I am not an MIT student. Can I attend BDC classes?

Yes! We are now able to welcome members of the general public.

Why should I become a BDC member and how can I become one?

According to our constitution, one is considered a member of this organization in any given academic term if they have attended at least one event in the preceding or current term. For classes, we typically charge $3/hour for students, $10/hour for college affiliates (postdocs, college employees, administrative assistants etc.), and $15/hour for general public. Our large social events are typically free for college students (the same rates apply for college affiliates and the public). Payment is preferentially done by Venmo @MIT-BDC.

May I observe before attending classes?

Yes, you are allowed to observe classes if you are new to our events. However, if in the middle of a lesson, you feel interested enough that you would like to start participating, you must pay the class fee. Regular observations more than a couple of times are not allowed. 

Do I need a partner to attend the classes?

No, you do not need to come with a partner. We often rotate partners throughout the class, so that everyone gets a chance to practice with several different partners.

What prior experience is necessary to follow the BDC classes?

None for the beginner ones. We typically offer a series of beginner lessons with increasing levels of difficulty for each type of ballroom dance, and the first class in such a series is always taught completely at the beginner level. Each subsequent class builds on what was covered in the previous lessons before we move on to a different dance. 

However, participants in the advanced class series are assumed to have good command of basic dance figures and techniques.

I missed the first two weeks of classes. Is it too late to start attending?

No, you may start attending the classes at any point. The instructors usually do a review at the beginning of each class, so even if you missed a couple of classes, you can certainly still catch up. You may just have to work a bit harder than members who attended from the start.

However, it is generally more difficult to catch up if you miss an advanced class.

Do you teach private lessons and coach wedding couples?

No, the Club does not offer these services. However, we can potentially give you names and contact information for instructors who would be happy to teach you privately. Members of the MIT Ballroom Dance Team are also occasionally available to teach wedding couples.

What should I wear to classes?

You do not need any kind of special dance clothing or ballroom shoes for the classes. In general, members dress casually and wear flexible shoes (e.g. sneakers). For those who are interested in purchasing dancewear, we would recommend Patterson's in Burlington or Teddy's Shoes in Cambridge.