What type of ballroom dances are there?

Excellent question! There are 12 types of ballroom dancing. The 5 most popular ballroom dances are the Foxtrot, Waltz, Rumba, Cha Cha, and Swing. Once you have skilled these 5 dances, you can dance with partners from all over the world. The other types of dance include the Jive, Lindy Hop, Mambo, Pasodoble, Quickstep, Samba, and Tango.

What is the main purpose of ballroom dancing?

Ballroom dancing is a partnership type of dance where couples move rhythmically using two step patterns while expressing the characteristics of the music being played. Ballroom dancing consists of two styles among the 12 types, Smooth and Rhythm. Smooth, also known as standard, is a style of dance that focuses on the grace, elegance, and fluidity of the movement. Rhythm, also known as Latin, is a style of dance that focuses on the display of vibrant energy, and personal flair. The main difference between these two styles is that standard dancing consists of the couple constantly moving on the dance floor in a fixed pattern. Whereas Latin style the couple usually dances in one spot of the dance floor throughout the dance.

How long will it take to feel confident on the dance floor?

When it comes to learning a dance, you will be learning the steps in as little as one or two lessons. But to become a refined and more precise dancer takes longer due to two main factors. The factors include how often you take the lessons and how often you practice. Most beginner students can feel confident on the dance floor anywhere from 6 months to a year.

Do I have to have a partner to take lessons?

No! You don't need a partner to take dance lessons. Online classes allow you to learn both the lead and follow steps along with technique, patterns, and the experience of rotating with partners throughout the class.

Should I take private lessons or group classes? Which is better?

Both have great benefits; it all depends on what you are looking for, but an ideal choice is a mixture of both. Group classes are more affordable, teach you the step patterns, basic technique, vocabulary, and experience different partners. Private lessons allow you to work on your technique and partnership at your own pace. The only con for private lessons is that they tend to be more expensive.

Is ballroom dancing hard?

Ballroom dancing is not for everyone but getting started with learning is easy to do and just takes practice. Like learning a new language, learning a new dance might feel intimidating at first, yet all you need is to start of easy and slowly work your way up to something more. Over time it will feel almost natural to move with the music on the dance floor. It is recommended to start with the waltz when you have not had any prior ballroom experience.

I have no sense of rhythm or coordination; can I still learn to ballroom dance?

Of course, this is what instructors are there to help you with. With guidance from an instructor, you will learn to hear the rhythm in the music. Being able to hear the rhythm allows you to move, which means you can dance. If you have any doubts just remember that dancing is just like any other physical activity, it requires practice, patience, and learning within your own comfort zone.

How many lessons do I need to take?

When you start ballroom dancing it is recommended to take one or two lessons per week. Taking this frequency of lessons allows you to continuously build upon what you learned during the previous week. This also allows you to integrate new moves into previously learned steps. Practicing frequently will help you improve, build your confidence, and dance without doubts on the dance floor. Practicing allows you to learn your areas of improvement and challenge yourself every week.

Take Lessons Review for February 2026 | Best Ballroom Dancing Lessons

Item: Take Lessons Review
Rating: 2.5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Thursday, February 19th We evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

2026 Ballroom Dancing Lesson Reviews

Where Can You Find the Best Ballroom Dancing Lessons? Whether you're looking for a new way to get fit, enjoy socializing while tapping your toes, or are a pro ballroom dancer looking to improve your skills, ballroom dancing lessons are a great way to get your groove on. Known for being one of the most social dance styles, ballroom encompasses many different styles and offers you both fitness and fun in one place. Unlike other styles of dance (like ballet), there isn't any expensive gear to get started. You just need yourself.

2.4

FAIR

Fair

Take Lessons

Prices from $20 to $140 per hour
Free search engine to find teachers in your area
In-person and online options
Safety features include background checks

FAIR

2.4

On the Take Lessons website

Take Lessons is not a ballroom dancing course, but rather a unique platform that allows you to discover and connect with qualified ballroom dance instructors. By offering private lessons, group lessons, and video lessons, Take Lessons provides a convenient way to explore different teachers, studios, and private instructors until you find the perfect fit for your learning style. This platform might get your attention, due to the large number of instructors for ballroom dancing that allow you to have your pick of style, level, and teaching methods. Take Lessons' focus is on providing students with a way to discover and connect with instructors.

Video and in-person lessons

As a search engine, Take Lessons offers impressive flexibility. Whether you're looking for in-person lessons or prefer to learn online, this platform makes it easy to find the right teacher. You can filter your search by location, day, and price to narrow down your options and find the perfect match. And, if you'd like, you can even arrange for a teacher to come directly to your home for private lessons in the comfort of your own space. But, while there are a similar number of teachers and tutors in our area to competing tutoring sites, it is harder to change your location and search for new tutors on Take Lessons. There are also fewer total tutors on this platform for ballroom dance.

Lessons from beginner to advanced material

While Take Lessons may not offer pre-packaged courses or predetermined lesson plans, it's a good resource for those seeking personalized learning experiences. By connecting with qualified instructors and exploring different teaching styles, you can create a customized learning journey. You can find a bunch of different levels and styles offered on Take Lessons. In our local area, we found teachers with the following specializations:

Latin, salsa, cha-cha, merengue
Solo ballroom
Social ballroom
Argentine tango and ballet
Waltz, rumba, and cha-cha

All of the teachers also list what levels they teach from beginner to advanced.

Prices from $20 to $140 per hour

The prices differ depending on which tutor or teacher you pick. In our local area, prices ranged from $20 to $140 per hour. Across the platform, prices can go as high as $200 per hour, so you'll want to carefully research your teacher before committing. Thankfully, each teacher's profile includes photos and videos, giving you a clear understanding of who you'll be working with.

Security is a priority

When it comes to connecting with strangers, safety is a top priority. Take Lessons promises that all teachers have undergone a thorough background check before they're listed on the platform. This way, you can trust that you're meeting a real person and that they've been vetted by Take Lessons before you make that connection.

Reviews raise some red flags

Sadly, Take Lessons currently has a "D-" rating from the Better Business Bureau. This is due to a few complaints in the last few years. On top of that, Take Lessons has just 1.5 stars on average from Trustpilot. Customers had issues with being charged multiple times despite discontinuing lessons. While students generally appreciate the teachers and tutors themselves, there is a consensus that the platform isn't ideal and has a lot of problems on both the student and teacher sides.

Not worth the potential hassle.

With other more competitive tutoring-based sites, Take Lessons slides down the rankings a bit. While we like the focus on security and the flexibility of one-on-one instruction, the complaints about Take Lessons raise some eyebrows. For a more enjoyable ballroom dancing lesson platform, you may want to look at the higher-rated services in our review.

On the Take Lessons website

Continued from above...

Where Can You Find the Best Ballroom Dancing Lessons?

Whether you're looking for a new way to get fit, enjoy socializing while tapping your toes, or are a pro ballroom dancer looking to improve your skills, ballroom dancing lessons are a great way to get your groove on. Known for being one of the most social dance styles, ballroom encompasses many different styles and offers you both fitness and fun in one place. Unlike other styles of dance (like ballet), there isn't any expensive gear to get started. You just need yourself.

Ballroom dance has a rich history that spans hundreds of years, and its popularity continues to grow as more people discover its many benefits. While competitive ballroom dancing, also known as Dancesport, is one aspect of this art form, ballroom dance is accessible to everyone, regardless of age, gender, or experience level. You can choose to compete no matter how late you start, or you can focus on social events like live-music dancing meetups or masterclasses in the Viennese Waltz.

Ballroom dancing is often associated with the Waltz, but there are many other styles to explore, each with its unique characteristics and rhythms. From the smooth, elegant foxtrot to the spicy tango and cha-cha, rumba, swing, bolero, mambo, and quickstep, there's a ballroom style that fits your music preferences and fitness level. With the rise of online learning platforms, you can now learn ballroom dancing from the comfort of your own home, eliminating the need to travel to a physical studio. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to improve your skills, there's a ballroom dancing option available for you.

Finding the perfect ballroom dancing lessons can be a daunting task, especially with the numerous options available. However, with a little guidance, you can discover the joy of dancing and make it a part of your social and physical routine. For those who feel the urge to move to the rhythm of big band music or swing, ballroom dancing is an excellent way to express yourself and get some exercise at the same time.

So, how do you choose the best ballroom dancing lessons for you? If you're not sure where to start your tango or swing, here are a few things to help you decide:

Location. Are you looking for something that's online only? Do you want to have classes in person? Do you need someone who comes to your home? Make sure that the course you're looking at is convenient for where you want to learn.
Price. Are you looking for a subscription or something you can pay for one time? Make sure that you're getting what you want for the right price. Whether you just want one or two refresher lessons or a full course, the price can be a competitive factor.
Learning modality. Think about how you learn best. Do you want synchronous live lessons (even online)? Or are you okay with DVD and CD dance-alongs? Or are you someone who needs a teacher for in-person corrections? There are plenty of courses out there that offer all modalities. So find the one that creates the right balance of convenience and supportive teaching style.
Dancer level. Are you a beginner, intermediate, or advanced dancer? What kind of support do you need from your ballroom dance course? Some courses only cover the basics while others will offer more advanced, competition-focused complexity. Make sure the course you choose suits your current and goal levels.
Teachers. Are you looking for award-winning instructors or just someone who can teach you the steps? There are tons of options out there and teachers are incredibly important to the learning process. You may prefer a teacher with a more friendly style as a beginner, and then someone more connected to ballroom dance (like a former or current competitor) as you get more advanced.

To help you find the right ballroom dance course to exercise those tapping toes, the dance experts at Top Consumer Reviews have evaluated and ranked today's most popular ballroom dancing lessons out there today. We hope these reviews will make it easy to enjoy waltzing into the new (or familiar) world of dance!

Take Lessons Review: Ballroom Dancing Lessons

2026 Ballroom Dancing Lesson Reviews

Take Lessons

Where Can You Find the Best Ballroom Dancing Lessons?

Ballroom Dancing Lesson FAQ