Hello. Does anybody have advice for those just starting out and interested in competing? I have been dancing socally for on and off over the last few years, but would really like to start competing. I found a studio I really like and am taking group lession in international style, and am going to begin taking private lessons, but I am not sure how many private lessons I should take per month to really improve. Anyother adivce on starting competitive dancing would be appreciated. Thanks!

Diane ,if you are going to take private lessons with a GOOD teacher, make sure you only dance with your instructer,if you dance with anyone else you will pick up their bad habits and unlearn what the teacher has taught you. Get a book from this website and go through the lessons at home,make sure you uderstand what you are being taught and ask if you don't, Tape all your lessons with the mike on the instructer and review them while everything is fresh in your mind. How many lesson; what ever you can afford providing you spend 75% of the time dancing with the instructer.

I think a competitor needs to take at least one private lesson a week, two or more is better.

I disagree that you have to dance only with your instructor. I suppose if you had ambitions of becoming a champion it might be necessary, but for most people who compete (in the US anyway), competition is just one part of their dance lives. If you dance only with your instructor and focus only on competition, your dance experience would be limited to practicing your routines over and over.

If you are really serious about competitions, try to find an amateur partner who can grow with you.

The idea of dancing with the Teacher only is just for one year to get a good grounding. I have seen a good teacher turn a lady with potential into a top amature within that period. She had no problem finding partners to compete with,He has done this with several women. Finding a partner to dance with when first learning to dance can take years to become a good competitor and cost pots of money.

As one of my old coaches said to me ( hundred yrs ago ) I hr lesson-- 6 hrs practice.

The obvious dis advantages in pro/ am ( taught hundreds ) is the lack of availability ( not to mention cost ) The advice -- find a partner-- very sound !!