I am fairly new to ballroom dancing(one year) and have been reading several blogs concerning independent studios vs franchised studios. The general consensus is very negative about franchised studios. I am a student at a franchised studio (not A M). Where I live, it is the closest place to learn to dance. Before enrolling I did extensive research and found that the cost wasn't that much different than the 2 private studios that are both further away from where I live. I also looked into the teacher's backgrounds and learned that all of them are truly professionals, with proof. My teacher (a male, I am a female), is a former national competitor with numerous wins. He is also a registered professional member of the National Dance Council of America and has certificates and awards as a dance teacher.
Contrary to what most people say about franchises, I have had a wonderful experience. My teacher doesn't flirt with me and I have never been pressured to sign up for anything I am not interested in. My programs are
Planned around what I can afford and am never pressured to add more lessons to the package.
Several comments in various blogs state that dance teachers don't really care about the students,just care about making money. I have read that teachers will tell their students whatever they have to whether they mean it or not. Additional comments state that franchise teachers are not professional dancers and have just been taught the dances in order to work for the studio. More franchise lashings include-
Improper behavior by teachers, teacher's who portray themselves as caring individuals with the students but interest at heart but are totally different when they are not at the studio.
Non of this has been the case where I currently take lessons;it is the polar opposite. Before anyone says that I am being brainwashed, let me say again that I did my homework. I went in with both eyes wide open. I knew the scuttlebutt about franchises vs private studios and took all of my research with me when I went to the FADS studio. I put all my cards on the table and was quite pleased with the results.
Ballroom dancing is expensive, there is no denying that. It gets e enough more costly for those who compete. The point I hope to make is that every studio is different;franchised or not. To assume that all franchises are bad is unfair, certainly there are studios that are run poorly but not so for the one I am at.
Every dance student needs to find a studio with a staff they like regardless of what kind of studio. The franchise that I am at is great and I cannot imagine being anywhere else.
