Bristol Dance Experience

Bristol Dance Experience

Bristol Dance Experience teaches ballroom and social dance from the Elmgrove Centre in Cotham, Bristol. It specialises in taking absolute beginners and building them up step by step, with instructors known for teaching with humour and patience. Reviewers describe a friendly, tolerant atmosphere where even self-professed two-left-feet types make progress. A 4.9 rating from more than a hundred reviews marks it out as a well-established favourite.

About Bristol Dance Experience

The reviews consistently highlight patient, good-humoured teaching and a welcoming environment where singletons and nervous beginners feel at ease. That reputation suits adults who have always fancied learning ballroom but worried they would not keep up. It is a place built around encouragement and steady building of skills.

Classes & Dance Styles

Beginner ballroom is the heart of what happens here, with classes starting from basic building blocks and adding to them week by week across a range of dances. Instructors repeat and reinforce each step so the fundamentals really stick, which is why newcomers with no experience report picking up the basics. If ballroom is what you are after, this is a specialist teaching exactly that, so it is worth checking the current beginners' schedule.

What to Expect on Your First Visit

A first class is geared to complete beginners, with instructors reviewers describe as patient and funny setting the tone. You do not need a partner, and comfortable clothing with shoes you can turn and glide in a little are the usual starting point. Just turn up ready to try and enjoy the process.

Location & Contact

The classes run at the Elmgrove Centre in Cotham, a well-connected part of Bristol close to the city. Local buses serve the area and there is parking to be found nearby.

• Address: Elmgrove Centre, Jnct Elmgrove Rd and Redland Rd, Cotham BS6 6AH
• Phone: +44 117 950 0084
• Website: https://bristoldanceexperience.co.uk/

What Dancers Say About Bristol Dance Experience

4.9/5 from 109 Google reviews.

The classes at Bristol Dance Experience are brilliant. Helia and Eric are both incredible teachers, teaching with great humour and patience. Beginner classes start with basic building blocks, then steadily adding to them as the weeks go by, and repeating this process with different dance styles. Everyone in attendance is friendly and end classes with a smile on their face. If I had one complaint, it would be that it seems classes end too early as we are caught up in the fun! If you are nervous about joining, you genuinely have nothing to worry about and I couldn't recommend these classes highl— Steven Curtis

Started beginner's ballroom this autumn (2019) at the Elmgrove centre with Helia as our teacher. The classes are excellent, and Helia is a fantastic teacher, keeping the lessons fun. Even with my two left feet I seemed to have picked up the basics. Classes have a wide range of ages from the younger students to the older retirees.
So now 2022 and due to COVID progress has been slow, we ended up doing improvers three times before we eventually completed it. We have now reached level 1 and have attended a few freestyle dances, we can waltz, foxtrot and quickstep around the floor in a very basi— Christopher Power

I have always wanted to learn to dance ballroom and BDE was recommended to me. I joined as a beginner towardst the end of last year and as a singleton found the enviroment very friendly and tolerant. Our instructor, Eric, does a marvelous job of teaching the beginners class and has even managed to teach me enough to dance at the monthly "Friday Dance"! Eric keeps the class focussed in a relaxed, light hearted way and has abundant enthusiasm together with a droll sense of humour. His clasic catch phrase after showing us the next steps that we have to learn is "what could possibly could — paul thorne

If you're at all interested in learning to do proper ball-room and Latin American dance steps, however young or old you are, go to Eric's Bristol Dance Experience beginner's class. Eric is a superb teacher who wears his expertise lightly with endless good humour and energy. It doesn't matter if you haven't got anyone to go with, go on your own and you will find someone to dance with. If you're tired, you'll come to life; if you're broke pay as you go; if you lack confidence, you will gain it. Eric procedes from the easy to the difficult; from the familiar to the unfamiliar; from the slow to— Francis Radice

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you start ballroom dancing?

Most people begin with a beginners' group class that introduces a couple of core dances and the basic hold and timing. This school starts newcomers from the very basics and builds up gradually.

What ballroom dance to learn first?

The waltz is a common first dance thanks to its steady rhythm and clear steps, with the social foxtrot another popular choice. A beginners' course will usually introduce a couple of dances early on.

Can you learn to dance without a partner?

Yes. Reviewers here specifically mention joining as a singleton and finding it welcoming, so you can come along on your own.

What should I wear to a beginner dance class?

Comfortable clothing you can move in and shoes that let you turn and glide a little without gripping the floor. Check with the school if you are unsure what works best.

How much does a dance class usually cost?

Prices depend on the course and format, so contact the school for current rates. They can explain how their beginner classes are booked.

Which dance is best for beginners?

For social dancing, the waltz is a gentle place to start given its steady timing. This school's beginner ballroom classes are designed precisely for people starting from scratch.

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