There is no cookie-cutter route to learning Chicago Stepping. Often new steppers ask me “When should I start going to workshops?” or “Is it too early for me to start taking privates?”There is no “right” answer to either question. Knowing the difference in formats may help you make the decision you are comfortable with. How fast anybody picks up and progresses in this dance is dependent on learning style, instruction available, and enthusiasm. You can learn in a class, workshop, or private. What you know in the dance when you walk in will determine how much you assimilate and walk away with despite the format of instruction. Of course with any instruction, know your instructor!
Chicago Stepping Classes
Regardless of how long someone has been stepping, I think any stepper should attend a regular class. Beginners should be in a class paced to help a variety of newcomers get on the same page learning the count, listening to the music, and for exposure to the fundamentals. There is a silent understanding in communities that each one teach one. In a class, you’ll see the instructor with assistants helping.
Take heed that any instruction should be given with the permission of the class’ instructor. And, if you are moved to teach a lesson be sure the person you approach is “your” “willing” student. I see seasoned steppers in beginners classes and some say they learn something new even if they are instructing. Classes are casual, relaxed settings generally priced between $10 – $15. If your city offers progressive beginners classes with a good instructor, it’s a good opportunity to get a solid foundation on the fundamentals.
Chicago Stepping Workshops
Workshops were primarily held at weekend stepper events. Standalone workshops are more popular now as instructors travel independently to teach. Generally, instructors price workshops $20-$30 and they last 45-90 minutes. A workshop is usually fast-paced instruction for a specific topic or subject – e.g. ladies styling, intermediate, spins and turns, beginners, or misdirections. Instructors move quickly through the session with about 3 or 4 key takeaways.
You can hope every stepper there is on the same level as you and that no one or two steppers hold back the progression of the entire class. I have been in workshops struggling to keep up with everyone else. The instructor is responsible for the entire workshop class to complete the curriculum set for the session. I learned then I had stepped into a workshop I was not ready for. Know what you’re walking into and where you are in your dance. Even speak to the instructor first to help determine if you are ready for that class. Attending workshops, especially with instructors from the Midwest, can tell you a lot about the type of instruction you’re receiving from your regular class.
Chicago Stepping Bootcamps
On the matter of “Bootcamps.” Promoters sometimes advertise a 2-3 hour workshop as a bootcamp. There is only so much new information you can walk away with and remember in a single day and anything over 90 minutes is too much for me. Others coin bootcamps as a series of progressive classes that may go 5-7 weeks where you build on the lessons in each class as you go. Is there an instructor from Chicago willing to conduct one in Virginia Beach? I’ll be there! To get the most from this type of bootcamp, attend every class in the series.
Chicago Stepping Privates
I started taking privates in my first year of steppin’. Once I understood that I learned better one on one, I believed paying $30-40 or more for an hour of individual attention was worth the investment for me. I have heard prices as high as $75 for privates. If you haven’t read it before, please check out my earlier post, How To Make The Most of A Private. Walk in knowing what you want to focus on and choose a seasoned instructor with a similar body type and shape that can better relate to how your body can move in this dance. Take privates when you know enough to know what you need to work on.
| Type | Class | Workshop | Private |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pace | Slow, relaxed | Moderate | Flexible |
| Topic | Mixed | Specific from Instructor | Determined by student |
| Price | $10-$15 | $20 - $35 | $30 - $75 |
| Duration | 60-90 minutes | 45 - 90 minutes Bootcamp: 2-3 hours | 60 - 75 minutes |
| Atmosphere | Relaxed, sometimes drills | Focused, intentional, may include drills | Focused, personalized |
Consider… learning to step Chicago style is self-paced. Thank goodness! If it was a regimented progression to prove anybody’s got it or to be certified, I think a lot of east coast steppers would move right along to a new hobby. The gracious tenet about learning to step is you should care mostly to prove your talent to yourself. Instruction in this dance can be tailored to different learning styles. Find out what works best for you, and keep on learning!
