In a recent informal discussion it was mentioned that I should think about what dances I would like to learn (6). Don't know if this includes the Foxtrot, Waltz, Rumba, & Swing that have already been included in the basics plus a few more. There is more work to be done with these dances though we won't get to it because I am at the end of the 5 private lessons. (as I have previously mentioned) I am sure they are aware of this. Was told it would take about 7 lessons/dance. Maybe 10 depending on my rate of learning. This would translate to approx. $8-10,000 if once a week would take maybe 1-1 1/2 years! (includes time away from the studio for holiday, vacations etc.) No mention yet if discounts, group lessons or parties are included. I assume this is yet to come. I have found that I have used up almost all of my private lessons and lag behind in the # of group and practices that I have left. I was told I can roll them over. I don't favor this at all. I live in an area in the Northeast where there are not many studios from which to choose. Studios are a distance apart. I welcome your comments!

Dancing is a lifelong thing. It is a skill and an art as well as a social grace. It is something you have to love. I've been taking lessons for 10 years (5 as a competitor)and am only scratching the surface. Think of it as gaining pleasure, not an item of expenditure, for it will surely change your life, eventually.

Johnathon,

It appears 3 or 4 replies to this thread are missing.

Comments?

Thanks,

OB

Your post points out an interesting fact about ballroom lessons: you can't finish, you can only quit.

Lessons aren't oriented towards establishing a degree of mastery and then stopping, instead they are oriented towards eternal study and improvement. Yes, of course some people stop studying after they are comfortable and just attend parties from time to time and do fine. But that is not really ever the plan - or at least not your teacher's plan. Instead, those who are involved in dancing at the level of teaching tend to assume that students will eventually become enthusiasts who are not content to stop. Of course that is also better for business!

But the other thing to keep in mind is that the more you learn and the more awareness and experience you gain, the more options for study you will learn of. If you take the task of buying something, you can walk into a store and buy some plain versions of it, all packaged up to look very nice and well marketed. But if you are really an expert consumer, you don't pay any attention to the packaging, because you know the product. And you probably know of specialty suppliers where you can get something a lot more functional for a a better price. So it is with dance lessons - if you learn your way around the dance world, your options will increase a lot.