Dilemma ? I feel you have your choice already when you said that you do not want to continue paying for expensive lessons with old instructor and you gained further advance in your dancing with the new instructor. You will select this way in your dancing joureny again and again. Why not ?Even you have new instructor, you still respect your x-instructors , right ? Your instructors will be proud of you for your advance if they are good teachers and they love dancing very much. You pay money not only for the technigues but also to save your precious time . Swiftly flow the years ...

Here's another perspective: I teach private ballroom lessons and had the same thing happen to me. I left for a long vacation and suggested one of my students take lessons with another teacher in my absense. When I came back he had decided to continue lessons with the new instructor--which I respected and had no ill thoughts or feelings about the situation. He called me as soon as he knew I'd be back which I appreciated, so I could fill his time slot with someone else. Sure it stunk to lose him as a customer, but it all comes down to the person paying for the lessons.
We see each other periodically and I don't feel less of an instructor because he decided to do something he thought was better for his dancing career.
It is never easy to tell someone they are essentially being "dumped" but I think that by going to the manager instead of the teacher it looks like you are trying to avoid him which could then turn into a situation where more feelings are hurt.
I don't work for a franchised studio, so maybe dance relationships are different where I work. But if I were your instructor I would just want the truth and no beating around the bush.

Hi there,
I've been in a couple of similar situations. End of the day you have to take action based on whats best for your dancing. Change instructors if you have to. It would be best to speak to the studio manager. he/she will handle it in a professional manner. It will feel a bit uneasy at first with the old instructor, but then every good instructor wants whats good for their students.

I've been dancing with my current instructor for about 9 months now. We have a good student/instructor relationship and I have genuinely enjoyed my lessons with him.

Two weeks ago, he went on vacation. Rather than skipping a week of lessons, he suggested I take lessons with another instructor at the studio.

Here is my dilemma: the other instructor is much better than my instructor both as a dancer and a teacher. I know that I would advance further in my dancing if I starting taking lessons from him.

I feel that changing instructors within the same studio would be awkward; but, I do not want to continue paying for expensive lessons with my current teacher when I know that there is someone better suited for me and the dancing goals I have set.

Can anyone offer some advice as to how I would approach making this switch?

Madeline -
It is your money and your dance future. If you feel this other teacher is better, than you have every right to ask to switch. The best way to approace it in my opinion is to speak with the owner, and if you're in a good studio to begin with and they really care about your dancing, they will make the switch in a professional way without making you feel guilty. This happens every so often in my school, and our students are much happier once they make the switch. Remember, it's about your happiness not about your teachers ego.