The bashing is really unprofessional and from what is being posted, comes mostly from people who have had funky experiences in the franchise world. I am and have been an AM student for years. I had the opportunity to visit a friend who had a FADS, not an AM studio, in his town. The FADS people welcomed me and we had a wonderful time learning from each other. There are indy studios I frequent as well, not because they are better or worse or because they have former champion dude/dudette, rather because it is fun to interact with other DANCERS! I personally fail to understand why it has to be "us" or "them" when both the franchises and the indies offer those of us who love what we do, a place to do what we love. Why is there a competition here? It's like that stupid and old arguement that any musician who isn't classically trained isn't a musician at all. Of course they are, they just have a different way of getting the music out. This is art that also happens to be a popular business at the moment. Stop the griping already.