Private Lessons

Private lessons are an important part of any serious dancer's development. The one-on-one personalized design of these lessons presents an invaluable opportunity for aspiring dancers to work with an experienced and able instructor, whose devoted attention and encouraging critique can quickly propel a student's dancing from mediocrity to excellence.

Of the many advantages of private lessons, here are just a few students should consider.

• Learn at your own pace. Our group classes are paced in consideration of everyone in the class. Those who wish to move slower or faster may benefit from additional individual attention
• Focus on trouble spots. Focusing on students' particular trouble spots is more difficult to do in a group setting, given the variety of needs within the group and the instructor's obligation to distribute himself evenly among its members. A private setting, however, allows for devoted aid
• Choice of subject matter. Majority rules in a group class, but in private lessons a student may focus on as many or as few dances of choice as he or she likes
• Attention to detail. Where patterns are easily communicated in a group, technique by its nature is better learned and retained through personalized instruction
• Freedom in scheduling. Students who have conflicts during the times scheduled for group class may schedule a private at any time their instructors are free

Despite all the advantages that private lessons have to offer, it is more important, especially for new students, to aim at becoming a part of a regular group class than to engage solely in private lessons. Private lessons may be necessary for entrance into an advanced group class and are useful for honing technique and styling during the course of a group class, but they should properly be considered for all beginning and intermediate dancers as a supplement to a healthy group environment � not a replacement. Before deciding on how private lessons figure into their dance goals, students should first consider some of the noteworthy advantages of being a regular part of a group class.

• Financial relief and responsibility. By enrolling in one of our group classes students have the chance to learn to dance on a limited budget. All of us have serious financial obligations that need to take priority over dancing, and we want to help our students as much as possible to enjoy their dancing without the guilt that comes from poor financial stewardship by providing a uniquely educational group learning environment
• Fellowship and mutual encouragement. One of the greatest strengths of our groups is that they work together to encourage and uplift one another, creating a healthy, anxiety-free atmosphere in which to learn. They also provide a vital support system which extends well beyond the walls of our studio
• Mutual exchange and edification. Our group classes take advantage of the most powerful teaching tool around � our students. By emphasizing the importance of mutual investment and service, all members of a group learn to operate together and benefit from one another's experience, thereby streamlining the learning process
• Regular practice and accountability. Practice is the key to proficiency, and group classes are ideally structured to provide students with a regular opportunity to dance together at least once every week and to keep each other accountable to practice outside of class

Given these considerations, we highly recommend that students become established members of a group class before contemplating a regular schedule of private lessons. Private lessons should properly be understood as being supplementary to group classes and are especially desirable for (1) those who are experiencing frustration with a particular concept within their group and need further instruction, (2) those who would like to explore dances not currently open to them through one of our group classes, and (3) those who wish to become more proficient in a particular dance than the present level of group instruction will allow.

Students who are interested in supplemental private lessons have a few options from which to choose.

• $60 per hour-long lesson
• $149 for three hour-long lessons
• $269 for six hour-long lessons

Semi-private lessons are also available for smaller groups (more than two but less than eight) for an additional charge of $10 per person per lesson beyond the initial two people. Please contact us to schedule a lesson, and we will be glad to match you with a suitable instructor.