Elegance Ballroom, Midland

Though they have coached celebrities and worked with Broadway producers, the instructors at Elegance Ballroom appreciate that some people just want to cut loose on weekends. In beginner classes, they walk students through a curriculum of ballroom and Latin styles, laying the groundwork for steps such as the tango, foxtrot, rumba, and waltz. Private and group lessons prepare students for competition-level strutting or a casual night out. Regardless of the goal, instructors put guests at ease with encouraging attitudes, a selection of complimentary refreshments, and the solemn promise that they will never release wild wolverines into the studio to punish a missed step.

Apart from classes, staffers host regular practice parties where their protégés can socialize. They also rent out the Elegance Ballroom Event Center for special occasions, prepping food, drinks, and the dance floor to accommodate up to 500 guests.