I live in a small community in central California and the local senior center has lessons on monday wednesday and friday. each day we learn several steps to one dance or another then we go on to different steps to another. the next class picks up with steps from the last class then goes on to another dance and different steps. Many people tell me they think that over time they start to get it and feel like they are able to hold their own when they go out to a dance. Most tell me it takes 9 months to a year to get there though. My question is is there a better way to approach this or is this the standard mode of operation. I keep thinking that if I want to start with the waltz I start with that dance and work on it till I think I have it down pretty well then move on to the next dance. Is it half a dozen of one and 6 of another or is one method actually better than another? Thanks in advance.

Depends on your goals. This question often comes up at our studio. If you want to be a social dancer, go to parties and just have fun, then learning more than one dance is the way to go. We have parties every Friday night at our studio. The couples that only know one or two dances sit far more than they dance. As well, they are constantly having to say 'no' when asked to dance because they are so restricted. If you know the basic steps to six dances, you'll be up and dancing.
For some people learning what is taught in the lesson is the goal, we do not see them anywhere except their lesson. So they like to learn one dance at a time because they don't dance anywhere else. They don't learn much floorcraft because they are never in a social situation.
As well, there are people who want to dance 'now'. And as you said it does take 9 months to a year to get the basics down pat. Sometimes, they are happier learning one dance because they see their progress faster.
Our studio does not offer courses in just one dance but there are other studios that do, so people go where they can do what they want to do.

I take classes in a small community in Texas. Here, the teacher groups dances that are similar. So when you take a waltz class you also get Foxtrot. It works out well, and by relating some of the steps and showing us how the timing is different, it seems to do a good job for social dancing.

But we can also take private lessons to work on specific dances. The teacher sometimes offers a package where you take private lessons and can then take the class for something like half price.

Social dances are monthly but if you have a regular partner there is also a social dance club you can join that meets for dinner and dancing at a local hotel.

I have found that what we have gets us up and dancing pretty quickly, and if you want to get good at a dance, then also having a few private lessons will move you right along.

And for practice at home, we purchased a bunch of DVD lessons so we can look at the steps slowly and then practice more at home.

It is all fun and the ability to get better than "just social" is always there.

It really has to do with your motivation and focus as well as personal learning style.

I like group for social but you won't ever be able to do much more than dance socially. WHich is great and a lot of fun.

The other thing to watch for is that as you learn it will get easier. Learning dance is a very different way to acquire knowledge. Your brain has to learn the method which is part of what takes so much time. Once you've gotten used to learning steps and learnign choreography and the basic vocabulary it will all get easier and faster.

Good luck!