Hello,
My wife and I just started learning ballroom dancing with an independent studio. The studio offers private classes, group classes and Friday night parties. The group classes consists of Rumba, cha-cha, bolero, salsa, waltz, etc. Every month they alternate the classes. For example, one month they teach Rumba on Wednesdays, the next month they teach cha-cha on Wednesdays.
My wife and I are pretty good at learning the steps and we work at improving our technique. However, when the new month starts and newcomers come, we have to start from scratch with the basics that we already know. We think that is kind of unfair, since the structure of the schedule is not condusive to continued learning. In addition, we can't afford to take all these private lessons to learn more.
Is this how most studios are? I for one think that there should be more structure as far the type of students. If you are a less advance, shouldn't those students dance separate so that they don't hold back the more advance students.
Also, is it wise to buy an Instructional DVD and learn from those as well as taking classes?
Thanks in advance for your responses.

I am a relatively new dancer, too. When I started taking lessons last March, I imagined that once I had taken "Rumba I," I would check it off the list and move on. Since then I have learned that I can take "Rumba I," two or three times and continue to get something out of it. At the studio where I go, instructors rotate through the group lessons so you will likely get a different instructor the second time through "Rumba I," and the new instructor will focus on different things than the first one, approach teaching in a different way, and bring their particular style to the table. So, yeah, my studio does something similar but it is ok with me.

It makes sense to me to have classes for different levels of dancers (i.e Newcomers, Intermediate, Advanced). The problem, I'm afraid, is that some people think they are far more advanced than they actually are.

I used to work for a studio that clumped everyone together. I didn't find it helpful for the more advanced students.

Has this studio recently opened? If so, then perhaps they feel that their students are all still relatively new and there isn't a need for classes by level.
Do they have limited floor space?

Perhaps you should mention breaking the classes down for each level (either Bronzer, Silver, Gold or Newcomer, Intermiediate, Advanced) to the manager.

I know how frustrating it can be to feel like you're constantly starting over and not learning anything new. But, look at it this way, your technique should be perfect if all you get to do in groups is the basic!!

To my knowledge, the studio has been open for many years. The problem is that there is only about 2 or 3 couples that come to the classes most of the time, and we get a couple of new students here and there. However, every month we start from scratch every time. I don't understand why? I danced salsa for over 5 years in Miami and we had three different levels every hour for three hours twice a week with a number of steps that you needed to master to move on to the next level. over here I don't see a structure. Is that how it is in all the other studios?
Thanks again for your responses

There is usually more demand for beginner classes than intermediate, as a lot of people start and drop out before they advance very far. So if only a few people come to beginner classes, the studio probably thinks there are probably not enough people to justify intermediate classes.

One studio I took lessons at sometimes had three-month classes on the same dance, which covered just about all the bronze steps. I thought they were great.

If there are other people in your same position, you could get together and arrange for semi-private lessons with an instructor. You could learn what you wanted to and they could end up costing each person about the same as group classes.

The way studio you're at is set up is pretty typical.

If you want more intermediate/advanced classes, sometimes it's as simple as mentioning it to the instructor or owner. They may just want to make sure there's going to be enough attendance to justify starting a new class.

If that doesn't work, then you could take private lessons. Otherwise, you might consider looking at other studios.

If you feel you are 'more advanced' maybe you should consider taking private lessons and learn the techinique of the dance. Group lessons are really only teaching patterns, so maybe its time to learn technique and possibly learn how to improvise.

Another options if to get a few of the other 'more advanced' students together and approach the studio to have a special 'advanced' session, like a private group class. Split the cost between the students.

The studio designs their standard group classes for their benefit and you cannot expect them to cater to students who only take advantage of the group classes and won't move on to private lessons.

Try a private lesson with one of the better teachers and you might find you're not as 'advanced' as you think you are.

There are many misconceptions about what one should expect from a group class. Here's hoping this is A- accurate, and B- understandable:

Group classes provide an overview of basic material in a series of layers. Footwork first (motor-memory), technique, styling. Not a lot of time is spent on much of anything but committing to memory the figures/patterns taught, in the hopes that those interested in more material or improving what they're learning/doing in group will take private lessons for a more one-on-one situation. There's minimal one-on-one in group classes because of the quantity of students involved. It isn't fair to get that kind of attention unless it's a small class and time can equally be divided. Even so, there are also "private group" classes you may want to consider asking about- get some people with similar focus together, pool your money, and take a 'private' that way.

Private lessons are ideally more for focusing on something more carefully with a more personalized approach to your learning.

What happens is that many people in group classes become "professional students"- they never break out of the group-lesson box to take private lessons, and therefore self-stagnate.

Group classes ideally are on a 'template' of sorts. DVIDA even has a weekly list of what should be taught when/where in the form of a chart for educators of dance. It's to keep things uniform and easy for instructors, regulated and structured for students on equal footing.

Hope this helps. Group classes can get frustrating after awhile, but I find them *very* useful for revisiting familiar things to work out as many kinks as I possibly can while navigating others on the floor, and possibly finding new things I didn't know about previously.

1. Private lessons is really the only way to learn; yes it is expensive.
2. Larger cities have studios with advanced, intermediate, and beginner broken into separate groups. This may not be possible for all dances, or in all cities given how few people stick with it.
3. Check out the club style dances, where in my experience you are more likely to find the separate groupings. Argentine tango, salsa, lindy hop. (They are more fun to dance anyway, and get younger dancers)

being an owner of a dance school ( and many in the past ). groups are about economics...
beginners classes generally dominate due to the influx of new people.. as people get more advanced, many turn to priv. only and, many quit.. and the class attendance for higher levels is not usually a viable proposition for many smaller schools, and are usually restricted.

I have also had schools where I could run 2/3 levels at once..