Okay to Take Semi-Private Lessons with Another Girl? (I'm a girl too.)

L

lalumna

New Member
I've been lurking for a month or so and have found so much wonderful information to help me with my newfound hobby of ballroom dancing.

I have an issue that I wasn't able to find specific information about, and I wanted to ask some advice.

I've been taking private lessons at a chain-style studio. I'm wrapping up the ten newcomer lessons which have cost me about $47 per hour. I just found out yesterday that if I continue to the bronze phase, the price jumps to $70 per hour. This hourly rate is out of my price range, but if I had a partner, I could split the cost. Unfortunately, I do not have an available partner of the opposite sex. My sister-in-law, however, is available and interested in taking lessons. Has anyone ever taken semi-private lessons with someone of the same sex? Have any teachers out there instructed two students of the same sex? I'm just not sure how the instructor would effectively teach us together. It seems like my sister-in-law would need to do private lessons on her own to catch up to the place where I am, but I don't know if she'd be willing to do that. I don't want to feel like I'm not getting my money's worth (even at $35/hour) by sharing my lessons with another person.

Thanks for thinking about this!
 
there is no problem with doing this as long as one of you is actually okay with adapting to taking the role of the lead...that is really the key issue to my mind...if your interest is technique and good dancing that is not an issue but if your interest is being able to dance well at socials doing the ladies' part then one of you is going to get sort of short-changed...but personally, I am planning on learning the lead's part more and more as I think it will help my process...
 
I did lessons with another woman for a while. Both of were dancing as followers. The pro would switch off dancing with each of us in turn. The one not dancing with pro would practice the step or whatever on her own until it was her turn with him. We even did a "threesome" for a showcase.

If it's the only way to get lessons, I think it would be worth doing.
 
I'd ask the studio for their recommendation, too.

Before doing that, though, you might have your cousin sign up for the same newcomer package that you got. You might also ask if you can get any lesson credit for bringing someone else into the studio.
 
Several women in my studio take lessons in pairs, usually two women followers working with one pro teacher. It's a way to keep the lessons more affordable, and get more individual attention than you would in a larger group class.
 
If one (or both of you) decide to lead, you can also compete in same-sex competitions. They are growing in number across the country (not sure where you're from lalumna).

And welcome.
 
Thanks for the welcome. I'm from Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. I hadn't thought about actually competing with my sister-in-law. That's an interesting idea. My current goal would be to work up to pro/am competition with my instructor. (Although at the moment the very thought of competing at all is unnerving. I'm still a long way from that.)

I was thinking that we would both learn as followers. But I think, as Warren mentioned, I'll suggest that she go through some lessons before we start taking lessons together.

The studio didn't seem too keen on my finding a female partner to split my lessons with, but I'll check with them again. My schedule only allows me to take private lessons in the daytime, and the only people I could think of with a similar schedule to mine were women. I asked the studio if they knew of any men looking for a partner and they didn't. It's good to hear that some of you know women who team up with a pro to make lessons more affordable.
 
If the studio isn't keen on your sharing lessons, you might want to check around with other studios. Franchise studios are sometimes more rigid and tend to follow a very set syllabus, with certain things covered in defined stages of learning. Independent studios/teachers will often be more flexible and adapt to whatever level you are on (which can be a good thing if they are good teachers and not if not).

A ten-lesson gap between you and the other woman is not really so much, in the long run. If she can't take the private lessons herself to catch up, I'd still go ahead. Even if you are repeating steps you've already been introduced to, there is always something more to learn about them.
 
lalumna said:
The studio didn't seem too keen on my finding a female partner to split my lessons with, but I'll check with them again.
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I bet the studio would rather sell shared lessons to the two of you than sell nothing (because you really can't afford the $70 lessons).

The way I see it, you'd get quite a bit more from a shared lesson than from a group class and slightly more than half the value of a shared lesson (because you'll be watching and practicing while the instructor is dancing with your sister-in-law). So, for example, you'll get more from a weekly shared lesson than from a private lesson every other week.

One other thing to consider is whether there are more affordable options in town. The franchise studios don't always have the best prices. On the other hand, some franchise studios include the price of a private lesson the opportunity to attend group lessons and parties. This business model, by the way, might provide another reason for a studio to be reluctant to have two followers share a private lesson.
 
Welcome to DF, lalumna! I think splitting lessons might be a pretty good idea even with two disparate ability levels. The instructor can work with each of you in turn. While he's teaching the other person, you're practicing what you've just learned. Then it's her turn to practice while your instructor checks back on how you've been practicing and maybe gives you something new to chew on. A lot of times, I've thought I could be much more productive sharing a two-lesson slot with another couple.

On another note, I'm with waltzgirl. I'm kinda leery about a studio that would designate a "bronze phase" for lessons. People learn at different paces. And dance technique isn't really something you can boil down and say "that's silver technique" or "that's gold technique". Steps are just steps.
 
lalumna said:
Thanks for the welcome. I'm from Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. I hadn't thought about actually competing with my sister-in-law. That's an interesting idea. My current goal would be to work up to pro/am competition with my instructor. (Although at the moment the very thought of competing at all is unnerving. I'm still a long way from that.)
Click to expand...
If your reluctance to compete is because of mental preparedness, that's fine. Just don't avoid competition because you think you don't dance well enough (it's almost like those people who won't go to the gym until they're in shape enough ;) ). Whatever your dancing ability, there is a level for you to compete in.
 
Welcome to DF lalumna!

You've gotten a lot of good advice so far. Just wanted to add that I've split lessons before with another follower and we concentrated mostly on technique in those lessons, it worked out fine.
 
I think those are excellent advices, "threesome" lesson. Personally, I wouldn't mind learning the lead... mainly because I hope to teach more some day. :) Let us know how it all turns out!
 
I think this is the kind of thing that depends a lot on the teacher - and as a result, another example of why it is better to have a teacher who has the autonomy to customize arrangements with their student(s) in order to find the best combination of what the students need and can afford with what the teacher is personally willing to do.
 
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