You should also keep in mind that this competition is not the destination, its just a stop along the way.

Learning proper technique is a never ending process. All you can do is apply what you know to the best of your ability.

Blair

Superm- You might try asking your instructor if there are other students preparing who have the same problem as you do. Many instructors will allow two students or even three to split a private lesson(thereby lowering the cost)if the students can agree on specific topics to be covered. This actually works quite well for beginner students and gives you a chance to learn technique exercises that you can practice on your own.
Another great option is to ask your studio/instructor to start an all technique group class once a week for your level...once again, this only works if you can drum up enough students to participate. We've had great success with technique only group classes here.
Don't forget to be vigiliant at your comp.! One of the best ways to learn is visually...watch the feet and body position, styling, etc. of every pro who is dancing with a pro-am student in your divisions...you might be surprised how much this helps your mind form the image of a technique that you are trying to master.

Goodluck!

After 3 or 4 years you should have made a good start. Most competitive dancers have been learning for 10 or more years

Group lessons are a fun, inexpensive way to learn the fundamentals of technique. You may not get an in-depth explanation of technical principles but at least you get a nice overview.

Later on, as you improve and acquire more experience, private lessons will be able to help you build on those basic principles you learned in group lessons. For now, I wouldn't worry too much about taking private lessons.

As another option, how about asking the more advanced dancers in your studio or in your dance club to briefly explain some technical principles for you? Not only will that help you, but it will help them too. There's no better way to see how much you know than by teaching others.

You might want to check out various technique workshops offered in your studio. They might run a little more than group lessons, but they're still definitely less expensive than private lessons! And you'll learn a great deal of important technical principles from those workshops!

Best of luck to you,

tango