Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Learn Ballroom Dancing at TC?
TC Dance Club International employs a dance instruction program called the Awards System. Our system teaches the relationship between several dances, patterns, and dance actions. This has been proven to be the quickest and most professional way to make our students good and versatile social dancers. Our club has taught thousands of members since the early 50's to become excellent dancers using the Awards System.
The Awards System allows us to help each member student set definite and attainable dance goals. As a member you will always CHOOSE the direction you wish to go on your personal dance program. In our Awards System we offer several levels:
Bronze Level - the foundation of ballroom dancing, strong, excellent and very social, where students learn the basic and most common dance patterns and techniques for the dances in their personal program.
Silver Level - very open and more creative style of dancing, emphasizing more advanced patterns and dance techniques.
Gold Level - our highest level.
Each level, Bronze through Gold, has two sub-levels of achievement, which are Intermediate and Full Awards Graduations. Moving from one level to another in a program is done by perfecting the material in each level and taking a dance review with our dance director. During both private lessons and group lessons and practices, our instructors will be helping students perfect the elements needed to become good dancers and dance partners.
Progress checks are held during the course of all programs to insure the progress of a member's program, these are held by one of our in-house dance directors. This is to insure that you have learned the dances of your choice to your satisfaction. Current members are able to test their competency at different levels during the year, and twice a year we host a special gala graduation party -- for our clients -- called the Awards Ball. The Awards Ball is a high point of in-club activities. It is a formal event where we host a graduation ceremony, dance certificates are awarded for each level attained by Bronze, Sliver, and Gold level dancers.
What training do TC instructors have?
One reason our club is so successful, is our high dance standard. New instructors at TC must graduate an intensive training program before they become part of the teaching staff. We also have daily dance training sessions for our staff to work on teaching methods and to work on their own professional dancing. Every instructor and staff member, you will find, takes great pride in their students accomplishments and in their own dancing.
To keep all our staff current with our teaching methods, dancing, and dance trends, we have a KC TC Dance Board. Dance Board consists of our Dance Director and Assistant Dance Directors and well as other executives who themselves have been Dance Directors in the past. They, along with other professional guest Judges and dance professionals, keep us current on all of the latest dance techniques and trends. Professional Dance Judges visit our club several times a year to coach the staff, and members, on Awards Program and Choreographed material. Our system is designed to give you the best possible lessons and a fun practice environment.
How do I start dancing?
Most Students start with the introductory "Discovery Program". This program will provide you with the simple basic fundamentals of dancing and introduce you to many of the different styles of dance we teach. To set up your first appointment call us at 913-642-7410 Monday through Friday between 10am and 10pm.
What if I want to continue dancing after the "Discovery Program?
After finishing our 4 lesson introductory "Discovery Program," new members who join TC Dance Club begin with what we call a "Variety Program." This program of private lessons familiarizes new students with a variety of all the different dances offered at TC and the basic steps of each dance. This gives each student an excellent opportunity to find the dances they like best and the dances they would like to concentrate on as they continue learning at TC. In addition to their private lessons, Variety students can also attend several New Member and Variety group classes held at the Club each week, and of course, each Friday night students can attend the TC Party, where they can meet new friends and practice what they have learned.
TC Friday night parties are the highlight of the dance week, with an open bar, great music and very often the parties have special themes and decorations. Group classes are also held Friday evening before the party so students can make an evening of it.
What is a Showcase?
Showcases are exciting celebrations of Kansas City TC Dance Club members dancing. Occurring in the Spring and the Fall, Showcases have become the year's most looked forward to events. As carefully planned as a Presidential Nomination ball, the catered parties, planned entertainment, talented MC's, banquets with special menus, and dancing, endless dancing, that are a part of these events, make Showcases a must for any member.
The center piece of Showcase functions is the choreographed routines and freestyle ballroom dancing performed by members and teachers before an impartial adjudicator (or judge) and an audience comprised of TC Dance Club members and teachers. Taking place in our club, or on occasion, in the Grand Ballrooms of the finest hotels in the city, Showcases provide our members with an appreciative dance audience and, an honest critique of their ballroom dancing to be reviewed with the adjudicator following the function.
Although the judging is properly dignified, the spectators make up for it by loudly proclaiming their appreciation for the dancing with applause, catcalls and cheers. During this enthusiastic reception, a scribe records every word from the judges mouth. Well, almost every word.
When the dance presentations are concluded, the entire gathering, including Mr. Judge, don their finest to attend the Awards Banquet, evening's entertainment and dancing.
What are Solo Exhibitions or Routines?
Commonly referred to as "routines," solo exhibitions are choreographed dances performed during showcase events, of two to three minutes duration performed to selected music. The choreography, created by the TC teacher with the assistance of the Club staff and other dance experts, is often viewed in stages at a series of Critiques. This give members and teachers alike a chance to get rid of the jitters before the actual event. By the time Showcase rolls around the member is already an old hand, but may still get the jitters. We find the simpler the routines, the better they are received.
What is a Freestyle presentation?
Interspersing the solo performances at Showcases are the freestyle events which are one minute in length with three to ten couples on the floor at the same time. Freestyles are unrehearsed presentations of the ballroom dances we teach. As an Awards Club member you qualify to participate, and because free styles are such great confidence builders, we encourage you to get involved early on.
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Questions? CALL TODAY! Tel: 913-642-7410
TC Dance Club International 9050 Metcalf AvenueOverland Park, KS 66212 Tel: 913-642-7410 Fax: 913-642-9014