Most of these chains really do push relationship and they use it to manipulate you so you will pay. That is the ultimate in bad business practice. If in my practice I used relationship in this way I would be stripped of my license...called on the carpet for being unethical and I would deserve the punishment.

Don't reward these people for manipulating you!! Love the ballroom but don't fall for the games.

WHile I'm at it...yes there are expensive components to this as there are to any other obsession but there are plenty of methods you can employ in reputable firms to learn to dance without breaking the bank. You can go all pro/am and that costs a ton. You can also go to group lessons and really gain a lot of valuable understanding at a bargain price without the manipulation.

Throw in the fact that you also begin to create community with other dancers and expand your possibilities...including possibly finding a friend or dance partner. I actually really like the practice I'm getting in my group classes (I am supplementing pro/am). It gives me some real drill and I have a real barometer by which to judge my progress. Not just what my instructor says.

I dance because it sets my soul free. I don't dance because I'm lonely, or competitive or any other reason. I dance because I love it, and I refuse to allow other's greed or my own vanity to supercede that which has become a basic need. I need it like I need air or food.

I won't limit myself to the arms of one person. No!!! All dancers aren't equal but its amazing to learn your own strengths and weaknesses in the arms of another. I wasn't learning that when I danced with just an instructor. I was also keeping myself from dancing with all kinds of people. I have to tell you its great to be in one of those classes and to feel the difference in the men's leads as they get stronger and understand more, and as you learn too!! It's wow you feel excited for the people who suddenly make a leap....

Okay I'm going on and on....

Bottom Line....There are a lot of sharks in the world of ballroom...the ones that are doing the best job of luring you are probably the ones that are most likely to really think you are prey. It doesn't mean you can't live symbiotically for awhile....but eventually sharks do get hungry...

No, it6s not NY, it6s Arthur Murray! The one in Thousand Oaks, CA is a total rip off!! I don6t know how the people that work there sleep at night!

Thank you to whoever started this discussion. I've been taking lessons at Fred Astaire for the past 8 months and am on the brink of completing my social foundation level. With the economy in the tanks, I'm looking for a cheaper place to take my lessons from, as well as a place that isn6t so pushy about spending money! Apparently, Arthur Murray isn't the place for that either. I emailed my local franchise and the owners wouldn't even give me a straight answer about how much a private lesson costs, and this forum just reinforced the fact that I shouldn6t go there. I love my teacher at Fred Astaire, and fortunately he's honest with me that he hates teaching for a franchise and can't wait to open his own studio, but with the owners constantly watching him, he can't deviate from the program to teach me anything new either, despite the fact that I'm only 19 and could take on a new step every lesson. It's really disheartening how dance has become a business instead of a passion. I've been taking all kinds of dance since I was a kid and I dance because I love it, but in the past 8 months I've spent close to $6000 on dancing lessons, money I could've saved for something else.

A man has just started dancing at our independent studio who was previously at AM. He wants to switch because the AM studio is putting alot of pressure on him to buy $3000.00 package. The man told me that is has not yet learn to lead, his instructor at AM "always starts him off". He also told me that he starts every dance with a box step until he is lead into the right basic step. At first, he thought he was too good a dancer for our beginner class but after one lesson he realized he has learned nothing at AM.

Erika, i would love you to come to our hall in London England, where we do not rip people off , we charge 30 per hour for a single person or 40 per couple. to cover hall hire etc, for that you get a full hour of dance recently all our students who took a medal test got commended ,highly commended, or honours, hope to see you sometime maybe best of luck to you,

Featherstep,

I'd love to come to your studio, if only I lived in London! I live in Massachusetts, USA and we've got nothing like that here. It's very frustrating!

Arthur Murray instructors are basically students who have had 1 more lesson than you and are thus called instructors.
that is probably why they have decreased from about 3000 studios to about 220 in the last 40 years

Be careful what you believe Erica, I heard the same line about not being able to teach me a new step every lesson because of management. In fact I heard it in 2 different Astaire franchises.

Truth is no one I've ever seen can learn a new step every lesson and still be good. There is too much to every step for that to work and still be teaching you proper footwork, arms, posture, style of dance, etc....no matter how talented you are.

Its a Fred Astaire tactic, also used in car sales. You have a relationship with your instructor, he deepens the bond by creating a shared enemy, the management. He wants to help you but he can't, he is a victim of corporate greed just like you. Its a nasty little trick and it works far too often.

Belleofyourball---

Interesting you say that, it's nice to hear that someone else has been told that as well. The only problem is that I sort of believe my instructor because he's been dancing for 18 years and didn't start at FADS...I will definitely have to be more cautious though. Thank you!

If anyone knows of any studios around Springfield, MA, USA besides FADS and Arthur Murray that are any good, please let me know!

I can't get this to log on normally. Erika you are crazy lucky. In Springfield you have the chance to dance with one of the best pros around. This guy and his partner actually compete and do well, Gunnar and Daryll. I haven't danced with either of them, but look what they've won.

http://www.ballroomfeverdance.com/Ballroom/Staff.html

It's how you know they are good. If your instructor at FADS is so good then he should have an equally impressive resume. It should include non-Astaire competitions. Particularly the Ohio Star Ball. Unless of course you are dancing so you can have affection and attention in which case, stick with them. They are obviously good at making you feel good.

Try this studio. Try walking in and feeling what it feels like. Give them more then one lesson, and know they are going to be tired next week because they just got done competing at Ohio.

If you have talent, then find someone who can develop it. By the way, at FADS I was dancing with a guy who had taught there for 25-years and was the main instructor for all other instructors in the region. He couldn't hold a candle to what I'm getting now. No I'm not having as much fun, but I'm actually getting my money's worth. You should be getting that too.