After a few frustrating years (when I first started), I finally gave up going to classes altogether.

Every once in a while, I'll drop by a studio to see if a class has enough women. Only once in the past several months have I found one.



jj

More men than women is definitely most unusual in NY. I find it hard to believe not also true elsewhere. What about others? What's it like in your area? I'm not buying the bit about ladies going pro-am despite plenty of amateur men available. Trust me, no one WANTS to spend that kind of money when there is a decent alternative. Ladies, am I right? JJ, you are still lucky to have a good partner even if you have to travel! Weigh in here amateur ladies! How many of you get to choose among men? How many are still looking for an amateur partner while dancing with a pro? I'm genuinely curious.

It's always fun to see someone trying to write with intelligence about a subject on which they have none.


Atlanta is not New York and the Southeast is not the Northeast.

My observations are based on experience. When you've worked in the same area as I have then you will have a basis for calling me a liar. As it is, you're just making a fool of yourself.

As I pointed out, the studios around here do not encourage amateur parnerships among their students and present pro/am as the only way to learn to dance well. They will even try to convince natural couples to split up for this purpose. My knowledge in this area is firsthand as well as secondhand.

You will notice that I do not write about studios in California or New York because I have no experience dancing there. You have none in Atlanta and your writing should reflect that fact.

jj

JJ, woops! I think you need to read my post again. I never called you a liar, I merely opened the discussion to others in their own areas. You must be extremely insecure to resort to calling me ignorant.

You made an accusation of untruthfulness. Either withdraw it or stand behind it.

Denying it just makes you dishonest.



jj

"I'm not buying the bit about ladies going pro-am despite plenty of amateur men available.

You made an accusation of untruthfulness. Either withdraw it or stand behind it."

There's a large amount of room for "incomplete" in between "representative" and "untruthful".

The usual reality is that some of the ladies choose pro/am out of pure preference or due to studio marketing, some choose it out of lack of male partners, and quite a few choose it out of disinterest in working with any of the male partners who are available.

That last one can be touchy, as it encompasses both the case of unrealistic expectations and the case of insufficient skills, as well as other odds and ends.

And of course group class attendance balance has its own issues that only partially mirror partnership forming prospects.

I live in Canada. In my medium size city, there is a huge lack of male dance partners for both social and competitive dancing. My husband and social dance partner has no interest in competeing, nor does he have the time. Every beginning ballroom class we offer at our studio has more women than men. Except for salsa, which has more men than women. Even the female pros have to look farther afield for new partners. So, I went pro-am which suits me fine and is not so terribly expensive. My pro ( a rarity, I grant you) does not do it for financial gain but as a way to promote the studio and he enjoys competeing.

If anything happens to my current partnership, I may move there.

Interesting that more men show up for Salsa but not other dances. Salsa is great fun but, for me at least, no more so than other dances - except Hustle, of course.

I'm glad that you're able to compete and to do so without burdensome expense. I wish that your husband were able to compete with you but I understand how a job can interfere with truly important activities such as dancing.

I've never claimed that pro/am is inherently bad. There is a class of students for whom it is perfectly suitable. But there are many students who would be better of with an amateur partner and who are discouraged from finding one by unscrupulous studios.

Good luck!



jj

Hi JJ,
I'm in Ottawa (the nation's capital). If you're up this way, let me know!

Thank you for responding! (As I said, I'm genuinely curious). When I commented that I was "not buying it" I meant exactly that. (I DISAGREE) I stand by that. JJ is obviously insecure because he can't stand to have anyone disagree with him. He has his OPINION and I have mine. Nothing wrong with that (apart from his obvious insecurity).