Dance Course in Autumn: Why October is the Best Time to Start

Why right now

January seems logical. New year, new hobby, new you. The problem: everyone thinks the same way, the courses fill up quickly, and the motivation you swore by on the 1st of January is usually gone by the end of February. October works differently. Summer is over, the evenings get dark earlier, and at some point you realise you simply need something to get you out of the flat. That's exactly when starting a dance course stops feeling like an effort – it almost happens by itself.

There's another advantage: if you start in October, you'll have built a solid foundation by the end of the year. Not perfect, but more than enough to actually dance at the Winter Party on the 26th of December, rather than just watching from the sidelines.

What's starting in October

Several courses are kicking off at the studio this month – including Bachata Basic 1 and Basic 2, Bachata Improver 1, Bachata Styling, Bachata Sensual Advanced, Bachata Moderna Intermediate, Bachata Traditional Intermediate, as well as Zouk Basic 1, Zouk Improver and Zouk Intermediate. For Salsa there's also a fresh Basic 1 and an Improver. If you already have some experience but haven't found the right course yet: the full overview is in the timetable.

View timetable

Also in October: the Bachata Bootcamp with Rebeca & Christina on the 16th of October – intense, hugely educational, and you'll learn more in a single day than in many a half-semester. On the 23rd of October, the Zouk Quickstarter also begins, perfect for anyone who wants to get to know the dance in a concentrated format.

Bachata, Salsa or Zouk – for the undecided

This question comes up at least three times before every course start. Honestly, there's no wrong answer, but a few pointers might help. Bachata is our biggest area – lots of levels, lots of styles, plenty of choice. Salsa is more rhythmic, a little faster, and makes an instant impression on the dance floor. Zouk is more fluid, closer in embrace, and requires a bit more patience at the beginning – but the feeling once it clicks is hard to put into words.

What the first lesson looks like

The first lesson is free – no registration needed, just come along. The studio is at Tramstrasse 66 in Münchenstein, right on the tram line, just a few minutes from Basel.

What can you expect? An hour of class with a structured curriculum, in small groups, with no obligation to bring a partner. After each lesson, the content is saved as a video in the app so you can review it at home – because experience shows that half of it tends to slip away afterwards, and that's completely normal.

Wednesday Practica

On Wednesdays there's the open Practica – no class, no registration, just dancing. This is where what you've learned in your course gradually becomes something real. You'll see people from different levels, try out figures, make mistakes, and nobody makes a big deal of it. The next Practica is on the 14th of October.

Our tip: go at least once before you think you're "not far enough along yet." You'll be surprised how much you can already do.

Practica – more info First lesson free – choose your course