Social Graces Ballroom Dance Studio

About Us

Since 2000, Social Graces Ballroom Dance Studio has been proudly earning the confidence and praise of dance students across the Berryville area. Read on to learn more about how we bring happiness, skills, and communication to ballroom dancers of all ages.

Social Graces

Ballroom Dance Studio

Who We Are

We understand that everyone takes dance lessons for very different reasons. Regardless of age, experience, skill level, or preferred ballroom dance types, every one of our students comes to our Social Graces with a unique goal in mind. Our expert ballroom instructors work both individually with you and seamlessly as a team, so they adapt as needed to ensure you reach your goals and potential.

We believe learning is a lifelong endeavor. Our ballroom teachers receive ongoing training so they are always ready to meet — and improve upon — our standards of dance instruction.

We care about you and the ballroom dance experience you have with us. At Social Graces, you’ll find a wonderful sense of community that’s based on mutual respect and encouragement. We teach our dancers to be welcoming of others and help us provide a nurturing environment that makes learning easier and fun.

Our Mission

To help every ballroom dancer achieve their unique goals and make their journey a fun, rewarding experience.

Our Vision

To bring partnership dance culture back into our community by sharing with others the joy and benefits of ballroom dancing in an energizing, inspiring, and supportive environment.

“People come to Social Graces to learn ballroom dance, but what they actually get is improved communication and closeness with their partner."

- Freddie Ciampi, Owner

What we teach

For some, the idea of “ballroom dancing” may create a scene featuring a fairytale couple in formalwear twirling across a gilded ballroom … and that’s it. In reality, “ballroom” consists of a variety of styles and types of dances.

Ballroom dance encompasses a variety of partner dances, each with its own unique style and rhythm. At Social Graces Ballroom Dance Studio, we specialize in American style ballroom dance, which is perfect for social events and gatherings. Our repertoire includes popular dance such as the waltz, foxtrot, tango, rumba, cha-cha, bolero, salsa, and both East and West Coast Swing.

We also offer instruction in many lesser-known dances. If your favorite dance isn’t listed, please contact us to inquire. We are always happy to accommodate your dance interests.

We’re proud to offer private ballroom dance lessons for both individuals and couples, as well as teach scheduled group ballroom dance classes throughout the week. True to our mission and vision, we also love to mix dancing with an inclusive social atmosphere; our dance parties, murder mystery experiences, formals and galas, and other popular special events are full of fun and never disappoint.

A Variety of Ballroom Dance Styles

Waltz: A couple’s dance characterized by rise-and-fall and sway. The feet stay in contact with the floor, creating a smooth, gliding look. Waltz has an elegant gracefulness with a romantic — and sometimes melancholy — feel.
Foxtrot: Key characteristics of this dance are smooth, gliding steps with controlled movement and an easy-going look. There are two styles of foxtrot: Social Style and Competitive Style.
Tango: This dramatic dance is characterized by a close hold (more compact than the other Smooth dances), a low center of gravity, and an emphasis on Contra Body Movement. Movement in tango is stealthy, almost cat-like and has an unmistakable staccato feel.
Cha-cha: This dance is fun and cheeky with emphasis on quick, concise foot and leg movements.
Rumba: This type of dance has a sensual feeling with lots of hip and body movements, which is referred to as “Cuban Motion.”
Mambo: This fast and spicy dance is characterized by strong Cuban Motion, staccato movement, and expression of rhythm through the body. Mambo also features exciting swivels and spins.
Swing: This a fun, upbeat, non-progressive dance is distinguished by its bounce, back break (also called a “rock step”), and “swing hip action." There are two types of swing: East Coast Swing and West Coast Swing.
Salsa: This lively, energetic dance style originated from Cuban and Puerto Rican dance rhythms, and is recognized by its vibrant, fast-paced movements and intricate footwork. Salsa typically involves a lot of turns, spins, and intricate partner work, with dancers often incorporating body rolls, hip movements, and fast footwork.

… and many more, including Country Western and International style ballroom! Don’t see you favorite style here Call and ask if our expert instructors have your favorite dance in their repertoire.

How We Teach You

Our Very Own 3-Step

It All Starts
with You

First, we work with you to set the goals you want to achieve through dance — for example, getting more exercise, becoming closer to your partner, or meeting new people. There are many benefits to social ballroom dance, and we want to make sure you’re informed!

Focused,
but Flexible

As you progress through your ballroom dancing journey, you may find that your goals also evolve. And that’s perfectly fine! We’re always ready to adapt our instruction to suit your personal development.your partner, or meeting new people. There are many benefits to social ballroom dance, and we want to make sure you’re informed!

Personalizing a
Proven Method

Following the fun and systematic DVIDA (Dance Vision International Dance Association) syllabus, we focus on using your personal strengths so you intuitively learn how to ballroom dance. Get ready to move and improve.

Reviews

Our Students Love Us

"My wife and I are empty nesters and took our first private lesson from Freddie (the owner) in April 2022 and immediately connected with his personalized and empathetic teaching style. We have been going to Social Graces for about a year and a half now - about four times a week between the weekly private lesson, two weekly group classes, and the awesome Friday practice social dance. We have learned (and are still learning) waltz, foxtrot, cha cha, rumba, tango, east coast swing and west coast swing!

Freddie and his experienced and new instructors are all awesome and can cover levels from 'I have two left feet' to 'I want to look like I won Dancing with the Stars.' Not only are the instructors great, but the whole studio community (who you get to meet at the Friday dances) are friendly and supportive of all levels. And the periodic themed dances (like super hero’s and 80’s) are a load of fun, too! We are so grateful to have found Social Graces!"

"What a fun place to learn! Very welcoming to new students. I was worried because I don't have a partner to dance with, but it's not a problem. The classes and one-on-one instructions will all work for a solo person. The instructors and other students are wonderful. These classes have become a highlight of my week."

"This is a wonderful dance studio. The instructors are skilled, knowledgeable, and great teachers. This studio attracts a fun, kind crowd of folks; all levels are made to feel welcome. It’s a great community, and the quality of social dance is excellent."

"My husband and I started taking ballroom dance lessons at Social Graces for our 10 year anniversary and have been going for nearly a year now (with no plans of stopping). Freddie has been an incredible teacher, tailoring lessons to us and always making the lesson fun! Every time we get in our car to go home we exclaim about how much fun we just had.
We went in thinking we might like one type of dance and then were delighted to start learning a variety of dances in just the first lesson. Scheduling is flexible, there are social dances on Friday, plus you get to learn a new skill."

"I enrolled with my daughter to learn a dance for her wedding. A week later, I brought my wife in for lessons. The wedding was two years ago, but my wife and I are still taking weekly lessons. The instructors make it easy and fun to learn new steps and techniques. The group lessons and weekly dance parties (included with enrollment) add to the enjoyment of ballroom dancing.

I went through brain cancer treatment throughout last year and the dancing is helping me with my recovery therapy. I couldn’t be more pleased with Social Graces Ballroom Dance Studios."

Discover the Joy of
Ballroom Dance at Social Graces

Whether you’re curious about taking your very first ballroom dance lesson or reawakening your inner dancer, we can’t wait to meet you. Please tell us a little about yourself, and we’ll be in touch shortly to discuss next steps—literally!