We are Bristol Dance Experience 

We have been teaching complete beginners to dance since 1991

We want to teach you to dance!

We have up to three new beginner classes each term in the Cotham/Redland area of Bristol, which start in Januray, Easter time and September.  You need to join a class in the first few weeks as each week builds on what you have already learned.

What You Need to Know

No Experience Necessary or Expected

We do not expect you to know anything about dancing.

Come On Your Own or with a Parner

There will be plenty of people to dance with.

Casual Dress and Any Kind of Shoes

Wear whatever is comfortable for moving in, normal shoes are fine.

No Booking or Pre-registration

We use big halls and there will always be room for you.

Pay as You Go for the Classes You Attend

Pay at the door when you arrive before each class.

Anyone Can Dance at Any Age

Our classes are for adults and we have students of all ages.

Subscribe to our emailing list

Please join our emailing list so we can send you details of the next set of New Beginner classes.  We usually send them out about four weeks before the classes are due to start so that you don’t have to remember to keep checking the website and you won’t miss the classes.

  • Get new term dates and info
  • No obligation
  • Can unsubscribe any time
  • We won’t pass on your details
  • No junk mailings
  • About two mailings per term
  • View the Mailing Archive

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Don't Just Take Our Word For It
See for yourself

What Our Students Say

Bristol Dance Experience
Bristol Dance Experience
4.9
Based on 79 reviews
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Christopher Power
Christopher Power
10:19 06 Dec 19
Started beginners ballroom this autumn (2019) at the Elmgrove centre with Helia as our teacher. The classes are excellent and Helia is a fantastic teacher, keeping the lessons fun. Even with my two... left feet I seemed to have picked up the basics. Classes have a wide range of ages from the younger students to the older retirees.read more
Francoise Seigle
Francoise Seigle
19:04 04 Dec 19
Very nice and friendly classes ! Lessons are very easy to follow, we repeat the steps several times, and we can progress quickly, now we just have to continue to practice ! Thanks a lot
Karolina Jaworska
Karolina Jaworska
22:11 03 Dec 19
I love coming to the dance classes. All lessons are very relaxed and friendly. You will pick up all the moves quickly even if you think you have two left feet!
Kathryn hale
Kathryn hale
18:09 20 Jul 19
My wife Kath used to do a ballroom dance class with Eric about 30 years ago. We attended the social ballroom dance at the Greenway Centre last evening with some friends & we all enjoyed ourselves. A... friendly atmosphere and a good mix of all ages & abilities. Kath says the music is still as good as all those years ago! All being well we're hoping to join a beginners class in the Autumn.read more
Domenica Hall
Domenica Hall
18:59 31 Mar 19
We really look forward to our dance class. Eric and Helia are simply the best teachers. The lessons are fun and well structured. New steps are thoroughly explained and thought, with plenty of... opportunity given to practice. We have gained so much confidence since attending the classes and it is such a lovely hobby to enjoy together. We would recommend Bristol Dance Experience to anyone .read more
See All Reviews

Watch Video of the Dances We Teach

Watch Video of How Classes Work

Frequently asked questions

I have two left feet, is it worth me coming?

Most people can dance, they just don’t know it yet. Some people will pick things up more quickly than others. We do not expect you to know anything about dancing.  Everyone will be too busy with their own feet to notice what you are doing and you may even surprise yourself.

How much does it cost?

All classes are £7.50 (£7 for concessions) per person per class. You pay at the start of each class and there is no need to book, just show up. You only pay for the classes you attend.

Can I start this week?

If it is not the first few weeks of term you really need to wait until the beginning of the next term.  We build up the dances week on week and after about three weeks you won’t be able to catch up.  Please join the emailing list to get new term notifications.  If you have previous Ballroom and Latin experience, contact us for an appropriate level class.

How should I dress for class?

The classes are relaxed and casual so anything you feel comfortable in is fine. Just wear comfortable clothes that you can move freely in. You can wear normal shoes, preferably ones that allow your foot to swivel on the floor.  Please don’t buy dance shoes especially for class before you have tried it.

How long are terms?

We try to run our terms to coincide approximately with school terms so usually a term lasts twelve to fourteen weeks. We have three terms a year starting in January, April/May and September.

Can I just go to a class at the nearest venue?

We use two different venue but will not be doing beginner classes at both and some nights we may not be teaching beginners at either.  Please check which venue has the right class on a given day of the week.

Do I need to come with a partner?

No, our classes are popular so there are generally plenty of men and women who come without partners. During a typical class you will have the opportunity to meet and dance with many people as we encourage everyone to change partners regularly in each class. This means no one feels left out and it makes the classes very sociable and you soon get to know everyone by their first name.

Do I need to book ahead?

You do not need to book ahead. Just come to class in the first few weeks of term and pay for each lesson as you arrive. You don’t pay for lessons you miss and there is no up front cost or commitment for a whole term. When the same class level if offered on more than one night people often go to whichever is most convenient that week.

I’ve danced ballet/salsa/LeRoc/etc before do I still need to go beginners?

Yes, although you will probably pick up the steps at a faster rate, it is best to do the beginners to understand the fundamental ideas and principles involved. If you want to supplement the beginners by attending the improvers class as well, then that will help you progress faster, with your Latin and Ballroom dancing.

What happens in class, are their tests?

We explain and demonstrate a bar or two of steps, we then walk the ladies through their steps, then the men walk through their steps. Then everyone tries it with a partner. We repeat the process ironing out problems or refining the steps and then we practice to music. Each week we review what we have done before then add more so that the dances build up.

There are no exams, and students con progress to the higher level classes the following term if they feel confident to do so.

We teach Ballroom and Latin dancing.  You have probably seen most of these danced on Strictly Come Dancing.  We teach Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, Cha Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba and Jive at beginner level.

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Where We Teach

These are the two venues we use, but we do not use both every night and we won’t always have a class suitable for your level.  So please check which venue has the beginner class.

Elmgrove Centre, Elmgrove Road (off Redland Road), Cotham, Bristol BS6 6AH

See Venue Page

Cairns Road Baptist Church Hall, Cairns Rd, Redland Bristol BS6 7TH

See Venue Page