|
How can I use your web site?
We post info about our school, programs, services, class schedules, news, fieldtrips, and excursions. We maintain a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that come from inquiries to assist you. If you have a question, click CONTACT US on LEFT nav bar, then select link: 'WRITE Albert G. Aguilar, Founder/Owner/Director (email)' to send an inquiry. Our studio phone is not answered during classtimes, so this is the best way to communicate with us for a speedy response.
How do I send you a quick message?
***Simply click 'CONTACT US' on the LEFT nav bar. Click on the link ' Albert G. Aguilar, Founder/Owner/Director (email)' to send an email inquiry. Depending on the nature of the message, this is usually the quickest method for a personal response.
How can I obtain a schedule of classes?
Click on any page or Day of the Week in the LEFT nav bar. Select 'PRINT' in your browser to print the page.
How do I enroll in a private lesson or group class?
Phone:
510-839-9875
Mail:
ACB Ballroom Dance School
454 Santa Clara Ave
Oakland CA 94610-1924
Email:
< acbballroom -AT- yahoo -DOT- com >
What kind of clothes should I wear to class?
Clothes should be loose and comfortable. Natural fibers or blends (cotton, rayon, silk, linen, microfiber) are preferable. Comfortable casual dress is recommended. Skirts and dresses should allow maximum leg movement forward, side, and back.
What kind of shoes do I need to wear?
If you would like to purchase ballroom dance shoes just for ballroom dancing - see Yellow Pages for "Dancers' Apparel & Supplies". Let them know that you are taking classes at ACB Ballroom Dance School and they will be glad to help you. Ballroom dance shoes should be 1/2 size smaller than your regular size as they are made differently than regular shoes and they will stretch as you wear them.
In addition to ballroom shoes (suede on sole and heel), jazz oxfords and character shoes (tap shoes WITHOUT taps) for men and women are available at most dance supply stores at about 50% less than true "ballroom shoes."
Do you accept alternatives to "ballroom shoes"?
Yes. Acceptable alternatives are:
1- Jazz or character shoes (tap shoes without taps).
2- Tennis or court shoes (aka, cross-trainers - Nikes, Reeboks, Keds) that have a flat non-marking sole (no bumps, knobs, waffles or waves)
3- Hush Puppies; Top-Siders.
The soles of your shoes must be clean and free of all dirt.
Dance shoes should never be worn on the street.
Always carry your dance shoes to class - then put them on in the studio.
What are unacceptable ballroom dance shoes?
Not Acceptable:
Men's dress shoes; esp. Wing-tips, or any shoe with soft black rubber heels.
Women’s stiletto heels (very tall small heel) or any shoe without a strap over the top of the foot.
Military shoes or boots; Doc Martens; any shoe without a heel - Birkenstocks, clogs; any shoe with rubber or crepe soles; any shoe that slips or is loose.
Is videotaping of classes allowed?
Videotaping of group classes is not allowed due to distractions for students, teacher, and the teaching process.
Permission to videotape private lessons may be granted at the discretion of the instructor with approval of the Director.
Can I pre-register for classes?
Yes. Pre-registration is highly recommended in order to minimize class time taken for administrative procedures and to ensure a place in the class.
Review GROUP CLASSES (by day) for next start date of the dance you want to take.
Register by phone: call 510-839-9875 (requires Visa or Mastercard).
Register by mail: send check payable to ACB Ballroom Dance School.
How can I pay my tuition?
Tuition must be paid in full prior to the first class.
Visa/Mastercard, cash, and personal checks are accepted.
Checks are payable to: ACB Ballroom Dance School. There is a $29 fee for returned checks or declined credit card transactions.
What is the absence policy on missed classes?
ACBB classes have an accelerated curriculum with a sequential progression and unexcused absences are not allowed, nor are class fees refunded or prorated.
When an absence is not avoidable, notification, PRIOR TO YOUR SCHEDULED CLASS, is required for an excused absence.
Call 510-839-9875 to avoid an unexcused absence and to be eligible for a makeup class.
How can I take a makeup class?
You may request a makeup class in your notification call to the studio phone (a phone call is required) prior to being absent in a class.
Makeup classes are available at regularly scheduled group classes (the next cycle of the missed class) - or - by appointment for a private makeup class for an additional fee of $30 per hour - for each class missed.
How can I get directions to ACBB?
Click 'MAP & DIRECTIONS' on left nav bar, to generate a map of the Grand Lake area. Detailed driving directions from your address to the studio are available - Click on 'DIRECTIONS'.
ACB Ballroom Dance School is in Oakland’s historic Grand Lake Shopping District (Santa Clara Ave at Grand Ave - one block East of Highway 580) across from the Grand Lake Theater.
Exit from 580 on Grand Ave
Turn right at Lake Park and then right again to park under the 580 freeway.
Exit from 580 on Lakeshore Ave
Proceed through light at Lakeshore and Lake Park and turn then right on Lake Park to park under the 580 freeway).
Where is parking available?
1 - FREE off-street parking under the 580 overpass in a lighted fenced lot. Entrance is on Lake Park opposite Quik-Way Drive In/The Serenader. Do not park in Permit Spaces before 6 pm.
2 - Metered parking is located behind the Grand Lake Theater - FREE after 6 pm.
3 - Metered street parking is available on Grand, Santa Clara, and Lake Park - FREE after 6 pm.
4 - FREE off-street parking after 6pm and all day Sat and Sun is available in teacher's parking lot of Lakeview Elementary, directly across from ACBB and Grand Lake Theater. This is overflow parking for the Grand Lake Farmer's Market on Saturday afternoon. NOTE: this is a non-lighted area after dark.
Do I need a partner?
A partner is not required to take dance classes, but we recommend you have a partner when taking classes so that you have someone to practice with between classes. In fact, the majority of students at our school do come to class with a partner.
Can I come to class without a partner?
Singles are partnered with the instructor(s); with group rotation there are enough repetitions to "really learn the steps."
You can request a dance partner from previous class students. Usually this is a more advanced student, so there is a sense of "work" in being a partner for a beginner, plus devoting time for the class. It's customary to pay for the "service" of an arranged partner by paying their class fees. See "Finding your own Dance Partner" in our website Q&As.
Consider a partner referral (see DancePartners.com).
Private lessons are also available - the focus is only on you and the material that can be taught is about 3 or 4 group classes to one private lesson making the cost per material covered, depending on your speed of assimilation, approximately equal to group classes.
What about "odd" singles?
Group classes are small with 1 or 2 instructors per class, and odd singles are partnered with instructor(s), and with group rotation there are plenty of repetitions to "really learn the steps."
However, it is always preferable to come to class as a couple since this is "partner" dancing and you would learn and retain your instruction better if you could practice outside of class with someone. This is why the majority of students come to our school as a couple. Unfortuately we cannot "guarantee" their will be a single available man to dance only with you.
How can I find a partner?
Ask someone you know - perferrably someone you like to be around - spouse, friend, coworker, acquaintance, or relative. In fact, we have a number of families that take class together as a family activity - in both groups and private groups.
One option is to request a dance partner from a list of previous students who are available to "partner" with a new student. This will usually be a more advanced student than a beginner, so there is a sense of "work" in being a partner, plus devoting time for the class from one's schedule. Therefore, it is customary to pay for the "service" of an arranged partner by paying his/her class fees.
Another possibility is a dance partner referral service. One that we recommend is DancePartners.com:
www.dancepartners.com
You might give a gift certificate (click 'GIFT CERTIFICATES') to that special someone and say, "I need a dance partner, and I thought of YOU!"
Do I have to change partners?
You do not have to change partners.
When we do change partners, simply step back from the circle with your partner in your arm and smile and say to the approaching single, "We're not changing partners".
There is a reason we encourage you to change partners, and that is because if you only dance with one partner, both of you begin to compensate for the other, and begin to react automatically. It's instructive, as well as social, to dance with other people....but it's not required as some couples want to dance only with each other -- and we respect their choice if they choose not to rotate partners.
That being said, we do encourage students to dance with other students because it's social - and this is social dancing - and because it makes you a better dancer to dance with different people instead of being overly familiar with just one partner.
What are the size of group classes?
Group classes are limited to a maximum of 12 couples to preserve the learning experience of a small group.
Private group classes and private dance parties are limited to 40 and 80 people respectively..
What is the makeup of your classes?
Juniors are 10 - 12
Teens are 13 - 19
Adults are 20 - 92
(One of our students is 92 this Oct 23rd, so every year on her birthday we raise the limit.)
Classes are about evenly divided between 20-30s and 30-50s.
We have students, teachers, musicians, professionals (medical, engineering, software) and just plain folks.
The majority do come with a partner, but we don't exclude singles - the reality is that more single women come to dance classes than single men - true for every dance school in existence - so single men are in high demand.
NOTE: Our school is not a "meat market" and the people who attend our classes are seriously interested in learning to dance. If that kind of "shopping" is what you are looking for, we suggest you go elsewhere. However, I can report that some of our students have found romance on the dance floor...as their children can attest!
What is your privacy policy?
We value you as a student/former student/or prospective student and take your personal privacy seriously.
- We do not sell personal information - nor will we ever do so.
- We do not provide personal information to other students without your express permission.
- We use your personal information for enrollment; to ensure proper billing and to process your credit card transactions; and offer you products or services that we believe may suit your needs.
- We follow security protocols that protect your personal information in both physical and electronic formats.
- We provide prospective and former students the same protections as existing students.
If you have any questions regarding our Privacy Policy, please contact me directly:
Albert G. Aguilar, Owner/Founder/Director
ACB Ballroom Dance School
454 Santa Clara Ave
Oakland, CA 94610
510-839-9875
Do you teach same gender couples?
We are proud to teach, and have taught, same gender couples in both private and group lessons.
However unlike other schools, we do not segregate you to a "special class".
Our teaching methodology incorporates the "switching" of gender, ie, switching the roles of leader and follower (traditionally "man" and "woman" respectively) in our instruction. All instructors at our school are experienced in dancing both as a leader and a follower. And we switch roles/gender regularly with each other/our students depending on teaching clarity or need to balance a class for leaders and followers.
For this reason and by our example, our students are familiar with and accept the concept of a male follower or a female leader.
If you are a same gender couple, we welcome you to our school.
If you feel more comfortable with same gender couples, we can arrange a private group class for you and your friends. Contact us with your requirements.
Am I limited only to dances for a set schedule?
No, you are not limited to only the dances listed for one day and time.
For example:
You enrolled for a 16 wk Monday 8 pm series, but want to take one module (4 wks of classes) on Fri at 8 p.m. - no problem.
A 16 week series is for four 4 week modules (any 4 modules, any day/any time) - or - for 16 one week classes (any day/any time).
What can I do when I have an irregular schedule making it difficult to commit to a regular group class?
Consider private lessons. In a private lesson you can have an instructor teach you directly in a one to one class that moves at your pace, on your own schedule, and is customized specifically for you. Not all of the classes we teach are always on our group class schedule due to teacher availability, student interest and other factors; but all of the dances we teach are available as a private lesson.
While a private lesson is more expensive than group classes on a per class basis, the focus is only on you and the material that can be taught is about 2 group classes to one private lesson making the cost per material covered, depending on your speed of assimilation, approximately equal for a couple.
What is American Social Style dance?
It is a partner dance style where the man and woman are dancing in open and closed positions generally as mirror opposites. It is a social style as opposed to an exhibition or competition style. It is danced at weddings, parties, nightclubs, and other social gatherings.
Think "Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers" NOT "Championship Ballroom Dancing."
If I start a class series and decide not to continue, can I get a refund?
You can receive all tuition paid if you withdraw before the first class. If you decide to withdraw after the first class, you can recieve a return of tuition minus the cost of the first class. Withdrawals are not allowed after the start of the second class.
If I miss a class, can I get a refund for the class missed?
No. Tuition is not refunded or prorated for missed classes when tuition is paid for a series of classes. Class series are discounted from the single class rate. If you cannot commit to a series, you should pay for classes at the single class rate.
If I must withdraw from a series, can I get a refund?
No. Tuition is not refunded or prorated for withdrawals after the first class of a series. However, with permission, you can convert your tuition credit balance to private lessons at the private lesson rate, and schedule private lessons at your convenience; or for any other service/products we provide.
How can I reach someone in person and not a recording?
As our studio phone is not answered during classtimes, the best way to communicate with us for a speedy response is to use 'WRITE US' (top menu). Give us your question with a time or two you can best be reached (day and evening numbers) and we will return your calls.
Also check these 'FAQs' for questions others have posed. Your answer may be here.
Do I have to register in advance?
No, you don't need to register in advance - but we encourage you to do so to ensure you have a place in our small group classes and to help us balance the number of leaders to followers.
On the first night of a new class, come 5 to 10 minutes early to sign in and fill out paperwork (for new students).
|
