PRIVATE COACHING
Have a plan, work the plan, see results! Private coaching in West Coast Swing with Maria Ford can ensure that you achieve your social or competitive goals.
Private Dance Lessons in Ottawa or on zoom
Location: Tunney’s Pasture area (address will be provided)
- $90/50 mins for 1 dancer with or without a “dance dummy”
- $65 for a full-time student or under age 25
- $130/50 mins for practice-partnerships where both dancers receive instruction (please note that I do not teach life-partners in the same lesson)
- Semi-private lessons (4-6 students), please inquire
OUTSIDE OF OTTAWA
- $110/50 mins for 1 dancer with or without a “dance dummy”
- $75 for a full-time student or under age 25
- $150 for a lead-follow partnership
- Semi-private lessons (4-6 students), please inquire
- Group workshops, please inquire
Travel expenses and minimums apply – please inquire.
video analysis
- $110 per dancer analyzed
- Send up to 3 videos and receive specific feedback and guidance on key issues and what to do to improve. Includes in-video analysis and a follow-up instructional video created for you.
teacher team training zoom check-in
- For anyone who has completed any Module(s) of the Smoothstyle WCS Teacher Team Training
- $150/55-minute check-in session
- Ask questions, trouble-shoot challenges, or simply validate that you’re on the right track
weekend experience in ottawa
- Pre-planning, video analysis & goal setting
- 2 hours of coaching on Saturday
- Saturday-night dance
- 2 hours of review and more coaching on Sunday
- Bonus: add the WCS Keeners Club (for qualified students)
- $425 for 1 dancer; $625 for a lead-follow partnership (not included: admission to the dance, admission to WCS Keeners Club)
What to Expect
My coaching focuses on each dancer’s unique journey. Based on your goals and expectations, I will assess if there is a fit and may recommend other instructors or approaches when appropriate. If you train with me, you can expect:
- Encouragement, abundance, and tough love when needed
- An emphasis on core technique and personal expression
- Simple, consistent rules that make it possible to dance your best dance with any partner
- Deft troubleshooting and repertoire building
- Practice drills to improve quality of movement and musicality
- Support interpreting and integrating teaching and feedback from Champions
- Video analysis and accountability
- A mentor and friend in the dance
“
I just wanted to tell you again, thank you for making my life better through dance. I always come away from my private lessons with you feeling amazing about my dancing, even though I know there’s still so much to work on.”
Maria is amazing at identifying the one thing I can do that will most help me improve my dancing. She breaks things down in ways that make big problems approachable, and her advice has helped me a ton. Maria has made an incalculably large difference in both my skill and enjoyment as a dancer. I definitely get more compliments from follows since working with her.”
Maria’s coaching has been a key element of my development as a west coast swing dancer. A unique balance of precision and packaging, Maria’s approach combines fine attention to technical detail with the ability to tailor feedback in a way that is digestible and that has enabled me to overcome ‘plateau’ moments in my dance progression. Her emphasis on quality of movement and connection has helped me deepen my understanding of the fundamental characteristics of west coast swing without compromising my individual style, cultivate better partnership skills, and create my own personal benchmarks for evaluating success, resulting in many ‘wins’ on both the competitive and social floor.”