Professional dance schools which are run as businesses are often quite out of touch with the sequence dance scene. Many schools see adult sequence classes as a dead loss, although there are a few which do have social sequence dance classes for beginners. These are useful for those starting dancing or as an initial stage for those changing from standard ballroom dancing. However these classes rarely keep up to date with the latest dances which are done in most clubs and on holidays. They particularly attract retired people and provide a friendly and social atmosphere.
Ladies often dance together when there are insufficient gentlemen.
Most of the clubs will teach one of the new dances during the session when they are available. What is generally called sequence dancing probably originated with the old court dances of France and England about 1600. Early in the 1900's the old time form developed with two steps, gavottes, mazurkas and quick waltz. Then came saunters, swings and tangos and these make up the traditional old time form. New Vogue dancing in Australia is similar to the English old time form with open positions.