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.

Udemy Review for July 2026 | Best Ballroom Dancing Lessons

Item: Udemy Review
Rating: 1.5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Wednesday, July 15th 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.

1.5

WEAK

Weak

Udemy

Database for finding online classes
One-time purchase
Multiple course options
Prices range from $16 to $90 per course

WEAK

1.5

On the Udemy website

Udemy is another online platform where you can connect with teachers to learn ballroom dance, offering a range of online and video lessons. While it's a good starting point, Udemy has a limited number of courses, with most offering under 10 hours of content. In contrast, other options on our list offer more extensive resources, making them more suitable for serious dancers. Udemy's courses may be a good introduction to ballroom dance, but not be enough to help you improve significantly.

Better for discovering new courses

When exploring online ballroom courses on Udemy, you'll notice that some courses are new, while others can be found on their original creators' websites, blogs, or YouTube channels. This raises questions about the authenticity of the content and whether you're getting the best possible learning experience. You may want to consider if using Udemy as an intermediary is worth it or if it's better to go directly to the source for your courses. By cutting out the middleman, you may have more control over the content and instruction you receive.

Different levels depending on the course

One of the advantages of using a database site like Udemy is the ability to filter your search criteria to find the perfect ballroom course for you. You can limit your search by level (beginner, intermediate, advanced, or expert), ratings, features, and video duration. This level of customization allows you to focus on specific aspects of ballroom dance that interest you most, whether it's mastering a particular style or improving your technique. By taking advantage of these filters, you can create a personalized learning plan that suits your needs and goals. For example, we saw that 303 of the results offered ballroom courses with under 1 hour of learning. Only 94 courses offered 6-17 hours of content, which is still very low considering how much time and training goes into any art form, but especially dance.

Prices from $16 to $20 on average

Keep in mind that prices on Udemy can fluctuate. At the time of this evaluation, most courses were on sale, bringing prices down from around $70 to $90 per course to $16 to $20 per course. However, it's unclear how often these sales occur or for how long they'll be available. Within a 2-year gap, we saw similar pricing during multiple visits to the site, so the "sale" may be constant.

Customers think the site is untrustworthy

Udemy doesn't have an impressive reputation. Currently, Udemy holds an abysmal "D-" rating from the Better Business Bureau. On other third-party review sites like Trustpilot, the average rating is 2 stars out of 5. Customers complain that the lessons on Udemy aren't recognized by other establishments and that the increase in skill is minimal (...kind of like what happens when you have a long streak on Duolingo, only to find out you still don't actually know Spanish…but that's the subject of a different review). Others noted the discrepancy in the sales notice on the site, saying they felt pressured to buy when there was another nearly identical sale the following day. Multiple reviews left within a few weeks of our most recent visit said that Udemy has untrustworthy business practices.

Not a competitive ballroom dancing program

On top of its other troubles, Udemy doesn't particularly stand out in the ballroom dance community. Compared to other courses and databases on our list, Udemy falls short in terms of content and depth. However, if you can catch the ballroom dance lessons on sale, it might be worth checking out a quick online class at a low price. On the other hand, given the poor reviews and ratings for Udemy, it might be safer to steer clear altogether.

On the Udemy 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!

Udemy Review: Ballroom Dancing Lessons

2026 Ballroom Dancing Lesson Reviews

Udemy

Where Can You Find the Best Ballroom Dancing Lessons?

Ballroom Dancing Lesson FAQ