5L,

Didn't take your comment as flip at all and hope you recognized the humour intended in mine.

Regardless of whether you hve the money to do both it is

I'd be wary myself of any studio situation that tried to control me. What I'd suspect they are doing is trying to maximize the amount of money they get out of me over my needs. The ballroom world is filled with this the ultimate example being Gaynor Fairweather & her husband:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06215/710853-51.stm

You've got the money? I can tell you there'll be lots of people happy to help you deal with it.

It's your money and your needs so you can do what you want.

I'd ask this as well:

Do you want someone else to make you look good or do you want to learn to dance?

OB the Cynic

Ladydance, I think that is great advice. I may take a few group lessons at the indie studio to get a feel for the way they teach and see how I like it.

One thing I forgot to mention was that I recently performed in a FADS showcase..........the number we choreographed is really awesome and I am committed to perform it 2 more times in the next two months. My instructor insisted that we had the number choreographed by a coach that frequents the studio and I agreed......I had specific moves that I wanted incorporated in the dance and he did that......so I believe that this dance is MY dance and I can take the routine with me. The number is so much fun and it challenged me to rise above my level of dance......I just hate to give up the routine if I leave. Since I paid for it and I chose the music and came up with the ideas and theme for the routine......doesn't that make it mine? If I leave FADS can they say that I can't perform it anymore? Do they have any rights to it? I do have video of both the routine being choreographed with me, my teacher and the coach.....and also me performing it. Does anyone know about this type of issue?

My husband thinks I'm silly to care so much about one routine, but it went so well at the showcase and was recieved so well.........It's so much fun to perform and I love it. I put so much into it.....I don't want to let it go..........perhaps a silly reason to consider staying at a studio.

I must say I'm not unhappy at the FADS studio(just a bit uneasy and put off by them telling me I can't take lessons elsewhere)........just wanting to see what else is out there and also to pay less money, if it is possible to do so and not give up quality. It seems that this other studio may provide that. This has really been tearing me up..........

There is nothing wrong taking lessons at two different studios at the same time providing you choose different dances at each studio to learn. A top coach would tell you to get lost,not because of the money but because he does not want to waste his time with a student who is not concentrating and following his teaching.

A looooooooooong time ago I went to an AM studio and had inquired about places to go out social dancing. All they would tell me was that I could go to any AM studio on their Friday night parties if I were in another town.

This is way back when the internet was a new thing, so I began looking on the internet for places to social dance. I found several right in my own town, which happened to be where the AM studio was also located. I told a few of my friends at the AM studio about these other places to dance. (We wanted to go out on a Saturday night, rather than a Friday).

One of the AM instructors overheard me telling people about these other ballrooms and places to dance and pulled me aside and told me I would be kicked out of the studio if I told anyone else about these other places. At that time I wasn't even looking for new instructors or anything like that. I merely wanted to be able to go out to places other than the usual AM Friday night party to dance and I wanted to be able to dance on a Saturday night when I was refreshed, rather than have to race over to the Friday night party after work when I was worn out from the work week.

When I did start going out to other places to dance, that's when I discovered that AM wasn't the only place to take instruction and that there was more to life than American style smooth and rhythm. I quickly fell in love with international, which suits me much better.

To the girl who wants to take the routine she worked so hard to perfect and had showcased it already, I say take it. You paid for it. It's yours. I don't think anybody has a patent on any dance move or set of figures strung together and formed into a routine. Let's face it, anyone who dances can watch DWTS or whatever dance show on TV and copy a routine and perform it. Who's going to stop anyone from doing this? Nobody.

I think you should check out any studio you want, but just don't discuss it with your FADS instructor. After a period of time you can decide what you want to do with your time and money and where you prefer to dance. And just anothetr thought - a lot of people also take lessons from different instructors in different disciplines. You may want to take smooth or standard from one instructor who specializes in that form of dance and you might want to take your latin or rhythm from another instructor who specializes in that form of dance. There is nothing wrong with doing that.

I wish you well in whatever you choose to do.

BD,

Excellent advice!

Note: You don't just have to go to a studio. I bet if you check at your local dance supply shops you'll find lots of pamphlets for very qualified teachers that aren't affiliated with a studio.

Reason?

The studios can't afford to pay them to their qualifications.

OB

Thank You to everyone who replied to my inquiry. I appreciate the knowledge and experience of all of those who have replied. This is such a wonderful site.......

I have scheduled a lesson with an independant teacher who comes highly recommended........and think that I will take some group classes at the independant studio where I attended the parties. It is difficult to think about cutting ties with a teacher that I am fond of.........unfortunately, his remarks about only taking classes there has jeopardized out future dance relationship.

I am going to take my time and see what feels right for me. Thank You again everyone.........great advice.

When we were taking lessons at FADS, they would asks us about the places we went dancing, so they could share the information with other couples. They were pleased that we were practising on our own and going dancing once a week.

You must remember that although a chain studiom each FADS studio is run by an individual(or directors as they call them)

We take international instructions at FADS twice a week, and take smooth instruction with an independent coach. Both coaches understand what we are doing and there is no conflict at all. We speak about it openly, certainly it is no secret! Fads helps us to prepare for independent comps and when doing a FADS comp our smooth coach helps us to prepare for these. I do agree that to many coaches can be cofusing, thus our two styles of dance never cross instructors. I love what each coach gives us equally, and it works.

And yes, absolutely you own that routine... Dance it where ever you want.

If the very best Professional or Amatuer competitors were bound to one teacher they would not be the best. That is a simple fact of life

Not true--- e.g.-- an English formation team, had the same coach for many yrs and won the B/ Pool Form. Champ. 3 consecutive yrs . ( he was , in fact, my childhood teacher )