Welcome to ANIMA FABRIK—here's how to make the most of your unlimited membership
📷 Patrizia Wiesner-Ledermann
If you’ve just joined ANIMA FABRIK and aren’t sure where to start — this is your 12-week roadmap to get confident, fit, and ready to dance without fear.
How dance learning actually works?
Think of learning dance like learning a language. You wouldn't take one Spanish class and expect to be fluent, right? Dance works the same way—it's about building vocabulary, muscle memory and finding your own rhythm over time.
The golden rule: Come 2-3 times per week, minimum. Consistency beats talent. Your membership lets you attend unlimited classes, so use it! Your body needs regular practice to remember what it learned.
Your weekly rhythm:
Minimum Commitment (2x/week):
1 flexibility/floor barre class
1 technique class
Sweet Spot (3x/week):
1 flexibility/floor barre class
2 technique classes (could be same style or mix it up)
Dance Enthusiast (4+/week):
Try new teachers, explore different styles, add workshops.
Your membership makes this possible—use it!
Suggested schedule → Pick 2 different day options and commit!
Mon 18:30 Flexibility → Mon 19:45 Contemporary Fusion
Tue 18:30 Foundations II → Tue 19:45 Modern Jazz Mattox
Wed 18:30 Modern Horton or Floor Barre
Thu 18:30 Graham Beginners → Thu 19:45 Contemporary
Morning person? Tue 9:15 Floor Barre + Thu 9:15 Flexibility, then add one evening class.
Skip for now: Company Rehearsals, Level 4, and project groups. But if your Level 1–3 classes feel comfy, feel free to join!
What to expect and why that's okay!
Everyone was a beginner once. That advanced dancer next to you? They remember exactly how overwhelming their first class felt.
You'll feel lost sometimes. This is normal and temporary. Some days you'll feel like you're made of rubber, others like you're made of wood. Both are fine.
Some weeks you'll want to quit. Some classes will make you feel clumsy. Some combinations will seem impossible.
This is not failure—this is learning. The dancers you admire went through this exact same process. They just kept showing up.
Your 12-Week Roadmap
Weeks 1–2
Learn the room: where to stand, how combos work, what all those French words mean. Ask questions—lots of them.
Weeks 3–4
Moves will start making sense. Film your feet after class, write down 2–3 cues you learned. Ask an advanced dancer to explain something you didn't understand—you'll be surprised how happily they'll help!
Weeks 5–8
Add a second technique (maybe Horton, or Graham) or swap one class to explore something new.
Weeks 9–12
Re-try a class you didn't love at first—new skills often mean new joy. This becomes your pattern for years.
Progress Markers
You'll know you're growing when:
You can follow a full warm-up / combinations without watching others
You recognize terms (plié, contraction, tilt, flat back, triplet)
You remember an 8–16 count phrase by yourself
You can repeat a phrase on the other side without panic.
Your balance and flexibility have improved (touch lower in a forward fold, hold passé longer)
Soreness becomes normal (remember: sleep, warm shower, light stretching always help)
Your Learning Journey in 3 Phases
Phase 1: Foundation Building (Months 1-3)
Start with Floor Barre & Flexibility weekly—these are non-negotiable. Sample every "All Levels" and "Level 1-3" class to find what excites you. By month 2, pick 1-2 favorites and stick with them for consistency.
Phase 2: Deepening (Months 4-6)
Keep your flexibility routine. Revisit classes you "didn't like" earlier—your growing skills often transform previous challenges into new favorites. Add a second technique style if you're ready.
Phase 3: Finding Your Voice (Month 6+)
Choose classes that challenge you rather than comfort you. Follow teachers whose style resonates. Take calculated risks with higher levels. Keep cycling back to explore—your taste will keep evolving.
So don't stop showing up! We're here, we're cheering for you, and we can't wait to see where this journey takes you!✨ See you on the dance floor!
📷 Patrizia Wiesner-Ledermann