We started learning dance as a coule about one year ago, taking one private lesson and two group lessons each week. We Have made some progress but feel learning dance together as a couple actually slow down each other, for neither of us could really help improving the other person's skill. Besides we each has different things to work on. We are wondering if we take some separate lessions between the together ones will help? What is the best way to talk to our teacher?

Thank you in advance!

Your experience is similar to mine. My wife and I found that our progress improved when we began taking solo private lessons in combination with lessons together. Each week we currently take one lesson together and my wife also takes a solo lesson with her male instructor with whom she also participates in pro-am competition.

I am rather more competitive. I take at least three private lessons each week plus any group lessons I can find. Some of the time I take solos with my female instructor with whom I too compete pro-am, however, I have an amateur competition partner We take private coaching sessions as often as we are able.

My regimen may be considerably more strenuous than you are interested in but I can assure you that the rate of progress is much, much greater. While I am now rather more advanced than my wife our partnership has improved tremendously and for several reasons. She learns a great deal in her privates as do I so we can use our lessons together to work on partnership skills more than new figures. As a result of all the work I do I am much more skilled as leader in partnership with my wife.

You probably need to define your goals then determine the amount of time and money you are prepared to dedicate to achieving those goals. Should you and your partner decide to take solo instruction in addition to your current lessons I cannot imagine any studio being unwilling to cooperate.

What ever you decide to do, make sure it remains enjoyable.

Thank you very much for your valuable advice! I am so glad you guys have come to the similar ideas. I will talk to my husband about your experiences, especially your thoughts on improving partnership skills, and then talk to the studio about the additional solo instruction.

Thanks again!

Jongleur. If you are having lessons always as a pair, that is not the way to go.
The male must have time with a lady professional and the partner with a male professional. Also what is recomended is, as the lady is being taught the man should watch and pay particulat attention to what is being taught. The same applies when the male is being taught. I think among the top teachers they would all agree that to have an hours lesson. Then to have an hours break to reabsorb what was taught. Then to have another hour to brush up on what was first shown.
Expensive sure . Time consuming yes. Cheaper in the long run. Most likely.

Thank you, O.Z., for your advice! Very helpful indeed! We will keep it in mind as we restructure our current lessons with our teachers.