Ballroom Dance Classes: Groups or Privates?

Groups or privates: which is better? If your vision of great ballroom dance classes is learning while socializing with a like-minded community, group classes are probably best. Or, if you enjoy honing your skill with a personalized approach, private lessons are the way to go.

But it’s not always that easy - let’s look at the pros and cons of each.

Group Classes - The Pros

1. You can meet interesting like-minded people. Group ballroom dance classes provide an easy way to break into the social dance crowd, especially if they are level-specific. It also teaches you to adjust to different leading and/or following styles - a must if you plan to hit the social scene later.
2. It’s more affordable. Unless it’s a specialty workshop, group classes rarely exceed $10-30/class.
3. It’s a chance to work on your technique. We get it - it’s hard to motivate yourself to put in the practice hours on your own. Having friends in your ballroom dance classes keep you accountable so you are encouraged to show up every week.

Group Classes - The Cons

1. You’re learning at someone else's pace. Instructors teaching a group class are balancing the sometimes greatly different ability levels of it’s students. Because of this, virtually every class you go to will teach you a little faster or slower than you want.
2. You won’t learn ‘your way’. Each of us has a different way of learning new things. As a result of balancing the class for everyone however, the odds of you getting your personal favourite method in a group class is virtually nil.
3. Personal attention is rare. Group classes run on a tight schedule - the instructor simply doesn’t have time to answer everybody’s questions. As a result, you may develop bad habits that take a lot longer to unlearn.
4. If you can’t make it, too bad. Groups run on a set schedule, so it will always be up to you to move your obligations around if you want to make it.

Private Lessons - The Pros

1. You set your dance goals. You can plan out future goals with your instructor to work towards; for instance, to be ready for your first social dance in 2 months. Structuring ballroom dance classes this way gives you a measurable sense of progress and accomplishment.
2. You learn at your speed. The one-on-one attention means your instructor can slow down to answer your questions, or speed up if you’re learning quickly.
3. Private lessons remove the barriers to your progress. The focused attention in private ballroom dance classes allows your instructor to give you the technique that will move your dancing forward, beyond simply knowing the steps.
4. You have greater time flexibility. Within limits, most instructors are willing to work with you to find a time that works for you both. And if you can’t make a class, no problem - just reschedule for a different day.
5. It’s just them and you. Worried about keeping up with your peers? One-on-one ballroom dance classes lets you fix all those embarrassing habits without your friends laughing at you.

Private Lessons - The Cons

1. It can be expensive. This is by far, the biggest objection most people have with private ballroom dance classes. For those with a tight budget, you can reduce the cost slightly by coming in every second week, or only doing half lessons (if the instructor allows it).

So, the final verdict? Like I said at the beginning, it depends on what you’re looking for. The best way to know, as they say, is to experience it for yourself.