Tips From Our Community: Nerves Before Your First Class

Let’s be real: walking into a new dance studio for the very first time can feel intimidating. We’ve all been there! Lauren, AVA's Marketing Manager, shares her experience walking into AVA for the first time:

"I moved to the area in 2017 and didn't know a single person, so I wanted to find a way to merge one of my favorite hobbies with meeting other people my age. I Googled "adult dance classes near me," and when AVA popped up, I knew I was interested in taking a class, but admittedly scared of putting myself out there. I followed AVA on Instagram immediately, but it took me six months to convince myself to make the move and sign up for a class! What finally motivated me to book the class was seeing how much fun the dancers were having, plus the cheering you could hear in every single video that was posted. There was a sense of community that I knew I wanted to be part of, so I put the nerves aside and signed up—and the rest is history!

I've been with AVA for over 9 years, and going to that class (shoutout Hip Hop with Christie) was one of the best decisions I've ever made! It didn't just give me an outlet to continue dancing; it built up my confidence as an adult who wanted to keep pursuing her hobby, and it gave me the chance to be part of the most welcoming community. I've made some of the best friends I could have asked for thanks to AVA—such good friends that I've been to three of their weddings! I can't imagine what my life in the DMV would look like without AVA, and I'm so lucky to help other dancers find that same fulfillment!"

So, before you let those first-class jitters hold you back, we asked other members of our community for their best advice/pick-me-up to give that first class a try!

• “Remember why you wanted to do it for yourself! Listen to your body & take it slow!”

• “Sign up for a style or song you like, then you won’t feel so out of your element!” Tip: check our Instagram stories the day of class to see what songs we'll be dancing to for that evening/afternoon!

• “Classes are judgement free, teachers are encouraging & we cheer for each other!”

• “The team and community will go out of their way to welcome newcomers to the family!”

• “Go in with an open mind, everyone is super supportive!”

• “It’s about dancing & feeling your best, so don’t worry about what anyone else thinks!”

• “5 seconds of bravery. The risk is worth the reward!”

• “Be comfortable being you & do what you can! You should be proud for coming to your first class!”

• “Everyone in the studio is cheering for you, dance away the nerves & you’ll KILL IT!”

So, what are you waiting for! SAVE $10 OFF YOUR FIRST CLASS WITH CODE NEWDANCER.