The One Class Etiquette Mistake Adult Beginners Don’t Realize They’re Making

As we wrap up the year, I want to close with a quick reminder about something that often comes up in many adult dance programs: class levels.

Often adult beginners feel tempted to jump into a higher-level class before they’re quite ready. This may be due to ambition (which is great!), curiosity (completely understandable!), or life circumstances (everyone’s got their own hustle - we get it!)… Sometimes it works out. Sometimes it doesn’t. And if you do find yourself in a class where the technique is a bit over your head, here’s a gentle but important guideline:

Use your best judgment before stopping the entire class with a question.

Curiosity is always welcome. Good teachers love questions. But there’s a difference between asking something that helps you move forward and asking something that pulls the whole group backward - especially if the question is about a basic concept that everyone at that level is expected to know.

And the reverse is also true:

If you decide to join a lower-level class (maybe as a make-up, or because the time works better that week), try to avoid asking about techniques that are too advanced for the group. Everyone in the room is paying for that class time, and everyone deserves space to learn at the level they came for.

Sometimes it may be tricky to figure out what is too basic, or too advanced. But this is why I say “use your best judgement”. If you are in an advanced Salsa class, hold off on the question about how to do a right or left turn until you can attend a basic level class, or book a private lesson with your instructor. Similarly, in a beginner ballet class, check your curiosity about brise vs. cabriole, as nobody except you and the teacher will get anything out of the discussion. A little awareness goes a long way in making classes smoother, kinder, and more enjoyable for everyone - your classmates, your teacher, and you.

That’s it! Enjoy the last few days of 2025, and may 2026 bring joy, health, and dancing to us all!

If you enjoyed the video of our Basic Ballet Livestream (Session 1), here is Basic Ballet Livestream (Session 2) and Basic Ballet Livestream (Session 3).

💃🏿🕺🏿Coming in January: A Series for Introverted Dancers👯‍♀️🩰

In the new year, we’ll kick things off with a special series on learning to dance as an introvert - how to navigate social dance spaces, how to find your learning style, and how to make dancing feel like home, even if you recharge alone.

Thank you for reading this year. See you in 2026!