First class
What to wear and bring to a step class
· 3 min read
Shoes are the only decision that matters. Everything else is preference — and the platform is on us.
Most of this is easy. One part is not optional.
Shoes, the only real rule
Athletic shoes. No sandals.
You will step on and off a raised platform a few hundred times in 55 minutes. Your foot has to land in the same place every time and the shoe has to stay on. A sandal, a slide or anything with an open back does neither.
What works best is a cross-trainer, or anything with a flat, stable sole and some lateral support. Step choreography moves sideways and turns as much as it moves forward, and the American Podiatric Medical Association makes the same point about footwear generally: running shoes are built for high-impact forward motion and are not meant for sports with lateral movement. A road runner with a tall, soft heel can roll when you step off the side of a deck. If a running shoe is what you own, wear it and lace it tight. It is fine.
What does not work: sandals, flip-flops, slides, boots, bare feet, socks.
Clothes
Fitness clothes you can move in, in every direction. Leggings, shorts, joggers, a t-shirt or a tank. Two specifics come up often enough to be worth naming:
- Length. If you wear long, loose pants, check the hem clears the platform. A hem catching the edge of a deck is the one clothing problem that actually matters.
- Layers. The room warms up fast once thirty people are moving. Whatever you would take off at minute fifteen, wear it on top.
What to bring
- Water. The bar is not open during class.
- A towel, if you want one. Plenty of people do not bother.
- Your phone if you want it, though you will not look at it for 55 minutes.
What we supply
The platform, the risers and the playlist. You do not need to own equipment, buy a step or carry anything into the room. That is the second most common reason people put off a first step class, and it is the easiest one to clear: bring yourself. The first is the worry that you cannot dance, and that one has an answer too.
What you can leave at home
- A gym membership. There is not one — classes are booked one at a time.
- Weights. There are none in the class.
- A mat.
- Dance shoes. This is not that kind of class.
Before you leave the house
Class is at Casa 21 Restaurant Bar & Grill, 4235 W Waters Ave, Tampa, FL 33614 — directions, parking and the arrival details are on our Tampa page. Parking is free and on site, and you come in the main entrance. Ten minutes early is plenty — fifteen if you are bringing someone under 18, so there is time to sign the form. Classes are 18 and over, and anyone younger attends with a parent or guardian who signs on their behalf.
Is this class for you?
This is an impact class — you'll be stepping up and down on a platform for most of 55 minutes. If you have knee, hip, or ankle issues, check with your doctor first. The platform is optional, and the choreography works without it.
55 minutes. $19.95. Platforms supplied.