If you are looking for dance lessons you have come to the right place. I am qualified in Ballroom (Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Quickstep and Viennese Waltz) Latin American (Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba, Jive, Paso Doble) New Vogue ( such as the Merrilyn, Gypsy Tap, Tangoette, Swing Waltz plus the rest of them including The Presidents Daughters Waltz) and Classical Sequence, which was Old Time (such as the Veleta, Mayfair quickstep, Saunter Reve, Tango Solair plus the rest of them) and I also qualified as a Ceroc/Modern Jive Teacher. I’ve choreographed theatre shows, many formation teams and performance show cases. I love teaching aerials and tricks and I have a passion for teaching adult beginners.
A little Modern Jive
I also teach Wedding couples.
Kerry and Brian are heading home in a week to get married and show off their new skills to their friends and family.
Our wedding dance lessons with Elly were nothing short of exceptional! From the moment we met her, we knew we were in great hands. She was incredibly personable, making us feel comfortable and at ease. Her teaching style was clear, patient, and tailored to our abilities, which made learning so enjoyable. She worked with us to create a dance that was perfect for our special day, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Thanks to Elly, we felt confident and excited to perform. We highly recommend Elly to anyone looking for a fantastic dance instructor!
Kerry & Brian
If you and your partner are interested in having some wedding dance lessons, do book them in advance – that means one less thing to worry about closer to the actual day.
And, if you want to learn some social partner dancing also give me a call or email.
Dance Company will be closed until Monday 12th of August. Its time for my annual holiday to somewhere warm.
Do send me an email if you are interested in any of the teaching options I have available. While I’m away I may not be able to respond to phone calls.
LOOKING FOR ADVICE FOR YOUR WEDDING DANCE?
While every couple will have some specific questions below are two of the more common ones:
HOW MUCH TIME DO WE NEED TO PUT IN?
This depends on what exactly you want your first dance to be. If you want something that’s fairly formal, or with complicated moves or plan a very slick performance, you will need to put aside about 2-3 months of weekly lessons. If you want something a little more casual you could set aside 4-6 weeks. If you just want a few simple moves you could have just one lesson.
You do need to be able to practice between lessons too. Not hours and hours, but enough so each lesson can build on what you both already know.
WHEN SHOULD WE START?
Its a good ideas to have your choreography done at least 2 weeks before the big day if you can – then you have less to stress about. You can also learn your choreographed wedding dance well in advance and come back for a final run through in the week before the wedding – and that works well for some couples.
Do consider booking your wedding dance lessons in advance – that means one less thing to worry about closer to the actual day.
I receive lovely comments from the Wedding Couples I work with:
“Just wanted to let you know we pulled our dance off brilliantly! The guests were incredibly impressed that we’d been to dance lessons and couldn’t believe my husband picked it up so easily! We had a lot of fun and were so proud we nailed it! Thanks so much for your choreography and positive teaching.” L&C
“The wedding was amazing and we surprised everyone with our dance. They all absolutely loved it and were so impressed! Thank you for your patience and crafting a dance that suited us, you really made learning easy and fun. Definitely a memorable experience and I’m so glad we did it.” K&N
Group Class
After Easter I will be hosting another 6 week group class. It will be on Tuesday nights from 7.30pm – 8.30pm at the Tauranga Senior Citizens Hall, 14 Norris St Tauranga. It is easier if you have arranged your own partner. If you think this might be just what you need, or if you want to discuss finding a partner call me for more details. I do promise a fun class with a good dollop of technique. Lessons start on the 2nd of April.
I also offer an open Sunday Practice session every fortnight. These are from 6pm – 7.30pm and cover Ballroom, New Vogue and Latin American. The purpose of practice is to work on those things that you learn during the week and just haven’t “stuck” yet. I’m there to help and don’t mind how complicated or simple the questions are.
Its been a very busy month for Dance Company. I’ve had the honor to work with 5 couples who got married in January using some diverse music choices. The music you choose to dance to needs to reflect who you are as people and what song you both like. The choreography and teaching of steps is what I do as a dance coach. So meet A&E:
Just wanted to say a big thank you to all your help teaching me how to dance (and E. how not to step on my feet).
The dance was my favorite part of organizing the wedding by far and was a big hit.
In February I will be hosting another 6 week beginners group class. It will be on Tuesday nights from 7.30pm – 8.30pm at the Tauranga Senior Citizens Hall, 14 Norris St Tauranga. You will need to bring your own partner. If you think this might be just what you need call me for more details. I promise a fun class with a good dollop of technique. Lessons start on the 13th.
Often I receive the nicest comments from the wedding couples I work with:
“Just wanted to let you know we pulled our dance off brilliantly! The guests were incredibly impressed that we’d been to dance lessons and couldn’t believe my husband picked it up so easily! We had a lot of fun and were so proud we nailed it! Thanks so much for your choreography and positive teaching.” L&C
“The wedding was amazing and we surprised everyone with our dance. They all absolutely loved it and were so impressed! 🙂 Thank you for your patience and crafting a dance that suited us, you really made learning easy and fun. Definitely a memorable experience and I’m so glad we did it.” K&N
If you want some help with your wedding dance do call or email. Remember you may not need anything complicated, just a few moves might be all that is necessary.
Dance Company will be closed for the holiday break after the 10th of December and will be back teaching from the 7th of January.
In January I will be hosting a 5 week beginners group class on Wednesday nights from 8pm – 9pm at the Tauranga Senior Citizens Hall, 14 Norris St Tauranga. You will need to bring your own partner. If you think this might be just what you need to look forward to in 2024 send me an email. I promise a fun class with a good dollop of technique. Lessons start on the 10th.
I am delighted to say that Dance Company has moved its weekday lessons permanently to this hall. Its a very central space with a lovely floor which is great to dance on.
Looking for just a little help for your first dance?
Not every couple wants a fully choreographed wedding routine. You might just want a few moves and variations that you can use both at your big day or at any other social occasion when dancing might happen. Just like Alice and Jamie.
In Jamie’s case dancing in public, even in front of friends and family, was something he really wasn’t looking forward to. So he came to a few lessons by himself, not to learn a routine or steps, but to gain enough confidence so he could take Alice out on the floor.
They said “it went well and as you know it was pretty short before (our) parents stepped in. Thank you so much for your time and confidence building!”
So if all you need is a little confidence; some help to get out onto the floor please call or email, I’m sure I can help. I am available for Sunday lessons commencing after the long weekend and up until early December. Lesson times start at 4pm. I can either teach you some moves that work with the song you have chosen – or moves that will work well with any modern music.
