It’s the third weekend in a row that you and your hubby have ventured out to the Country bars in Phoenix. You’ve found a Friday night sitter and date nights are becoming a reality. Freedom! Here’s the glitch. You chose that Country bar because of the spacious dance floor, and he said yes because of the beer selection. Uh oh.

“How long have I been asking you to take me out Country dancing?”, you ask. In reality, it’s been years. You’re so close, yet so far because he’s not comfortable Two Stepping or Swing dancing. Duh! Of course. It’s not like anyone is born knowing how to dance. Your solution is to get there early to take the free dance class before the night kicks off. He reluctantly agrees (mostly because there happens to be a discount off your first drink if you attend the dance class), but he can’t seem to retain anything. Now what?! The instructor is no where to be found and the couple next to you are struggling too. There’s got to be a better way, right? Fortunately there is, but it comes at a cost.

Monday morning comes and you and your man are just getting over bickering all weekend from the frustrations you each feel about your date night. It’s a horrible feeling for you both. You just want to be able to dance with your guy and he just wants to make you happy. The good news is that you both agreed that it’s time to buckle down, strap on those boots and sign up for beginner’s Country dance lessons.

After your Introductory Private Lesson, you realize that you not only had a blast, but you learned so much more than you thought you could. How wonderful! Now it’s time to enroll in a program so that you can really have some fun! Your instructor quotes you what they think it will cost to make you a great Country dancer and you’re taken aback. “You want us to spend how much? On dance lessons?,” you’re thinking. Reality sets in.

A series of lessons with any great instructor can be pricey, but for a reason. First, it takes many years for a full-time instructor to master his/her craft of not only being an amazing dancer, but to also be able to convey his skills and talent to someone else. Your instructor has to learn to both lead and follow, and have a system of transferring the knowledge from what he has learned over the years to you. That’s a skill in and of itself! Keep in mind that being a good dancer does not make you a great instructor.

The years it takes to hone in on one’s craft is quite valuable. Be it Country, Latin dancing, Swing or learning the Argentine tango, a qualified instructor who is an excellent communicator is hard to find.

In addition, that person needs to make sure that you feel comfortable and safe in your learning environment so that you will be open to learning. In other words, it is my opinion that where you learn to dance can as important to how well you learn.

Remember that once you’ve completed your lesson program, you have developed a skill that you can use for years to come. Whether you stick to your Friday night dates or you have an upcoming wedding, you will be able to dance naturally. Now that’s exciting to think about! By the time you’re done with your program, you should be able to hear the beat, identify what dances to do with what music and look smooth and easy on the dance floor. Plus, you should have some fun, timeless moves to keep you on the dance floor all night long.

At the end of the day, adult dance lessons are absolutely an investment. With time and a few bucks towards your tuition, you will be feeling confident and enjoying a romantic hobby with your sweetheart. Now if you ask me, that’s priceless!