About First Step Dance
The mission of First Step Dance is to ensure that every person is able to dance comfortably in a social setting. First Step Dance offers a mixture of wedding workshops, weekly group classes, small group and private lessons. Monthly wedding workshops teach couples the dance basics to make their first dance together comfortable and fun. To ensure practice and repetition of skills, the group classes meet for an hour each week and cover three dances over a four-week period. Small group and private lessons are scheduled as required and the students determine the topics and dances covered.
Group classes, designed to be as open and inviting as possible, teach singles and couples to dance socially with comfort and grace. Although trading partners is encouraged in group class it is not required. Partner dancing requires a partner, but group classes don't.
Kevin Laddison, the owner of First Step Dance started dancing in 1997 at a Cajun music festival in Rhode Island. He danced socially for several years before a job relocation took him to the San Francisco area. In June of 2001 he began The Metronome Ballroom's Teacher Training Program, completing it in April of 2002. Two months later he passed the Dance Vision International Dancers Association (DVIDA) Basic Teachers Test - American Style Rhythm and Smooth with High Honors, the highest level possible. For more details, read "Sharing the Joy of Dance, published in the July/August edition of Dancing USA. Download the pdf (43k)
Mr. Laddison relocated to Vermont in July of 2002 and started First Step Dance in August of that year. Mr. Laddison is one of only two nationally certified ballroom dance instructors teaching American style dance classes in the state of Vermont.
"Kevin, thanks so much for our dance lessons! Our first dance - a foxtrot - turned out perfectly and so many guests said that it was the highlight of the wedding! We can't wait to dance more! All our best."Sarah (Tuff) and Carlton Dunn, Burlington, VT
"Thank you, Kevin, for opening a fun and exciting world to us both!"Dr. Dale Phillips and Jen Phillips, Burlington, VT
"Lessons with Kevin have opened up a whole new world of dancing to me. I have gained not only a solid foundation in the basic steps of smooth and rhythm dances but the confidence to join others on the dance floor!" Katie O'Connor, Shelburne, VT
"It was because of your influence that I began dancing, really dancing. I was so very frightened of being solo and going out to dance. It was because of you that I went out and began dancing. Thank you so much for this, for touching my life and inextricably changing it forever." Deb, Walnut Creek, CA
"It's been a delight to dance with you over the last year and a half. I really appreciate how supportive you always were as I struggled as a beginner." Donna, Berkeley, CA
"Thanks for your infinite patience and precise instruction, and for making the novice feel, well, a little less ridiculous." Rick and Alice, Berkeley, CA