I see what you mean.
I'll continue taking lessons with them at the moment because I'm very satisfied with their business. However, if I do get at a higher level and they can't fulfill my needs, then I guess I'll have to go elswhere.

Thanks for the advice

Thanks for the update on USISTD. Perhaps what I read about was the opening of a new branch office in Washington (????) about a year ago.

Further, a lot depends on the aims and personality of your teacher. The more advanced dancers where we live suffer from a lack of a "finisher". As a result we bring in a fellow from about 100 miles away every weekend.

He is really only interested in teaching private lessons. However, teachers can make terric money teaching group classes. The upside for the student is low cost. The downside is the student only learns steps and if the group is too large the teacher has little time to help those "not getting it".

My wife easily makes 4 times an hour with independent groups than she makes contractually elsewhere. However, we know of local teachers that contract for many organizations for group classes (community centres, etc.)and then send an "associate" (someone they've trained to be just ahead of the class) whom they pay minimally. My understanding is this is basically the same as AM or FA, however, I have no direct knowledge of that, so, apologies if in error.

OB

Well, speaking about good teachers, I had one coaching lesson (my first one) at the FA studio that I go to.
I have to admit that I was highly impressed. She was a "teacher of teachers" and she was able to point out every single mistake in my dancing. Even my good teacher appeared "small" in front of her.
It made me think, if one took as many coaching lessons as they could, then that would tremendously improve their dancing. The only problem is that they're really expensive as you are having a lesson with your own teacher and the coach at the same time. Too bad.

"The only problem is that they're really expensive as you are having a lesson with your own teacher and the coach at the same time. Too bad."

Which is why the only affordable way to progress to a high level will be to partner with a fellow amateur. Then you can split the cost of working with that teacher of teachers. Maybe not exclusively (if they aren't in your area all the time) but as frequently as possible.

Yea,
that would be a good idea. However, don't you think it is more beneficial to be partnered with your teacher? Then the focus is put on what you are doing wrong instead of what you and your partner are doing wrong.

But it's definitely something to consider.

I started out in my local area with no dance expericence. I was hired soley on the fact that I have 6 years of Sales background. I trained for 40+ hr./week for about 3 months. I was then put with beginner students while I continued to learn. I since had left and went off on my own. I started off making minimum wage, and after about a year I was making about $11/hr. Mind you, the studio was charging me out at $71/ 40min. lesson. That was one of the biggest reasons I went off on my own.

So, if I may ask, what do you make now that you're on your own?

No less then $25/hour. I have 2 group classes I'm teaching at a country club each paying about $140/hr.

i used to teach at a dance studio in my country that now became a franshise of arthur murray, and even though i used to train for 8 hours every day with my partner they never allowed us to take more than the bronze level, until we started training on our own to improve our dancing. In the studio where i train now my teacher is certified from ISTD, he's such a great teacher that he works with us on every detail in our technique and took us through the gold level, but the ones who arrived to this level were really the best students and the ones that aim to turn out to pros.
I think that some studios allow you to improve only when you pay them lots of money, and they never teach you more than bronze (group classes) for you to decide to take private courses if you want to improve and pay huge sums of money.

Progress as a student is dependant on your practice time. The time spent 'dancing with a teacher' is coaching, possibly, but the teacher can only dance around with you, and not correct important things like frame, footwork, etc - these need to be seen from a distance.

Just dancing around is fun, and sometimes can help, but once you leave the lesson, your 'feeling' of what is happening fades and unless it is reinforced by constant training, it will go away within the week between the lessons.

The 'problem' is that dancing with a good dancer feels so much better than learning with a partner, especially in the beginning stages, which is the first 4 or 5 years. Since the beginner has nothing to compare it to, they think that THEY are dancing better while doing it and because of it. You hear it all the time when a Proam student says either 'they can't do this with anyone other than their teacher' or they can 'really only dance well' with a teacher.

Studios certainly do not want you to NOT improve, but since most folks (most adults anyway) go intoa studio for that positive-reinforced 'fun' lesson that they preclude the harsh realities that accompany real athletic coaching - long hours of practice, obsessive repetition (needed to make the movements 'yours'), and so on. At one hour a week and dancing at the friday social, it'll take forever to improve - the studio can only give you so much; they can't call you and remind you to practice or to think.

in many sports, coaching is not so one-on-one, and of course a world class athlete is still a small percentage of what comes out of a sport, but to blame the studio is akin to blaming the hammer for not making the house look good.

Yes, chain studios do prey on the adult who wants stroking and an instant social life, but the internet today allows for a lot of reasearch to be done, and for people to discuss and interact in ways that were unimaginable until only recently. Use it!