Make it better? It sure is a difficult task.

A glazed look comes over their eyes when you mention that they are paying more than they should for less than they should expect. You're right, the older ladies are flattered and excited by a younger instructor holding them in their arms. Tell them that dance requires them to learn things on their own, practice is necessary, or that dancing is an interaction rather than motion generated and then mimicked in mirrorlike attitude, and they just smile and say 'my instructor is so easy to dance with - he puts me right where I have to go'.

And of course they are right - the chain studios are selling this as real dancing... that some young man makes the woman happy by doing all the hard stuff for them. They get to dress up and look cute (you know the look - the chainstudio 'dressup' look that makes a 60+ year old woman dress like a slut or a 1908s disco queen, or a man wear clothes that befit a 20soemthing boy, except for the potbelly and hunchedover posture).

The reality that it is a difficult and long journey is kept away from them in a chain studio - and, actually it IS a somewhat daunting prospect to realize that it takes YEARS to do it well, and most of these ladies have been told that 'training' is a xxx week or xxx month process with a closure or graduation - and also many of them would rather buy into the fantasy of the dilletante arts student - the dilletante that has a showcase made around them for no other reason than that they are PAYING for it (rather than because they have something to express). It's all lost on the chain addict.

Put a 60 year old woman with a 60 year old male teacher (or heaven forbid, a woman) and watch how soon they become dissatisfied with the 'teaching'.

Anyone know how to break a chain studio contract without paying the 25% penalty fee?Im ready to see if the grass is really greener on the other side.

delightfuldancer didn't say what state she lives in. Some states have laws limiting the size of a studio contract, and gives the student great leeway in ways to cancel ANY dance studio contract. No one should have to pay for any lesson that they don't actually take.

Altho I agree with all the badmouthing of the chains, I will just put in these 2 cents: My best teacher was a chain teacher who broke away from Freddie A, and started his own studio. I didnt go to him while he was at the chain, but I imagine that at some time while he was there, he was just as good as he was when he started my dance lessons. So, I think it IS possible to get an excellent lesson at a chain, but you have to know what you're doing. And you cannot treat a lesson as a light entertainment any more than you should treat a session with a personal trainer as something that you dont practice in between sessions. 2 cents, that's all.

Jerry

I also started with a chain, and then left to go to an independent studio, where the coaching is a much higher quality at a lower cost.

However, there is value in the chains. I was a little aprehensive to take lessons, and certianly felt uncertain of my ability. The instructor we had made us feel comfortable,taught us to have fun and relax. Had it not been for this instructor and the whole social aspect of the studio, we probably would not have not continued. As time went on, I realized that I could not get the technique and level of lesson at the chains that we needed, so we moved on. I think each type of studio has value depending where we are in our dancing progression.

We have taken lessons at a FADs studio for 5 years and have seen the techniques, numerous people mentioned. We made it clear, we came to learn to dance together and were not interest in exhibitions, over priced cruises etc.. They have been very good to us, even though we are on low end of their revenue spectrum.

They have been very good at meeting our objectives, even though we are different than most of their clients. The teachers really seem to enjoy working with us and always have positive comments about the fact we practise on our own. We take a set of lessons every 3 weeks and they started teaching us silver smooth after 1 year.

We have never felt they were holding us back, they seemed be very welling to really challenge us and help us advance as fast as we could. Managers have been very positive, when they would see us working on advanced techniques or moves.

Even though we are not spending the big bucks, like most of their clients. They have treated us very well and seemed to enjoy seeing us make progress. Manager has told us numerous times, she was really happy, we were making so much progress and having so much fun dancing.

Loved you reply anonymouse. Its funny, I am in Bronze 4 at AM, but when I dance with some of the 50+ yr old "silver level" women, they can be pretty darn terrible. They just got enamored with their young male instructor and stayed with it for years and tens of thoursands of $s. But, that is what they want and are willing to pay for. They want to dance with that male instructor forever because its enjoyable and worth it to them. I can't blame them, because when I am 70 I want to be going to Hawaii with a pretty 30 yr old female instructor to pay complete attention to me the entire trip! Hope I can afford it then!

>They just got enamored with their
>young male instructor and stayed with
>it for years and tens of thoursands of $s.

In this case he should not be called "an instructor". This is called "a gigolo" And I feel that this kind of attitude makes very significant part of the dance industry in general, not just franchizes. I, personally, hate this "personal attention for money" idea but it is only my very humble opinion.

Rita, I couldn't agree with you more. This flip side of this is that students who are not in it for the "personal attention" may be stereotyped as one of the students that are. Coversely, I feel for the instructor who has to resort to this line of sales. It must be difficult to have to "put it out there" every week to the mercy of the clients. Especially, if he/she is talented in dance and teaching.

Do not think that just because someone judges another, they are nesecarily any better. I was asked to judge a competetion that is advertized as a US Championship by the organizer. I told him I was only a lowly teacher, but he didn't care.