How much do you spend on dancing each week?

[MadamSamba]

Various commitments mean I've been away from dancing too much for the past few weeks. Regrettably, I've only danced a handful of times during the month, but I've noticed, I'm saving a substantial amount of money each week and can put much more into my bill book.

How much do you spend on dancing each week/month?

I did a quick tally and realised that at the height of my obsession (I'm kinda cured now) I was spending upwards of $150 (petrol, class fees, social fees, private lessons etc), which is appalling given that I should probably have put that money into my credit card.

Obviously it didn't last too long, but I recently heard of one woman (she's an obscenely rich widow) who spends more than three hundred bucks each week on dancing and has done so for more than three years!!!!

Another family (mum, dad and daughter) I know attends two socials each, each week, and each member has a private lesson. That, according to my rough tally, is about $210 each week. Wow!

I wouldn't take back a single cent and if I had more money, I'd gladly spend it dancing, but I was wondering how much you guys spend on dancing a week and, more importantly, do you have it to spare or do you have to forego something else?

[GalacticDancer44M]

I'm in a dance lesson program still, so I've been spending alot. Taking 2 private lessons a week along with groups. The groups are included in the package, but its roughly $110 a lesson! Outragous I know. I'm just finishing up the Bronze 1 program, then I'll look for some cheaper alternatives. Any instructors in the Detroit area that teach on the side?

[Genesius Redux]

I do one lesson per week, which is an hour and a half, and I spend $350 per month on them. Honestly, I don't think $110 per hour is outrageous, depending on where you're taking and who you're taking from. The going rate in Nashville starts at around $65 per hour--you're dealing with expert knowledge, which is relatively cheap considering what the hourly wage is for most other independent professionals--lawyers, psychologists, auto mechanics.

When I train dogs, I charge $500 for a series of five 45-minute sessions plus a two hour initial consult. There was a time when I charged as little as $150 for the same deal, and then I started asking myself why I didn't have respect for my own time.

Considering that someone who graduates at the bottom of his class in some second-rate law school and who has been inside an actual courtroom maybe three times in his whole life is going to be charging $100 an hour right at the beginning of his questionable career, getting first-rate dance instruction from someone who's out there on the circuit for $65-$110 per hour is pretty cheap!

Cheers,

Genesius

[Sagitta]

No privates at the moment. Right now 25 dollars a week on group lessons (2 for rueda and one for salsa and ballroom club on Monday night). In addition money for balls/ dances etc, which varies from week to week. It ranges from 0 to about 20/30 dollars. Next month when my ballroom teacher, who winters in Florida, comes back, it might increase to about 50 dollars a week for group lessons - not more then that.

[LindyQuest]

I spend between $20 and $30 a week, which unfortunately is still a bit above my budget. :( That includes two social dances, and two group lessons, but I hope (eventually) when I have more money to spend, that I'll be able to take more lessons.

Well, I also spend about $600 a few times a year for workshops, though, I love to travel, so I try to go to as many weekend workshops as I can.

[Blondie]

Interesting how some people in this forum say that paying $100 and more per hour for a weekly dance lesson is okay with them. Personally, I think that is way too high priced.
With a background in music, particularly piano, I have observed that a good going rate for private piano teachers--one on one with the student in a weekly 1 hour lesson--is $50 to $60. Teachers with less education will charge less than that. Currently I teach classes at the college level. If I choose to resume private piano teaching, I will charge around $50 for a 1 hour lesson. (I have a B.M. and M.M. in music with piano concentration).

I take weekly dance lessons from a very professional teacher who does not overcharge. This teacher's rates are reasonable. I think that students of dance or in any musical discipiline should not be expected to pay exhorbitant fees when we are in it for the long haul, week after week, year after year.

:)

[pygmalion]

Is there an option for "way more than I should?" :wink: :lol:

[Sagitta]

No. You have to confess! Come completely clean! :wink:

[ShyDancer]

Ohh I dont really keep track :lol: :lol: :lol:

Umm ok, $60 for a private, $10 each for 2 social nights, $16 ea for 2 classes, $5 for another... thats $118 :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

I didnt realise it was that much! Oh well, I love it and I can afford it so why not?

[Sakura]

Assuming that I'm getting the two private lessons I'm allotted (one from my parents and one from me), and excluding the cost for gas for the car we go in, I myself spend $20 a week for two weeks to get one $40.00, 50 min. lesson, and my parents do the same for my other lesson... Rawr...

:? Remind me that when I win the lottery, after taxes, half of that money is going into the bank, and the other half is heading straight for dance...... :oops: I need more dance!!!!

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[GalacticDancer44M]

My private lessons at one of the big franchises is only 45 minutes long. Not even an hour. I took a few lessons at an independent studio in Florida and it was around $70 for a full hour. Michigan is too high. But, I'm sticking with it for now, but I'll be shopping when my program is finished.

[pygmalion]

Hmm. Myfranchise studio lesson were advertised at 45 minutes, but were really only 40 minutes. Chek your contract. :wink: I'm hoping they give you the full value, but make sure.

[Swing Kitten]

Currently I just have to pay for gas to and from my weekly dance (the one that always seems to get cancelled) and occasionally I may go out on a friday or Saturday which would cost me $10-$15. There's a teacher here (about a 2 hour drive) who I would like to take a private from who will charge me an excellent rate (there are benefits for being a poor student)... hopefully I can arrange something soon

When I get out to CA, the weekly dance I'd attend is $5

I'm fairly frugel by nature-- I couldn't pay more than $20 a week regularly and feel good about that... I'm all for treating myself on occasion of course and saving up to do so.

[salsachinita]

I don't attend any classes so the only cost involved directly would be club admission, which I often don't get charged :wink: . So, maybe $15-30 a week max......?

Then there's fuel for the car, $30-35 for the week.

The real killer is when I go shopping for salsa clothes :shock: ....! Can't even estimate that one!

[salsero-Romania]

Interesting topic.....more difference between us .........
i'm from Romania and my salary per month it's 200$
My school give us (me and my partener) .....some around 200-250$/month ....we are salsa theachers in our town....


My salsa cost:
Rent of space for salsa classes: 100$/month
My mobile phone ( i talking with students very much): 50$/month
Internet connection: 25$/month
Salsa Nights in our only Salsa Club (including gas, drinks ...entrance for us is 0 ): 75$/month
1 pair of shoes per month(because i dance very much... around 25 hours per week) : 70$ ....manual manufacturer

Conclusion:
1. In my country me and my partener we don't have a theacher which knows salsa better
2. At workshops in other country..... we don't have money is very expensive for us
3. Video tapes: almost 30 $ (not included shipping) isn't a high sum but i don't have idea which video tape is very good for us ...so .....problem
4. We have just job and Salsa ......:)

After my opinion you are very lucky because you have many clubs , many famous teachers ....many difference style ......many Dj's (we have just 2 DJ -latino..aren't true SALSA DJ )

Our dreams!?....we hope to participate at a Salsa Congress...doesn't matter where.....or we want to organize in Romania a first Salsa Congress.....there are our dreams...:(((

sorry for my language but ..i don't know very well english

[Sakura]

The real killer is when I go shopping for salsa clothes :shock: ....! Can't even estimate that one!

:shock: Eek! Starting to feel a bit scared of going shopping for dance clothes for the first time! (Whenever that is!) :wink:

No problem about the English, salsero-Romania! You were perfectly understandable! But man your expenses are killer! :? :shock:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[SDsalsaguy]

Ditto what SK said salsero-Romania, your English is just fine! And thank G-d that you and our other non-English speaking natives can use English so well, because most of us would be 100% clueless if we needed to use your language(s)!* :shock: :lol:



* One of the great tragedies of the educatiuonal system, at least here in America.

[Sakura]

* One of the great tragedies of the educatiuonal system, at least here in America.

You're telling me, SD! While other countries are learning three languages, starting very early, any of us are lucky if we get one -- either by schools offering any languages or by how late they offer it. Some people just can't learn languages because their minds have closed off to them... :evil: Makes me angry.... Learning Japanese would have been so much easier if they'd: 1. offered it here, 2. offered it earlier in the years....

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

(PS- Thanks for putting up with my rant! :wink: )

[SDsalsaguy]

Don't forget that even the way most language classes are taught here is fairly awful... you can conjugate verbs out the wazoo, but actually speak? :shock:

[Sakura]

*sweatdrops* Conjugating some of my French verbs can still be difficult... Heh, heh! 8) (Don't even get me started on "l'imparfait"... :evil: Rawr...) I'm getting better on speaking it though. Madame makes us do our current events entirely in French now, though as for most speaking things, if I want to do a complex sentence, I still have to put it together in my head before saying it... :oops: Bad I know, but for third year, I'm proud of some of my sentences! :)

I'm hoping that once I spend a year in France in college (six years of French schooling by that time), my improv. sentences will be much better.

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[Sagitta]

Continuing way off-topic. That's been my one regret - that we only spoke English at home!! My parents know Portuguese, konkani....and only spoke English. :cry:

Have picked up a smattering of languages since then, with a few words here and there. Should spend more time on that though. Spanish / Portuguese coming up to understand all those salsa songs!! :)

Back on topic!! I feel for yous salsero-Romania! It's good to know that yopu are spreading the salsa fever in Eastern Europe, though. :D

[Sakura]

Continuing way off-topic.

:D Nothin' wrong with goin' off-topic for a bit! Learning Spanish/Portugese might be good for understanding those lovely Latin songs, but that'll come later for me, if at all. For now, I'm set listening and dancing to them -- no doubt that they're super cool though! :D :wink:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:

[salsero-Romania]

No problem about the English, salsero-Romania! You were perfectly understandable! But man your expenses are killer! :? :shock:

so....my life is salsa .....my expenses are very high ...but this is life....my friends (non-salseros) tell me :"you are crazy!"
my students question me:" Why your classes are very cheap?" (we teach for 15 $/month including 5 classes/week - ...1 classes=120 minutes)....and i answer: " because my target life is: Very,very many true salseros in my country " and maybe in next year(s) a second Salsa club in our town....now we have just one.....it's crazy.......
maybe ....sometimes ......i ask me "why am i so crazy about salsa?"......but when i dance ...i have the answer :)))
when i dance and i teach i feel that i alive ...i have blood in my body....sometimes ...i don't know ....i feel something special when i dance ....i feel women almost me ....i feel LIFE......i feel Salsa......don't know ..... my feelings about salsa is very complicated.......when i dance Salsa i feel i am i .......(hope u stand this)
maybe salsa for me is to be or not be ...it's not a joke......
maybe after some years sure .....i'll dance salsa......maybe when i'll have 50 years old will dance salsa ......

maybe this year or next years in my country or in your country i'll know you personal and you'll stand what am I......it's complicated.......

see ya...........

[Sakura]

when i dance Salsa i feel i am i .......(hope u stand this) ... maybe salsa for me is to be or not be ...it's not a joke......
......it's complicated.......

I've not gotten to learn Salsa yet ( :evil: :x Rawr!), but, for the Dance that I have learned -- I understand perfectly! All of us here at DF (or at least us raving lunatics! :wink: ), I'm sure, share your sentiments on the Dance.

We are at our best when we can connect with our partners, the music, and our soul, during a dance. And we are at our worst when we are bound to the state of motionlessness, when all of our connections are stolen from us; but... not entirely. For when we can not move our feet, our legs, our hips, our arms, ourselves, we are always dancing in our head, and nothing can take that away from us. When the Dance is with us, we are; and when it is not, we are not.

Deep inside of us, the feeling is all the same: no matter what our nationalities, or the dancese we are dancing, the feeling is simple, and it is that we truly know we are alive.

Sakura Kitty :kitty: