I also think that it is an unfortunate situation because these studios are turning people off of dancing. It is good that anonymous found another studio to go to. Many people stop dancing all together because of greed and incompetence in the AMI system.

I had similar experiences as were mentioned in this discussion, including the bad-mouthing after I left. However, this was done at a FA, not an AM. In fact, it was refreshing to go to the AM in town and be treated respectfully and professionally. Having been in this hobby for several years, I can attest that independent studios train on the premises as well. I have been fortunate to have had some wonderful instructors who did not pressure me for sales, lie to me, or give me substandard teaching. One in particular was from AM.

"What is to stop anyone from forming their own dance club. It should be easy to then hire a profession of your own choice, but under your control."

It's a good idea, and it works sometimes. But you have to find a teacher who would rather work for you than work for themselves. The more expert teachers usually have a good situation already, they may even be the owners of the studios your club would compete against (often the owner himself/herself is a good value as a teacher for their fee, but their employees do not have the knowledge and are bound by business policies rather than by what is good for the student's dancing).

Sometimes you can get a younger teacher without a studio business, but often they aren't so expert.

It tends to work best if the club is made up of people the teacher knows would never go to a normal studio: young adults and students at university. Otherwise they see it as competing with their business.

The fact that AM sucks is not true if you do what I do.
My wife and I pay one private lesson per week ($154).
This gives us the right to attend the group classes that we never miss.
We're at the studio everyday. The fact that we average one private lesson per week, also gives us the right to be at all parties and practice sessions.
So, for $672, me and my wife have about 15 group classes, 4 privates and 6 parties and prectice sessions.
$26 bucks for each time we step in the studio.
So try to get this deal with a private instructor and you'll how much will cost you...
AM is awesome if you use all the advantages it offers.
If you join AM to take just private classes, it'll cost you a fortune.
Also I'd say here that the fact that AM instructors are not qualified, this is a lie.
I'm at bronze 3 level and ALL the teachers in my studio are highly qualified. In the other AM Studios that I have visited around the world, I just saw awesome teachers.
Of course, because all studios are owned and operated by different people, it's possible that in some AM studios you may find bad instructors.
The fact that AM teachers hold you back and don't teach you new steps until you pay, it's also a lie.
I reached the bronze 3 level in 13 months. I'm a fast learner. If you're not, AM teachers will just teach you to run after you learn how to walk. If is going to take 200 leassons for you to learn how to walk, of course, AM teachers will not teach you how to run until you have had and paid all 200 lessons.
So, I'm not all emotional about AM. Actually I careless where I learn how to dance. I made my research and at an independent studio I'd have the half of fun for the double of price.

Done!

http://www.vbds.org

We have 700 members with 6 CDTA/ISTD certified instructors, 3 at member level and one an ISTD Fellow/Examiner.

Why would the teachers do this?

The Club does all the organizing and registration, etc. of group classes. The teachers just walk in and teach. The Club itself does not teach privates but the teachers pick up a lot of private students thanks to the Club's organization of group classes.



Karl,

You obviously haven't read the whole thread.

$26 a visit?

I pay less than $1 for a practice.
$4.50 for 45 minutes of group classes.
$10 for a dance (that includes a 45 minute workshop.

That's $15.50

You're paying $78 for the same thing.

OB

Now I wish I never put my foot in AM studio.
My husband and I started the ballroom dancing not so long ago.
We couldn't find a lot of studios near us, so we ended up with AM.
I was shocked with the free lesson. How stupid it was!!! Instead of 40 minutes it was only 15, and then they wasted all tht time opening AM folder and talking about the programs. I was bored and wanted to find different studio, but my husband insisted on that one.
So far we paid $670 for beginners lavel, and of course found out that we have all the "talant" in the world to prepare for competitions. Now they want us to purchase a bronze 1 package.
We like our teacher as a person :), but when I saw her dance.. I was dissapointed a lot. We also have seen their bronzeIII dancers... that wasn't pretty.
I do undersatnd that MANY older people are coming to dance for some reasons, but I think in this case AM should divide groups by age. For example, in group lessons I hate to be touched by older men... I came to spend more time with my husband and depending on "our talant" decide if we cut for this :)
I like private lessons more, but is always seems that we come through the same basic steps over and over and over... We are quick learners and we would like to be given a challenge.
I like the location, the friendly teacher... but there are so many BUTS.
I think we'll look for something better...

LOL!! You've bought into the scam, at $154 per 'lesson'.

PLUS, 'bronze 3' in American in 13 months is nothing to brag about. In fact, it's about what you'd expect from 1 45 min lesson a week and social dancing. But most folks who advance do more than tha. In a word, your progress is not very good.

My AM studio charges $125 per 45 min lesson. A tad bit expensive but mostly worth it.

Our AM charges $140 per lesson...
they also said it takes 7 units to go through one level..
For our 5 dances we have to pay $5400 and this is ust for Bronze 1

At the independent studio where I take lessons (from a teacher who has been dancing for 17 years and was a regular finalist in his field), 4 privates, 15 groups, and 6 parties costs $480.