How to Prepare for a New Dance Class or Freestyle Event

Going to a new dance class or event can be intimidating, especially if you’re going alone. In an ideal world, we’d all have at least one friend or a partner to bring with us; but sometimes life just isn’t like that. And honestly, even if you’re a confident dancer, going to a new dance venue and have someone to go with you, it can still be nerve-wracking!

You’re not alone if you’re thinking of trying a new dance class, or maybe trying a freestyle when you’re away on holiday but you’re feeling nervous. There’s plenty you can do to make it easier on yourself! Here’s my take on how to have the best night.

Plan Ahead

After dancing for 18 years, for me getting there can be the most stressful part of the experience – but luckily Google Maps is my best friend! I rely on that in the car to get me there, but I always check out the venue before heading out, and I like to know the parking situation too. If the venue doesn’t have great parking, I check Parkopedia to find out where the next nearest car parks are, and then look at the walking route to and from my car to make sure it is safe and easy.

Then it goes without saying to check you have everything you need in your bag, and make sure what you wear is going to be comfortable.  

Wear Something Distinctive

It doesn’t have to be out of your comfort zone – you don’t have to reach for a Hawaiian shirt if you’re more comfortable in black! – but the fact I’d worn a bright top when visiting new-to-me venues in Yorkshire (that you can read about below) meant that it was easy for me to be identified when the door crew were pointing me out. Also, if you decide to wear something that people can comment on – a t-shirt with a dance slogan or something like that – then that’s an easy conversation starter too.

Get There In Plenty Of Time

When you’re going to a new venue, you don’t know what the seating arrangements are going to be, which is exactly why I like to go early if I’m going outside of my regular dances. As freestyles tend to be busy, I want to make sure I am able to get a seat where I am comfortable, and where I can stash my bag.

Remember That You Belong There

If you already wear dance shoes, people will instantly know you’re a dancer, so they’ll almost certainly ask you where you normally dance. I heard “oh, you’re a dancer, but you’re not from round here” plenty of times when dancing in Yorkshire, which made conversation easy – and most of the men who said that made the effort to come and get me for a dance.

If you’re new to dancing, then the experienced dancers will be welcoming and want you to succeed. Our clubs and nights prosper when new people join, so remember you’re part of the future of the local dance community when you join as a beginner.

Tell Yourself That You Have More Confidence Than You Do

I’m not suggesting that you come across as cocky, but think of a person whose confidence you admire, and then channel their energy. Think what they would do in this situation, and use that to get you through those first moments. I’ve used this trick throughout my life, and it will definitely help get you through the door, and for finding the courage to ask for dances.

Use Caution If You Have A Drink

If you’re tempted to have a glass of wine or a beer to bolster your courage a little, I completely understand! But I’d suggest going easy and just having the one. I’ve attempted to drink and dance before, but quickly realised that after two glasses of wine my body doesn’t have the balance that it needs to be able to dance well. You want to be remembered for the right reasons, not because you've fallen on the floor.

In my experience, most dancers at modern jive dance nights don’t tend to drink alcohol – or at least, drinking doesn’t tend to be part of the culture. I can only think of one occasion on a Friday at a weekender where a dancer had had a bit too much.  

My Experiences Visiting New Dance Venues

I live and dance along the south coast of England, but most of my family are in Yorkshire. Yorkshire folk are amongst the friendliest in the country, so when I go to visit, I like to see if there’s a class or freestyle that I can get to. So far in 18 years of dancing, I’ve only managed that twice (my visits are often too busy to squeeze dancing in!) and both times, I went by myself.

The first time, I went to a Friday night freestyle near Goole. I arrived a little bit early, and I told the ladies on the door that I was up from the south coast and didn’t know anyone. I was wearing a brightly coloured top, and those lovely ladies pointed me out to the men, telling them that I was here alone, didn’t know anyone, and that they should get me up for a dance. While I didn’t get as many dances as I would in the south, that was partly due to my being a bit less confident at the time and so I didn’t get up and ask for dances myself. I did have a good evening though and I chatted to a few lovely people.

I was much more successful when I went to a Wednesday class night in Doncaster earlier this year; I had a great time. By their very nature, I find class nights easier to talk to people – you swap partners as you move around the room, and so most people will comment that they’ve not seen you before. Again, I wore a top that was easy to pick out, and the dancers in Doncaster were absolutely great. I definitely got as many dances as I would at my local nights.

When it comes to bigger events, I’ve done a few dance weekenders, including the Ceroc weekender at Camber Sands, and the MJ Roc dance weekend at Warmwell in 2025. They are a completely different experience to going to a freestyle or class night. Because people travel from far and wide for these, most people tend to only know a handful of other dancers, and so everyone is really in the same boat. Dance weekends tend to be structured around lessons during the day and freestyle in the evening, so there’s plenty of time to meet people and find your way.

Finding A New Dance Night

I don’t need to teach you how to search for dance classes online – you almost certainly used Google or an AI search tool to end up on this page. But there are a few websites that I find particularly useful when looking for a dance night.

Are You Dancing is a great resource. It doesn’t have absolutely every class and freestyle on it as it depends on organisers submitting their event to it, which doesn’t always happen, but you can search for a range of styles and by area.

Southern Jive Calendar is one of my go-to resources for finding dance nights in the south of England. Again, it depends on organisers submitting their events.

UK Jive Directory is another good site to check out. I find it less easy to navigate than the other sites, and again, it depends on organisers submitting their classes and freestyles. I think this might have been where I found the Doncaster night I went to.

Facebook is a great place to look for dance info as well. I know, many of us hate social media; trust me, if it wasn’t so useful for finding what’s on in the way of dancing, I’d have probably closed my account years ago. If you want to stay anonymous but get the info, you could always set up an account with a pseudonym and no picture and use the account purely for searching for dance info.

The Main Thing to Remember

The main thing to remember is that people who are running the class actually want you there – and so do the regular dancers! Dancers are (generally!) a friendly bunch who love what they do, and so when they get to help someone new to the scene, or a dancer who is new to their venue, they’re pretty welcoming. While some venues are friendlier than others, you’re more likely to be welcomed than not.  

At the end of the day, all the dancers at the venue are there for the same reason, and so it isn’t in anyone’s interest to make you feel uncomfortable. It is rare that I have gone dancing anywhere and come away regretting my decision to go – although there’s been moments that I’ve regretted not going! Find your courage and get out there, because a great night almost certainly awaits you!