I hate the whole "contract" issue, but once I made it clear that I really had no desire to compete or progress through very specific programs, they really let it go. I am lucky enough to be able to pay for a lot of lessons at once, but I told them I would watch how many left and just give them my credit card when I was ready to buy another block. They were absolutely wonderful with it and I never heard another word. Furthermore, after a year or so of lessons, I had to stop due to family health issues. Over a year or even two later, they automatically reinstated my "unused" lessons and honored them at old rates. I was impressed.
I don't go out dancing other than the dancing I get in private lessons, but my instructors have all been extremely good. I've had three regular instructors and then other lessons with various coaches. I'm consistently impressed by the interest in TEACHING that these men have had. They really watch my movements and try to figure out WHY I make the mistakes I do. They come up with metaphor after metaphor until the right one "clicks" things into place for me. I've never had more patient teachers of anything. I've always had somewhat senior or experienced instructors, but they've always made me look better than I am when dancing, which makes it more fun, which makes me want to do it more, which makes me better at it.
Sometimes I really want nothing more than to just go home and have a glass of wine and go to bed after work (not go to dance lessons), but then I'm always glad I did. I really hate having to show off certain steps for others, too, but it's been good for me to just learn to let it go and get over it and enjoy. I needed that. After awhile, they really GOT that I was in this purely for my own enjoyment and they got used to my pace of learning. They've been incredibly flexible and accomodating with my work and family travel needs and I always feel like Norm walking into Cheers.
I could not recommend them more.
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