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Cost of ballroom competitions
Posted by Dot
1/17/2017  12:45:00 PM
I was wondering WHY do costs pertaining to ballroom have to be wrapped up in secrets? Cost of dance heats, the costs of the comp.?

West Cost Swing competitions - everything is posted on the web page as to costs.

Swing Out competitions - everything is posted on the web page as to costs.

Country Western competitions - everything is posted on the web page as to costs.

East Coast Swing Competitions - everything is posted on the web page as to cost.


It sure makes ballroom look really shady with instructors who mark up packages!
Instructors you have your day fees that you charge.
You have your per dance heat fees.
You get cash awards for top teachers.
You get cash awards for top studio.

It sure feels like the student is getting drained of as much cash as possible.
Re: Cost of ballroom competitions
Posted by debbiebehr
8/10/2017  4:47:00 AM
Cost per heat is listed on entry form online for that particular competition. This charge is only for what the instructor has to pay in order for you to complete in a particular heat, this is above and beyond what he/she charges you for their time on the floor with them in that heat. And yes they are secretive when it comes to giving you a breakdown of cost and expenses.
Re: Cost of ballroom competitions
Posted by Joseph Rittenhouse
9/10/2017  10:48:00 AM
It is secretive because many studios do not wish you to know how much the studio and teacher are actually making off of you. Plus, there generally is no discount for teachers taking multiple students. Also, remember that the studio needs to make its money during the competition. And instructors won't do competitions week in and week out unless they are making good money.

I believe that all competitions now post the prices online if students decide to attend without an instructor or studio. Which means that the studio will not let you join them if they have paying students with them. But if you choose to take up the time of an instructor or studio, then they will charge you what they feel is appropriate.

Let's look at something simple as if you were the owner of the studio.

$100 / entry to competition x 2 = $200
$25 per heat for competition and $15 per heat for teacher = $40 x 20 heats = $800
$300 per day for teacher ($200) and studio ($100) x 7 days = $2100
$10 / breakfast, $15 / lunch, $20 / dinner = $45 x 2 x 7 days = $630
$500 / flight x 2 = $1000
$150 / night x 2 = $2100

$200 & $800 & $2100 & $630 & $1000 & $2100 = $6830 - $2400 for studio/instructor = $4430 towards competion and expenses. So the studio and instructor really aren't making much off of you.

What am I missing? Costumes, shoes, makeup, hair, jewelry, lessons.

Instructor made $200 for the 20 heats
Instructor made $1400 for the daily rate for taking care of you for over 14 hours per day
Instructor $1400 & $200 = $1600 / 7 = $230 per day essentially

Studio made $100 for the 20 heats
Studio made $700 for the daily rate of taking away their instructor
Studio $100 & $700 = $800 / 7 = $110 per day essentially.

Studio $100 / hour for private lessons x 6 hrs teaching per day = $600 - $180 instructors pay = $420. A studio is losing money by sending a student to a competition unless they can get multiple students per instructor.

I hope that helps.


Re: Cost of ballroom competitions
Posted by Dress4Dance Dress4Dance
9/29/2021  9:13:00 AM
This definitely helps break down those costs! Thank you!
Re: Cost of ballroom competitions
Posted by Kitnhead
9/10/2017  7:46:00 PM
I brought this up on another board and got my head bit off. There is no reason for these "wholesale" prices except that the teachers want to be dishonest. It makes me laugh when they call them "wholesale" so the price list is password protected. Wholesale is for materials like buttons, not dances. One thing you can do is to insist that your instructor print out the price list and give you a copy. This is what I started to do. If your teacher has integrity they will do it.
Re: Cost of ballroom competitions
Posted by BallroomChick
11/21/2017  3:35:00 PM
It can be different if your going to a comp with a studio or an independent instructor.


The reason as stated above is that some instructors and studios pad their bill to the student. This padding can be "an all inclusive service." where your cab/transportation fees from/to the airport as well as cab tipping, hotel luggage tipping is covered. You also are paying for all the top line parties (before and after event), gifts, meal services and hotel as well as your instructors fee. Some may also include your air fair.


Some independent instructors get NOT breaking the bank on their students - To keep them around to do comps for years to come. Some have a large enough stable of students that running one into the ground financially in 6 months is not big deal. (KNOW your instructor)



My instructor has no problem putting the call on speaker phone for all of us to write out the costs of ALL the dance package rates as well as going just Al La Cart.


The given costs for my instructor is his day cost - what he would be making at home if he were teaching. His students split this cost.
We split his dance package - food, tickets to the ballroom.
We split his hotel cost. - My instructor is willing to share a room with another instructor (he knows) to help save money.
We split his air fair and shuttle costs.
We know there will be a $10 charge per dance heat for "teacher wear and tear"


We get to do the math and see what our pocket book can support.



Country Western is starting to follow ballroom in the hidden coast areas




West Cost Swing - teachers don't charge their students day fees or dance fees.
I've hear some teachers pay their entire way.
West Coast Swing does not have costume requirements. From what I see if your jeans are not ripped up and falling off - your quite dressed up.
You get counted off if you have stones on your outfit.
Re: Cost of ballroom competitions
Posted by mayagsd
11/27/2017  12:25:00 PM
i took lessons decades ago for about 9 months...after about 6 months my instructor wanted me to start doing pro ams...i wasn't interested and in about 3 months my instructor essentially fired me...no hard feeling or anything...it was just a business decision. the instructor, who's only job/income was from dancing apparently needed the extra money from pro ams to earn the amount they felt they needed to earn.
Re: Cost of ballroom competitions
Posted by esla queen
12/21/2017  2:03:00 AM
It's overall very costly, though the understudies that prepare and success the dance base with me advance in their capacity and ability substantially more than even the focused pair I instructor.
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