Newcomer

Newcomers are dancers who have no prior experience or less than 2 semesters of experience dancing. Each fall we start a new beginner cohort, affectionately referred to as “rookies.” We provide instruction, arrange for shoes to be fitted, and create partnerships. As a competitive team, beginners are expected to compete twice each semester with the rest of the team. However, everyone will be adequately prepared and the competitions are designed to be fun as dancers showcase the skills they have learned. By the end of the year you can expect to know how to dance all ten ballroom dances!

Group lessons are offered for newcomers.
Dues to be paid each semester.
Private lessons are offered starting Spring semester.

Bronze

Bronze lessons are for beginning dancers relatively inexperienced with ballroom dance competitions. First and second year dancers are typically learning at this level, and newcomers are explicitly welcome in the bronze lessons. The syllabus allows for about ten to fifteen different figures in each dance. While newcomer routines are short, a bronze routine is designed for the full song length in competition. Typically bronze dancers also begin to take private lessons, although this is not a requirement.

Group lesson are offered for bronze level.
Dues to be paid each semester.
Private lessons are offered.

Silver and Gold

Silver and gold lessons are for dancers with competitive experience. For each level, the syllabus expands upon the previous, allowing for new figures as well as common variations of the basic bronze figures. Dancers start to develop advanced movement vocabulary, how to dance syncopated rhythms and control detailed isolation in their bodies. In gold, dancers ultimately prepare for for the transition to the three Open levels of competition.

Group lessons are offered for silver level.
Dues to be paid each semester.
Private lessons are offered.

Alumni

The Cal Ballroom team is proud to have a large group of alumni dancers around the globe. Alumni who remain in the Bay Area are welcome to share our practice space. In order to participate in group lessons and schedule private lessons through the team, alumni who have graduated from Cal may pay the team dues and continue dancing as before.