Rival School & Dancewear is a specialist clothing and dancewear shop on West Street in Faversham. It kits out dancers, gymnasts and schoolchildren with the kit they need, from leotards and shoes to school uniform. It is a place to buy what you wear for class rather than somewhere you take lessons. Locals tend to use it when they need something specific and sorted quickly.
Reviewers repeatedly single out the staff for being genuinely helpful, often finding the right item within minutes of you walking in. The shop is well stocked, and there is praise for how fast an order can be turned around when you are in a hurry. It has the feel of a small, friendly high-street shop where someone actually knows the products.
This is a retailer rather than a teaching studio, so you will not book classes here, but it is a sensible first stop if you have signed up for dance nearby. If you are looking into line dancing in Faversham, a good pair of comfortable shoes with a smooth sole makes a real difference, and the shop can point you towards suitable footwear and practicewear. Beginners often come in unsure what they need, and the staff are used to helping people starting from scratch.
You can walk in and browse without an appointment, and the team are happy to advise if you are not sure of sizing or what a particular class requires. If you need something for a specific date, it is worth asking about ordering ahead, as several customers mention quick collection.
The shop sits on the main street through central Faversham, within easy reach of the town's other shops and parking.
Found the staff very helpful in getting our sons new uniform. Good amount of stock. Recommend.— mike at home
Friendly helpful staff found us what we were looking for within minuites of being in the shop.— Ali
Late night order, ready to collect the following day, brilliant! Well stocked shop tol— Izzy T
Great service. Very helpful, especially for parents who are new to uniform shopping.— Jana Hoerschligau
Common building blocks include the grapevine, the step-touch, the kick-ball-change, the coaster step and simple turning steps such as the pivot. Most beginner routines string these together, so learning a handful of them lets you pick up dozens of dances.
Gentle, repetitive dances such as the Electric Slide or a basic cha-cha line dance are popular starting points because they use only a few steps repeated in each direction. They give you the feel of moving with the group without a complicated sequence to memorise.
Yes. Line dancing is done in rows with no partner needed, and many other styles are taught solo or with rotating partners, so you can turn up on your own quite happily.
Comfortable clothes you can move in and shoes with a smooth sole that lets you turn are ideal. This shop can help with suitable footwear and practicewear if you are unsure.
Prices vary by teacher, class length and location, so it is best to check directly with whichever class you plan to join. Many run pay-as-you-go sessions alongside discounted blocks of lessons.
Line dancing suits many newcomers because there is no partner to coordinate with and the steps repeat. Social styles such as ballroom or salsa are also beginner-friendly if you prefer dancing with others.