Strictly Ballroom

[Dancer]

I was just wondering if anyone knows anything about or has any opinions about the Strictly Ballroom dance studio or the people that work there.

[Another dancer]

Strictly ballroom is the first dance studio in Lubbock that created interest in ballroom dancing from the community. That we have to thank it for. However, it also was the first to frustrate people who simply want to learn to dance but in order to do so, you pay large sums of money ( of course after the bait of cheap specials to lure you in)in long-term contracts. Once the money is there, what is a teacher's motivation to teach you well? I guess it takes two to tango. The world they say has two kinds of people, one who knowingly takes advantage of and the other who allows to be taken advantage of. No one to blame. Quite frankly, there are innocent bystanders who get hit along the way. to me though, if you are having fun, that is okay. But I stopped having fun when I realized that my dance instructor only had 2 weeks ahead of me in dancing career. Maybe that is how all dance studios are. Do you have some like that in Corpus Christi?

[Dancer 72]

To another Dancer:
You made some interesting points that I would like to comment on.

Firstly, about the specials that "lure you in". This is a common business practice that almost everyone uses. Some sort of special to get potential customers in to the business. Ever hear of the $100 down and buy a new car ad?

Second, once you purchase lessons you sign a contract, which not only binds you to the amount of money owed, but also binds the studio to teaching those hours. So a lack of teacher's motivation to teach should result in a teacher transfer! It's your money, you call the shots.

Lastly, about the teacher who was only up on you two weeks. Let me ask you this, would you take beginner lessons from a person who had been taking lessons for 10 months? Because that's the minimum you get when you take beginner dancing. Instructors go through a minimum of two weeks of training to teach only beginning steps. Four hours a day equals 40 hours of training, and that's not counting the ones who are dedicated and train more than 4 a day.

The average student takes one lesson per week, which equals 40 lessons in 10 months time. So a 10 month student is essentially the same as a brand new instructor hitting the floor. Now that instructor can and does train from that point forward, getting even more than your 10 month student.

I know most people think a dance instructor is someone who has spent their whole life dancing. But, be truthful to yourself. Most who have spent their whole life dancing are now at a competitive level, and they alone charge upwards of $250 per hour just to coach you.

And to add in about the price, check with studios around the nation, namely the franchised studios. You will expect to pay $80-$100 per hour minimum for those. Strictly Ballroom is privately owned and can therefore offer lower prices.

[Love to Dance]

Actually, Another Dancer, you have really hit it square on the head with Strictly Ballroom. I too have experienced what you are speaking about, and know of other places that are still run that way. Lubbock, however, now has another place to learn how to dance for a lot less money. There is a place called D'Venue that opens on Monday night where independent instructors teach a series of group classes. Then on Fridays, like Strictly, they open at 7pm and run until 12am. Unlike Strictly though, there are no instructors pressuring anyone to sign up, and you are allowed to attend whether you take lessons from any of the independent instructors there or not. I think it is only $10 a person and they occasionally do a 30 minute class during the night if anyone requests it. With these instructors being independent, they only have to pay a floor fee to the facility and then can therefore charge significantly less than full-service studios. I rather enjoy it here and have not had to pay anything up front, as a matter of fact, I pay for my lessons by the lesson as I take them and they are only $50 an hour.

[A dance instructor]

Strickly ballroom of lubbock is a place to get riped off. Your instructor is not paid very well, and probably doesent know much more then you. Infact they probably learnd what they are going to teach you that day. I can only say that about Stricktly Ballroom of lubbock. I could say so much more but i will not, but if you want to dance that bad i guess it might be worth it, if i were you i would just buy a tap online or dvd and learn from it all five dances and then some extra; and guess what you wont have to sell your leg for the extra.

[Dance Instructor 2]

I have been teaching for almost 10 years now. I do understand some of the concerns students feel when they are puchasing their lessons but like "Dancer 72" I would like to make some points that many of you may not realize, especially "A dance instructor", probably one who got fired from Strictly Ballroom. First, lets start with "A dance instructor" comments. You may have lost your job due to lack of intelligence in not only by the process by which a studio runs, because you probably just started and perhaps your lack in ability to spell words correctly. You might wanna work on that.
Now, like someone earlier said... if you have a dance instructor whom you found out later was a fairly new instructor.. did you not learn something from that person. If you are still learning isn't that what you are their for?
Next, the reason that dance studios offer inexpensive dance specials in the beginning is only for YOUR benefit. As a new student you are able to try something out at a reasonable rate and decide from that whether or not it is something that you would like to fully commit to. You would probably complain a little louder if we opt for our new students to come out and pay $50 an hour without you knowing if it's even something you enjoy. Now don't you think that a special is fair to offer for newcomers?
Also, you may feel pressured to continue to a larger package(which usually consists of more money for more hours, more patterns and more technique) but teachers need to know whether or not you want to continue so they can schedule themselves accordingly. I'm sorry to burst your bubbles but your not the only students walking through the studio doors interested in dancing and if you choose not to continue for any reason there is always someone there who is ready to take your place.
Now as for more money issues. Most studios encourage students to continue if they TRULY want to learn how to become good dancers and will do so by providing payment arrangements on programs to help make it easier and more comfortable for you to reach your goals as a dancer.
One last thing that really irritates me is students who feel they have really gotten over on the "system" by taking a bundle of inexpensive group classes instead. HA! Every teacher and professional in the dance world knows you will not learn as much or retain as much in a group setting.
Teachers in a class have to teach to the slowest student so 8 out of 10 times your standing there day dreaming your precious $10 right out the window.
Private instruction, group class and practicing is the most efficient way to learn how to dance and dance well. So if you want to fake your way though the dance student world, go right ahead. But I feel I have very valid points that will get you thinking twice about the way you feel about dance studios. Look...you will get what you pay for. Something that will last a lifetime, if you do it the smart way, so don't waste your time any longer and "KEEP DANCING".

[Been Around the Block]

Ya know, I find it funny that "Dance Instructor 2" happens to be from Tulsa. There also just so happens to be a studio there that is very involved with Strictly Ballroom. Even so, you do make valid points. However, no one should be told that they MUST spend a minimum of over a thousand dollars at one time in order to learn how to dance. I've seen many studios, and I know that Strictly Ballroom does not operate in a professional manner in which the customer or the dancing comes first.

[wayoverpriced]

I sure am glad that I am not the only one that thinks Strictly Ballroom is over priced and a big rip-off. There are tons of places where you can get a lot better instruction for a lot less price!

[honest answer]

I dont want to go to any of these places after hearing all of you argue and cut down each other. I think I'll find some place more peaceful.

[Concerned]

Who owns Strictly Ballroom in Lubbock, Texas?

[Concerned]

Who owns Strictly Ballroom in Lubbock, Texas?

[Concerned]

Can you tell me, please, who owns Strictly Ballroom in Lubbock, Texas?

[audri]

A dance instructor wrote:

Strickly ballroom of lubbock is a place to get riped off. Your instructor is not paid very well, and probably doesent know much more then you. Infact they probably learnd what they are going to teach you that day. I can only say that about Stricktly Ballroom of lubbock. I could say so much more but i will not, but if you want to dance that bad i guess it might be worth it, if i were you i would just buy a tap online or dvd and learn from it all five dances and then some extra; and guess what you wont have to sell your leg for the extra.

where are you even getting that from?? they have to go through three month training before they even start teaching

[cezaro]

Concerned wrote:

Can you tell me, please, who owns Strictly Ballroom in Lubbock, Texas?

http://www.us.bbb.org/WWWRoot/SitePage.aspx...

Good for any business, anywhere.

[Real Dancer]

I know some about strictly ballroom, and i would not give my money to that place. I know nothing about the people that own it or how it was established but I do know that the "trained partners" they claim to have are not trained in any kind of way. I know one of them personally and she took some ballet and tap classes for a year when she was about oh... between 12-13. One of your comments said should beginners be teaching beginners and that is a definate no. If your giving that much money to some place my partner better not have been taught it that morning also and I for damn sure better not be able to out dance her. For that much money you deserve to learn more than simple single turns, ballchanges, and sashas. I know other establishments in Lubbock I would much prefer to give my money to, yes I could even find one in Corpus for you, if your really serious.

[Real Dancer]

Three months of training is not enough to be qualified to be teaching anybody when you have no training to begin with.

[Real Dancer]

I just calculated the 4 hrs. someone said that equaled 40 hours of training. So you saying you had 120 hours of training behind you isn't really 120 hours. It's 12 hours. Which means they trained you in literally one day. Breaking it down like that is just a way to make it sound like you have far more experience than you really do. But the people who really know will blow all kinds of holes in your so called training.

[Marc Abel]

There is a code of ethics among dance instructors; they do not put down other instructors or pass around negative information about other studios. Even if said negative information was true, they will nonetheless stay clear of the debate. As you read posts on this topic by people who claim to be instructors, bear this in mind.

Anyone can show a few steps to a newcomer. If you are shopping for a dance studio, find out what your instructor's credentials are. Has he or she passed a certification exam from an independent nationally or internationally recognized organization in the dances which you are to be taught?

Also find out what events your studio competes in. If your studio competes in events which are not USA DanceSport sanctioned, I suggest you also visit a studio which participates in sanctioned competitions only and carefully compare the two.

Find out too how far your studio's pupils have gotten. Have any passed their amateur medal examinations? In which dances? Beyond the bronze level? Beyond the silver level?

Be advised that for various reasons, a cash-strapped, ethically bewildered, or otherwise inept studio might not honor the terms of a contract you sign with them. Be cautious of all agreements you sign, as it's always possible you will part with your money on terms to which you have not agreed.

[Smooth and Standard]

HI MARC! I don't really care to expose my identity online ( especially this site in this line of commenting) so hopefully your memeory serves you well when I say that I am LOVING the studio in NASHVILLE!!!!!! I can't find your email address you gave me. Did you test out of your DVIDA?? I may be heading up to Ohio for some coaching sometime soon. Wish I was going to Ohio Star! Hope all is well!

Marc Abel wrote:

There is a code of ethics among dance instructors; they do not put down other instructors or pass around negative information about other studios. Even if said negative information was true, they will nonetheless stay clear of the debate. As you read posts on this topic by people who claim to be instructors, bear this in mind.
Anyone can show a few steps to a newcomer. If you are shopping for a dance studio, find out what your instructor's credentials are. Has he or she passed a certification exam from an independent nationally or internationally recognized organization in the dances which you are to be taught?
Also find out what events your studio competes in. If your studio competes in events which are not USA DanceSport sanctioned, I suggest you also visit a studio which participates in sanctioned competitions only and carefully compare the two.
Find out too how far your studio's pupils have gotten. Have any passed their amateur medal examinations? In which dances? Beyond the bronze level? Beyond the silver level?
Be advised that for various reasons, a cash-strapped, ethically bewildered, or otherwise inept studio might not honor the terms of a contract you sign with them. Be cautious of all agreements you sign, as it's always possible you will part with your money on terms to which you have not agreed.

[basic dancer]

I've been taking from Strictly Ballroom for a few months. I agree that the prices are off the chart, but I needed to take a few classes for a wedding and was a bit desperate. There is a bait-and-switch going on, cheap prices at first ($25 for 3, 1/2 hour lessons), and then astronomical prices (~$65/hr bought in bulk). Not all of the instructors are equal; there are some really great ones and others that are a waste of time. On the plus side, the Friday night parties are usually fun and you really get to try out your dancing skills. The free bar doesn't hurt either. I must admit that after my pre-paid lessons run out, I won't be renewing, but it suited my purposes at the time.