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Re: Arthur Murray Stinks
Posted by Anonymous
2/2/2016  12:20:00 AM
Thank you for all the interesting sharing and reviews. Definitely some great takeaways and what to watch out for. We all have experiences ranging from great to horrible. This is just one perspective - mine. Buyer beware. Know the pros and cons of what your getting into and exit when it has no value exchange for you.

1) It worked for a time for me, they're pricey.
2) Customer retention none existent. They were rude at times to certain customers who didn't fit their definition of 'ideal'
3) unfair wages. This really bothers me- they charge a lot per hour($120+) on private lesson and don't pay the staff a fair amount. At $120/hour I'll find a pro. I don't have all the facts but an instructor tells me it's minimum wage. Time to report them to labor law.
Most of us don't mind paying that amount if the instructor is fairly paid. AT $120+ per private lesson, I would have thought the instructor would make at least $25/hour + bonus for having X# of private lessons. I think the $70-80/hour is more reasonable. I shopped around and found other better value deals.
4) Also, not all instructors are made the same way - some are better than others no matter their weight or looks. Some instructors will burn your time with small talk so make sure you keep them on task to your goals, your paying them to teach dance not chit chat. I had to keep a franchise owner and dance instructor on point to what I wanted to achieve for the class. I was very specific on what we needed to work on in an hour (or less)I made sure he worked hard for his money with me. I want to do 4 things - that's 15 min for each goal.
5) I didn't care for the extra fees for themed dance events in their studio, which should have been discounted and have ability to invite friends and family to promote their business. To this point, they didn't really work hard on their business on new membership promos. This would have been one way to achieve this goal.
6)Value deal illusion. There was no way to just do group lessons, it was package deal or nothing. I would have to pay $1000+ for 10 private lessons to get the group classes for free (diminishing return here as you progress in your dancing). If you sign up as a couple you might get better value deal,but not for single and they were not helpful in pairing us up - we pay same amount for single as for couple, so they'd loose money on the deal if they paired the singles. Somewhere else at $75/hour, I'd get 10 lessons for $750 pp or per couple, not $1000+, with a partner thats $350 ea. Even with unlimited group class at AM which has diminishing return.
7) I originally got in since I could go to other AM in different states. I had a travelling job at the time which changed later. Life happens, I had other more pressing financial obligations and I couldn't dish out $1000+ for dancing.

I found plenty other dance events in the area to practice my dancing for a small fee ~$10 per event. Joining 3+ dance clubs was less than $100/year and I get discounts to many local dance events. Like many of you mentioned here in the threads - dance co-ops and your own social can be a better deal. Anyway, local dance events and other dance clubs was good enough for me, the goal was to continue at a more reasonable fee based on my availability and schedule not on AM's package, offer and schedule.

After awhile, I re-thought my dancing strategy and it clearly we were not on same page, so I stopped going and didn't renew.I flattened in their dance classes and it no longer offered the value exchange benefits for me. The variety of group lessons worked for awhile, until I found them too limiting and restricting to their studio. It was not enough for me but they would entice or tease the students just enough and pitching the 'you need to work on your private lessons for more '.

Some dances I am happy with group lessons for social club dancing and that's about it. AM do not offer consistency in weekly group classes which would have offered
Re: Arthur Murray Stinks
Posted by AM Student and proud
3/1/2016  3:13:00 AM
I am 11 years old and I have been in Arthur Murray Amman/Jordan for 4 years now. I am a Silver 1 student and I completely disagree with you. Arthur Murray is not only a dance studio but it is also a home. If anything, the instructors are champions and will do anything to HELP you become a champion, like them, and better. There is never any manipulation, fancy chains, and any other cruel traps like that. Arthur Murray are one of the most supportive group of people I have ever met. I don't know where you live or which Arthur Murray you go to, but Im telling you, in my country and most other countries Arthur Murray is the best studio (ranked number 1) in any studios in any country.
Re: Arthur Murray Stinks
Posted by terence2
7/5/2016  12:58:00 AM


Are you really 11 years old ?.. or, is your MOM writing this for you ?. Either way, if you are happy with you dance progress, that's good. How much do they charge for lessons ? ( per hour ).
Re: Arthur Murray Stinks
Posted by GMC
4/9/2016  6:40:00 PM
Just started Arthur murray dance friday and I never dance but we really enjoyed it. Ashburn va .great dance teacher and staff..loved it
Re: Arthur Murray Stinks
Posted by Rocky
5/5/2016  2:04:00 PM
I was just there for an intro lesson. They honey potted me.... Set me up with a gorgeous girl to teach me and butter me up. Then they dropped the prices on me. 580.00 a month! That is insane!!!!
Re: Arthur Murray Stinks
Posted by ballroomchick
5/9/2016  12:09:00 PM
How many private lessons a week in that month are you taking?

If I could get my 12 lessons a month in for that I would be happy. I pay a bit more that than that, but under a grand.
Re: Arthur Murray Stinks
Posted by Arthur Murray Dancer
7/4/2016  5:19:00 PM
My husband and I take 2 private lessons a month, and attend many group classes and practice parties. We now have an instructor knows that our focus is being able to move well around the dance floor, and we have a wonderful teacher. They will not fire you as a student if you decide to learn at you own pace and take advantage of the learning opportunities they offer. What I like about Arthur Murray is that the studio is drama free, and I have left and returned because I like the drama free dancing.
Re: Arthur Murray Stinks
Posted by FormerProLatinDancer
7/12/2016  11:18:00 AM
From my years of seeing AM and having friends through the franchise system, I have few good things to say about it. Probably the best thing that I can say about them is the amount of new people they bring to the world of ballroom dance.

The negatives are far too many though. Few of their instructors have had much training before starting their instructor "training" programs. I fail to see how someone with less than a year's worth of dance experience can justify giving lessons for almost the same rate as some of the top Latin coaches in the world. That is outright madness.

The used car sales tactics are the worst I've ever experienced as well. My current husband was once a student there and they told him not to date me because I "wasn't good enough for him" after they found out I was a competitive dancer. He came from a supposedly good studio with a franchisee that is fairly well known outside of the system too. Thankfully he listened to me in moving out of there. He knew a lot of patterns from them after 2 years... but little technique. A lot of "walking" around the floor for tens of thousands of dollars.

I can think of maybe a handful of studios in the franchise system that might be worth visiting... mostly because of who owns them. But their prices are still not worth it.

In the suburbs of NYC, he was paying in excess of 160 dollars per 45 minutes.
Re: Arthur Murray Stinks
Posted by ballroomchick
7/15/2016  2:42:00 PM
Former Pro Latin Dancer

AND you have it the nail on the head as to WHY A.M. NEVER allows their students to dance outside of "the family."

*** He knew a lot of patterns from them after 2 years... but little technique. A lot of "walking" around the floor for tens of thousands of dollars.****

They can NOT compete in the real world. NO Cuban motion and no technique!

No matter how much money you have in the real world of dance, if you don't use Cuban motion and if you have no technique you will ALWAYS come in last - unless someone falls on their butt.

WOW $160 for 40 mins!?!? I get a full hour with a 5 time American Rhythm champion and I pay less than half of that!
Re: Arthur Murray Stinks
Posted by nanig117
8/11/2016  8:50:00 AM
5678 AMEN AM AMEM AMEM OH AM ANEM AM is a rip off!!

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