FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR DANCE TEAMS
Can I join if I don't know how to dance?
Yes! All skill levels are welcome. No previous dance experience is
necessary. Dancing is a form of communication, a universal language
that is expressed through movement, sound, rhythm, beat and self-
expression. Dance is for everyone, anyone, at any age and at all stages
in life. Anyone can learn with practice and determination. For beginner dancers or those who haven't learned choreography before, you will be asked to join our Foundations/Basics class to join our team.
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DO I NEED A PARTNER TO JOIN THE PERFORMING TEAMS?
Not in our teams! We focus on individual footwork
and styling. This focus allows us to increase our understanding of timing,
rhythms, cleanliness, pronunciation of steps, balance, mobility,
acceleration, quickness and speed from one step or movement to the
next, body movement definition and so much more! If you can't dance by
yourself, you won't connect and dance with someone else as best as you
could. For our partner teams, we'll pair up with other members. We promote and encourage all genders to lead and all genders to follow. This makes everyone a better, wholesome dancer.
WHY ARE ONLY WOMEN ALLOWED IN SOME TEAMS?
We seek to provide a place where anyone who identifies as a woman or
non-binary feels safe and welcomed (yes, we happily include our
transgender sisters and those who identify as non-binary ). Our goal is to create a
space where we are free of male judgement or harassment.
Furthermore, we actively lift each other up, foster strong relationships
and nurture a sense of sisterhood.
DO YOU NEED TO BE LATINE TO JOIN THE TEAMS?
No. Anyone interested is welcome. Bachata is from the Dominican Republic; Salsa is from Cuba; and both have roots/origins in Black African/Afro-Latino and Indigenous culture. Our instructors are diverse in their backgrounds but all passionate about stopping the Black & Indigenous erasure from Latine and global history, elevating Black Lives Matter, and supporting Indigenous and anti-racist movements. When we love Latin dancing, but don't do these things, we actively participate in further erasure and as a result, damage the cultures and traditions we enjoy. Additionally, understanding history creates a more meaningful and deeper experience. Our teams are not white-centered spaces. On average, 70% of members are Black, Indigenous, Latine or Asian.
WHY IS THE SEASON 3-4 MONTHS?
Since we welcome dancers of all levels, we heavily focus on
learning/reviewing Latin dance foundations (history, context, body
movement, technique, etc.). This is in addition to learning a choreography
to a specific song step by step. It is usually around 2 minutes long. It might
not sound like a lot, but it takes time to break it down, learn, review and get
performance-ready, especially practicing only a couple of times a week.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
There is no set price. We are committed to economic justice and use a sliding scale for team fees as a tool to promote accessibility. Dancing should be a source of healing, not of stress. We don't ever want money to be a barrier. Paying according to one's available resources creates a more equitable system for pricing. You will select your preference based on your financial ability. If you choose to pay at the top of the scale, you are helping others access the team. If you choose to pay at the bottom of the scale, you are letting your community support you. Both are beautiful and acceptable. This is a system built on honesty and trust, so we won't be asking for financial proof or anything like that. Furthermore, we are a nonprofit, all proceeds from the teams go directly into our dance community, to provide scholarships, purchase costumes, pay for dance workshops and hopefully one day have a dance festival of our own! #dancegoals #dancedreams
DO I HAVE TO PERFORM IF I JOIN? HOW MUCH DOES THE COSTUME COST?
No, performing and buying the costume is optional. It is strongly encouraged though,
since it's an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the time and effort invested as well as increasing our
confidence. The goal is not perfection, but to enjoy and have fun sharing our love of
dance. We do our best to keep costume costs under $100 and we have limited scholarships for those that need them. We perform an average of 15 times per season. We also have team shirts with our core values on them ($15 for 1 or $25 for 2). Sometimes we perform in shirts if it's a casual event.
WHERE AND WHEN DOES THE TEAM PERFORM?
Lots of different places! In the team's 8 years, the team has performed more than 210
times in front of 29,000+ people. We mostly perform around Tulsa
wherever/whenever we have the opportunity to do so in schools, parks, dance studios,
clubs, restaurants, community, corporate, public and private events, and more! We have also
performed in OKC, Arkansas, Kansas, Wichita, and even NYC! We have a spreadsheet with the
list of events and you can sign up for the ones you're available for and want to perform
at once the season is over. We also create an event for each performance in our private Facebook group so each can indicate their availability.
WHAT DO I NEED FOR PRACTICE?
In terms of clothes, anything comfortable to move in. Gym/workout attire works
(leggings, sweatpants, loose-fitting athletic pants/shirts etc.). For shoes, comfort is
even more critical. Avoid tennis shoes or thick rubber soled shoes (it's hard to turn and
hard on the knees). Toms shoes are perfect because the sole is thin. Otherwise, any flat
shoe that is not open in the back or that may fall off works. Leather-soled shoes are
best for spinning. Don't forget to bring lots of water!
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT TO
DO DURING PRACTICES?
Our practices follow a general format. As members arrive, we start stretching to warm up and go through body movement exercises. Then, we gather in a circle and go around to share highs (a success, blessing, anything you're excited about), lows (struggles, problems, anything unpleasant you're facing) and buffaloes (random thing you'd like to share). Doing this allows us to build a sense of community/belonging, get to know each other and what we're each going through, and support each other. Each shares according to their own level of comfort. Next, we break down steps and learn the choreography step by step. We repeat counts over and over to
smooth steps and improve coordination. We then add music, starting slow and working up to full speec. Finally, we pretend we are performing in front of each other, give/receive feedback, practice formations,
group coherence, transitions and record to see ourselves and improve together.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN'T COME TO PRACTICE
IN PERSON OR IF I MISS PRACTICE?
Attendance to all practices is highly encouraged since that's what's going to help us improve. However, we know that life happens and things come up. If you have to miss, you must commit to practicing on your own with the instructional step-by-step videos – ALL on our YouTube playlist. This will prevent you from falling behind. You can also ask other members to have an extra practice with you. We'll have two classes a week, with each working on the same portion of the choreography. Please plan to attend at least once a week. If you're a beginner, twice a week might be best.
CAN I JOIN IF I'M NOT IN
TULSA?
Yes! You can use the step-by- step instructional videos on YouTube. If you want to perform
and buy the costume, you can be a part of our virtual debut by recording a video of yourself doing the choreo.
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF BEING
PART OF THE TEAM?
We seek to provide a welcoming environment to learn how to differentiate different dance styles and their history, dance foundations, body movement, technique, practices, choreography, feedback, instructional videos, practice recordings, photo/video session, commitment & accountability,
opportunities to perform after the season and life-long friendships! The most invaluable thing we get from our team however, is the community and wonderful people that are in it. Even most amazing, is that all funds that come from our teams goes directly back into our dance community. This allows us to provide scholarships, purchase costumes, pay for dance instruction and hopefully one day host our own dance festival!
WHAT ARE THE TEAM'S CORE BELIEFS?
Our values are easy to remember because together they spell TACOS! We believe in Trust because we want to create a supportive community with authentic relationships. We believe in Access and that dance is for all. We believe in Community because we want to foster a sense of belonging in our dance family. We believe in Ongoing growth because we continually put in the work to improve in humility. We believe in Significance because dance has the power to liberate and we honor the legacy of others.
HOW DO I JOIN?
We have two seasons each year. The spring season usually starts in February or March. The Fall season usually starts in September. A month before the season starts, there will be a Google Form available to register. You'll get calendar invites for practices after submission. Then, we'll add you to the team's Private Facebook Group where all our communication takes place. You'll get all the information you need to be ready for our first practice beforehand. You do not have to pay the team fee before showing up. Each member makes payment arrangements according to what works best for them once the season starts.
WHAT DANCE SHOES SHOULD I BUY?
Proper dance shoes are worth investing in and they don't have to be very expensive. The soles are designed to give you the right combination of slip and grip to be able to spin, glide, etc. without hurting your knees/joints. Once you’ve found a pair of dance shoes that work for you, you’ll find your turns and spins much easier so it really is worth the effort. Buying shoes for dancing is an investment so don’t rush into buying the first pair you see. There’s no such thing as the “perfect pair” – there are practical considerations as well as your technique level and foot shape/strength which will narrow down your choices. I’m always happy to help you decide what to buy and where to go, so don’t hesitate to get in touch for more detailed advice. Here is a breakdown of the most popular styles of dance shoes in use for dancing, followed by a few tips on how to go about actually buying a pair.
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There are different types of dance shoes. Whichever works best for you will depend on your personal preference as well as the shape and strength of your feet. The most common ones are listed below, along with a few tips on who they will be most suitable for:
Split Sole Jazz Shoe
Split sole jazz shoes come in leather, polyyrethane (PU), and sometimes canvas. They have a small rubber or suede sole on the forefoot and a small heel. As before a suede sole is usually preferable (works better on floors). They are super soft and flexible but offer no support. They are great for beginners, however as you will feel more grounded and stable and will learn to use your feet properly. Purchase options: $22 Slip On Leather Split-Sole Jazz Shoe | Balera™
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Full Sole Jazz Shoe
Jazz shoes are flat and typically come in leather, PU or even fabric. A shoe with a full sole will be more supportive than a split sole as the sole runs the full length of the shoe giving it more structure. Most dancers prefer a suede sole as they grip less on wooden floors. Purchase option: $21 on sale Full Sole Jazz Shoe | dancefashions
Practice Ballroom Shoe
This type of shoe is a closed lace-up shoe made from leather or fabric. They can have a full or split sole, usually made of suede. These are a good all around for classes, practice, and social dance and are available in many different colors and fun designs, as well as classic black or tan. They will usually have a 1-2 inch Cuban heel. They are comfortable and very supportive. $30 option: Women's Canvas 3cm Heels Teaching & Practice Shoes Ballroom Dance Shoe – DanceandSway
Latin Sandals
The classic choice– a strappy high heel. Heel heights can go as high as 3-4 inches but my recommendation for beginner ladies is 2 inches if you are not used to wearing heels, or 2 and a half inches if you are. I prefer an open toe as it allows the toes to spread, which enhances balance, but there are many closed styles available, and these offer more protection if you accidentally get stepped on. Find them at https://yamishoes.com/ and Open Toe – Burju Shoes Prices are higher ($100-150 but they last a long time). You can find more affordable ones in other sites. You can also go try some on at Black and Pink dance store on 81st & Lewis to see the fit before purchasing. I believe The Dance Place in West Tulsa also carries some shoes.
Dance Sneakers
These are trainer style shoes with a plastic sole, which enables turning and spinning more than a rubber-soled trainer would. The plastic sole can also be worn outside – something which would ruin a suede sole. The soles on dance sneakers tend to be more flexible than a classic leisure or fitness trainer and some have split soles. Option: ATACA x Fuego | Dance Sneaker – Fuego, Inc.