Hi.
I am extremely new to ballroom dancing.
I having been taking lessons @ one of those franchise studios. The instructors are nice and all. I decided to sign for more lessons than my intial 8. I am probably on lesson #12 (includes my 1st 8) and I can't for the life of me remember all the steps to the dances that I told them I wanted to learn. I know the basic steps, but I get so upset that if someone asked me to do the cha-cha, I would have a blank look on my face.
Does anybody have any advice to help me w/ this frustration??!!?!

Elizabeth, as an instructor and student (all dancers continue their education) I can tell you even the quickest learner will forget steps taught.
My best advice is to figure out how you learn best. If it's visually, buy some tapes or DVD's through the studio. Write out the steps in a notebook or create an audio prompt you can say in your head. (ie for a cha-cha New York step say "step out, back, cha,cha,cha.)
Most of all be relax because you'll learn better that way and have fun.
Dana