When learning how to ballroom dance, new dancers have several decisions to make: which dances to learn first, whether they want to learn American or International style, and whether they wish to compete. They also need to decide whether to take group or private ballroom dance lessons.
Why to Choose Private Ballroom Dance Lessons
The best reason to choose private dance lessons over group classes is that the lessons is purely structured to the needs of that student. The teaching goes at that dancer’s pace, whether they learn slower or faster than most people. The student is able to work on what they and their teacher think they should work on that day, rather than following a set curriculum.
Another good reason for choosing private ballroom dance lessons is that group lessons often do not provide as high a level of detail as is needed to become a highly proficient dancer—of a level that is needed for competitions or even performances. While group classes are good for learning patterns, private lessons allow for learning all of the nuances of technique that allow the dancer to truly shine.
Things to Know about Private Ballroom Lessons
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when choosing to take private ballroom dance lessons. The first is the cost: private lessons cost considerably more than group classes, ranging from $35 to $120 per hour, depending on the area of the country and qualifications of the instructor. However, many dancers agree that they are well worth the cost for those who wish to learn to dance very well. It is also important to note that most private lessons, while billed by the “hour”, are not actually a full hour long—they are usually 50 or 55 minutes for scheduling purposes.
The other consideration is that private lessons can be very intense. In group classes, the teacher is trying to help anywhere from 10 to 30 or 40 people all at once, so each person gets little individual attention. In a private lesson, the teacher sees everything the student is doing and is likely to have an opinion on it. This can be frustrating at first, but this is a great way to improve quickly.
What to Expect During Private Dance Lessons
Private ballroom dance lessons will often start with an evaluation, where the teacher will watch the students dance and talk to them about their goals and what they hope to get out of the lessons. If the students have no dance experience, the teacher will likely suggest a plan for meeting the student’s goals and then start with the basics.
Since there are no other dancers to worry about that hour belongs to the private lesson student. They can ask as many questions as they need to, and the teacher will explain things as needed until the student understands the concept. The student usually has a say in what dance, pattern or concept to work on that day. However, the teacher most likely has a lot of experience in teaching, so they will advise the student on what they should concentrate on in order to meet their goals.
Ballroom dancing is a sport that can be learned on a low level with just a few lessons, or dancers can choose to take it as far as they wish. For anything beyond basic social dancing, private ballroom dance lessons are an absolute necessity. To learn more about group ballroom dance lessons, click here.
