PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE
The single most important thing you can do is keep dancing as much as possible to put your lessons into motion. Social dancing is practicing. Just like taking a class in school, you must open your text book and study the chapters. Social dancing is your way of "studying" and teaching yourself muscle-memory of the patterns and techniques so it becomes effortlessly the more and more you dance.

Try to practice dance at least 3-4 hours a week, if not you are cheating yourself out of your learning experience. Social dancing is practice, and you have to do it frequently. Nobody learns by sitting on your couch. While getting a practice partner is great, it's even better dance with a variety of people and a variety of skill levels. Ask someone to dance!

If there's not the opportunity to social dance frequently where your scene is, talk with other people and let them know your interest in dancing more. You might be informed of more dancing opportunities or have people start a get together.

Bring a Notepad.
Write down everything you learn immediately after the lesson, or during down times. This is the best thing for your learning that you can do at the lesson itself.

One of the most effective strategies (especially if you take private lessons) is that each time you go social dancing, focus on just one or two concepts that you learned. The next time, work on one or two different concepts. Do these all until you're ready for another private lesson.

Ask Frequent Questions as Needed
If you do not understand something; you must ask. Do not feel like you will be holding the lesson back- rather, engaged students will help move the lesson forward. So don't be shy and raise your hand!

Talk to the Instructor After the Lesson
Sometimes, instructors will deem some questions beyond the scope of the lesson, or for time management's sake, they might ask for you to talk to them after class. Ask the instructors for guidance on these matters. They are often more than happy to have the opportunity to finish elaborating on a concept with you. However, past a certain point it may be suitable to establish a private instruction relationship with them.

Take Private Lessons (if you're ready)
If there's a dancer or instructor whose dancing you really like and you want to learn from them - ask them for private lessons. If you are ambitious in improving rapidly, private lessons are a great way to go. Private lessons (also colloquially known as Privates) are relatively inexpensive, but whatever the amount of dedicated attention and targeted instruction you get is worth many, many times that of group lessons. If you click well with the instructor, ask them for more. Also, don't be afraid to try another instructor to get a well-rounded education since different instructors will focus on differet aspects of the dance.

Prior To A Private Lesson
Instructors will often will ask you what you want to learn. Note however, that unless you adamantly insist on it, a good instructor won't teach will teach you moves in a private lesson, but rather how to dance- a very important distinction. Again, it is critical that you go out dancing frequently.

See you on the dance floor!

- adapted by Jesse Niou and Jeff Miller