Frequently Asked

Yes. 

The program is free to our team members. There are no registration fees nor any cost to join. The program is run by entirely by volunteers. 

The exceptionally high-level of instruction  is made possible  only because our director/instructor donates his time and expertise to the team. These high-quality lessons would normally be prohibitively expensive for students and young adults who would otherwise be unable to learn ballroom dance because of the cost of training.

Membership to the 1010 Dance Program is strictly by invitation only. 

The small size of the class requires us to limit the number of new members we can accept. 

Typically, current team members will recommend a prospective member-dancer to the director (our coach/instructor who also volunteers his time and expertise to train the team). If he sees potential in the dancer (even one without previous dance training), then an optional audition is set. If accepted, the dancer is placed on a wait-list; however, if a slot is open, the new dancer can join the team immediately.

First, expect not to wear dance shoes. The team trains in socks (gym socks are highly recommended, as are ballet shoes). This has always been the case since the inception of this Master Class.

Second, prepare to make new acquaintances and friends. The team members are friendly group and happy to help newcomers. They went through what you are about to go through, and understand it can be quite the eye-opener.

And third, most newcomers will find their first few sessions to be highly intimidating, physically demanding, and most importantly, highly rewarding. We try to make it a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone. So have fun with it!

One of the benefits of being a 1010 Dance group member is the practice time. For member dance practice, we usually rent the ballroom for two hours on Fridays or Thursdays. Separate from our Sunday Master Class lessons, this gives our members the option to practice their routines and exercises. Practice time is entirely optional and is available to current active members for FREE.

The official practice schedule is posted here.

There are several reasons why we train in socks or ballet shoes.

First, it develops better sensitivity to foot mechanics. It is easy to cheat foot articulation when you are wearing high-heels or dance shoes.

Second, you are bound to step inadvertently on your dance partner's foot at some point in our Master Class. This is expected because of the rigorous training we go through. With socks, it is easier to avoid stepping on a partner's foot—you can sense things better when you are bare foot and will feel the floor much better. Also, if and when you do step on somebody, it is likely that you will do less harm than if a hard heel comes slamming onto your partner's toes.

Third, Rise and Fall (R&F) becomes easier to train. The steel shanks in dance shoes can prevent you from rising to the fullest height from your ankles (something we call Foot Rise in dance).  Training in socks allows you to utilize your foot rise to the fullest potential.

At this time, the best way to help 1010 Dance is to spread the word about the team. The more other dancers learn about the team and want to join, the better. It will help raise ballroom dancing levels within the local community.

You can also help financially by donating directly to the GoFundMe fund-raiser the team has created. Here is a link to more information and the donation page: Click here to learn more.