I walked into Campbell's social dance class two years ago without having any prior dance experience, social or otherwise. I never really thought that I was or could be a dancer, but after a few minutes in the class, she had us all laughing and dancing along together to a mixer.
In each class, Campbell does three things that in my eyes made her an exceptional teacher. First, she has a knack for breaking down movement in a way that we all could understand, even those of us without any background knowledge. She had us saying the rhythm aloud for those who couldn't hear the beat, she could simplify movement in a way that everything became a series of steps, and she explained style through her own movements and through descriptors. Second, she is very knowledgeable. She knows the dances that she instructs inside out, and she can answer any questions you may have about leading and following, break down a certain move, or show you variation on that move if you're curious to learn more. If you ask her about the origins of a certain dance or the style or the spirit with which it is danced, she can tell you everything from where the dance came from, how it has evolved over the years, and the different scenes of social dance in different cities across the world. In sum, she knows a lot about dance and she knows how to communicate her knowledge. And third, she cares. She cares deeply about dancing and wants others to see and experience the beauty of social dance. This permeates through in everything that she does, from her smiles throughout her lessons, her kindness and patience when you are trying to learn something knew, and her enthusiasm and joy when you finally get it. Her joy is infectious.
After two years of instruction, I can now dance styles ranging from east and west coast swing, salsa/bachata, tango, blues, waltz, country, and more! I've met the best people along the way and deciding to take lessons from her has been one of the best choices that I've ever made.
So for whatever reason you may want to learn social dance, be it for one-time events like weddings, to learn a little more about social dance by yourself or with a partner, or to improve at a certain dance style, Campbell can cater to what you need and break it down for you, step by step. You won't find a better teacher in Austin! Or anywhere else for that matter. read more