot, and try to get someone else coming instead. It is still difficult to do it in 48 hours (consider we normally book lessons at least 2/3 weeks in advance), but we take our chances 🙂

WHY YOU HAVE A 48-HOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?

(Please read the previous question first)

We know that sometimes the logic of the process doesn’t come immediately and you might think “oh well, I’m not asking for a refund, I just want to come another day”. The reality unfortunately is a bit different.

Let us explain to you how it works. Let’s say we have 5 weekly spots for 5 students. 2 people in the first week cancel last minute and want to be rescheduled the following week. This gives us 7 students for 5 spots the second week. Now, let’s assume that 3 people cancel last minute in the second week and want to be rescheduled for the third week. This gives us 10 students for 5 spots for the following week. And so on. Without a policy in place, last-minute cancellation would reduce the availability of our boutique to new students and drastically increase the loss of revenue. And for a sustainable small business, this cannot happen. 

We are very straightforward and honest with you here. We simply cannot afford last-minute cancellations. If we have only 15 high requested 6-9 pm slots on the weekdays, every single lesson counts! And if one or two lessons are canceled every day, and trust us, there are weeks like that, we literally need to reschedule half of the calendar, which we cannot do. 

And we know that life is unpredictable and that being stuck in traffic, missing a train/plane, or getting stuck at work feels like an emergency. But most likely by the time it happens, your teacher is waiting for you in the studio or on the way there. We need to value their time as well as yours. 

For this reason, we ask you to agree to our cancellation policy BEFORE you purchase your lessons and we remind you of it every time we send you a booking confirmation. 

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF I CANNOT COME AND MY LESSON IS IN LESS THAN 48H?

Glad you asked! 

If you come with a partner and for some reason, one of you cannot make your appointment, we highly recommend the second person to come in by themselves! This way you get a full lesson just for you and can focus on many amazing things with your teacher. Not only you are not losing your lesson, but becoming a better dancer on your own! And if that for some reason doesn’t feel right to you, please know that we generally recommend solo lessons for everyone who comes in with the partner.

If you are late and can’t make it on time, we can always do an online lesson or we can send you a couple of videos recorded by your teacher in the studio with the new steps & you learn new moves before your next appointment.

IMPORTANT! If you feel sick, or you have a cold, or you tested positive for COVID, you CANNOT come to our boutique. Your lesson will be automatically converted to an online one. 

 

PAYMENTS, VOUCHERS, AND GIFT CARDS

WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY TO BOOK A LESSON?

Yes. There are two reasons why we ask to pay upfront and before booking. Primarily we don’t want to talk about money in our boutique. You are there to learn not to negotiate. Secondly, when you pay for a lesson in advance, you create a reliable commitment with us. That means a lesson is actually happening. We made an exception 3 times in our history to this rule and we got burned every single time. People just don’t show up or disappear.

In addition, we are proudly a well-requested dance boutique and we cannot hold spots until the last minute without the certainty that a lesson is happening. For this reason, lessons are first come first served and need to be paid to be booked.

DO YOU OFFER PAYMENT PLANS?

Yes! If you are interested in packages of 10 lessons or more, you can choose to pay in installments. You can find the payment plan option both on the Social Dance and Wedding Dance pages.

CAN I PAY WITH A GIFT CARD? HOW?

Absolutely! Gifts cards are there to be used. You can check your card balance here and you can redeem your card at the checkout. In case you having trouble, please contact us and we will be happy to take care of it for you.

DO GIFT CARDS EVER EXPIRE?

Yes. You should redeem your gift card within 6 months of the purchase.

PRIVATE LESSONS

CAN I DO A TRIAL LESSON BEFORE PURCHASING A PACKAGE?

You certainly can! You can purchase one single lesson if you would like to try out our boutique. We will be happy to upgrade you to a package if you liked the lesson with us.

HOW TO SCHEDULE A PRIVATE DANCE LESSON?


All the lessons need to be prepaid in order to be scheduled.


Yo can schedule one single or trial private lesson by using the instant booking system on the website (you can find it both on the Wedding Dance and Social Dance page).


When you purchase a
multiple lessons package, you will be asked at the checkout to fill out a brief form with your general availability and we will get back to you with some options for your lessons, or we will provide you with a self-booking link.


If you prefer to understand the options before your purchase, please email
info@brooklyndancelessons (or text +13473955505) with your general availability and we will provide you with some time options.


We typically get back to you within
1-2 business days.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN ATTEND A PRIVATE DANCE LESSON?

The cost of a private lesson is typically for 1-2 people.

If you are a group of 3 people or more you can either book a private group dance experience or contact us to receive the private group lessons rates.

HOW LONG ARE PRIVATE LESSONS?

Our private lesson is 60min long. Said that, if you prefer, we can also do 90min or 120min long sessions (many students love doing that).

When you purchase a package, the amount of lessons is equal to the number of hours. In case you’d like longer sessions, you can mix and match the length of the lessons until you reach the total amount of hours.

 

For example, a package of 5 lessons can be used in these combinations:
– 5 sessions of 60min each.
– 2 sessions of 60min and 2 sessions of 90min.
– 2 sessions of 120min and 1 season of 60min.
etc.
CAN I BOOK A 90MIN LONG LESSON AT 8 PM?

Our latest lesson starts at 8 pm and we normally do not teach later than 9 pm with some rare exceptions for wedding cycle pro.

WHY IS THERE A USAGE PERIOD FOR PRIVATE LESSONS?

The main reason for the usage period is our commitment to your success! Let’s imagine you want to get those beautiful abs and decide to start working out once a month. Do you think you’ll be able to achieve your goal?

Dance is similar. It requires constant practice to build muscle memory and long-term brain memory. When you sign up for lessons with us, we take a commitment to help you achieve your goals. We want to deliver on our promise and ensure your progress.

CAN I TAKE JUST ONE LESSON PER MONTH?

We highly recommend taking at least two lessons per month. By coming in consistently, you maintain your progress and avoid long breaks that can hinder your improvement. If there are large gaps between lessons, we often need to restart from the beginning.

Ideally, weekly or biweekly sessions (2 lessons per week) offer the best learning experience if you want to develop dance as a skill.

CAN I HAVE LONGER SESSIONS WITH MY PACKAGE?

Absolutely! Students can mix and match lesson lengths within their package, as long as it adds up to the total number of hours they signed up for. Here are some examples:

  • 5 sessions of 60 minutes each.
  • 2 sessions of 60 minutes and 2 sessions of 90 minutes.
  • 2 sessions of 120 minutes and 1 session of 60 minutes.
  • And so on.
CAN I UPGRADE TO A LARGER PACKAGE?

Upgrading to a larger package is available only after a trial lesson. In this case, the first lesson you had will become part of the package you are upgrading to. Unfortunately, upgrading from one package to another is not available. However, you can find payment plans for bigger packages on our website.

GROUP CLASSES

HOW BIG IS A GROUP CLASS?

We believe that big group classes don’t facilitate the learning process and often result in a waste of money. Our group classes have a limit of 12 people in total. Most commonly, group classes consist of 6-10 people.

CAN I CHANGE THE DATES OF THE CLASSES?

We understand that sometimes unexpected situations arise, but unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate date changes for our small group classes.

Our boutique studio focuses on providing intimate learning experiences, which means that when you sign up for a class, you secure a spot that cannot be booked by someone else. This approach allows us to maintain the quality of our small-group classes. We appreciate your understanding in helping us sustain this unique learning environment.

CAN I JOIN ONE CLASS OF A DIFFERENT DANCE CYCLE?

Due to the limited number of spots available in each group class, we regretfully cannot offer the option to exchange classes between different Dance Cycles.

CAN I SIGN UP JUST FOR 3 GROUPS OR A PARTIAL DANCE CYCLE?

Our Dance Cycles are designed as a series of interconnected group classes, and to fully experience the progression of each cycle, we require participants to sign up for all the dates included.

This ensures that you receive the complete learning journey and benefit from the comprehensive instruction provided throughout the cycle.

MY PARTNER IS SICK/CAN'T MAKE IT, CAN WE RESCHEDULE ONE CLASS?

As a general rule, we are unable to reschedule group classes. If your partner is unable to attend, we recommend joining the class by yourself. Our experienced teachers will guide you through the steps and ensure you still receive valuable instruction. While we understand the inconvenience, this approach allows you to continue learning and not miss out on the class entirely.

Please note that if your partner is sick with Covid-19, and you have been in contact, we kindly request that you refrain from joining the class for the safety of our staff and participants.

HOW MANY PARTICIPANTS DO YOU NEED TO ACTIVATE A GROUP CLASS?

For all our group Dance Cycles and Dance Experiences, we require a minimum number of participants to activate the class. Partner-required or partner-recommended Group Dance Cycles and all Group Dance Experiences require a minimum of 3 people to be activated. Solo-dancing Group Dance Cycles require a minimum of 2 people to be activated.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY DANCE CYCLE IS NOT ACTIVATED? CAN I GET A REFUND?

If your Dance Cycle or dance experience is not activated, don’t worry! We have alternative solutions of equal or greater value available for you.

For partner-required or partner-recommended Group Dance Cycles consisting of 4 classes, if the minimum number of participants is not reached, we will convert the cycle into 2 classes (total) held on the same dates and times as the first 2 classes.

Similarly, if any Group Dance Experience doesn’t reach the minimum number of participants, it will be converted into a 60-minute Dance Experience on the same date and time. Please note that refunds will not be issued in these cases.

However, if you signed up for a solo-dancing Group Dance Cycle of 4 classes and it doesn’t reach the minimum enrollment, the cycle will be canceled. But you’ll have options! You can choose to receive a credit toward another class, sign up for an active dance cycle, or request a refund. We want to make sure you have a satisfying dance experience with us.

I REGISTERED FOR A DANCE CYCLE OF 4 GROUP CLASSES THAT HASN'T BEEN ACTIVATED. WILL I STILL GET 4 CLASSES?

When a Dance Cycle isn’t activated, it typically gets converted into 2 classes, depending on the type of cycle. We encourage you to review our terms and conditions for specific details on how this conversion works. However everyone is informed about this possibility before signing up.

We would like to provide some insight into why we cannot provide 4 group classes. The cost of a 60-minute or 90-minute session is shared among all participants, which makes group classes affordable. If you and your partner are the only ones signing up for a Dance Cycle, having 4 private lessons would be equivalent to the cost of approximately 1.5 private lessons. This pricing structure wouldn’t be sustainable for us and wouldn’t be fair to other students.

We believe that offering 2 lessons still provides great value to the student (and it’s still cheaper than 2 private lessons).

IS THE COST FOR ONE OR TWO PEOPLE?

When you sign up for a group class, please check the class description to see if it specifies “partner required”. In such cases, the cost mentioned is for two people. In all other instances, the cost indicated is for one person.

WEDDING DANCE

CAN I PURCHASE A SINGLE LESSON FOR A WEDDING DANCE?

Certainly! You can sign up for a 60-minute or 90-minute lesson on our website. However, please note that one lesson will not be sufficient to fully prepare a wedding dance. But it can provide you with a foundation of basic moves.

To learn more about what to expect from the first lesson, we recommend watching our video here.

IF I WANT A LONGER DANCE OR MORE PRACTICE, WHEN SHOULD I BUY ADDITIONAL LESSONS?

If you wish to add more lessons or make changes to your original package, please inform us by the middle of the package. This way, we can adjust the dance plan or upgrade the package accordingly.

Single additional lessons for practicing the dance can be purchased after the package is exhausted. However, if more lessons need to be added to the plan, they must all be purchased in the middle of the package.

WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO START LESSONS BEFORE THE WEDDING?

We always recommend starting sooner rather than later. For more advanced dances, we suggest considering 9-12 months in advance. If you’re planning a simpler dance, 6-9 months is a great choice.

Couples often worry that they’ll forget what they learn if they start too soon. However, learning dance steps is like learning to speak another language: the more practice and repetition you get, the better you’ll know it, and the more comfortable you’ll be when using it.

We recommend having the routine ready or steps prepared at least one month before the wedding day so that you have ample time to run through it. We don’t recommend learning anything new in the last weeks leading up to the big day. Instead, focus more on practicing. From our experience, the last month before the wedding tends to be hectic with other commitments, making it harder for couples to find time for lessons.

HOW MANY LESSONS DO I NEED FOR MY WEDDING DANCE?

If you’re looking to prepare a dance, we recommend considering a minimum of 10 hours to learn enough moves for a short song.

For a more customized routine, a mashup, or additional practice time, we suggest considering 20 hours. In this case, our 4-6-9-12 months plan could be a great option.

If you’re simply looking to learn a couple of moves for the day of the wedding and aren’t interested in a choreography, our Wedding Dance Cycles, a package of 5 lessons, or 2-3 single lessons could be suitable options.

CAN I HAVE A CHOREOGRAPHY IN 5 LESSONS?

In short, no.

The reason is quite straightforward: five lessons aren’t enough time to learn enough steps to build a complete choreography. If you’re a beginner aiming for a choreographed dance, we recommend considering 10 or more lessons.

However, we might be able to create a combination of steps if you combine the 5 lessons package with two Wedding Dance group classes. During the group classes, we would teach you some basics of partner dancing, which would save time during the private lessons. You can add the group classes at the checkout.

WHAT IS A WEDDING DANCE CYCLE?

The Wedding Dance Cycle is a small package that includes 2 group classes and a private lesson. It’s like a crash course for your first dance, providing a quick overview of partner dancing and teaching a few moves.

Please note that we require a minimum of 2 couples to activate a cycle. When only one couple signs up for a Wedding Dance Cycle, it will be converted into 2 private lessons in total.

WHEN CAN/SHOULD I SCHEDULE THE PRIVATE LESSON INCLUDED IN THE WEDDING DANCE CYCLE?

You can schedule the private lesson within 30 days from the second group class of the Wedding Dance Cycle. However, we highly recommend scheduling it within the following two weeks

WHAT IS THE I WISH WE STARTED EARLIER PACKAGE?

It is a special Private Wedding Dance Lessons plan designed to get the most out of your private lessons.

It is structured with a monthly payment and includes 3 or 4 lessons each month. In addition, the package comes with a complementary Wildcard and access to one of our ComfyDance Boost events.

HOW MANY MONTHS CAN/SHOULD I SIGN UP FOR THE I WISH WE STARTED EARLIER PACKAGE?

You have the option to pick 6 or 12 months. Please understand that we believe you need around 20h to achieve the minimum results this package promises and it should require at least 6 months

If you have less than 6 months available before your wedding, please consider another lessons package.

CAN I BOOK FEWER OR MORE MONTHLY LESSONS THAN WHAT IS INCLUDED IN MY PACKAGE?

You can book fewer lessons than what your chosen plan includes during a billing cycle, however, you can roll the unscheduled lessons over the immediate following billing month only once. All the other unscheduled lessons would be considered lost. 

Differently, you cannot schedule more lessons than what your chosen plan includes during a billing cycle. If you would like to book more lessons, you must purchase individual add-on lessons.

IS THE I WISH WE STARTED EARLIER PACKAGE AN INSTALLMENT PLAN OF A LARGE PRIVATE LESSONS PACKAGE?

No, it is not. 

Although you can benefit from a convenient monthly payment without committing to a larger package right away, you are not signing up for an installment plan. You are committing to a program that includes 3 or 4 monthly hours with specific rules and conditions. 

I Wish We Started Earlier doesn’t have the flexibility of a traditional private lessons package on purpose. It was created to help you organize your wedding dance preparation in the most productive way.  

Please review the terms and conditions of the package.

SO IS THE I WISH WE STARTED EARLIER PACKAGE LIKE THE SOCIAL DANCE MEMBERSHIP?

Although they have similarities and you might see this package as a membership, they have a substantial difference: where the Social Dance Membership can be canceled or paused, when you sign up for the  I Wish We Started Earlier package, you commit to all the months included in the plan you choose. 

SOCIAL DANCE MEMBERSHIP

WHAT IS A DANCE MEMBERSHIP?

Dance membership includes two or four one-hour private lessons a month where you can learn any styles you are interested in.

CAN I PUT MY MEMBERSHIP ON HOLD?

Yes, members can pause their membership one time within 12 months. The membership can be paused for a maximum of 1 billing cycle.

CAN I CANCEL AFTER 1 MONTH IF I DON’T LIKE DANCING?

Of course! Members can cancel their membership by sending an email to info@brooklyndancelessons.com anytime up to 2 business days before the end of the billing cycle.

HOW MANY MONTHS DO I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO DANCE?

As with any skill you acquired before, learning how to dance requires not only memorizing the steps but also understanding the concept of movements. You will need to train your body to dance specific moves by repeating them and build muscle memory by storing those moves in your long-term memory. Therefore, we believe the minimum amount of time that will allow you to learn enough moves and feel like you can dance them in the real world comfortably requires at least 4-6 months (based on the total amount of hours).

If you would like to learn more advanced moves, spins, or several dance styles simultaneously, this would, of course, require even more months or hours.

IS THERE A DANCE PROGRAM OR PLAN IN THE SOCIAL DANCE MEMBERSHIP?

The general path of learning can be similar to the following example of 4 lessons/month program :

Month 1: Dance basics, Lead and Follow, Body rotation, Basic spins
Month 2: Moving around, learning the basic amalgamations, steps variations
Month 3: Posture, Connection, Spins variations
Month 4: Dance poses and spins, musicality
Month 5: Gaining muscle memory and confidence
Month 6: Navigating the dance floor with moves
Month 7: Getting comfortable with freestyling

DO I NEED A PARTNER?

The cost is intended for private lessons of up to 2 people and can be used for a solo student, two individuals, or a couple. You don’t need a partner and can dance with the teacher.

DO I NEED TO PICK ONE STYLE TO LEARN?

Ultimately, it’s important to find the dance styles that you enjoy and feel comfortable with to make the most of your social dance experiences. The great thing about social dancing is that you can learn multiple dance styles simultaneously, as many of them incorporate similar elements that support each other.

Learning different styles can enhance your overall dance skills and help you become a more well-rounded dancer. So don’t be afraid to explore and try out new dance styles in addition to your favorites – you never know what you might discover!