Social Life Dance Center

MEMBERS HANDBOOK

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WHAT SOCIAL LIFE DANCE CENTERS OFFER

The fast pace of life today finds many of us engrossed in activities which keep us very busy. Ask yourself: "Am I Having Any Fun?" The answer frequently is no. The lives that we lead often find us scurrying around with barely a moment to spare and when we finally end a day, many of us wind up being "Couch Potatoes."

Social Life Centers offer a unique opportunity to engage in many activities and the result is definitely having a lot of fun.

• Learn to dance and then go to dances or social activities which are sponsored by Social Life.
• Become more physically fit and make Social Life Group Lessons your scheduled exercise for the day.
• 'Attend weekly Social Life Parties and meet people who come from all walks of life and from every age group, who have learned to have fun every week of the year.
• Pack your clothes and travel, be it a Cruise, a trip to Las Vegas or a weekend attending a Social Life Dance Showcase or Competition.
• Social Life Members become friends and participate in many other activities during the year: Dinner, a Play, a Concert, a Picnic or a Golf Outing.

SOCIAL LIFE CENTERS ……. Offer You A Meaningful Social Life.

THE DANCE AND SOCIAL LIFE DANCE CENTERS

Dancing is as old as the history of Man. From the earliest stages of human history, it has been an integral part of the cultural development of Mankind. Primitive man expressed himself in the Dance long before other methods of expression had evolved. Dancing became a means of expressing the most fundamental emotions and feelings. As primitive societies gradually emerged, the Dance was used to tell stories, to express feelings and religious beliefs, and to demonstrate the most basic of concepts.

As civilization became more complex, dancing became more sophisticated. One branch to emerge was the Ballet, which concentrated on the telling of stories and the communication of ideas. Another branch, Ballroom or Social Dancing, developed in a different direction. It became the medium of social expression. People were discovering the enjoyment of dancing together to music. In the sedate salons of 17th and 18th century Europe, couples held hands and found enjoyment in matching their body movements with the rhythms of music composed by Haydn and Mozart. Indeed, the Minuet was the forerunner of ballroom dancing as it is known today. People, then as now, found that social dancing was a pleasurable means of self expression.

Through the years new dances have originated and become popular. The Waltz was considered a very daring innovation when it was first introduced. It was the first time the male partner held the female partner in his arms while dancing, and the very idea was considered to be scandalous.

Social dancing has sought inspiration from many sources. Ragtime brought on the jerky movements of the Turkey Trot. The advent of jazz saw the Charleston, a dance we associate with the hysteria of the "Twenties." Latin American music brought with it the Tango and the Rumba. By the 1930's, the Fox Trot was a dominant dance in America. The Lambeth Walk was but a prelude to the Jitterbugging of the war years. The Conga, Mambo, Cha Cha and Merengue were additions to the Latin lexicon. Rock and Roll music heralded the arrival of such innovations as the Twist, which in turn saw the Frug, the Watusi, Break Dancing, Hustle, Hip-Hop and Swim. New dances will continue to come into being as quickly as man's inventiveness and imagination can devise them.

In the teaching of social dancing, there are some names that stand out. We are intent on becoming one of those names. Social Life teaches dancing in a way that puts more fun in your life.

Mr. Lynn, Social Life's founder, started his career as a dance instructor in 1972 in Toronto, Canada, at the early age of seventeen. It was his wish to develop a more modern approach to dance instruction and bring dance awareness back into the minds and feet of the public. It is also his desire to bring a team feeling between dance centers around the country as Social Life grows. Through his special method of instruction, which stresses nine movements or steps of dance, he can teach a person to dance quickly and easily. This common sense approach to social dancing is making the 1990's, the new "Time to Dance" with the Social Life Dance Centers emerging as the clear choice for young and old alike.

Our entire reputation and success depends on the successful teaching of each individual member. We must recognize what our students need and want, and be able to individualize their instruction to meet their goals. It is only by using the sound teaching methods of the Social Life Dancing System that we are able to achieve our combined goals.

When mountain climber, Sir Edmund Hillary, was asked how to climb a mountain, he replied: "One Step At A Time." The same is true with everything we try to do. How do you learn to dance? "One Step At A Time." And with each step you take you will be headed toward a more fun-filled life.

We know this to be true since many of our members learn to dance in an amazingly short period of time. There is a reason for this everyone has rhythm. (Yes, you too!) In the years of teaching people to dance, it has been our constant satisfaction to see people starting to use this natural inborn rhythm to express themselves, in mind and spirit.

Dancing is.... in the truest sense .... a way of life. It is a sport that wakes up the body and the mind, and frees the individual to add new dimensions to their life. Dancing is fun. From six years to eighty-six, dancing puts you in tune with life, and with other people. The only thing you have to do is take that first step .... to a Social Life Dance Center.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENS INSIDE THE DOORS OF A SOCIAL LIFE DANCE CENTER? COME ALONG AND SEE FOR YOURSELF. WE'LL BE TEACHING YOU TO DANCE AND PUTTING MORE FUN INTO YOUR LIFE.

• First, come to any of our Social Life Dance Centers. You will be greeted by an interviewer who will suggest a $10.00 demonstration lesson.
• During your lesson in a Social Life Dance Center you will see for yourself how well you can do. We will evaluate your strong and weak points and make suggestions to determine your dancing needs.
• If you are a beginner, or if you are an experienced dancer, with a yen to learn the Latin or more advanced dances, you may need just a few basic lessons to get started. Social Life Centers believe they have something for everyone. Whatever......the choice is completely up to you.
• Once you have decided on a program, you will be assigned to an instructor. Convenient appointments will be made .... and before you know it.... you have entered into the wonderful world of Social Life Dancing.

CONGRATULATIONS

Over the next few visits to your Social Life Dance Center, you will be making one of the most important contributions to your social life bar none.

Your instructor will spend the next few visits introducing you to the many choices in music and dancing that are available here at Social Life. In doing this, they will be giving you the opportunity to Personalize and Tailor your own Dancing Program.

We have found here at Social Life that for an individual or couple taking an average of 1-2 private lessons a week, it will take four to eight months to become an adequate Social Dancer in four` to six dances. To become a more stylish and powerful dancer, with more variety of patterns and dances, it will take a year or two. Whatever you decide for your dancing program, we strongly recommend that you take advantage of group lessons and parties. Please remember, whatever dancing goal you set for yourself is fine with us, as we are only concerned with making you happy and comfortable.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR

THE INSTRUCTOR specializes in two areas:

1. During your first five lessons, he or she will introduce you to the latest dance steps and with your help, will plan a program personalized and tailored for your future dancing needs and desires.

2. Then your INSTRUCTOR will be able to carry out the program plan to make you the kind of dancer you would like to be.

Remember: "You can spend a lifetime taking dance lessons. But NONE will be as important as the first few."

Your instructor takes great pride in getting you started on the right foot. With your cooperation, we can assure you that this will happen.

YOUR MANAGER

YOUR MANAGER is DIRECTLY responsible for the following:

• Assignment and re-assignment of Instructors.
• 'Progress Checks and Graduation Examinations.
• Service Reports and periodic general chats.
• Receiving suggestions and/or constructive criticism.
• The planning and achievement of your goals.
• Anything concerning your dance program at any time.

A MANAGER plays a vital role in carrying out everything you and your Instructor have planned. It is to your advantage to cooperate and communicate with your MANAGER.

SUGGESTIONS:

Your center encourages suggestions and constructive criticism, PROVIDING the suggestions and criticisms are made to staff authorized to take proper action. When this is done, IMMEDIATE STEPS CAN BE TAKEN TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

"ANYTHING THAT IS NOT UNDERSTOOD, CAN BE AND USUALLY IS MIS-UNDERSTOOD."

THE SOCIAL LIFE POLICY GUIDE

Congratulations and welcome to your Social Life Dance Center, the place with the newest and most progressive concept in Dance Instruction. At Social Life we take great pride in our service and feel that our members have found the happiest and friendliest place in town.

By becoming a VIP member, we feel you have made one of the wisest investments of your life. Once you start to dance with confidence and poise, you will feel totally relaxed at any social gathering. You have already taken the hardest step of all. WELCOME!!

CENTER POLICIES THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW STAFF ASSOCIATION WITH MEMBERS:

Staff members are strictly prohibited from associating with members outside the center unless an outside function is sponsored for members by the center. A breach of this rule is grounds for immediate dismissal of the staff member involved.

GIFTS AND BORROWING:

Staff members are not allowed to accept gifts or to borrow money from members. Either offense is grounds for immediate dismissal of the staff member involved.

GUESTS:

GUESTS ARE ENCOURAGED! Although your friends are welcome at any time, such as coming in with you for one of your lessons or just dropping in, your guest will receive a more APPROPRIATE WELCOME, if you let us know they are coming to a party.

BONUS LESSONS:

Your Social Life Dance Center incorporates a very attractive incentive for members who are introducing their friends.

When your friend enrolls, the center adds BONUS LESSONS to your program as a means of saying "THANK YOU."

Many members achieve high standards of dancing through these BONUS LESSONS! You can too!

The center reserves the right to extend prizes in the way of BONUS LESSONS. These lessons have no cash value and are added to the end of your present program.

THE PRIVATE LESSON

In the PRIVATE LESSON you will receive the personal and specialized teaching that is necessary to achieve your goals in dancing.

One-on-one instruction provides the quickest and most successful method with which our members learn to dance.

This VIP membership gives you unlimited Group Lesson participation as well.

GROUP OR SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS

GROUP LESSONS are an important aid to your private instruction. They give you a good opportunity to MEET MANY OTHER MEMBERS and to acquire good habits in a supervised environment.

In GROUP LESSONS we stress technique, style and variation of patterns. You will be introduced to new dance material, as well as reviewing and improving the dances learned during your private instruction. Consistent participation in GROUP LESSONS is an excellent way to learn how to lead or follow a variety of partners.

PARTY/PRACTICE SESSIONS

Many people find it difficult to motivate themselves toward practicing at home where facilities are limited.

FEEL FREE to use the center where the facilities and environment are more conducive to practicing. It is only natural that practice cuts learning time, and makes you a better dancer sooner. ASK YOUR INSTRUCTOR ABOUT THE WEEKLY PRACTICE PARTY.

USE THE FACILITIES OF YOUR SOCIAL LIFE DANCE CENTER FOR PRACTICE. IT IS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE AND OUR PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WHAT MAKES A DANCER POPULAR?

That is a good question .... one which vitally concerns Instructors inasmuch as their job is to make POPULAR dancers, not just dancers.

Popular dancers everywhere, regardless of their stage of dancing, are dancers who are COURTEOUS, CONSIDERATE AND PLEASANT.

Specifically, they are dancers who ACCEPT COMPLIMENTS GRACIOUSLY; who WEAR A SMILE; who NEVER take PROBLEMS AND COMPLAINTS ONTO THE DANCE FLOOR.

Popular dancers, regardless of age and sex, are always those who are considered "GRACIOUS."

This is what makes a POPULAR DANCER every time, in any group, all over the world.

YOUR FIRST VISIT

On your first visit we want to compliment you once again on your decision to join us.

On this lesson we will review the dances you did on your introductory lesson and introduce you to two or three more dances. This is to get you acquainted with the four directional movements and how they relate to leading or following, slow and fast music. Remember to ask your instructor for some homework on balance and also when you should start attending the Group Lessons. We would like to go over the Center's activity calendar and answer any questions about our policies or events that may be coming up soon.

YOUR SECOND VISIT

During this lesson we will be doing a general review of the five or six dances you have been introduced to thus far. We will spend more time helping you understand the mechanics of each of these dances and how they move on the dance floor. If you are really breezing along, we may introduce you to one more new dance.

We recommend strongly during this visit that you start to understand your Instructor's role and the different programs that are available. This will give you a better idea of what we have to offer here at Social Life.

Examples are:

Sociable Program Social Bronze Exhibition Silver Semi-Professional Gold

So that we can better help each of you to get the most out of our instruction, we make it our Policy to establish the motivation behind each of your reasons for wanting to become a better dancer. What we would like you to do after this visit, is to choose 4 of the 16 motivators that best describe your reasons for being here.

MOTIVATORS

1. MORE FUN AND ENJOYMENT OUT OF LIFE.
2. INCREASE SELF-CONFIDENCE.
3. MEET PEOPLE AND MAKE NEW FRIENDS.
4. RELAXATION.
5. EXERCISE.
6. IMPROVE APPEARANCE.
7. SELF-IMPROVEMENT.
8. BUSINESS REASONS.
9. ACQUIRE MORE GRACE AND POISE.
10. OVERCOME SHYNESS.
11. A SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCOMPLISHMENT.
12. EASE AND ASSURANCE SOCIALLY.
13. A HOBBY OR INTEREST.
14. RECREATION OR ENTERTAINMENT.
15. INCREASE POPULARITY.
16. PERFORM IN EXHIBITIONS.

Thank you for your cooperation in choosing your 4 motivators. This will assist your Instructor in making your lessons even more enjoyable.

Extra Notes:

"I wouldn't spend a DOLLAR for DANCE LESSONS it's TRUE!"

"What's more, I have never known ANYONE who would take the time, or make the investment, JUST to learn to dance. The reasons vary with each person, but look at it this way and you will agree: DANCING IS ONLY A MEANS TO AN END."

"No, I wouldn't pay ten cents for DANCE LESSONS, but I would pay whatever I could afford for some of the reasons (MY "4 MOTIVATORS") listed. To me, they would be worth whatever the price might be."

"YOUR REASONS, TOO, ARE WELL WORTH WHATEVER AMOUNT YOU DECIDE TO INVEST"!

DANCING IS THE LOFTIEST, THE MOST MOVING, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL THE ARTS, BECAUSE IT IS NOT MERE TRANSLATION OR ABSTRACTION FROM LIFE; IT IS LIFE ITSELF.

YOUR THIRD VISIT

We hope your dancing is starting to shape up and that you are enjoying our Social Life System of Teaching. On this visit we would like to continue stressing the movement of your dancing and introduce you to the universal box step and how it relates to all your dances. Also we hope that we have managed to relieve any doubt about your ability to learn to dance. Remember The Social Life Creed: If you like music and have the desire, we can teach you to dance. The two questions we ask you to take home with you, if you cannot answer them now, are:

1. What do you want from your dancing? What dances do you want to learn and why?

2. How good of a dancer do you want to become?

We hope by now you have given us the opportunity to teach you Cha Cha, Tango or both. Cha Cha is our confidence builder and Tango is our dramatic, passionate dance.

Please ask your instructor for guest cards for your friends and for our rate sheet with investment examples.

YOUR FOURTH VISIT

This is a very important visit as it gives us a chance to review all of the dances we have done up to this point.

We also hope you have the desire to make the time and put forth the effort necessary to fulfill your choice of dancing goal. It is our recommendation that after this visit you take some time to go over your dancing program with your instructor. Please be sure your program suits your needs, desires and that you understand the allocation of time required.

YOUR FIFTH VISIT

Your fifth visit will be an exciting review of all of the dances to which you have been introduced. The Manager will do a progress check on what you and your Instructor have accomplished over the past few lessons. This is a good time to ask any questions about your Social Life Dance Center and how it GUARANTEES your dance program. If continuing, your dancing goals should be discussed at this time. Please feel free to discuss your program with the Manager and/or your Instructor. These discussions may take place either before or after your lesson.

WE AIM TO PLEASE.