Well as previously mentioned a well known chain moved into town. Someone I know decided to check it out. This is what she found:

Offers I had: 2 private lessons, 3 group classes, 3 supervised practices, 3
open practices (all 45 min each) for $216.00 (for '11' as they call it, but
I would call it '5')

I decided to examine this in relation to our own local non-profit association:

3 Group classes (135 minutes): Basically equal a little more than 1 1/2 Association classes: $12 equivalent value.

3 Supervised practices + 3 Unsupervised (4 1/2 hrs). Our association provides 6 1/2 hours/week for $42/year. So that's less than $1/week but we'll say $1 because there's a bit more time in their group class.

That's $216 - $16 - $1 = $199 left over for 2 - 45 minute private lessons or $99.50/45 minute lesson or:

$132.67/hour! for a private lesson!

Local ISTD and CDTA certified teachers charge $50 - $60/hour.

Incroyable!

OB
>

Operabob. Did I understand that correctly $132.67 for a private lesson. Here the very best teachers with international experience would cost about $60 an hour Some for 45 minutes. I'm talking world class not some two bit teachers. One formerly 7th in the world . Another always reached the semi's in major competitions and is an international judge . And another who are currently about 20th place. At the moment they spend most of their time abroad. But when they are back having had so many lessons themselves it is unbelievable what they can pass on. I consider us very lucky having these among us.

Quick,

This was one package they offered my friend:



What I did was to subtract out equivalent amounts for similar activities our Society offers to get a rough estimate of the hourly rate for privates.

Our Society has a $42/yr membership which gets you 3 practices/week (roughly 6 1/2 hours). Two are supervised (3 hours). That's about $0.80/week. I rounded it to $1.00.(Their's amounts to 6 x 45 min.= 4 1/2 hours with 2 1/4 supervised).

Their plan looks like most people would opt in over 2 weeks but I erred on the side of caution and used 1 week. So discounting both our practices: $216 - $1 = $215

BTW: Our membership also gives access to an extensive video library, discounts at dances and 10% discounts at some local merchants.

Our group classes are 1 hour 20 minutes which are $88/11 weeks or $8 for class or about $6/hour. With their plan you get three 45 minute classes = 135 minutes. That's roughly equivalent to 2 hours of our classes (especially when you consider I rounded the $0.80 above up) or about $16 value. That leaves: $215 - $16 = $199 for two 45 minute lessons which works out to $132.67/hour on a comparison basis between our two groups.

When my friend took her promotional lesson the owner promised her there'd be lots of men to dance with. At $132.67/hr. I suspect they'll be able to hire men to dance with the extra ladies if neccessary.

My friend (Silver International)did report that when she took her promotional lesson her teacher was a good social dancer. He indicated he was from the local high school that specializes in students who have gone back years later to complete graduation.Apparently he said he took the ballroom dance classes there. Our community is small enough that everybody in the dance community knows everybody. We do not recognize this teacher's name nor did we know about this class. The chain itself, I understand only started training their teachers in February.

OB

Quick,

In a shorter reply.

In a comparison between our 2 groups a case could be made that our local ISTD our CDTA certified teachers are charging $50 - $65/hr (incl. floor fees)while to get the equivalent at the chain would require approx. $133/hr.

Comparisons in other localities could differ.

I have very little experience of chains. We did go on a cruise last year where there was a former chain teacher who had his own studio now. He was an excellent dancer and had many students with him who had been with him for years. He was American while our group is International. It could be the quality of the particular students but after years of lessons they could not do a box step. Now this group might be entirely atypical and as I said I have virtually zero experience of chains.

OB

Quick,

Apologies for being wordy this morning but it won't last as we're off to the provincial championships this morning.

Probably it might be better to compare equivalent total packages between the two groups.

First let me say it's a good sales technique when they sell a package of 11 items for $216 instead of seperating things out.

Chain package:$216

Our Society package:

$1 for equivalent practice time
$18 for 2 1/4 group classes
$75 for 1 1/2 hr.s private lessons
$94 Total

$216 vs. $94 with nationally certified teachers.

We do have one teacher who visits for 10 days every two months but he teaches only a select group. However, comparing him @ $65/hr. = $97.50 for 1 1/2hrs. So a package with him is:

$97.50 + $18 + $1 = $116.50

So the range is:

$216 vs. $94 to $116.50

Now they have a new studio (800 sq. ft. I'm told) with plenty of mirrors but our local Society rents full sized gyms of 2000 - 4000 sq. ft.

OB

You are comparing a profit to a non profit.

Most of the "for profit" studios will charge maybe $20.00 for a group lesson and $10.00 for a practice. Working the numbers again:

$60.00 for the 3 groups, $60.00 for 6 the practice would leave $96.00 for the 2 priviates, which is a reasonable intro package.

yes, I must agree with Anonymous here. The "for profit" group lessons are way better than the non profit group lessons. Hence, if you do the math, the fee for the privates are definitely reasonable.

Not quite.

The private lessons through our association @ $50-$65 (depending on teacher & Qualification are stictly private and entirely seperate. Students may solicit private lessons but teachers cannot actively solicit from membership.

The only thing the association provides are practice time and group classes @ $6/hour. Local private group classes for similar are $8 to $10. So your comparison at $20 is still double the local private current rate.

We just got back from the provincial championships (Jonathon Wilkins & Katusha Demidova doing a wonderful demo). Workshops today after the event (equivalent to a group class) were given by Mr. Denis Tremblay, former Blackpool finalist: $12/wkshp or all 4 for $40 or $10/wkshp.

$12 for a Blackpool finalist vs. a highschool kid with an 8 week training course........????

OB

Yes, but it also depends on the number of students in the class. At one of the chain studios I attend, the size of the group classes is very small, which is an advantage IMO.

Anon,

Of course, I'm comparing to what is locally available.

There are only about 6 - 8 active fully certified private teachers in our community of which only 3 are full time.

Two teachers offer private practices, $5 for 2-3 hrs. One teacher includes a workshop. Small groups (6-8 people) are usually at the teachers private rate. So we're still looking at $10 or less per hour/person (not 45 minute) per session.

So in our area the price for privates is very high through the chain and again an 8 week wonder vs. years of training for ISTD/CDTA certification.

But then the marketing I've seen so far seems that they're not as concerned about teaching good dancing so much as selling a dream.

OB