Houston Dance Classes Houston, TX

Houston dance instructors discuss the lessons they offer

What styles of dancing do you teach?

Alex Moore: "I teach ballroom, country western, swing - just about anything you dance with a partner. No tap, jazz or ballet."

Sonia Farr: "We teach international Latin ballroom, American ballroom and all of the Latin social dances like swing and tango. Our studio also teaches hip-hop and belly dancing as well. We have everything."

Phillip Stephens: "Ballroom and Latin, country-western and swing."

Besides learning how to dance, what are some other reasons people take lessons?

Moore: "There are many, but most people dance for one of two reasons: either out of a sense of enjoyment or a sense of duty. And you can see which it is on their face when they're dancing."

Farr: "One of the reasons is for couples to have a hobby, to share a hobby and to enjoy each other's company. For singles, it's for social reasons and exercise."

Stephens: "Most people do it for fun and to get some exercise without the sweat of going to a gym. It's also a nice way to meet new friends, and sometimes people have an occasion they have to get ready for."

How do you charge for dance lessons and what's the cost?

Moore: "My private lessons range from $65 an hour whether you take it as a couple or single. I also offer group classes that are $40 a month per person for one class a week."

Farr: "Our studio mainly teaches individualized private lessons, which means one-on-one, not any group lessons. They pay a tuition fee. Private lessons are $50 to $75 per lesson."

Stephens: "By the session. There are different lengths of lessons. They range from $75 to $85."

Have shows like "Dancing with the Stars" helped your business?

Moore: "To a degree. Every few years a new movie will come out and put things in an upswing. I'd say it has but in terms of people beating down the doors, not necessarily."

Farr: "It's helped a lot of high school and college students and males get comfortable with going in a dance studio to take lessons, because they feel it is more acceptable to do it now."

Stephens: "Yes, definitely. We market to that audience. I do e-mail commentary about the show which seems to be very well received and our web site was linked to ABC and several others linked to the show."

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