Hi, i am currently taking lessons at a new studio, and i really love the lessons, but sometimes i wonder if i am paying to much, and i wanted to know what everybody else thinks. I buy my lessons by the package for example i just bought a bronze 2 package with 30 something lessons and it was almost $2000. The lessons are 30 mins to 45 mins, but i keep hearing that i am paying to much, and on top of that my instructor is only a student instructor, but he is quite good, in my opinion, but he is only 19 which is just a few years older than me, and they switched me to him after he just arrived there. I already had a gold level instructor who was great, so I just wanted to know what everybody thinks about all of this?
Thanks

Hi, I would shop around for other dance studios and partake in their group classes so as to get a feel for the way they teach and also to compare prices. If you can justify paying this amount for lessons and you are happy then by all means continue. Not sure why you were allocated a new teacher, but as a paying student and if you were not unhappy with your previous teacher then you should not have to change teachers you are in the drivers seat not the studio. I might be off the mark but is this studio you are going to a franchise studio? Franchise studios do have higher prices for tuition as they have admin fees to pay etc. Hope this helps.

I buy my classes one at a time, and pay on the day. £5 for an hour is about right. Private lessons are more expensive: but I wouldn't pay a student anything.

Lesson Prices will vary depending on location, whether you purchase from an independant instructor or a chain, and sometimes how experienced the instructor is. If you learn well and get along with your teacher, it is worth a few extra dollars.

On the student teacher note... Often they train more often and have more energy and enthusiasm. If you learn well from your teacher he is worth whatever you pay.

Yes you are being ripped off, that works out to over a $120.00 an hour for a student instructer who is not worth a cent . You have to be tough and insist on having the best instructer or a refund,also ask what the length of each lesson is that you paid for,don't settle for an aproximation,each lesson should be the same length, but it's not the length of the lesson that counts as much as the quality of the teaching?
Never sign a contract or pay for anymore than 1o lessons in advance with one of them being for free. The advantage of Internatial Style over American is the certification and quality of teaching which is more standerized and the rate is usually by the hour. There are many good instructers teaching Amercan Style who won't rip you off,the problem is finding them.

This appears to be a marketing strategy for chains.

Locally, we've just had a chain move in. Their basic package is:

2 privates
3 group classes
3 supervised practices
3 unsupervised practices
Total: $216 (All sessions 45 minutes each)

On face it looks like a good deal: 11 activities for $216 = $19.64 each

However, no one would charge $19.64 for a 45 minute practice (equivalent to $26.19/hr.). I ran my own small group practice for $5 for 2 hours (equiv. $2.50/hr.). Our local club provides the equivalent practices to the package above for $48/year or less than $1/week.

As to the group classes locally private CDTA or ISTD certified teachers are charging $8-$10/hr. vs. the $26.19/hr equivalent in the package above. Our club charges $6/hr for group classes.

If I subtract what I can get locally in group classes and practice time from independents and pass on that to buy the chain's package I'm effectively paying approx. $133/hr. for private lessons with a likely inexperienced 19 year old.

Local independent CDTA or ISTD teachers with years of training and experience are charging $50 - $65 per hour. Considering this, by going independent I could get twice the hours for the same cost with a fully certified teacher.

I'm not sure where you live. If the US I believe ISTD is active. You might contact them for a list of certified teachers in your area. I'm not sure of the certification groups in the US. I've looked at DVIDA which appears to follow ISTD guidelines except they can certify in individual dances so I'd look for a teacher who is certified in all the Standards as a minimum. You might also visit local dance shops to find information on independent teachers.

Finally, in defence of the chains, they do have significant overhead costs to cover so higher costs are expected.

OB

Check your math, Doug. If 30 lessons are $2000, I get $66.66 per lesson, which is pretty typical, at least in my area (and I take from an independent studio).

I do agree that the lessons should be a standard time. 45 minutes is a typical time. So ask if there's a reason the lesson time varies.

As far as the instructor goes, that's up to you. It doesn't necessarily take a gold level dancer to teach a bronze 2 student, as long as the instructor has good basic technique and can teach it to you.

Age doesn't necessarily matter, either. My instructor started teaching when he was 23--but he had been dancing for 11 years by then! But if you prefer the first teacher, then insist on him. They switched you to get some business for the new instructor, but you don't have to accept that. If you are under 18, you might want to get your parents involved in this discussion, so they see you are serious.

I really do like him and do not think i want to switch, because i just like him too much to do that, and he is quite good, but my main concern is if i am paying to much? I am not sure if i am. i mean no one at the studio pressures me to buy the packages, and they let me do spotlights and go to parties free or at least i think they are free. As far as my instructor goes i am happy with him and my lessons are usually 45 mins long unless he has students after me, but then on my next lesson he adds the time back in so i have no room to complain about that, and for example the lesson i had today he did about 1hr and 30mins with me because he did not have any students again until 5:00, so i really do not have a problem with him, I just keep hearing from friends and other dancers that i am paying to much, but maybe they are just jealous i have a great partner and a new studio to attend,plus i must add my instructor is hot!

Hmmmmmmmm!

$66.66/ 45 minute lesson = $88.88/hour

OB

BTW: The refers to a couple of things:

1. Many years ago, I believe it was 60 Minutes, did a story on dance studios in Florida.

Seems there were a lot of studios signing rich widows up and promising each of them would get a professional partner. Then they went out, hired young guys, gave thenm a few weeks lessons, put them in a red blazer and paired them up.

These ladies were spending $30,000 a year attending in house pro-AM competitions in other towns on bus tours arranged by the studio.

2. Our own town is a big retirement centre. The new chain's advertising even promos a Golden Age Shuttle Service. One of my friends decided to visit and found 19 year old teachers fresh from an 8 week course and a studio filled with retired ladies.

Sex sells.

The above, of course does not refer to legitimate studios but consummers beware!

OB