fascination
Site Moderator
very sad ...really very very sad...makes me angry
Taking classes at Arthur Murray
- Thread starter Donchik
- Start date
soccerdancer
New Member
I am fairly new to the whole AM scene. I think the world of my teacher and wil be etenally graeful for what she has taught me and how I am much more poised and confident than I ever was.. Unfortunately, she and other employees of the studio are scared to death of getting fired for violating their non-fraternization policies for something as simple as having a dance at a night club at 10:03 pm (they are forbidden from dancing with students after 10pm, even in these "off site" functions) or sharing a cup of coffee to discuss anything...even dance. They claim this is to prevent "favoritism." In my opinion, they treat their teachers like little children because they can get away with doing so, My teacher has been at this for two years and has gone above and beyond the norm to make herself a better teacher and dancer. Unfortunately, AM seems to get their hooks into these 20-something folks and takes away any chance at having any sort of normal social life outside of AM studios and competitions, I guess in a crappy job market, teachers are reluctant to walk away to another independent studio, but I can see why they may be tempted to do so. They are under a great deal of pressure to get students to pay extra for "coaching" ($175/hr in addition to the normal cost of the lesson) and for superfluous extras such as AM "team": jackets at $95 each, etc, etc.
All being said, I specialize in Country & Western dancing and did very will in my first DanceORama, but from what I have read, am a bit skeptical now about judges grade "inflation." The gal they set me up for with privates loves C&W and has made me a very accomplished social dancer as well. I often get asked to dance by ladies when I go out to my favorite watering hole, so I have no complaints at all about her and what I have learned. I am concerned, however, that I may be getting held back from going to a much higher level, not by my teacher, but by the AM "system" in which they emphasize things such as timing changes on a two step (you never see anyone do that at a C&W dance hall) instead of learning weaves and more complicated underarm turns that are not only fun, but impress the ladies as well. Fortunately, I have persuaded my teacher to help me on this on at least one thing, which I did use in DanceORama, but only in the "open" category. I cannot use anything not in the AM syllabus in closed category in their system.
The fact that an AM instructor couldn't dance at a non-AM event such as a wedding is not unusual because he/she could be fired for this. Now, whether or not these clauses are actually enforceable under various state employment laws is another story.
Wolfgang
Member
My experiences at AM:
The overwhelming majority of regulars are baby-boomer age or above, my guess is that most of the younger crowd cannot afford their 'contracts'.
Wouldn't surprise me if some people simply keeled over from sticker shock in their 'office' when they bring out The Book.......
I think I may have gotten lucky insofar as the teacher they assigned to me originally was - and remains to this day - the by far best dance teacher I've ever come across.
Extremely talented not only as a dancer but also as a teacher (!!) - I could learn more from her in 45 minutes than from all other dance teachers I've met put together in 6 months - very enthusiastic - she would just keep throwing moves at me until my mind was basically fried - and, as an extra bonus, quite the hottie.
I also learned a lot from the owner of the studio, who wasn't around very much and only taught lessons in special cases, very knowledgeable especially about the history and background of all the different dances.
On the flip side, signing a contract with AM seemed a little like being held prisoner in Dracula's castle, the 'brides' being very alluring, but, at the end of the day, basically just bloodsucking fiends.
They had another teacher, who I had occasionally when my regular teacher wasn't available, who was such a stickler for form that she would just stop dead in her tracks when anything was slightly off.
Made for some very jerky, frustrating, stop-and-go type lessons.
Think 405 southbound on a Friday afternoon.
Another one of their teachers would have rather cut off his own tongue with kids' scissors than teach anyone anything he wasn't dead certain they had paid for 5 times over.
I recently saw another one of their teachers at a local venue, looked like he was out with his partner/girlfriend and what may have been an AM customer couple, I think he's a Salsa 'specialist' and his Country leading skills seemed....well, not very dance teacher-like.......
Looked more like just some guy on his first Country outing.
A couple of other teachers they had also didn't seem to me to be nearly good enough to warrant spending what averages out to $ 130-some-odd per 45 minute session.
The overwhelming majority of regulars are baby-boomer age or above, my guess is that most of the younger crowd cannot afford their 'contracts'.
Wouldn't surprise me if some people simply keeled over from sticker shock in their 'office' when they bring out The Book.......
I think I may have gotten lucky insofar as the teacher they assigned to me originally was - and remains to this day - the by far best dance teacher I've ever come across.
Extremely talented not only as a dancer but also as a teacher (!!) - I could learn more from her in 45 minutes than from all other dance teachers I've met put together in 6 months - very enthusiastic - she would just keep throwing moves at me until my mind was basically fried - and, as an extra bonus, quite the hottie.
I also learned a lot from the owner of the studio, who wasn't around very much and only taught lessons in special cases, very knowledgeable especially about the history and background of all the different dances.
On the flip side, signing a contract with AM seemed a little like being held prisoner in Dracula's castle, the 'brides' being very alluring, but, at the end of the day, basically just bloodsucking fiends.
They had another teacher, who I had occasionally when my regular teacher wasn't available, who was such a stickler for form that she would just stop dead in her tracks when anything was slightly off.
Made for some very jerky, frustrating, stop-and-go type lessons.
Think 405 southbound on a Friday afternoon.
Another one of their teachers would have rather cut off his own tongue with kids' scissors than teach anyone anything he wasn't dead certain they had paid for 5 times over.
I recently saw another one of their teachers at a local venue, looked like he was out with his partner/girlfriend and what may have been an AM customer couple, I think he's a Salsa 'specialist' and his Country leading skills seemed....well, not very dance teacher-like.......
Looked more like just some guy on his first Country outing.
A couple of other teachers they had also didn't seem to me to be nearly good enough to warrant spending what averages out to $ 130-some-odd per 45 minute session.
Aura
Active Member
My first pro suddenly left without saying good-bye. It hurt like heck, but I found out later that he needed to leave dancing for a better-paying job to take care of his young family. Talking to his wife, who's still at the studio, I've learned that he really, really misses dancing. But, I ache for the people that just suddenly get left in the lurch by their pros, whether its over a no fraternization policy, or suddenly leaving without saying good-bye.
Elaina
New Member
I also am a student at AM and fairly new to the AM scene. I live in the Washington DC metro area and there are a lot of dance studios. With my work schedule, I wanted something close to home and I wanted opportunities to expand my dancing; this is why I chose AM, the studio is close to me and is open late (I commute 45 minutes each way to work and I don't get home until 6:00PM), and they teach latin dancing. I wanted to improve my salsa dancing and I didn't want to have to rely on friends to go out dancing with me.
I really like my teacher. He's a great dancer, great teacher, friendly, and funny. He understands my sarcastic sense of humor.
Now, I will say, I don't necessarily agree with the fact that you have to other dances. I didn't want to learn any of the smooth dances, but I added waltz and foxtrot to my curriculum. I don't regret it because now I'm a more diverse dancer, but I'd prefer to focus on the latin dances first, which we do mostly. I think about the students who only want to learn one or two dances, but I guess if they are focused on doing that, they can go elsewhere.
After reading other posts about AM, it definitely opened my eyes. Yes, it is expensive. And dancing is a business, I realize that. I haven't felt any pressure to do anything that I don't want to do, and I can stop taking lessons at any time and have the money that I have already paid refunded. I've decided that once if this becomes stressful, I will look elsewhere; I have enough stress in my life already and dancing is a stress relief for me. But for now I feel like I'm getting what I'm paying for.
I'm sad for some of the negative experiences with AM, so far, my experience has been positive. I have noticed that my instructor has tried to get me to come in for more private lessons since I've signed up for Freestyles, I declined because I don't have the time, and it's not in my budget. If it continues, I will speak up, but so far, no pressure. I signed up for Freestyles because I wanted to try it out, it was a personal goal, no pressure from my instructor.
I'm also thankful to have met others with the same interests. Some of the other students started a dancing group and we go out dancing together; I love this. The AM studio that I attend has a wide age range, we have a few teens, I'm in my late 20s, and up to the 60s. I'd say the average age is 35-40. Everyone is nice so I don't care about age at all. I never feel like an outsider.
Thank you all for your comments! I am definitely more informed. I'm new to the dancing community and I appreciate everyone's wisdom.
Any recommendations for awesome dance studios in the Baltimore/DC Metro area are welcomed! I'm especially interested in latin dances.
Cheers!
GGinrhinestones
Well-Known Member
Welcome to DF Elaina!
I don't know much about the studios in the DC/Baltimore area, but I know there are some very good top level pros there outside of the AM system. I am sure there are experts here who can point you in the right direction.
In the meantime, if you're happy at AM then don't let the negative comments get to you. I have never been part of the chain system and have no intention to do so, but I do know there are some very good pros and amazing dancers who work through that system, so it isn't all bad.
I don't know much about the studios in the DC/Baltimore area, but I know there are some very good top level pros there outside of the AM system. I am sure there are experts here who can point you in the right direction.
In the meantime, if you're happy at AM then don't let the negative comments get to you. I have never been part of the chain system and have no intention to do so, but I do know there are some very good pros and amazing dancers who work through that system, so it isn't all bad.
freeageless
Active Member
Elaina, I too welcome you to Dance Forums. I hope that you will find it as helpful as I have. There are some real experts who post here. I also just sent you a private message regarding your question concerning dance studios in the DC area.
WildE
Member
I am 45, at least 50lbs overweight, have a knee and ankle issue and I have almost matched via six 1 hr group lessons the level of dance of folks ages 25-70 have done in 1-2 yrs of group lessons. I would be careful with your gross generalizations about us middle aged folks. Talent and capacity to be a quick learner isn't as agist as you think. Unfortunately you must have been with a slower to grasp group and/or lousy instructor.[/QUOTE]
fascination
Site Moderator
realize that you are responding to a thread that is 3 years old
....and welcome to df
....and welcome to df
WildE
Member
Thank you. Yes traipsing thru the archives for topics of pertinent interest aka tall partners, evaluating tall instructors, elusive big shoes, plus sized dancers, dancing with pre-existing knee injuries, am/am and group lessons vs private...the least of my worries is clothing at the moment. Oh and then there are questions about the actual dancing
