Allocating $$$ - privates vs group

[nucat78]

Ok, I know everybody is different, but in general, which would you choose:


One private per week plus something like 7-8 group lessons in various dances and technique.
Two privates per week, no group lessons.
I don't think it's possible to cover all the group content in 2 privates a week. It almost feels at this point that it's a question of do I want to learn a lot of things at a middlin level or do I want to concentrate on maybe two dances and get much more proficient.

I'm trying very hard to let my accounting brain rein in my desires on this one, so 2 privates plus group lessons is not an option in this scenario.

[Gorme]

I would choose 1 private and a bunch of group classes. You don't just get steps out of a group class. There is also some technique that can be learned or practice on in the class. Even if the class was a beginner class with beginner students, you can still work on your leading skills or other self-improvement techniques that does not rely on the follower.

I agree on a private lesson not being able to keep up with the pace of several group classes. There are too many things that need to be examined for just one step in one class. I take them to brush up on my skills or get a first (or second, etc.) pass through a dance that I have not had private lessons on.

[WorksForShoes]

I would choose the one private plus group too. I am assuming that you are happy with the quality of instruction in the group classes and the private lessons, so what you stand to gain in the group class is learning more steps/patterns, practicing leading/following others (you could switch roles occasionally), practicing your own lessons from the private, hearing others' questions, etc. There is also a clear advantage to your skill level in getting to dance 7 hours a week versus one.

[lcdancesport]

Yes and it gives you the opportunity to dance with more people!

[fascination]

I would go with privates and no groups...there are open parties all over the place...more bang for your buck on a private...way more

[tanya_the_dancer]

I would go with just privates, too. Much better way to learn IME.

[samina]

Depends what your objective is, nucat...one private with 7-8 groups includes a broad swath of information and general exposure to more, and lots of floor time. It'll also jack up your dance & social connections and build a sense of community. And if you have an instructor like mine, you can still get more general technique through group instruction than you could possibly absorb and master anytime soon.

But if you've had some of the breadth already and wanna "go deep", the privates may serve you better. There is no substitute for the customized attention of private instruction over time, IMO. That might be good for you if you want to compete, or if you want to learn better how to apply or correct things that have already come up in your lessons or practice.

[DennisBeach]

I would go with the privates. Besides the technical advantages, the teacher in the privates selects moves that match your likes\skills and give you the appropriate challenge to to improve. If you have a partner, I would go with privates and videos to reduce costs, than you can pick which moves in the video you want to learn and have the teacher in your privates help you with any technical aspects.

[fascination]

Ok, I know everybody is different, but in general, which would you choose:

One private per week plus something like 7-8 group lessons in various dances and technique.
Two privates per week, no group lessons.I don't think it's possible to cover all the group content in 2 privates a week. It almost feels at this point that it's a question of do I want to learn a lot of things at a middlin level or do I want to concentrate on maybe two dances and get much more proficient.

I'm trying very hard to let my accounting brain rein in my desires on this one, so 2 privates plus group lessons is not an option in this scenario.btw...am puzzled by this b/c most places give you the groups for free if you are on package..um...and most places don't give you the option of NOT being on package

[dbk]

I would choose one private and one group, assuming that the group classes are taught well and are at my level.

Have you thought about semi-private lessons? Some teachers do them, some don't. A semi-private is essentially a private lesson with two couples instead of one. It's useful if you know another couple at about the same level as you.

Semi-privates are cheaper, since the cost is split between four people instead of two (although some teachers charge a little bit extra for semi-privates, say around $10). So if you're taking $80 private lessons, it can be REALLY helpful to do semi-privates instead... $40 per person becomes $20-25 per person, but you get about the same amount of attention.

[dbk]

btw...am puzzled by this b/c most places give you the groups for free if you are on package..um...and most places don't give you the option of NOT being on package

Really? I've never seen a studio that does this, except chain studios. All the coaches I see just offer individual private lessons and group packages that aren't connected to anything else.

[danceronice]

Have you thought about semi-private lessons? Some teachers do them, some don't. A semi-private is essentially a private lesson with two couples instead of one. It's useful if you know another couple at about the same level as you.


Point for consideration: this only works if you're taking lessons as a couple. ;) I don't know about the OP but in my case, I'm the only one there.

Personally...for me it would depend on the instructors and situation. As it is, I take two private and four group, on average, per week. However, the private lessons are the priority and if scheduling means I have to skip a group to fit in a private, I do. Group is good for me in that I get practice doing routines, but privates let me learn to fix my individual problems. (Also, in my situation, privates are the only option for Smooth and Standard as there aren't any group lessons in either offered at my studio.)

[nucat78]

I've yet to find a BR / Latin practice partner but I might have a partner for Argentine. Not sure if she'd want to take privates with me in BR but we can play that by ear. We're still trying to figure out times to meet at the studio for some floortime together. And I don't know her very well so I'm not sure how things will work out between us.

Fas, my studio offers only privates or group. They don't (yet?) have packages of X privates plus Y groups plus Z parties like FA or AM but the owner is a former FA guy so maybe sometime in the future...

Sam, I do want to go deep, but I wonder if doing that would impede my progress on the other dances if I dropped groups. When I first started I just wanted to learn ECS. But as time went on, I was like a kid in a candy store - I wanted to learn everything. And now they've added a Std Rumba class. Maybe I'm just impatient.

DOI, my original intent was to use privates to "fix" problems I ran into in group. My focus has changed to wanting to really dig in, e.g. I spent two whole lessons working on my frame and Am tango footwork.

[fascination]

I was at an independent studio and all groups were free if you were on package...don't know how loyal you are...but something to ponder

[fascination]

and btw, upon hearing you elaborate, if you have a pro who is really good...I think your goals are best matches to private lessons...another thing to consider is that lots of studio have a group lesson as part of their weekend party

[nucat78]

I was at an independent studio and all groups were free if you were on package...don't know how loyal you are...but something to ponder

Yeah, that's a jewel in the lotus, isn't it? I've tried 3 out of 4 studios here and 2 of the 3 didn't impress me at all. I could go farther afield I guess.

[etp777]

I go with as many privates as I can afford (which is generally one a week, I'm poor :) ), and then all the groups I can fit in my schedule. Like Fasc said, groups at my studio are free as long as you've had a private lesson that week. A lot of the time, the "group" would end up being anohter private anyway, as I'd be only on ethere, though it seems my pro doesn't teach them anymore. Heh, they actually had to cancel a lot of groups while I've been gone that they normally wouldn't have had to because I would have gone to them if I was around. :)

I like both, for the variety of reasons peopl have listed here (getting more in depth, dancing with more people, etc), but as Nucat mentioned, it's all a matter of what can be afforded. And with what privates cost me, and what I make, that means one a week, with some extra when a comp is coming up. Or 4 privates in two days when I'm back in the country for just a week. :tongue:

[fascination]

Yeah, that's a jewel in the lotus, isn't it? I've tried 3 out of 4 studios here and 2 of the 3 didn't impress me at all. I could go farther afield I guess.
well if you have a good studio I would just stick with privates there ...and then go to groups at places where they are tagged onto the friday party and or where you can pay as you go...those are easier and cheaper to pick up and generally devoid of much technique regardless of where you go

[nucat78]

well if you have a good studio I would just stick with privates there ...and then go to groups at places where they are tagged onto the friday party and or where you can pay as you go...those are easier and cheaper to pick up and generally devoid of much technique regardless of where you go

Ah! Another option. There are at least 3 ladies at my studio who take privates and just take a very occasional group lesson. One is quite dedicated (and apparently has a large disposable income) - she takes 2 privates a day.

I've kind of gotten spoiled with the monthly group pass. I usually take 3 classes on Sunday, 1 on Monday, 2 on Tuesday, 1 on Friday plus the party, and 1 on Saturday. I could take a group on Thursday if my schedule allowed it and even belly dancing (yeah, it's co-ed) on Wednesdays.

[fascination]

well nucat...if the groups are what you most enjoy...then the social aspect should not be diminished... I say stick with them...you know...perhaps the two of us should talk about getting together on occasion...I bet we could A) learn alot from each other and B) come up with some creative solutions to your issues...let's plan on spending some time together at crystal ball

[etp777]

We saw it here first, the inklings of a new am competitive couple :)

[Peaches]

My preference is privates only. The difference in price is worth it for the technique involved.

[nucat78]

Way cool, Fas! I'd enjoy that.

I'm not sure of logistics yet but I am going to drive up to see you compete. My studio is buying three tables for the evening festivities so I'm not sure if I need to get my evening ticket from them and then buy admission for the AM on my own or what. I need to check the CB Web site.

It'd be great if you could ever make it up to one of our Friday night parties. I think it'd be a real hoot.

[QPO]

Our Teacher does a really good group class and gives a lot of general technique, if you are having private lessons with him, he will come up during the lesson to point out something you are doing wrong, to break the habit quick. We have one private lesson per week and one group class. depends on what you are wanting to do with your dancing, if you are intending to be competitive I would think you would benefit from the private lessons more.

[noobster]

Totally depends what you want out of your lessons.

If the social aspect is important to you, I'd keep the groups. You'll pick up a wider range of dances, meet more people, get more floor time, and learn how to lead women at many levels.

If you want to concentrate on competition, or perfect a small number of dances, privates alone would be more effective.

From your previous posts it sound to me like you might be more in category #1, and could get something you need from the groups. I agree that privates are 'more bang for your buck' in terms of fixing your dancing, but they don't have much social value (in terms of meeting people), and if they are all with the same female teacher they won't help you learn how to lead beginners on the social floor.

Privates are great, but one private a week is still *plenty* unless you are competing. For social dancing only, a good private gives me material to think about and work on for many weeks.

[fascination]

Way cool, Fas! I'd enjoy that.

I'm not sure of logistics yet but I am going to drive up to see you compete. My studio is buying three tables for the evening festivities so I'm not sure if I need to get my evening ticket from them and then buy admission for the AM on my own or what. I need to check the CB Web site.

It'd be great if you could ever make it up to one of our Friday night parties. I think it'd be a real hoot.well...not to worry...the daytime tickets are reasonable and don't sell out

[fascination]

Our Teacher does a really good group class and gives a lot of general technique, if you are having private lessons with him, he will come up during the lesson to point out something you are doing wrong, to break the habit quick. We have one private lesson per week and one group class. depends on what you are wanting to do with your dancing, if you are intending to be competitive I would think you would benefit from the private lessons more.yes...there are a few instructors out there who will bother to do so...but IME, not many

[Kassia]

When we started out we started with on private and one group class a week.. It is a multi level group so it was very busy and a bit too noisey..
As we progressed we started to take the group class just for our level.. Learning new things and reinforcing old things..
So now we go to 2 groups a week...
As for privates we still have one lesson together... Dh had not dance experience all all before we started and noticed that single class mates seem to learn faster..
So we both started taking another, separate, private lesson a week..
He goes with our regular teacher and she teaches him all the things a man needs to know....And i go with on of the male teachers and we work on all the girl things..
It has helped us both a huge amount... Dh's learning to lead.. By taking the separte lessons our teacher doesn't have to stop and show one something while the other looks one.. It wastes much less time and then we work on those things together the next week...

[MacMoto]

Ok, I know everybody is different, but in general, which would you choose:


One private per week plus something like 7-8 group lessons in various dances and technique.
Two privates per week, no group lessons.

Neither... the ideal arrangement for me would be 1-2 group class per week plus 1 private per month. Add tons of social dancing (every night if possible) and a congress every month or two, and I'd be happy. :-)

I find that I get so much information to digest from a private lesson I can't possibly work on everything in a week. I don't want to pay to get told the same thing every week - better to space privates out so I actually have a chance to improve between them.

Of course this comes from someone who only dances salsa (where the focus is on social dancing and not many people take regular private lessons) and I know ballroom is a completely different world. I wonder what it's like with other street dances?

[nucat78]

Interesting perspective, MacM.

[anp73ga31]

I dropped group lessons a while back and now I just do one private lesson a week....once I had been dancing a while I found that I needed the individual attention to detail that I could only get in private lessons. Group lessons were frustrating as part of the time I was standing there waiting for a partner (not enough men) and the rest of the time I was just learning steps (some of the people always had so much trouble learning the steps that the teacher never could get to the technique part even though he/she intended to). Since I am starting to compete I need more of the technique vs. learning new steps. I am sure for someone who prefers to social dance, though, it would help more to learn new steps rather than technique. I could see how he/she would get more out of/prefer group lessons.

As a side note, I have always done social dancing once a week as well...it was how I learned alot of new steps the first year or two I was dancing. But these days I cant afford to go social dancing because of gas, etc and besides that the scene has dwindled and I just dont see using an hours worth of gas plus paying $10 to dance maybe 4 times the whole night, not counting a foxtrot mixer that consists of the most basic american foxtrot complete with toes being stepped on. Call me snotty or weird or whatever but I just prefer to pay to dance with my pro who is soooo much better than me and can make me a better dancer which is my main goal...I'm not much for socializing, I just want to dance. Again, weird I know but thats just me.

[soshedances]

Don't know how close you are to any colleges or universities...but in my experience, classes for college ballroom teams teach some new steps and also a bunch of technique...It will probably save you a lot of money. Then you could still afford private lessons and socials.

[nucat78]

I wouldn't call you weird, ANP. I think you're doing what works for you.

The ppl at my studio are a mix of one-group-a-week, many-groups-a-week, only-privates, and group-and-private students.

I went ahead and bought a June ticket since they're doing group samba for 5 weeks. I have a dance show coming up in June also so I have to sign up for some privates for that. I don't want to dance "cold". Plus there's *one* dance I have to dance decently at the Crystal Ball social. Style TBD. ;)

So I guess I've delayed a decision, but I feel I should make a decision soon.

[BallandChange]

I find group classes to be effective when they are small and the class is designed to teach technique (a boot camp type of class where excercises are done to re-enforce technique) otherwise the class tends to be nothing more that an opportunity to do learn steps. Sometimes, I might take a group class to just to learn the steps and use my privates to develop the technique.

[nucat78]

Well... I'm leaning now toward taking privates with an occasional group. I took a private tonight to work on my Amer Tango and then a group FT where we worked on promenade spins.

The FT class was fun but I feel like I accomplished more in the private. Probably the nature of the beast. It will take me longer to learn multiple dances / steps, but I think the privates will get me where I want to go on technique more quickly than groups.

I guess I'll have to run my budget again and see if that's really practicable.