I have been taking lessons at a FADS studio for about 5 months. I love my instructor..........and have no issues with the studio per se. I am thinking about making a switch to an independant studio for two reasons...........The first reason is cost.........the studio I'm thinking of going to is about $20 per lesson cheaper, the lessons is 5 minutes longer, and there is also a discount when you purchase a package......which is less still per lesson........also includes all the group lessons. My second reason is a little more complicated (to me, anyway).......I had stopped by the independant studio's dance party to drop off some money to a lady who's making a dress for me..........this was during the last hour of the party.....I got swept in by the dancers and had a ball! More fun than at the Astair parties.........there was a better variety of dances......and I found that I can actually follow better than I thought.....I can't explain it really, just that everyone there was willing to show me new steps and be patient with my "newness". At the studio I attend......most experienced male dancers stick to dancing with the experienced females. It can be a little cliquish..something I noticed from the beginning. I had never done a Viennese Waltz.......but I did tonight and did pretty well for the first time.....my teacher won't teach me this yet.........I also want to learn Argentine Tango (desperately)........but I can't yet. I know I need proficiency in the foundation dances, but I really want to learn the dances I am interested in. I feel like I'm moving slower at FADS.
I am a bit reluctant to write this because of all the "chain" bashing....I don't think that is going to help me make a decision....I don't want this genuine inquiry to become the forum for more chain bashing.....just some honest advice.
My question is this............is it okay and acceptable to take a break from the studio I'm with to try lessons at the other studio. I don't want to burn any bridges. I just want to try it out and see if it's a better fit. I'd like to try it for a month........then go back and finish my package with FADS....and make a decision. Is this unethical? I s there a good way to approach this? Any advice? Again.........please, please don't bash FADS (or AM for that matter)........I ahve learned much and think very highly of my instructor..........I don't have any bad feelings toward them........I just want to be in the right place for me. Thank You

I dance with FADS too and I know that it feels uncomfortable to switch. They have a family feel. They are also very structured and because of inner rules and regulations there are things they just won't teach you unless you...

A. Go lock step through the lessons

B. Beg and plead

C. (This is the most important one) have an instructor who actually knows how to do the dance and is comfortable dancing it with you. (If you aren't careful you can really hurt your instructor with quickstep, Viennese and Argentine...)

At the FADS I go to the only instructor who actually knows how to Argentine Tango is the owner of the studio. Fortunately for me he is my partner and he does dance it with me. Its a great dance but requires a very different understanding of dance right down to frame and rhythm and you have to break all sorts of ballroom rules to do it.

In the mean time I can't get enough of it and I joined a secondary dance group that specializes in Argentine Tango. I told my instructor and he was excited for me.

I will be leaving when I get done with my package because of reasons such as yours. I don't feel like it is unethical. I feel like I have grown past the point we can reach together and its time for me to go a place that makes more sense for me. There are quite a few students in my studio who have done the same thing and come back and visit with the instructors.

Do what feels good to you. You are dancing for you and you should get as much joy as possible from your time dancing. Its too expensive not to get your moneys worth.

Just my opinion...and by the way in Feb. FADS offers an Argentine Tango dance excursion down to Buenos Aires. Maybe if you ask your instructor about the trip they will show you how to do it or pick up enough instruction that they can teach you.

What a dilema. Remember who is the customer ... you. Many studios only teach their instructors 1 level above the students & are structured to drag lessons on even when you can already do the moves.
The studios are a business & dance franchised studios are set up to make $$$s.
I know, I worked in one but now have my own studio with over 200 adult students, some who have been coming for over 10 years. We emphasize fun & lots of easy cool moves, rather than competitive style dancing. When you've got the lessons you've paid for move on, you can always go back!

I would agree with chacha1...YOU are the customer. You are paying for this; you don't "owe" them anything, such as committing to one place simply because you love the instructor and like the studio. You also got a good "vibe" at the other studio and it's cheaper. Check it out and see what you think. There is nothing wrong with going to different studios.

I know that in ballroom dance, the relationship is more complicated; although you are the customer, you develop feelings/friendships, etc towards the teachers and other students. And you want to be a part of the family of the studio.

It has been my experience that dancers in studios come and go. There's usually a core "loyal student" base at each studio but even those students occasionally go elsewhere. If the studio is good, you would be welcomed back even if you left for a while.

Thank you to everyone that replied to my posting. I'm going to give myself a couple of weeks to contemplate ...........though I have a feeling that I will switch eventually.........Cha-Cha; you really hit the nail on the head when you mentioned developing feelings/friendships toward teachers and students. That's a sticking point for me.........but you are right when you say that students come and go.......I know I have to do what's right for me.

For the record, my teacher has been teaching for over 6 years.......

Thank You everyone!