eewwwwwww....like overweight is like......sooooow gross. Gag me with a spoon. There's like no way an overweight person could be a great teacher.

Taking lessons at FADs, we have had a lot of teachers over the 5 years. Some have been a bit overwieght, a few extremely short and one very tall. We have not found their physical attributes to be a problem. One lady who has done an awesome job getting ballroom dancing going in one of the cities, near were we live is very much overweight. But she does an excellent job teaching and is appreciated by her students.

Hey boleros2aerosmith,
Is your studio in NJ? cause I go an AM that coincidently has 4 studios in Union and Morris county. Just curious.

Bolero, the "unlimited" group classes that you mentioned that are available to the students are misleading. First of all, the AM studios in So CAl do not offer group classes in each dance at each level on a regular basis. So, say you're an advance student in a dance that is not popular with a lot of students, you'd have to depend on your private lessons to learn anything about that dance. (Additionally, dance parties won't do you much good either because others don't know how to due that dance). At my studio the only group classes they have on a regular/weekly basis are beginners swing and beginners salsa. This sucks because one of the dances on my program is salsa and I'm too advance for beg. salsa. (And off course they'll tell you it never hurst to take a lower level class to brush up on your technigue, etc.) They have the salsa class in my level once a month. Some other dances, like the tango and waltz, are offered even less frequent than this. Secondly, they will only allow you to take classes in your level; taking a class higher than your level is usually frowned upon. So, the free unlimited classes that you're upselling is not that much of a plus at all. Bolero, you're either an instructor or a franchisee aren't you. You seem to leave out a lot of caveats about their program.

Ellen, even if you have all the time in the world AM doesn't pay off with the group classes because of the selection of dances, levels, and frequency at which they're offered. They won't let you take classes in dances that are not on your program or on your level.

Here's my problem with AM: they sell you units - unit consists of a private/ group/ dance party. It's about $120 for each "unit". I can NEVER attend the party sessions because of my work schedule, so that 1/3 of my "unit" goes completely to waste, but I can't buy them separately. Does that sound fair? In my case it's like I'm actually paying $60 for each 45-minute private and group lesson. I really like the convenience of the location, but I just feel like I could be getting more for my money elsewhere.

Parties bought a la carte at the independent studio near me cost $10 per night. So, you can use that figure to get an idea of how much you are overspending for your AM unit.

Private lesson prices in my area from people who have US National Pro Rising Star titles, or who have been on "Dancing with the Stars," are about $70-$85 per lesson. I'm pretty sure the lessons are 45 minutes each. I'm paying a little less than that, but then my teacher isn't a US finalist.

Thanks, Laura. This is what I am saying. I would gladly pay 75, 80, even 100 dollars for private lessons, and that still would cost me less that what I am paying for this package deal at AM. I cannot wait until my contract runs out.

Yeah! Same thing with me about the party classes!!! I remember when I first signed up at AM, the instructor had me fill out this questionnaire that was supposedly to help him understand my goals. They one section for reason why you want to dance with several different "social" reasons, such as to make new friends or to be involved in a social club atmosphere. I didn't check off anything that had to do with social. I clearly stated my main goals were for personal improvement and competition. Well my cat might as well have filled it out because I know see that every single students contract orplan is exactly the same as mine! An equal # of private to group to party lessons per unit regardless of what your goal or interest is.

You dont have anything nice to say, and you call yourself "frien".