T H E S TAT E | H O B B I E S
Having the Time of Your Life
Ballroom dance is at your fingertips via a variety of studios in Oklahoma.
O
Ballroom on Broadway in Edmond teaches both ballroom and Latin dances to anyone interested. Photo courtesy Ballroom on Broadway
12
OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2022
ptions for learning ballroom dancing are around every corner. One dance studio located in Tulsa, Strictly Ballroom, offers a myriad of options for everyone from beginners to experts. Manager and instructor Rachel Morris sums up what the studio offers: “Ballroom dancing is an umbrella for all the types of dance with a partner,” she says. “We teach anything under the umbrella.” Clients can learn the two-step, swing, foxtrot, tango, rumba and waltz. On average, it takes at least four to six lessons to learn a particular dance. On Friday nights, the studio has group classes with a different weekly theme, and a social dance follows the group class. In the controlled social environment, clients learn what dances go with what music so that when they are out – say for date night – they will be confident when heading to the dance floor. Dancers can enjoy private lessons, group classes and social nights. “It is an all-around experience,” says Morris. Studio owner Yvonne Mears says three, half-hour lessons are offered for $60. This package is described as a “quick intro to the dances.” For more information, contact strictlyballroomtulsaok@gmail.com or call 918-493-2623. In Edmond, Ballroom on Broadway teaches both ballroom and Latin dances, also known as rhythm. When it comes to the basics, co-owner Dadbeh Jabari explains that there are fundamentals to learn first –such as stepping first with the heel or toe, and the difference between swing versus sway. Also, each dance has set patterns. Jabari, who competes regularly, says you “never stop perfecting a dance. Dancing is always a work in progress.”
Ballroom on Broadway has three levels for dancers to reach: bronze, silver and gold. Each level is achieved by a certain number of steps that are learned. The studio, which has been in Edmond for ten years, even has one 90-year-old student. “We have students as young as eight years old,” says Jabari. “The median age is 50 to 60 years old.” Private lessons are $75 for 45 minutes, with a discount at ten lessons. Find them at info@ballroomdanceoklahoma.com or call 405-314-7827. GINA A. DABNEY
Dancing for the Big Day Ready to learn that special wedding dance? In Tulsa, Strictly Ballroom teaches dances for the bride and groom, father and daughter, as well as mother and son. Instructor Rachel Morris advises that at least ten hours of class time in close succession are needed for everyone to feel at ease. “It has to be comfortable and loving,” she says. Most clients arrive at the studio with their chosen wedding songs. The instructors then guide them through the process. “We hear the song choice,” says Morris. “We know what dance fits that song.” At Ballroom on Broadway in Edmond, numerous engaged couples come to the studio to learn their wedding dances. Discount packages are offered, and couples can practice at the studio as much as they desire. About 90% of couples, says Jabari, arrive with a particular wedding song. “We can work with any song,” he says. “We recommend five lessons.”
