I'm glad everything is going well, but a word of warning. You are, in my opinion, making a rookie mistake, by running all over town taking lessons at different studios. You will get conflicting info and if the emphasis is different at different places, you may miss or ignore critical info. I would not attempt intricate figures until you have the basics down cold and your technique is solid. Intricate figures executed by someone with poor or no technique looks terrible and fools no one. As well, no woman can follow a hard pattern unless they know their steps and it is lead extemely well. You need to work on posture, always an ongoing problem. Head back, neck in collar, elbows in front of your body. Do not lead with your arms or your top. Many men lean forward with their head, body or both to lead a figure. Footwork is extremely important. Do you know if you step with heel or a toe. Where is the body and/or foot rise? In a rush to get dancing, beginners blow all this info off and get bad habits that are hard to break.For example: One man at our studio started dancing standard looking straight at his partner, scrunched over, elbows down. Now he can't break himself of this habit and doesn't even realize he is doing it. Looks terrible. He was learning silver level stuff until the owner of the studio, pulled the instructor aside and told him to go back to basics until their technique improves.

It could be a lifetime of learning, so as long as you are having fun, that's the key element. Unless you do this professionally, life will tend to get in the way on occasion and keep you off the dance floor. I took a new job a year ago now, and have been out to dance only twice in that entire time, as compared to going a couple times a week at least for the past several years. And doing it constantly when I was younger. So it is a lifetime skill, one that you may have dust off the shelf on occasion. But it's a lot better than never having done it or learned this skill to begin with. You sound like a person cramming for a final exam in going to so many places and taking so many lessons. I agree with the post about it may be a "rookie" mistake going to so many places, however there could be a positive side to that as well -- it won't take long to figure out which studio you really belong at.

My question would be, why do you need a time line? Your not going to a wedding or a competition right off. Take the time line off your agenda. Why put unnecessary pressure on yourself? This is for YOUR fun and health. Everyone learns at a different rate, this has been stated. At the beginning there is a TON of info to absorb. Enjoy the journey you are on.

Think about what your goals really are for dancing. Going out Fri or Sat night social dancing at the local studios or centers. Generally only Bronze level is needed, few social dancers know silver (or many silver level) patterns. Technicality is not all that important. Most of these dancers "jell" the moves/steps. (they are not crisp like competition moves)

Do you think there is any possibility you might want to take your dancing further - say doing showcases or competitions? It matters who you take with then.

As was stated earlier, going to every Tom, Dick and Harry giving lessons is way too many cooks in the kitchen and it spoils the souffle. Just because someone hangs a shingle out saying they are a dance instructor does NOT mean they are competent.

You sound like your are sorely lacking confidants. I know the feeling, I was there TWICE! (Once when I started out and later I lost it through a series of "bad events.") The last time I used Arthur Murry to help gain mine back, BUT, you will pay for their highly sugar coated boosters. AND they love their 40 min lesson plans. Get what you can from them and move on once your achieve your goal. More times than not you can get more for your money with an independent instructor. While you are absorbing what you can form A.M., research dance instructors. If you are in the U.S. - USA Dance is a good place to start. You can find social dances all over the place through them. Check out any local ballroom dance competitions in your area. Try Googling Dancesport Competitions. Buy and program and take note of the instructors and who's students are winning. What better place to get phone numbers/e-mail addresses?

When I was researching the instructor I've been with for 4 years now. I watched a lot of dance lessons and how the instructors worked. It amazed me - from over hearing an instructor telling couples taking lessons he didn't know what they were doing wrong in their dance steps, to an instructor not bothering doing patterns with his student, but she was to "get the move" with him walking in front of her the entire hour. (It was a pattern with other students in his weekly lessons.)

I watched how instructors presented their students in showcases. Apparently for some, the showcase was more about the instructor than the student/s. (one or two instructors out danced the student)

This is a fun hobby, but you do have to do a little home work to make sure your on the right path for your needs. Also you meet so many great people along the way!

How long does it take. Answer. You never stop learning. Former British and World Latin Champion Karen Hardy. As a co-commentator on a Dance Contest Televised
( which I still have ) was asked. How long must I continue practising Rumba Walks. For ever she answered.

All fair comment. I do have my studio of choice. It's the mama bear of the 3 bears tale. Going to the others for extra time / practice. Still having fun. D lack confidence but coming along

An update on last years post..........
I have continued with injury interruptions since last March and thoroughly enjoy it!
I've continued going to multiple studios (now five) and find them all to be beneficial for their instruction and for their availability to provide options on different nights.
Also for the variety in partners for the chance to check to see if I can actually lead by taking a figure from one place to another.
I have a couple of partners to take lessons with and attend two studio dances weekly for practice.

I've progressed to being able to made it through 9 or 10 different dances I'd say with some modest level of proficiency in 5.

Taking Bronze 1 and 2 classes now. Doing up to 12 hours a week when able (and uninjured).

I do need both knees replaced and have a bad back so am compromised but can still manage most of the time. Lost 4 months completely and dipped my toes back in for a couple months before getting back at it.

Certainly glad to have started and intend to continue as long as possible.

It's seems to be a throwback activity from a different age.

All the people I've met are gracious and polite. From all walks of life and all ages. I understand some of the comments made in response to my post of last year much better now.
One unanticipated note. I now tell friends what I doing and they all think I'm just grazing for women..............Is that a common response?

In reply to your question (One unanticipated note. I now tell friends what I doing and they all think I'm just grazing for women..............Is that a common response?), Gene Kelly said he took up dancing to meet girls.

Other people have mentioned this, but remember the old joke: Tourist in New York to native—"How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" Native's answer—"Practice." If you don't practice it doesn't matter how many lessons you take. You're wasting your money. That's when you find out (preferably with continuing advice from an instructor) what it actually takes to make your body do what your instructor teaches, or what someone at a party showed you, or what you learned from a video. A general rule of thumb in dancing is that if you are having to work hard, you're probably doing it wrong. Practice also helps you remember the details, both in your head and "muscle memory."

Sounds like you have found a system that works for you. As for friends thinking you are "grazing for women", nothing you can do about that. North Americans have weird ideas about dancing. My husband was talking to co-workers and they were amazed and appalled that he dances with other women at parties. They continued to be shocked at the notion that I have a competitive partner and that I go to comps with him! Several of the women said they would love to learn how to dance but their husbands won't and they won't allow them to dance with other men. I have tried to explain that dancing, while intimate, is not sexual. Men are very threatened by dancing and will always try to make it unseemly.