Top 10 Reasons to Attend Group Classes

[DanceMentor]

I copied this from my dance studio's (http://www.allegrodancestudio.com) website:
What do you think?

Top 10 Reasons to Attend Group Classes

1. Learn 30% faster by adding group classes to private lessons.

2. Be able to dance school figures without hesitation.

3. Learn figures through repetition for progress checkouts.

4. Learn to move figures around the floor.

5. Practice leading/following different partners.

6. Learn figures in group class, save private lessons for style & technique.

7. Increase self confidence.

8. Increase balance tremendously.

9. Have a lot of fun!

10. Make lots of new friends!

The funny thing is I don't teach any group lessons yet, just privates. I think I will get scheduled for some groups in April. I've only been with them for about 6 weeks.

[dancin_feet]

I would agree with all of those.

[Spitfire]

Yep, that plus group classes are cheaper if you can't afford private lessons and practicing with different partners in one lesson is an advantage. It's always worked for me. 8)

[Kitty]

Do you really teach leading/following in group lessons?

Practicing leading/following never worked in group lessons for me (and for other people doesn't work as well) because during the lesson everyone is doing the same routine, so I know what's coming up. Even if he doesn't lead it properly I'll dance that figure anyway (otherwise I wouldn't get a lot of chance to practice a new figure) - so there isn't practice of leading/following for him. I don't get to practice following because I know what's coming up and it spoils it. So it is not leading/following, but learning patterns and technique with a partner.

[Kitty]

Also comment on reason #1: I don't take any private lessons. A 30% increase on 0 is 0.
I disagree, a think I learn more than that.

Also one doesn't need privates if group lessons are always with same people and everyone is about same level. I know people who placed in silver without ever taking a single private lesson. (ok, gold and up needs privates)

[pygmalion]

I like #9 -- have a lot of fun. Meeting new people that you can practice with or go out dancing with is always a big plus.

[KevinL]

What do you think?

Top 10 Reasons to Attend Group Classes

1. Learn 30% faster by adding group classes to private lessons.

2. Be able to dance school figures without hesitation.

3. Learn figures through repetition for progress checkouts.

4. Learn to move figures around the floor.

5. Practice leading/following different partners.

6. Learn figures in group class, save private lessons for style & technique.

7. Increase self confidence.

8. Increase balance tremendously.

9. Have a lot of fun!

10. Make lots of new friends!


Although I mostly agree with these statements, I don't completely agree. From a students perspective, these would be my top reasons to take group lessons:

1. Make lots of new friends! (This is most important because you want to know people when you go out dancing, it will be more comfortable, and therefor more fun.)

2. Group lessons are cheaper than private lessons. (By a factor of 6-10+, so you can do a lot more group lessons than private lessons.)

3. Learn various patterns for each dance. (I didn't really want to include this, since that is the whole point of dance lessons, to learn how to dance! But it was in the other list.)

4. Practice leading/following different partners. (Yes, I start off with everyone doing the same thing, so there is very little lead/follow. But once the students start dancing to music, I tell the leaders to do whatever they want, so everyone does get to practice lead and follow.)

5. Learn to lead/follow with other couples on the floor. (Floorcraft is very important, avoiding bumping into people is critical.)

These points are intrinsic to dancing, so I didn't include them:

7. Increase self confidence.
8. Increase balance tremendously.
9. Have a lot of fun!


These points are marketing ploys, so I didn't include them:

1. Learn 30% faster by adding group classes to private lessons.
2. Be able to dance school figures without hesitation.
3. Learn figures through repetition for progress checkouts.
6. Learn figures in group class, save private lessons for style & technique.

I've heard "learn 30% faster by trading partners" (and that is supported by my experience), but never by adding group classes to private lessons. Does anyone have any strong data to support this claim, or the trading partners version? I've never been able to find it, so please contact me if you know where I can find the reference.

Who cares about school figures? Teaching and then only dancing school figures turns many people off from ballroom dancing.

Progress checkouts are good and bad. They are good from the point of view of having a structured goal to work for, but only if that goal is actually challanging. How many "medal programs" are just a way to sell more private lessons, and keep people coming back?

Learning figures in class, while saving private lesson time for style and technique is great, as long as everyone is willing and able to afford the time and money to do private lessons. (The way it is written implies that is the expected norm.) While teachers cannot impart all of the same level of style and technique in a large group class, it should not be left out as a way to sell private lessons.

I like my list better, but then, it's my list so of course I would!

Kevin

[dragon3085]

How about the fact that its more practice. And yes even practicing the "dreaded school figures" helps you develop those reflex arcs in your muscles that help with all your dances.

[Kitty]

Kevin,

I agree with each single one of your statements,
especially with the fact that half of those reasons are for marketing purposes.
And I also wanted to ask who researched how much you benefit from group classes in addition to privates. As I said, it is definitely wrong since 30% of 0 is 0, but I'm just curious who came up with that data.

You expressed all my thoughts about this better than I could have done myself, thanks.