Lessons

Dance Instruction at Sundance Saloon

Sundance Saloon is proud to offer many choices with our instruction program. Beginners are especially encouraged to take advantage of lessons twice a week. Smooth leather-soled shoes recommended (cowboy boots!), along with some patience and a desire to have some fun.

We offer most frequently instruction in two-step and line dancing. We also teach country waltz, east coast swing and west coast swing.

GENERAL INSTRUCTION OVERVIEW

A general guide. Always check the
monthly calendar for details.

THURSDAY - Main Room
6:45 - 7:30 pm: intermediate-advanced couples lesson
7:30 - 8:00 pm: line dance review

THURSDAY - Back Room
6:45 - 7:30 pm: beginning two-step lesson
7:30 - 8:00 pm: beginner line dance review

SUNDAY - Main Room
5:30 - 6:30 pm: beginning couples lesson (includes 2-step)
6:30 - 7:15 pm: line dance lesson

SUNDAY - Back Room
5:00 - 6:30 pm: line dance pro session (except 1st Sunday)
5:30 - 6:30 pm: intermediate couples lesson (1st Sunday)
6:30 - 7:15 pm: beginning line dance 101 lesson

FIRST-TIMER GUIDE TO LESSONS

We always have beginning two-step lessons, so even if you've never danced before, we can get you going with the basics. We try to keep our lessons casual and with no pressure. Just remember to be patient with yourself, and most importantly have fun! And be on time!

Two-step is a partner dance, like ballroom dancing, but you don't need to come with a partner: we'll pair you up with someone. Our instructors rotate partners frequently, so even if you come with a specific partner, you'll have the opportunity to dance with different folks during the course of a lesson. (Switching partners is optional, but highly recommended.)

Line dancing does not require a partner. We teach a beginning-level line dance and a more advanced-level line dance at the same time in separate rooms starting at 6:30 pm on Sundays and 7:30 pm on Thursdays. If you are new to line dancing, we stongly suggest our 45-minute Sunday beginner line dance lessons. The Thursday lesson is shorter and may feel more rushed.

Instructors at Sundance Saloon

Sundance Saloon is so fortunate to have many excellent and dedicated instructors who love to teach for the sake of teaching. Our instructors are all volunteers who give the gift of their time and their talents.

Vince Avallone

Vince's love for country dancing started in 1997 in Chicago at Charlie's. He found Sundance after moving to SF in 2001 and became more involved by volunteering. Vince has performed with the Sundance Bandits. He taught multiple formats of group exercise for 15 years. He finds teaching line dance great fun, especially seeing beginners enjoying themselves.

John Hoffman

John has been teaching at Sundance Saloon for many years. He’s also a DJ at Sundance Saloon and has served as a member of the Sundance Board of Directors. John lives in San Francisco with his dog Travis and works at the San Francisco Food Bank as the Network Administrator.

Crispin Hollings

We mourn the sudden and unexpected passing of Crispin Hollings from a cardiac arrest on November 10, 2022. Convinced he had two left feet, Crispin attended a few lessons at Sundance Saloon in 2004 and was hooked: from the dance floor to the instructors to the friendliness of the crowd, what was there not to love? Crispin has been an avid supporter of Sundance, becoming a regular dancer, a member, a volunteer, a poster-boy, and, in 2009, an instructor teaching beginning classes.

Ron Jenkins

Ron fell in love with country dancing in 1993. He has performed with the Barbary Coast Cloggers and Vima Vice Squad. He and his dance partner, Photis, have captured numerous same-sex ballroom dancing titles in the US and interntiaonally. But Ron will always be most comfortable on the country dance floor, and he loves teaching at Sundance Saloon!

Michael Metzger

Michael has been dancing since 2005 and choreographing line dances since 2009, including “C’mon C’mon” and “Counting Stars.” He has been a featured instructor at events in Europe and across North America, including IAGLCWDC conventions and Windy City Line Dance Mania in Chicago. His popular instructional videos on YouTube have been viewed over 200,000 times.

Rob Ollander-Krane

Rob grew up hating country music until one day about a decade ago, he walked into a gay bar and saw a group of men doing the two-step. Country music and two-stepping have been his obsession ever since … and he has the cowboy drag to prove it. Rob dances and teaches at Sundance Saloon and at Trunks in Palm Springs.

Randy Pocius

Randy Pocius has enjoys teaching beginners the fun and satisfaction of two-step, waltz and line dance. He has had over 20 years of country-western dancing experience. Randy has performed with the San Jose Spurs, Cactus Cloggers and Jus’ County Cloggers. In addition to Sundance Saloon, he has DJ'd and instructed at special events, cruises and community centers.

Sheila Schlicht

Sheila started tap dancing as a child and has not stopped moving her feet since. Calling Sundance Saloon in San Francisco home, she found a great dance venue in which to lead and follow. She has taught both partner and line dancing at various venues including: Texas Rose Dance, Wrangler Weekend (WWLA) and Burlingame Parks & Rec. Sheila has also performed with several performance groups, most notably: The Sundance Bandits, Clogging Express, The Saddle Tramps and Golden Gate Clogging Company.

Charles Sterck

Charles has enjoyed dancing most of his life. His background studies include tap, jazz, ballroom, two-stepping and line dancing. He was team captain and choreographer of the San Francisco Saddletramps. Charles has taught for Sundance Saloon from the beginning in 1998. When not dancing, Charles is a business development advisor and the managing director of a CPA firm.

Lessons At Sundance Saloon