How much do you pay for lessons?? I really wanna learn ballroom!!!!! But money's an issue! And the fear factor.......

Although their showdance on Strictly was very entertaining, it really doesn't show off their true capabilities. When they dance to their own music they have so much more impact and it is simply enthralling to behold!

I'm working through the medal system, too - I'm up to Gold Bar 2 now. I'm getting my exam results on Sunday, let's just hope I've done well enough!

I much prefer dancing Latin to dancing Ballroom - Rumba and Jive are my dances!

Yes, I'm going to keep searching around everywhere until I find out when Hanna will be teaching over here (hopefully) and then I will do everything I can to have a lesson with her. I'd really love to meet her again.

As for lesson prices, if you want to learn the basics, why not enrol at a local school? If you want to join a class I'm sure there will be lots close by, and they won't be very expensive at all. My dance school's classes cost about £5, but I only have private lessons now because I want to learn at a much faster pace. Hope you find something, I'm certain that if you started dancing you would love it!

Hey Cat123,

Do you mean lessons in a class or privately? The cost is bound to differ depending on what part of the country you're in. And it's your birthday this week isn't it? (Happy birthday!) Couldn't someone club together for you to get started?

Are you at Uni? If you are maybe they have a society you can visit that does lessons for students? Or you could start of with Salsa or Ceroc if cost and a lack of partner is a problem. A partner isn't required at these classes and you can dip and out as you see fit.

Otherwise, see if there's a Ballroom dance school/studio that'll do discounts as well and if not, you could book lessons in bulk. I buy them in blocks of six weeks because the studio I go to charges less if you pay that way. Here in south-east Kent, I pay £36 for six lessons in six weeks - one a week. Private lessons are around £30 per lesson. Of course, this is subject to regional variations as posted elsewhere in another thread with "Private lessons" in the title around here! If you went to a professional, they would probably charge much more than £30 an hour! But, wouldn't it be worth it to say that you've danced at least once in your life with Ian, Anton or Brendan?

As for the fear factor, I really hope that you won't let that hold you back. When I started, I did feel awkward at first because there were all of these married couples and people above my age group that went. I went in on my own without a female dance partner at the dance school I attend now. It was strange changing partners for the first few months, but my teacher eventually managed to find a partner for me. I persevered with the lessons, purely because I love learning how to dance - whether I have a partner or not. And I feel I've come a long way, although I've just started my journey.

I just hope that you find your way to the dance floor because some wonderful experiences await you if you're prepared to try it. If I had never taken dance lessons, I would have never realised how fun and rewarding it can be to enjoy the sensation of spinning around in a Waltz or burning up the dancefloor with a Cha Cha.

I apologise to all if this is horrendously off topic, but I am passionate about dance and I would dearly love for others to have a go, even if was just once - so that they know how it feels.

As a way of keeping my post on topic, I haven't met any of the celebs, unfortunately. I would love to book a private lesson with a professional in order to improve my dances though. My token claim to fame is knowing two individuals who appeared on the "Alternative panel" segment on ITT after Darren performed his Paso Doble - they happen to teach Ballroom at the dance school I attend and Darren Bennet and Gloria Hunniford rehearsed in their studio. I didn't see either of them, but their picture now proudly adorns the studio wall and I guess they're there in spirit.

I'm hoping to that my Dad is going to see about booking me a lesson with Margaret Redmond for Christmas - it isn't too far away from where I live, so if I like it I could go back. I heard from a friend that she is one of the best coaches in the country.