Frequently Asked QuestionsDo I need a partner?You don't need a partner to come along, but feel free to bring one if you do! For competitions, we often partner girls together, as there can sometimes be more girls than boys in the society. We have had some very successful girl-girl competitive couples in the past few years! Do I have to be a student to participate?Absolutely not! Although our we primarily cater for students, there are significant number of non-students who take part in our classes regularly Do I have to be a member to join the classes? How do I become a member?No, you don't have to be a member to take part in any of our classes. However, there are benefits to becoming a member, in the form of discounted classes. To become a member of the Society, you must first be a member of ULU (the University of London Students' Union) our parent organisation. This is free for students study in any college of the University of London. Students from other colleges, as well as ULU staff and graduates, can be ULU members for a small fee. For more details, please see our Membership section. If my partner can't make a competition does that mean I can't go?If your partner is unable to go to one of the competitions, but you are still interested in going, please ask the Team Captain to try to find you a different partner for that competition. If I don't have a partner does that mean I can't compete?Certainly not! If you are enthusiastic for dance but partnerless, we will try our best to pair you up with someone! Unfortunately, we have found that in the past there tends to be more girls than there are boys interested in dancing. But if you're a girl without a male partner, you can still compete if you are happy partnering with another girl. Sometimes girls and take it in turns to do the leader and follower's steps. Do I need dance shoes? How much do they cost and where can I get them from?You do not need to wear dance shoes for the classes, we only ask that your shoes are comfortable and properly secured to your feet. Most high-street heeled shoes are NOT acceptable! However, if you want to take part in competitions then you we highly recommend you invest in a pair of dance shoes. Purpose-made dance shoes are very light, grip your foot firmly (particularly your heel), and have a suede sole. The suede material gives you a decent level of grip on wooden dance floors, whilst having enough slip to allow you to slide or spin. A good pair of dance shoes might cost around £35. There are subtle differences between Latin and Ballroom dancing shoes: Ladies - Latin shoes are open-toed and can be generally be worn for Ballroom dancing, but Ballroom shoes are generally too stiff to be suitable for Latin dances. Both have reinforced heels, meaning the heels will usually outlast the rest of your shoe! If you are only getting one pair of shoes, then Latin-style shoes are probably more versatile. Men - Latin shoes are softer and come with an elevated 'Cuban' heel, which makes it unsuitable for Ballroom dancing. Ballroom are shoes are generally stiffer and can be made of plain or shiny patent material. Jazz shoes are a cheaper alternative to conventional Ballroom or Latin dance shoes, as these can be bought for almost half the price. On the downside, because they are a lot softer, they don't give as much support to your foot, and they also don't last as long. There are a good number of dance shops in London where you can find these shoes. A few of them are listed below: Dancia International Sansha Bloch London Capezio London Freed of London Gandolfi Dance shop |