At Learn To Dance, we believe dancing should feel welcoming, enjoyable and achievable — whether you are taking your very first steps, preparing for a wedding, returning to dancing after years away or looking to develop your skills further.
Founded by Antony and Emma, Learn To Dance has been helping people discover the fun of Ballroom and Latin dancing for more than 20 years.
From friendly group classes and private lessons to wedding dance tuition, social events and specialist courses, we are proud to offer a relaxed and professional place to learn, practise and enjoy dancing.
Dance lessons for every stage of your journey
Whether you are completely new to dancing or looking to take the next step, we offer a range of ways to learn.
Group Dance Classes
Our regular Ballroom and Latin classes are a friendly way to learn a variety of dances, improve your confidence and meet other people who enjoy dancing too.
Private Dance Lessons
One-to-one or couples lessons give you focused tuition tailored around your goals, whether that is learning from scratch, improving technique or preparing for a special occasion.
Wedding Dance Lessons
We help couples feel more relaxed, connected and confident for their first dance — whether you want something simple and natural or a routine with a little more wow factor.
Courses, Socials and Events
From focused one-dance courses to tea dances, practice evenings and special events, there are plenty of opportunities to keep dancing beyond your weekly class.
From one small class to a dedicated home for dancing
LearnToDance was set up by husband and wife team Antony & Emma-Louise Holeksa in April 2006.
The first dance class was for friends of one of Antony’s colleagues (back when he had a 'proper job') who wanted a regular weekly Ballroom and Latin American class, but were struggling to find a class near their location in Hayes.
Antony & Emma started running a 2 hour class on a Monday night for the group and, after finding out how much they enjoyed teaching they decided to try setting up their own class nearer to home. This lead to the birth of their first group class in Eton.
Time to Quit?
It is hard to believe it now but they very nearly called it quits! The hall was reserved and paid for and leaflets were dropped through local doors. Yet the only student was the ballet teacher hiring the hall before them.
This continued for a number of weeks until a friend mentioned an article he’d read in the Reader’s Digest. In the article they had been discussing Strictly Come Dancing and where readers could go to find classes. The website danceweb.co.uk was listed and it was suggested Learn To Dance try listing the classes on there.
Having completed the listing, Antony and Emma turned up the next week hoping for more eager dance hopefuls, but still no new students.
A few more sessions went by with no luck and Antony stated, ‘If no one else comes tonight, we’re calling an end to this.’ Believe it or not, on that very night, two new students turned up, both of whom are still with us to this day.
Into our own Studio
From there the school grew and evolved into what you see today. We at Learn To Dance were ecstatic to move into our own dance studio, Cherry Orchard Pavilion, in November 2016.
There were a lot of costs in setting up our own studio and a few students suggested we crowdfund it. A proposal was put together and sent out to all of our students.
The response was overwhelming and we actually exceeded our target! By August 2019 we had completed the final repayments to the students that lent us money. We will be eternally grateful for the trust and support these students put into us as they made our dreams come true.
It wasn’t just financial though. So many students gave up their free time to help us decorate the new studio and bring about the LearnToDance home.
Our studio has a sprung wooden floor, mirrors, sound system, free on-site parking and plenty of space to move.
More importantly, it is a place where people can walk in feeling nervous and leave feeling part of something.
Over the years, the school has grown through word of mouth, friendships, shared laughs, plenty of dancing and a wonderful community of people who have supported us along the way.
In 2026, we were proud to celebrate 20 years of Learn To Dance.
Meet Our Founders
Antony Holeksa
Co-Principal & Main Instructor
Antony has loved dancing since he was young and has spent more than two decades helping people feel more comfortable and confident on the dance floor.
He is particularly passionate about making Ballroom and Latin dancing accessible to ordinary people — without jargon, pressure or the feeling that you need to be naturally talented before you begin.
Whether you are learning your first basic step, preparing for a wedding or working on more detailed technique, Antony’s focus is always on helping you enjoy the process.
Emma-Louise Holeksa
Co-Principal
Emma brings warmth, encouragement and a brilliant eye for helping dancers feel more confident in themselves.
As co-founder of Learn To Dance, she has helped shape the friendly, supportive atmosphere that many of our students say makes the school feel different.
Alongside co-running Learn To Dance, Emma is also a photographer and balances her teaching with family life. Her warm, encouraging approach helps dancers of all ages feel comfortable, supported and more confident from their very first steps.
Meet the people behind the classes
Alongside Antony and Emma, Learn To Dance is supported by a friendly team of teachers and assistants who help create a welcoming experience across our classes, events and courses.
Denise
Michelle
Allison
Trainee Teacher
Corrine
Trainee Teacher
Immy
Trainee Teacher
Lily
Trainee Teacher