A person I know who teaches Argentine Tango is concerened on how the classes he runs are a bit up and down attendance wise. He runs a beginners class for one hour and then teaches a intermediate class. If he wants to teach and also make money I think he is going down the wrong track. Unless he wants to be an idealist and dreams of being a super coach. I would cater for the beginners and after a priod of time tell them there next move is to some other studio who cater for the intermediate. With most people it is a evening out. To arrive at seven which is too early, and be all finished by eight is hardly an evenings entertainment. This teaching is once a week only and he is completely on his own. I think I would let it be known that. Start with me and in a short time you will be ready to tackle the world out there.

Like you, I wonder why so many teachers offer classes back to back.

A good format would be to offer two classes either side of a practice session: it doesn't have to be very long - 30-45 minutes, but it would allow the student of BOTH classes to practise what they have been learning, and makes slightly more of an evening out, than just attending a one hour class, before going back home.

Does anyone have any experience of this sort of format, and if so, how does it work out?

Clive et al--

The practicality of your suggestion is very good in theory-- however -- there are several reasons why we as teachers do not alweays persue that avenue.

it has a lot to do with time constraints. I have people in my classes that have to get home because of children--- have others who come straight from work, add to this, singles that I teach, have no partners .And-- no guarantees if I book and PAY for the space.
Could go on, but i think you see my point .

Practicas or socials have a far better response when I run them as separate entities .
Ladies like to dress up and make an evening of the event ( gets the guys out of the house ! )

"I would cater for the beginners and after a priod of time tell them there next move is to some other studio who cater for the intermediate."

This doesn't work. Even a teacher who is OUTSTANDING at teaching fundamentals (and I can think of good examples) cannot run a full studio if they export their more advanced students to setting that is not visibly, publically, connected back to them.

Reason being that they need more advanced students around to advertise their qualifications to beginners who do not yet know enough to recognize good teaching for its own merits. Instead, the new students will follow the advanced ones to the "advanced" studio - even if the teachers there are unprepared to teach fundamental skills to beginners, will book lessons but not put their heart into it, or will assign this work to assistants who are incapable of doing it properly.

As for the problem of people taking classes above their level, that is easily solved. Teach simple material in advanced detail. The people who don't belong will become bored at the "low level" of the class and leave, while those who do belong will soak up the wealth of information eagerly, in whatever amount of detail they are currently ready for.