Ballroom At Its Best — Attraction in Pittsfield Charter Township

TL;DR: I recommend Ballroom at its best. If you are new to dancing I recommend the group classes. If you are an experienced dancer I can recommend taking private lessons with Claire.

Disclaimers: I started taking the group classes when they opened. So at the time of this review it has been 11 months. I tried taking the advanced class, but I could not attend every lesson because it was on a Monday. Then I started taking private lessons with Claire. I have also started taking the intermediate level group classes. I'm also still taking private lessons and I plan on participating in their Winter showcase. So my review is mostly limited to Claire and the group classes.

Start of the review: So if you are thinking about trying out ballroom dancing, I think the group classes are a great place to start. Depending on how hard or easy the class is you might want to take a private lesson or two and see how it helps you. I'm in the mind set that when you are just starting off the main thing you need is practice. And thus I think that the group classes give you more practice time for the money. But if you have been dancing before and find the advanced class easy then I would recommend private lessons in a heartbeat.

I also highly recommend that if you are a new dancer stay after the group classes to get more practice time during the dance party. I have seen Claire go around to the new dancers and tell them what dances they know goes with what music. At the dance party there are some very good dancers which can be intimidating, when you are just starting out. Or at least it was for me, but I think it's something that can be easily overcome by just asking people to dance and getting more practice. I should also say that the group of Ann Arbor dancers are really nice and polite.

So about private lessons, when I started taking them with Claire. We mostly focused on proper technique. This could skew my view of private lessons. Focusing hard on technique too early could make people feel like they have not achieved much, since it's harder to see progress. But that is likely just how it was for me since I was at a point where focusing on technique was the best thing for me at the time. Right now we still have lessons focusing on technique, but I also have lessons going over new routines, and prepping for the winter showcase.

And that is the end of my rabbling review. I hope it helps people decide if they want to try lessons at ballroom...

I have the highest recommendation for Ballroom At It’s Best. Claire and Richard have the advantage of actual ballroom competition at the international championship level. Although - I am not a competitor. I'm a social ballroom dancer - in other words - I attend ballroom dance parties for fun.

If you want a ballroom instructor – an actual champion like Claire and Richard - is an excellent choice. On the other hand, Claire and Richard are remarkably down to earth and sociable. They instruct beginners, intermediates, and exceptionally highly advanced ballroom dancers, plus individuals, couples, and groups. Personally, I chose to join Claire’s intermediate group class. As a result, I’ve added a number of maneuvers to my Fox Trot, Tango, Viennese Waltz, and Waltz routines. Although the addition of maneuvers is an enjoyable challenge, Claire’s group class offers me another fantastic opportunity – to learn and practice my maneuvers with a variety of different followers. For me, that’s important because I enjoy attending ballroom dancing social events. Ballroom social events means attending a dance party with 50-100 people and dancing with people whose skill sets range from novice to expert. Plus, there’s a variety of non-ballroom social dance parties from Toledo to Ann Arbor, to Lansing, Muskegon, and Warren. In addition, there’s a wide range of bar and club dance venues – they are also fun. Attending the dance parties does require that one learns some dance skills – and that’s what you get when you attend Claire’s lessons.

There’s also some logistical benefits at Claire’s venue – it’s right off the freeway. And, by the way, shockingly affordable.

There’s a lot of fun activities one may do in life: bird watching, watching tv, bowling, golf. I say ballroom dancing is the best because you get to interact with other people, and with fantastic music. Ballroom dancing is artistic, but also exercise, and social interaction. In golf, for example, it’s you and your club and your ball, and a golf cart and maybe a can of beer. Yawn! Compare that to ballroom dancing where it’s you and your partner, arm in arm, connected at the waist and working together as a team within the music. You want to learn that skill – you go right over Claire’s studio and sign up for lessons.

Respectfully submitted...

I started taking lessons from Claire at Ballroom At Its Best at the recommendation of Daisy Howlind (now a co-owner of Stone Chalet in Ann Arbor), after lamenting how much I missed dance! Claire and Richard opened this new studio relatively recently, so my partner and I were able to attend their first showcase in December 2021. We fell in love with the atmosphere and began private lessons with Claire and January 2022. It didn't take long for us to sign up for additional classes with her later in the spring (check out Thursday nights!).

I have only been dancing a very short time (less than a year), but I can't tell you what a breath of fresh air the studio is and continues to be--not just in terms of the teachers themselves, but the studio's whole philosophy. Each time I go in for a lesson, I walk away with the clear sense that I am valued as a student, not a paycheck. As a beginner dancer, I also love Claire's focus on creating a strong foundation and dance basics such as frame, posture, and footwork. She's great at pointing out areas I need to improve in a constructive, manageable way!

Not only is Claire a kind and knowledgeable teacher, she is clearly passionate about building a business that offers affordable pricing and supports each student's individual needs. One of the things I love most about Ballroom At Its Best is the four-week group class packaging--specifically because it includes a 2-hour Thursday evening social dance every week. This is a wonderful opportunity to practice new skills. The cost of showcases is also very affordable, which means more opportunities for students to perform!

Even if you are new to dancing or come with a partner who is more experienced, Claire and Richard will be able to adapt the lesson to work for both of you. I highly recommend Ballroom...