So You Wanna Dance
You’d have to be living under a rock to not have noticed the
interest in dance in the last
couple of years. It seems that everyday there is another show popping up! So
You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars…And how many of your friends or
colleagues have turned to you busting with excitement and blurted out “I’m
taking dance lessons!” as though they’ve just discovered the wheel or
something?! There is no doubt that it’s all about the dancing lately no matter
your age.
The peaked interest in dance, thanks to the mentioned shows,
has caused a major boom for dance studios and dance instructors with the bulk
of the new business being adults. Any guess as to the style that has gained the
most popularity? It’s ballroom dancing of course! That’s right, it looks as if
the likes of Marie Osmond and Susan Lucci have managed to cha-cha their way
into our hearts and inspire us to waltz over to the nearest dance studio or
community centre for lessons!
If you too have caught the dance bug, then there are a few
things that you need to consider before dropping your hard earned dollars on
lessons, such as: budget, time, style of dancing that you’re interested in and
where to go. Here are a few tips to help you get the most for your money:
Budget: Shop
around for lessons and be realistic about what you can afford or are willing to
spend on a pastime. Community services and adult learning centers generally
offer special interest classes—including dance—at lower rates than studios or
private instructors charge. If you have friends who might be interested, get
together and see if you can qualify for a group discount.
Time: Are you
going to have the time to take lessons and get your money’s worth? Really think
about the days the classes are being offered before agreeing so that you don’t
end up stretching yourself too thin and not being able to attend.
Style of Dance:
Is it something that you want to do as a couple? Or maybe your ultimate goal is
weight-loss? Give a little bit of thought to it before you choose just any old
style so that you get the most out of your time and money. Ballroom dancing may
look like a lot of fun on TV, but it may not be your best fit.
Where to Go: A
simple flip through your local yellow pages or an online search can help you
find a listing of studios near you. Checking with your closest community centre
or learning annex is also a great way to find different dance classes. There’s
always the option to ask around as well since you may already have friends or
co-workers who are doing the dance thing.
Once you consider all of those things, you can be tapping or
doing the Pechanga in no time! My final advice; have fun! If you can do that,
then you really will get your money’s worth and then some.
