Types of Lessons Offered

Group Lesson & Dance Practices

Mississauga

A Group Lesson followed by a Dance Practice is offered every other Friday beginning with the Group Lesson at 8pm followed by a Dance Practice beginning at 9pm until 11pm. You will learn, dance, and meet new friends. Music is provided by a professional DJ. All International & American Ballroom & Latin music including Two Step, Polka, Bachata, Merengue, Salsa, Viennese Waltz, Mambo, Hustle, etc., are included. Requests are welcome and encouraged. The Group Lessons and Dance Practices are attended by people of all levels (most are beginners) and ages. You may attend the Group Lessons and/or Dance Practices with or without a partner. Reservations is unnecessary as attendance is on a 'Pay as You Dance' basis. Each month will feature a different dance in the Group Lessons. If you would like to see your favourite dance featured, please click Contact Me. All Group Lesson and Dance Practices are held at the Continental Dance Club located at 3141 Wharton Way in Mississauga. Main intersections are Dundas Street and Highway 427.

Burford

A Candlelight Dance is held every Sunday evening the former Armoury located at 150 King Street in Burford. The Candlelight Dance will begin at 6pm until 10pm. We are welcoming people who have taken Ballroom Dance Lessons who want to dance to great All International & American Ballroom & Latin music, including Bachata, Polka, Two Step, Viennese Watlz, Merengue, Salsa, Argentine Tango, Hustle, etc., all provided by a professional DJ, in a unique venue. Requests are welcome and are encouraged. You are welcome to attend with your dance partner. For the Burford Candlelight Dances; we are limiting the attendance to 30 people. Therefore, please reserve your spot by calling Gordon at 416 518 3363 or the Burford area 519 717 5230 (Message Centre) or send an email to inquiry@candlelightballroomdance.ca. For more information, please click Candlelight Dance, Calendar and Contact Me.

Featured Dances

Below are the dances featured in the Mississauga Group Lessons for each month and a Special "Year-End Festive" Event in December for 2012:

January - WALTZ
February - CHA CHA
March - SWING
April - SAMBA
May - VIENNESE WALTZ
June -
July -
August -
September -
October -
November -
December 7 - 6th annual "Christmas" Dinner & Dance!

NOTE: Should you wish to feature your favourite Dance(s), please click Contact Me.

Private Lessons

Private Lessons are guided by your individual desires and goals and are reserved on an on-going basis. You may take as many Private Lessons and for as long as you wish. You may attend your Private Lessons with or without a partner. Private Lessons may commence at any time. Private Lessons are offered in Mississauga, Toronto, Woodbridge, Burford. Private Lessons are only offered to a maximum of 2 people. Should you wish to take Private Lessons with 3 or more people, please see Semi-Private Lessons, below...

Semi-Private Lessons

Semi-Private Lessons are for those who wish to learn to dance with 3 or more people. As with the Private Lessons, Semi-Private Lessons are catered to the groups desires and goals and are reserved on an on-going basis. Most of the Semi-Private Lessons are mainly reserved for a special occasion, such as; a Wedding 'First Dance', a Cotillion, a Graduation, any event or occasion where 3 or more people wish to learn to dance. You may attend with or with a partner. Semi-Private Lessons may commence at any time; however, for a Wedding or Cotillion, or any event with a time frame or specific date, please contact me at least Six Months in advance of your actual date. If you want to learn to dance with 3 or more of your friends or family members, just for fun, check out the Semi-Private Lessons!

For more information about Group Lesson & Dance Practices, Candlelight Dances, Private Lessons, Semi-Private Lessons, please click Schedule, Locations, Prices, Contact Me.

Dances Taught

Dances Defined

History and description of the accessible Dances:

Waltz

The Waltz began in southern Germany in the seventeenth century. Its popularity grew with the music of Johann Strauss eventually blossoming in the twentieth century as the Hesitation Waltz. It is the basis of many dances and is enjoyed today all over the world. Grace, poise, elegance, rise and fall are all captured in the flowing movements of the Waltz.           

Foxtrot         

In 1913 a Vaudeville Comedian named Harry Fox invented a Trot for that year's Ziegfeld Follies that pushed all other Trots away. It is the foundation of all dances and is often called the "getting to know you" dance. Many consider the Foxtrot to be difficult to perform correctly in the beginning.

Tango

The Tango began in the West Indies and found its way to Argentina where the Gauchos stylized it. It became the romantic rage in 1921, after the silent screen star Rudolph Valentino brought the dance to millions in "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse". Passionate, earthy and dramatic, the Tango is considered to be the "Dancer's Dance".

Quickstep     

An English style ballroom dance that is characterized by fast movement often including a variety of hops, kicks, and skips, lock steps and chasses.     

Viennese Waltz

The splendour of the Waltz is epitomized in the elegant and graceful Viennese Waltz. The gliding, turning movements suggest that the dancer is skating. The Viennese Waltz brings to mind chandeliers and lovely ladies in their flowing gowns dancing to the lifting sounds of Strauss Waltzes.       

Argentine Tango

A style of Tango originated in the streets and salons of Buenos Aires. It is characterized by a passionate hold with complex leg and foot movements.     

Samba

The national dance of Brazil, the Samba became the rage of Brazilian society in the 1930's. Movie star and singer Carmen Miranda is credited with making the Samba popular in North America in the early 1940's. Each year the Samba explodes in a colourful spectacle event of rhythm and dance at the Carnival in Rio.

Cha Cha

Probably the most popular and best known of the Latin rhythms, the Cha Cha was an extension of the Mambo. Its infectious one-two, one-two-three beat was so easy and so much fun; it became the rage of the early 1950's. The Cha Cha is considered to be the Latin "Party Dance".

Rumba

The introduction of the Rumba marked the beginning of the Cuban and Latin American dance crazes. Danced to music inspired by African rhythms and Spanish melodies, the Rumba is considered to be the classic of the Latin Dances. The action known as "Cuban Motion" reflects the origins of the Rumba as a courtship dance and the "Dance of Love".

Bolero

A slow Latin dance which originated as one of two forms of Rumba (Bolero Rumba and Son Rumba), and still shares many of the same figures. Bolero differs from Rumba in its tempo and style of music and movement. The Bolero is a smooth, sophisticated, sentimental love dance. The emphasis is on smoothness and graceful turns with much communication between partners. The slower music, to which it is performed, enhances a feeling of romance.

Swing

A generic term to describe any form of Swing such as East Coast, West Coast, Jitterbug and Lindy Hop, etc. The Swing has a carefree and relaxed style and is easily mastered by most people. The various speeds of music are excellent training for quick footwork and good leading and following which will add comfort and ease in most other rhythm dances.

Merengue

An energetic march that originated in the Dominican Republic emphasizes a straight 8-count rhythm danced with Cuban Motion. The Merengue is the national dance of the Dominican Republic. Whether it was invented by a Colonel Meringie, a war hero who danced dragging an injured leg or by African slaves dragging one leg to relieve the chafing of their leg irons, the intoxicating beat inspires all dancers to move to the rhythm of the Merengue.

Mambo

Bandleader Perez Prado is credited with the introduction of the Mambo. It combined American Jazz with the Afro-Cuban beat and became the rage of the 1940's. Patrick Swayze's Mambo gave "touch dancing" a whole new meaning for the young generation in the 1980's movie "Dirty Dancing". The Mambo, exciting to watch, exciting to dance.

Hustle

Hustle originated in the 1970's Disco Era and was popularized by John Travolta in the movie "Saturday Night Fever". Both the music and the dance swept the country like wildfire and although the white suits and gold chains have faded away the dance has stayed. It is still one of the most popular nightclub dances today.

Salsa

Salsa is the unique blending of traditional Latin sounds and dance steps of the Mambo and the Cha Cha with the freedom and turning actions of Swing and Hustle. A nightclub dance that fits onto crowded floors. Salsa is a must for Latin social dancing.

West Coast Swing

A slotted swing dance characterized by its smooth and linear style. The sophisticated style and ease of movement makes this dance a popular favourite of nightclub dancers. The compact footwork and body connections really develop a strong sense of lead and follow. West Coast Swing is danced everywhere.

Lindy Hop

The grandfather of all forms of Swing, named after Charles Lindbergh, and originating at the Savoy ballroom in the 1930's as a modified form of Charleston done in dance position. Lindy Hop is currently enjoying a revival with a new generation of swing clubs, musicians and dancers.