Introduction
Beginners start at level 1. If you already have experience with folk dance, and you are unsure of which level would be appropriate, you can find some guidance here. Please also see the section “programme per level”. If you then still have doubts, you can take a trial class in multiple levels. Please inform the teacher at the beginning of the class, so he or she can immediately give you tailored feedback.
Required experience per level
If you did not take prior classes at Frisse Folk, but you do have the right experience, our modular system and the extensive number of levels will allow you to immediately start at a higher level. Of course, in order to do this, you will have to know the majority of the dances taught at all prior levels. In addition, we expect you to have acquired the following general skills.
Level 2 is suited for everyone who knows what the key elements are for a good dancing posture, the optimal use of the available space and following the music. We expect that you would have followed at a minimum 10 hours of dance classes, or an intensive workshop for beginners of 5 hours. If you have any doubts, please contact us, or register for a trial class in level 1 and level 2.
To start at levels 3, 4 or 5, we expect that you master the following aspects to the point where they have become automatic: the dancing posture for couple dances, musical phrases, following the rhythm, and building each dance patiently and gradually. We also expect you to improve on the leading and/or following, recognize music more and more easily, and that you can adapt to different dance partners and styles, full dance floors and faster and more complex music.
For the advanced levels 6, 7 and 8, the following skills must have become an automatism: leading and/or following, recognizing music, adapting your style and variations to the music and the space available. We also expect that you reasonable learning pace, occasionally changing roles (leader – follower), and some reflection on the folk dancing environment and the accompanying dancing etiquette.
Taking classes above your level: quickly bridging the gap
If you do not fall in the above conditions, but for a specific reason (availability, location, friends in a certain group,…) you want to follow classes at a given level, you can catch up on any missing experience in three ways:
- Follow a workshop. Please ask us for advice.
- Take private classes. Please contact us for more information.
- Take two levels in the same term.
Beginners who missed 4 or more classes can still start at the ongoing level one, if they take the intensive workshop for the beginners (or private classes) in the first few weeks.
Taking classes below your level: taking up the other role
If you are at a level which is a bit too easy, you can challenge yourself by taking up the other role (leader of follower). This can be very insightful, and is a lot of fun as well!
Flexibility where possible
We take into account your preferences and availability to the maximum extent possible, and actively work with you to pick the best choice. However, in order to guarantee the level and the learning pace of a given group for the other students, we sometimes have to refuse or redirect students, based on their level.
