How many percent of your income on dancing ?

[dancingirldancing]

Mine is about 10%

I do feel really guily, but it is about the only think that makes me happy .....

I am getting this guilty feeling about spending so much on lessons (3 privates, (1 with DH, 1 latin and 1 standard) and 2 group classes per week).

I need these lesson though as I am thinking of competing.

I am having the headache thinking about the cost...esp when I add it up.

The yearly cost is probably the same cost of a small car.

We are on good income so it is not like I am starving BUT we of couse have other priorities like mortgage. I COULD be paying my house faster...

This is not even counting comp costs.

Anyone else in the same boat ? Sorry to ramble.

[WaltzElf]

About 60%

I struggle by with other things such as food and when I need to spend money on gifts etc on the other 40% - thankfully I have low rent, and low living expenses since I’m always at the dance studio anyway.


My partner keeps up with me, so it’s all good.

[Becca]

75% of my wage on dancing probably. But then again I'm only 18 and have no other bills or commitments to afford (apart from credit cards, which are only used for dancing things anyway)!

[Gorme]

I'm about 40%. Besides paying expenses, I still have to put a little bit of money into savings every month.

[chawee]

50% for me which I struggle but then again, I don't want to give up dancing........
Need a better pay job >__<

[fascination]

our income varies from year to year but I would think we try to keep it at or below the 10% range

[dancingirldancing]

Oh God, I feel better already but it is an addiction to me.

I feel like I am on drugs when I am dancing.....

[Peaches]

Depends on what you consider "income."

About 9% of my take-home pay.
About 5% of my gross pay.

About 7% of household take-home pay (mine and DH's combined).
No clue what percent of household gross pay it would be, since I don't know what DH actually makes.

[etp777]

Heh, I'll just say 20% as a rough guess for this year, but that's just a rough guess on lessons. Doesn't include coachings, comps, spectator tickets, shoes, etc. :)

[ChaChaMama]

That's undergoing a big evolution for me in 2008, as I used to take all my privates with CCP at one studio and compete am 3-6 times/yr. Now I'm still doing that but also taking privates by myself at another studio and trying a pro-am comp.

Like for Peaches, it also depends whether we are talking about what percent of my personal salary, our joint income, or joint income plus other cash coming in. If we take the higher number, I guess I'm spending around 10%.

Unlike some of you young people, we do have a lot of other expense areas, including mortgage (but that will be paid off IN FULL in 2017--woohoo!), retirement savings (my employer contributes 5% automatically then will match my contribution up to another 5% so of course I maximize that), child in private school (Montessori, $9050 this year), $450/month into her college fund, child clothes/activities/etc. But dh and I have gotten some nice raises over the years...and it's certainly easier to finance a one-child family.

RE: dancingirldancing's comparison of dancing to drugs, I want to run with that analogy. I have started to tell myself that the individual lessons/pro-am is no more expensive than having a midlife crisis and going into psychotherapy. So here's my new thesis: dance is our pro-active way of staving off depression, rather than paying a therapist $XXX for 45 min sessions and another XX/month to the drug companies. I'm starting to think maybe Blue Cross should be covering this... ;) ;) ;)

[syncopationator]

rough guess is probably 20%

[danceronice]

I genuinely have no idea. My income varies wildly and I almost certainly spend more than I should. I would probably get off cheaper with a minor drug habit. However, as if I were not dancing I would pack up and move back to Michigan and wind up completely unemployed and REALLY living off my parents, I feel it's a even trade.

[mamboqueen]

I think with just lessons, coachings and the three comps I did (two cheapo am/am and 1 pro/am), I spent about 20% of my gross income on dancing. Hoping to increase it come September.

[njdancegirl]

I think with just lessons, coachings and the three comps I did (two cheapo am/am and 1 pro/am), I spent about 20% of my gross income on dancing. Hoping to increase it come September.

Your % spent or your income?!? ;)

[mamboqueen]

wha??

[njdancegirl]

wha??

You said you "hope to increase it come september"...wasn't sure if you meant what you spend on dancing or your income.

[mamboqueen]

gotcha. I didn't even bother with that sentence. Would love to increase both, but it's probably going to be the % that goes up a bit. I think I need another job. Gotta open a brothel....

[njdancegirl]

Both would be nice...

[tj]

~2% :cool: :cool:

[star_gazer]

40% of my income and 80% of my kids joint income..and that's for amateur. I can NOT imagine how people manage Pro-Am...eeks.

Although this is quickly shifting as they take over more expenses and their income increases.

[Ballroom Dru]

RE: dancingirldancing's comparison of dancing to drugs, I want to run with that analogy. I have started to tell myself that the individual lessons/pro-am is no more expensive than having a midlife crisis and going into psychotherapy. So here's my new thesis: dance is our pro-active way of staving off depression, rather than paying a therapist $XXX for 45 min sessions and another XX/month to the drug companies. I'm starting to think maybe Blue Cross should be covering this... ;) ;) ;)I agree with you 100%:D

[fascination]

dunno...I think dance brought on most of my depression and mid-life crisis...mercifully I went early and finished recently

[jwlinson]

About 20% of my monthly net, not counting our dance trips.

[Stagekat]

RE: dancingirldancing's comparison of dancing to drugs, I want to run with that analogy. I have started to tell myself that the individual lessons/pro-am is no more expensive than having a midlife crisis and going into psychotherapy. So here's my new thesis: dance is our pro-active way of staving off depression, rather than paying a therapist $XXX for 45 min sessions and another XX/month to the drug companies. I'm starting to think maybe Blue Cross should be covering this...

Oh I am so with this one!! How many of my non-dancing friends have told me a crack habit would be cheaper?? LOL ;) I just tell them I prefer Craic (pronounced "crack" in English = Irish Gaelic for atmosphere...as in good times)

Oh, I figured last year was between 25-33%.

I'm one of those folks that has been hit by the economy, but have found ways for it to not hit my dancing. :)

[Standarddancer]

About 70%

[GJB]

About 70%

70 % ! Shall we rob a bank : )

[Standarddancer]

No kidding, I've minimized all my non dancing related expenses; minimized personal shopping expenses, kept wearing whatever I already have in my closet, no shoe shopping for a few months:( ...

[GJB]

I am taking a few weeks off from lessons. I've been spending too much!

[Standarddancer]

I feel the same way too actually. It's a great idea to take some time off summer and relax and enjoy:)

[amiko]

about $1200 on lesssons and $1600 on competitions. That's a modest number.

I spend about 7% of income on dancing.

Oooooh, I did not add in cost of ballgown, shoes and makeup. That will make it more.

[Standarddancer]

Originally Posted by ChaChaMama http://www.dance-forums.com/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?p=586304#post586304)
I'm starting to think maybe Blue Cross should be covering this... :wink: :wink:


I also agree that all dancing lessons and dancing related training should be covered by health insurance;) Dancing is very helpful to promote health

[liz]

Afraid to add it up. Anyone else try not to let non-dancers know how much we spend. everyone would think I was insane.

[fascination]

even I KNOW that I am insane...no secret about it

[Peaches]

even I KNOW that I am insane...no secret about itHa! And sometimes I think that dancing is the only thing that's keeping me sane. Every time I start talking with DH about how I don't think we have the money for me to keep taking lessons he comes back and tells me that absolutely under no circumstances am I to cut them out. Even he likes me better (which is to say, he notices that I'm so much happier) when I'm dancing regularly.

Yep, should definitely be covered by insurance. It is exercise, after all. And it is good for mental health and stress relief.

[Gorme]

Even when I grossly understate my dance expenses, my non-dancing associates still freak out. Heck, my social dancing peers freak out too.

[BestTeacher]

heya guys!

i just want to say.... that I think its important to stay balanced.......I almost feel sorry for someone who takes too many lessons per week....these are usually very serious pro/am students...

I tell my students to do as many lessons and as many competitions as they can/want to the point where they don't feel bad about it!

So I think if you feel like its taking money out of your pocket to the point where you feel its taking away from you "enjoying your life journey at this moment", then ask yourself is it really worth it?

I find that for many people, when it sinks in for them how much they really are spending, together with getting disappointed with some result.....they either take a huge break or quit all together.. and its sad that it has to come to that point.

I think it should be a luxury for people...meaning they spend only the extra money..this way they will be able to enjoy it forever....

[Standarddancer]

I don't even want to mention to my non-dancing friends how much $$$ I spent on dancing...no way in the hell they will understand;)

[samina]

i just want to say.... that I think its important to stay balanced.......I almost feel sorry for someone who takes too many lessons per week....these are usually very serious pro/am students...


do you feel sorry for olympic athletes and those in pursuit of such a goal?
do you feel sorry for ballet and modern dancers who train ceaselessly?
do you feel sorry for passionate inventors in pursuit of the realization of an inspired thought?
do you feel sorry for *anyone* who is pursuing *anything* passionately?

balance has it's place. but balance also requires that certain levels of determination must be sacrificed.

maybe it's your driving determination to remain balanced, but someone else's to tip the scale in the extreme direction of discovering the outer limits of what is possible in some arena...which you can't discover when you're "balanced."

[Josh]

well said samina...

[fascination]

lol...here's to instability...clink

[Peaches]

I got more of an impression that BestTeacher was advocating keeping it within the realm of something you can afford. As in, perhaps if you're draining your kids' college funds or not saving for retirement, maybe you should stop and rethink priorities. Especially if the enjoyment you're getting out of it is purely from winning (and less on the enjoyment of dancing side).

Then again, perhaps I'm reading it wrong. *shrug*

I don't think there's anything wrong with doing something 100% and with passion. I don't think there's anything wrong with sacrificing for that passion. But I think it's important to make sure you're still actually passionate about it, and just not so caught up in it that you've forgotten to take stock of what you liked in the first place. (Seen that happen...not pretty...) And, too, I think some sacrifices are just beyond the pale in terms of being acceptable. Mostly that comes into play, IMO, when there are children involved.

But, hey...if you love it, and can afford it, and are willing and able to make reasonable sacrifices...knock yourself out!

[samina]

definitely you have to make it all work in the context of your life & commitments.

[Standarddancer]

definitely you have to make it all work in the context of your life & commitments.

Well said, can't agree more!!!

[Ithink]

I can only somewhat accurately calculate my lessons and practice expenses and guesstimate my comp/gear expenses and I would say I spend, at the most 10% of my gross income. But then again, I don't own multiple $3000 ballgowns and only probably buy new shoes once or at most twice a year. We compete about once a month, on average, practice 4-5 times a week (only two of those we have to pay for; the rest are at the gym membership to which I included in my estimate) and take a weekly lesson.

Given the earlier posts (70%!!!!???), I guess I won't feel bad if in the future I decide to spend more although having bought a house last year, the vast majority of my $ is now going to the mortgage, unfortunately, for the foreseeable future:( When you live at home with your parents like many of the US champ dancers do, it really frees up your income to be spent on dancing! No way could I allocate even 20% of mine to dancing!

[waltzguy]

spending so much on lessons (3 privates, (1 with DH, 1 latin and 1 standard)

basic question, what is DH ?

[tj]

basic question, what is DH ?
Designated Hitter - she must only dance in the American League. :wink:




(...actually I think it's for "Dear Hubby" or "Dance Hubby")

[dancinrina]

um... at the moment ~15% but I have a feeling that it will go up - although, if I get a new car then it will go down.

[wooh]

Designated Hitter - she must only dance in the American League. :wink:




And when the DH hits into a 6-4-3?:p

[emeralddancer]

I spend about 25% of my gross income thus far and I have not started to compete. But my gross is VERY VERY low! :D

I told hubby I would take on a second job before I gave up my dance. There is no room for negotiation at all! I also explained it will increase when I finally do compete.

All I can say is I am glad my hubby does not need my income for anything. LOL :D

[fascination]

amen

[emeralddancer]

LOL Fasc .... I am also very thankful his not needing my income because he has encouraged this monster he created. I mean he did say to go after my dream. So I am ... dove in head first with no looking back. Hahaa ....

[BestTeacher]

Hey,

well to reply to your comment....

In my view there is nothing wrong with having goals.... its the "falling in love with them", "attaching yourself", "seeking approval for a placement".... especially in a subjective sport like dancesport that leads to a big disappointment sometimes.

But you probably won't understand what I mean until you hit rock bottom....

Like I said there is nothing wrong with training hard, passionate dancing... I am all about it......

However spending money that you don't have just to get a place?
Everything becomes result oriented and you live your life with FEAR!

On the other hand, dancing as much as you can but spend money that you budget to it, an amount which allow you to still live a full life, now thats something I believe in strongly.




do you feel sorry for olympic athletes and those in pursuit of such a goal?
do you feel sorry for ballet and modern dancers who train ceaselessly?
do you feel sorry for passionate inventors in pursuit of the realization of an inspired thought?
do you feel sorry for *anyone* who is pursuing *anything* passionately?

balance has it's place. but balance also requires that certain levels of determination must be sacrificed.

maybe it's your driving determination to remain balanced, but someone else's to tip the scale in the extreme direction of discovering the outer limits of what is possible in some arena...which you can't discover when you're "balanced."

[kimsb2429]

Over fifty percent. I work to dance...and save up for graduation trip ;)

[saxash]

So here's my new thesis: dance is our pro-active way of staving off depression, rather than paying a therapist $XXX for 45 min sessions and another XX/month to the drug companies. I'm starting to think maybe Blue Cross should be covering this... ;) ;)

Nice!!! :)

I am living away from my hometown and my family doesnt even know that i'm spending on dance.. if they come to know then i'm dead:(

[Kitty]

Given the earlier posts (70%!!!!???), I guess I won't feel bad if in the future I decide to spend more although having bought a house last year, the vast majority of my $ is now going to the mortgage, unfortunately, for the foreseeable future:( When you live at home with your parents like many of the US champ dancers do, it really frees up your income to be spent on dancing! No way could I allocate even 20% of mine to dancing!

the dancers could take out a mortgage too.. but they choose to spend the $$$ on lessons.. it is a choice.
also a choice to delay having kids
etc

[Kitty]

do you feel sorry for olympic athletes and those in pursuit of such a goal?
do you feel sorry for ballet and modern dancers who train ceaselessly?
do you feel sorry for passionate inventors in pursuit of the realization of an inspired thought?
do you feel sorry for *anyone* who is pursuing *anything* passionately?

balance has it's place. but balance also requires that certain levels of determination must be sacrificed.

maybe it's your driving determination to remain balanced, but someone else's to tip the scale in the extreme direction of discovering the outer limits of what is possible in some arena...which you can't discover when you're "balanced."

that's right,
you cannot find out what you are really capable of
until you give it your 200%

[fascination]

right...and one can always scale back from insanity if they wish :)...personally I choose to think of all of the money I am not spending while I am busy practicing, taking lessons, working out and sleeping vast amounts due to exhaustion...have to say, when my visiting aunt was asking me what I do in my spare time and what shows I watch, my daughter chimed in and said "all I have seen mom do for the past two months is practice or sleep"...I was pretty proud

[dancerman]

about $1200 on lesssons and $1600 on competitions. That's a modest number.

I spend about 7% of income on dancing.

Oooooh, I did not add in cost of ballgown, shoes and makeup. That will make it more.
$1200-1600
Is that a month?

:doh:

[etp777]

$1200-1600
Is that a month?

:doh:

I hop so, becuase if $2800/mo is reasonable, than what I'mspending is positively miniscule. :)

[dancerman]

heya guys!

i just want to say.... that I think its important to stay balanced.......I almost feel sorry for someone who takes too many lessons per week....these are usually very serious pro/am students...

I tell my students to do as many lessons and as many competitions as they can/want to the point where they don't feel bad about it!

So I think if you feel like its taking money out of your pocket to the point where you feel its taking away from you "enjoying your life journey at this moment", then ask yourself is it really worth it?

I find that for many people, when it sinks in for them how much they really are spending, together with getting disappointed with some result.....they either take a huge break or quit all together.. and its sad that it has to come to that point.

I think it should be a luxury for people...meaning they spend only the extra money..this way they will be able to enjoy it forever....

I really like this thread but only decided to read it because It is Sunday morning and the newspaper bored me.
I must say that when I started at a franchise studio (Sorry if I offend), more was better. You never had enough lessons or a long enough "contract". I became so engrossed in dancing that keeping track wasn't that important. I was getting asked to start a new contract halfway through my current one. (I still have all the receipts in a file folder, but after 2 years I just can't bring myself to add them up).
Because of that, and other economic events, I now find that the heavy investment in the beginning now restricts how much I can do now.
I totally agree with Best Teacher and a lot of other posts. If I had started in moderation and built it gradually it could have been spread out more.
You need to keep it within your own affordable income area. Once you travel outside of that you risk the fear or guilt and that takes away from the enjoyment.
I dance because I love it, and now realize to be able to continue that indefintely requires a certain financial discipline. Once the well is dry, so to speak, you go thirsty. Realizing it before it got to that level was extremely important to me and a great lesson in humility.
I think you need to follow your dreams, but be guided by your common sense.

[dancerman]

I hop so, becuase if $2800/mo is reasonable, than what I'mspending is positively miniscule. :)

Sorry I just couldn't resist.

[fascination]

I hop so, becuase if $2800/mo is reasonable, than what I'mspending is positively miniscule. :)
um...can't speak for amiko but um... yes...