Avoid the Arthur Murray Franchise Dance Studios
If you are interested in learning to dance, may I suggest that you avoid the Arthur Murray Franchise Dance Studios. Franchised businesses like this will teach someone how to dance, but what is taught is exorbitantly expensive (almost $150 for 40 minutes!) and limited. This could be me just not liking competitive ballroom dancing; granted, that is a legitimate criticism.
For a half to a third of the above rate, I can receive an excellent hour-long instruction in a single dance like Argentine Tango or Salsa. It has been my experience that teachers outside of the franchised dance system are much more receptive to teaching dance moves that I wanted to learn. A novel concept it would seem, but not something I found at a some franchised studios. Instead there was a rigid leveling system that was not deviated from. The general logic being that an individual cannot learn moves from level B until completing level A. Translation: until a customer has completed ten lessons of Tango he (or she) cannot learn new Tango figures.
Speaking of lessons, this is how it work at the studio I attended. When you first go, an instructor “assess” your dancing ability. This is complete rubbish, regardless of ability the consumer can rest assured that he (or she) will be told that you need to about 100 to 120 lessons to advance to the next rung in dance system – that will total to a sum greater than $10,000 USD!
However, the worst part their legal contract. Read the contract! This is important as I was verbally told that my lessons were fully refundable. In practice, there was a clause in the contract that stated the refund was only valid for a twelve month time period. Naturally, it was after this had expired that I was no longer interested in continuing instruction with this business. Not surprisingly, the studio has a history of shady behavior.
Now, I do enjoy dancing. I have been dancing the Argentine Tango weekly for over two years. I truly enjoy it. And I am not saying that you cannot learn how to dance with a Franchise dance company. You will learn, but it will take a long time and it will be extremely expensive. The dancing is also generally geared more towards competitive dancing, and if that is what you are looking for then perhaps this is the place for you (and the studio will be happy to take your money). Trust me, there are better ways to learn dancing.
My suggestions:
- Ask around at work or school or gym (or etc…) if someone can recommend a place to take dance instruction.
- Find a dance spot (Salsa Club, Tango Milonga, etc…) and watch people dance. If someone’s dancing impresses you, ask them if they have suggestions for where to take lessons.