Could anyone please give me an idea what the average/reasonable cost is for a full Bronze Program (Ballroom) in the Dallas/Fort Worth area? Thanks.

You need to be more specific..

Amer.or Intern. ?.. if Amer., how many dances ?.

Even with that info. there are too many factors to be even close, and it would be guess work at best .

In addition, to what degree of efficiency ?.. social, medal or Comp. standard ?.

As Terence pointed out, there are too may variables to give any kind of accurate estimate. But you can find your way into the ballpark if you calculate your total based on some assumption of averages.

I would estimate that the average student tackles a level about every 1 to 1 & 1/2 years. Let's say you're learning one style, 4-5 dances, with 1 lesson per week (and simply double it if you're learning two styles with 2 lessons per week). If the going rate these days for an average teacher in the independent scene is $60 on the low end, and $90 on the higher end (factoring out top-tier competitive coaches), you're looking at anywhere between $3,000 and $7,000. Of course, in theory the least expensive teachers shouldn't get you there as fast as the most expensive, so you might expect that range to be a little narrower -- let's say $4,000 to $6,000 for one style at full bronze level.

Chain schools will be quite a bit more expensive. I don't know if it's different in Texas, but in Los Angeles, the current rate for a private lesson from a chain school can reach nearly $200. Assuming they're still using the same system they did when I last worked at a chain, they typically quote between 120 to 160 lessons per level, which usually includes two styles, 6-10 dances. That's as much as $32,000. I recommend you shop around to see what the average rate is in your area. Don't necessarily go for the lowest price, because in this industry, quality is everything. The difference between a $60 teacher and a $90 teacher might be the difference between completing bronze in 6 months and never completing it at all. Or not... you can find an underpriced gem, or an overpriced hack. Take a few lessons with a couple of different teachers, and talk to fellow students in your area. It won't take long before you get a very clear picture of who's churning out the best students.

Regards,
Jonathan

Waltz123, thanks for your response! The numbers you quoted gave me some basis use as a reference.

"Could anyone please give me an idea what the average/reasonable cost is for a full Bronze Program (Ballroom) in the Dallas/Fort Worth area? Thanks."

This really depends on what you want to get out of it.

There are only so many ideas of truly lasting important covered in bronze; the rest is just application of those ideas.

To make the most rapid (and thus most effective) long term progress in dancing, one should seek a program that doesn't go beyond the truly key ideas introduced at any level, and pushes you towards a lot of on-your-own-time practice in those. On the other hand, to simply have fun in dancing, more variety of application at the bronze level may be more suitable.

Ultimately, the key challenges found in bronze material will require even a professional dancer's entire professional career to master, but a lot of the variety of the material used for application will be quickly forgotten by silver students.

I'm nervous for you that someone is trying to sell you a full bronze program. I know some chains do it that way, but it isn't really reasonable. If you are a marvelous student with all the talent and drive in the world who practices your progress will be much faster than someone who is just out there for 'the dress-up' or the social companionship.

No one knows the set number of lessons it will take to teach you and if they say they do, RUN. Yes, there is an average but it is an average and you can't base a student's progress on an average. If you are a slow learner or have something that is difficult will they just 'skip' over content they deem 'unimportant?'

Dance is too expensive to get involved with people who are willing to rip you off for a profit and give you a fradulant version of the real deal.

Thanks for your advice! My intent is not to sign up for a full Bronze program in advance, but to take it step by step. I'm trying to get an idea what the cost would be to complete a bronze program. Average cost per lesson or per level? Any measurable unit so that I can get an idea of the cost involved over a period of time for the program. Would appreciate information from other dancers out there. Thanks!

"I'm trying to get an idea what the cost would be to complete a bronze program. Average cost per lesson or per level? Any measurable unit so that I can get an idea of the cost involved over a period of time for the program. "

With the exception of wedding dance performance programs, ballroom just isn't usually offered as something one does for a while, accomplishes, and then has no more expense.

That said, many people have done that - they learned a bit and they still go to socials but no longer take lessons - but it's not how dancing is offered, for two reasons. First, those who do best in dancing find they can't get enough of it - they aren't looking to finish a program, but to continue improving. Most teachers themselves, along with the longtime students who provide the bulk of their income, come from that category. Second, for a dance business, recruiting and retention are the two biggest challenges. Students who will study for a few months and then leave are students who have to constantly be replaced, so a business is going to try to organize itself to promote lasting interest.

You don't have to personally make dancing a permanent expense, but beyond the first few weeks of developing comfort, the value is in the journey not the destination. Dancing will cost (average sessions cost) * (number of sessions per week) for however long you choose to participate in a student role.

Social dancing as a no-longer-student will cost (average social admission) however often you enjoy attending.

To view it another way, it can sometimes makes sense to temporarily "double up" on your lessons beyond what is a sustainable budget to accomplish some particular near term goal, but as general advice, if interested in ballroom, seek a form of training that you can afford to continue not just for a few months, but indefinitely.

I pay per lesson and I only pay as I go. I dance Open Gold Latin and Smooth...I know it's a strange group.

Bronze took me for stinking ever because I started with a chain that taught me bad technique. It took almost as long to extinguish the bad habits as it took to learn good habits. As part of everything I learned technique and arms and proper footwork and I built more core and legs and everything else. As a side effect you learn about music and a hundred other things no one ever thinks to mention. All these pieces make this variable and so it's hard to say how long it will take you. I was frustrated and hated Bronze long before I was ready to leave it. I would say that it took me almost two years to really feel confident in Bronze in both styles. Multiply that by about 80 lessons a year...so you are at $6000 a year. My instructor is a top US Competitor so he's a little expensive. If you are paying more than $90 a lesson you are getting squeezed. I'm not saying it isn't worth it, I'm saying maybe you should renegotiate if your instructor isn't at the top of their profession.

The good news is that with a strong foundation gold and silver fly by you with dizzying speed. Bronze seems like its easiest and its hardest, dont' get too excited to surpass it because you'll end up missing out on essential pieces if you don't gut it out :~}

Belleofyourball - Thanks for your response! Very helpful and provided me with some benchmark.