I posted an other topic asking about competitive dancing and the Starlite Ballroom and was adviced they don't do competitive dance training there. I am brand new to dancing should I stick to the Starlite for now or should I switch now if my future goal is competition? Also, if I should switch, can you recommend someplace closer to San Jose than San Francisco for competitive dance training? I can't drive all the way to San Francisco after work.

I would try Dance Spectrum in Campbell and also the San Jose Dancesport Center in San Jose.

www.sjdancesport.com
www.thedancespectrum.com

If you really intend to compete, then in my opininon it's not really worth it to spend your time at the Starlite.

I'm curious about the Fred Astaire Studio in Santa Clara.... can you tell us what the general consensus is of their methods?

I took lessons from them for 8 months, at first it was great... but now am rethinking. I heard that what I learned from them, is true only in a Fred Astaire environment and that the steps are "copyrighted" or something equivalent to that. I really wouldn't like to go to another ballroom and find out I don't know what I'm doing....
any advice?

It's not true that you wouldn't know what you are doing at another ballroom. I used to take at Fred Astaire and I found that a lot of the steps have special names that are copyrighted but are called other things at non-Fred Astaire studios. It's all just a marketing ploy.

The best teachers in the San Jose area teach at San Jose DanceSport and at Dance Spectrum. Go check both of these out, it's worth it.

Laura

If you really want sound, universally portable training then insist that 80% or so of your work be on the technique of basic international style figures. The remaining 20% of your time will be plenty to learn to apply that knowledge to dance some American style far better than anyone trained in the usual proprietary figures oriented concept of those dances.

If the teacher claims not to know international style, find another as you are clearly dealing with an inexeperienced employee who has been through a short training program, not an actual dancer.

Would anybody have any suggestions on competitive training and coaches to go to in San Francisco? I am in my 20s.

I've lived and danced in San Francisco for the past six years, so I'm pretty familliar with the scene here. In order to answer your question, though, I need to know what styles you want to work on and what level you are currently at, and whether you already have your own partner or not.

Laura

I want to work on Latin Ballroom. I am a beginner and have taken classes for 3 months. I don't have a partner.

Is taking more classes or private lessons a more effective way of grasping the techniques and steps. I am dedicated and is ready to get it right.

I reckon that more classes would be a good way to practice. Private lessons would allow the teacher to provide me with better guidance instead of developing bad habits. Any thoughts?

It may still be early, but I would want to pave towards competing. What would be your advice?

San Francisco

Your idea of taking a combination of group classes and private lessons is excellent. That, plus practicing on your own and going social dancing, is a good way to get yourself started.

As far as private teachers go, you might want to see if Tytus Bergstrom (Allegro Ballroom - www.allegroballroom.com) is available. Another person in San Francisco to try would be Sune Ivanov (Metronome Ballroom - www.metronomeballroom.com).

Another good competitive Latin teacher who would take a single private student is located further out of town, for instance Stefan Krauel (Imperial Dance Club - www.imperialdance.com).

If you're willing to go to the South Bay, there's Steve Vasco and also Robert Kacsparzac (www.thedancespectrum.com).

There are other latin teachers in the area, hopefully someone else reading this will chip in with their suggestions. I've been dancing Standard and a bit of Smooth all these years, so I'm not as hooked in to the Latin scene as with the Ballroom scene.

Hope this helps....