Maybe you could tell him the truth in a nice way...tell him you don't think your dance styles are compatible, or your philosophies of technique or something?

If he is a really great guy, then two things will happen, 1) it will still be painful, and 2) he will understand.

I had to do the same thing at one point, with a terrific guy. With my friend though, it seemed like he was regressing, and I was getting pretty presumptious about it, and was always mad at him, and he didn't need that kind of attitude from a partner. Also, I had decided that I wanted to do Pro/Am and wanted to focus on that. (It also helped that he liked doing performances, and the teacher had 2 or 3 ladies who were better suited for him, physically, and attitude-wise.) But he understood, the worst part was the guilt I felt.

But you need to do what you need to do, just don't make excuses. Tell him the truth, and encourage him in what he is doing right (or to take lessons.). But it's your money and your body, and you have every right to get the most out of them for dancing.

ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH! I was wondering about that too, whether it was better to make up a story or tell what's really up. It's easier to use your imagination in situations like this, that's for sure, because you know that you can always make something up that will "suit and soothe". You can make it seem less painful and in a way you *could* make up a story IF no one knows (except yourself) what the true reason is. (So your soon-to-be-ex-partner doesn't have to hear it from someone else, why you *really* wanted to end the partnership.)

I made up all kinds of stories before I ended my last partnership But when I finally faced him "for real", I couldn't do anything but tell the truth. It was a huge relieve and I was glad that I didn't give in to my imagination, because I knew that it would be bugging me if I had. Of course I felt guilty, because he is a great guy (in fact, we are still good friends!), but I knew that I was unhappy in that partnership and that's what counts the most. Being a people-pleaser, that was really hard to do, but I managed