I started my dancing career (international ballroom) about one year ago. I am studen't and idon't have enough money to take some professional private lesson's. I have been group lesson's and i think i am not getting the best quality in group lesson's. This is because people's are developing different speed. I am those who develop fast. Now my development is slowing down because there is nothing new in group lesson's. We just practise things that has been teached past year.

I have searched from internet some figures but they are really hard to find them free. Here at balldoomdancers.com are some but they are just basics. My best way to learn is look at how it's done and then imitate. Most of the figures are in written form but my brain just can't produce the image how it should be done.

Here are some education DVD's in shopping section. Like i sayed i am studen't i really don't have enough money to purchase them all (bronze level).

Is my only way just suffer and train like i have done or is there any way i can improve my dancing skill's whitout spending fortune.

I know it's really important or is it most important thing to learn the basics. But if you do only basic training you won't develop. I noticed that when we learned new figures it have an effect on ewerything. You learned a new figure and it developed you much deeper if you understand my point.

I am practising now avarage 15 hour/week
there is 1 group hour and 1 hour pody control. These are held by coach. Rest of the time i practise with my partner. About 3h leading & following, 3h pure technique, 3h figures and rest 4h we just dance our choreography at maximum to develop competition routine.

Please tell me how i can get maximum out of my training. I love dancing and i like to get better and better.

I understand your frustration-- all my students go thru that period, from time to time.

like most-- impatience is your biggest enemy . It sounds like you are on a good weekly plan.

Yes-- the basics are critical to all that will follow ( no pun ).

If the teacher of your class gets enough intermediate students, why dont you ask if they will add a class at that level.

No, It's not all about money but you do have to guard yourself.

There are quality teachers out there but sometimes it's hard for beginners to know the difference. Here are some hints from our own experience:

We work with 2 coaches. Both of these coaches earn a living off of us. However, from there teaching style it is very eveident that they don't want us on the floor unless it's our best. Reason: we're a reflection on them. If we look bad people will say they're bad teachers. It's about us but they recognize it's also about them. Too many teachers just want too make as much money as possible out of students by teaching steps instead of dancing.

In lessons these two are on us like hawks. They are not abusive but constantly correct & fine-tuning and they are generous about giving information.

To really get ahead you need to work with a good teacher privately. All you'll learn in a group class is steps. 95% of proper dancing is above the feet.

DVDs are good as a reference but you will not learn to dance from them. Treat them like textbooks. They are expensive but I can recommend a low-cost series that is very good, Andy & Wendy Wong's DVDs. They are not world class but they were 13 times provincial champions. One thing I like about this series is they don't just show steps but put them in combinations. You can find them here:

http://www.grandballroom.com/content.php?SectionID=5

You can buy them directly or you can get them by contacting my wife through here website (Yes, it's always out of date):

http://www.dancingdragon52.com

She can sell them for less but she doesn't take credit cards.

As to finding a quality teacher:

1. Go to the competitions and talk to people about people placing at your level (I prefer International Style competitions over Pro-AM for this).

2. Visit your local dance supply shops and ask and look for pamphlets from independent teachers.

Hope this helps.

OB

Bob-- the poster said they were a student, and could NOT afford all the usual methods available to the more affluent .
Its not what you said, that was wrong-- just wrong for the poster at this time-- they are looking for ways to make their limited budget stretch -- hence-- class work at another level.

I'm in the same predicament you're in. If you love dance (ballroom specifically) then there doesn't seem to be a way around it. It's costly. I'm able to manage roughly one private lesson a week but I'm not sure how long I will be able to keep it up. I've found that practicing other types of dance - jazz/modern, ballet, etc. - doesn't cost anywhere near what ballroom lessons cost. I take those classes for core strengthening, grace and poise (my posture has improved tremendously!) I have no desire to compete I just want to learn to dance so I will probably only take lessons until I've learned all of the basics and then I will continue, like you, studying DVDs and taking my other more practically priced modern and ballet lessons. Good luck to you!

Does you school or university have a ballroom team or club? If so, you many beable to get coaching through them.

Do you know other people who dance? If you got one or two other couples, you could all split a "semi-private" lesson once in a while.

It can be frustrating going through group lessons when you practice more than the average members of the group or just learn more quickly. My wife and I went through the same frustration but found that If we had one private lesson every two weeks it cost about the same as group lessons but we learned much more quickly as we practiced a lot. We also had much better feedback on our "issues" to overcome. As Terence mentioned you will have to be patient no matter how much budget you allocate.

Billl_l. I was sharing a private lesson. There were four of us. One of the group was so slow at picking things up, and the teacher can only go as fast as the slowest, I soon realized that for me it was a waste of time and money and that I would learn more by having a lesson once a month on my own than four lessons the other way. Not only that it cut the cost by a third.
I suppose you ladies have come across this situation. That you are paying for half the lesson and your partner seems to be getting most of the lesson. Unfortunately for you ladies untill the man gets everything correct this is how it will be. I would suggest that the male should go one to one with a competent lady teacher regulaly. It will be quicker and cost less in the long run.
Untill a Feather Step. Reverse Turn. Three Step. and a Natural Turn can be done perfectly and repeated it is pointless going any further.
Good Luck