"Where have you found your best teacher? i'll start a new thread with this."

Sometimes by lucky accident, sometimes by seeing someone teach a lesson to another couple and realizing it's just what you need. The best though is seeing who has been of help to friends of similar interest. If one doesn't yet know people in the community, look for a teacher with a number of students you would like to dance like.

When someone is of interest, you walk up to them or get their number and gamble a lesson fee on trying them out. Real teachers get lots of occasional-consultation business so tend not to play the whole inflated rate / package fake discount game, and simply take payment one lesson at a time at rates fairly respecting their standing within the local market.