Dancing on a Budget

Dancing is one of my passions... but since the economic recession hit last fall, I haven't been able to afford to dance as much as I used to. My client, Go Dance in Austin, TX, has watched this happen to many of their students as well. So I wrote this article for them for the front cover of their April 2009 "Rhythm & News" newsletter. I hope it inspires you to keep dancing:

If your wallet has been hit hard by our country's economic downturn the past few months, you're not alone. Most of us have been cutting out discretionary expenditures like lattes, pedicures, dining out, and travel to make ends meet. If you've found yourself cutting back on things you love, we wanted to offer some money-saving tips to help you keep dancing because now, more than ever, we need the joy of dancing in our lives!

Tip #1: Get on Auto-Renew (Save up to 20%)

Auto-renew is our no-hassle enrollment option that ensures you get the absolute lowest price on everything the studio offers! How it works: weíll attach your lesson plan to the credit card of your choice and automatically bill your credit card on the 1st of each month. (To receive maximum savings, a three-month minimum commitment is required.) Ask the front desk to see our "Shall We Dance?" brochure. It features all of our dance packages and clearly illustrates how much money you can save by being on auto-renew!

Tip #2: Take a Buddy Private (Save 50%)

Whether you're a beginning or experienced dancer, private lessons are the foundation of your dance education. If you love taking private lessons but are struggling to afford them right now, consider finding a "buddy" and turning them into "buddy privates!" All you need is a buddy that can partner with you on the dance floor, i.e. if you're a leader, your buddy should be a follower and if you're a follower, your buddy should be a leader. When you take a buddy private, you instantly save 50% off the cost of your private lesson because you split the cost of that hour with your buddy! It's that easy!

If you need a buddy, we can help you. Simply notify your instructor or one of our Student Advisors. They can help match you with a buddy that shares your interests, goals and skill set.

Bonus tip: For extra savings, consider purchasing a "package" of buddy privates. This is the best way to get your per-lesson price down. Combine this strategy with auto-renew and you're guaranteed our lowest prices!

Tip #3: Enroll in Unlimited Group Classes

Group classes are a core component of your dance education. They will prepare you for social dancing "in the wild" by developing your lead/follow skills and building your repertoire of patterns. What many people don't know is that group classes are also very cost-effective! They're a fraction of the cost of a private lesson and when you take advantage of our "unlimited group class package" combined with auto-renew, you can get your per-class price down as low as $5 per class.

Tip #4: Attend a Social Dance (Only $5-$10 for the night)

Social dancing is an integral part of your dance education—after all, practice makes perfect! We provide social dance parties at our studio on a regular basis so you can practice what you're learning in a comfortable social atmosphere with fellow students. The best news? Our party tickets are only $5! Think about that... you could spend $5 on a latte at Starbucks or $5 to dance the entire night away with your friends while burning calories, having fun and making memories that will last a lifetime!

Tip #5: Give 24-hours notice when canceling

This one is simple, but forgetting happens to the best of us so I'm going to reiterate this: if you need to cancel a lesson, be sure to call our front desk and give 24-hours notice. This will ensure your account is not charged for a missed lesson.

In these tough economic times, itís more important than ever that we stay strong, positive, hopeful and active. Since dancing is truly an affordable way to move your body, connect with those you love, burn some calories, have fun and make memories, we're committed to KEEP AUSTIN DANCING. We hope these tips will help you keep the joy of dancing in your life!