Hi guys! I'm thinking of taking some dance lessons with one of the pro's this year before my graduation ball. Have any of you had lessons with any of the pro's of Strictly?
If so, what was it like, and who would you recomend?

I've had lessons with Vincent and Flavia and Anton and Erin. Vincent and Flavia teach me regularly and they are great. I would say they are all likely to be fantastic and its a case of who you'd prefer to learn with and who teaches closest to where you live

I'd loooooooooove a lesson with Vincent & Flavia!!! Where do they teach now?

I go to Erin's class regularly, and I've also been taught by Camilla and Izabela. I have private lessons with a guy at my local dance studio. He's just as good as any of the pros and charges a lot less!!

I'm guessing from your name you like Brendan?

I have read that some on here have lessons with him and he seems very popular, Karen is also another popular teacher.

I attend a dance class run by Karen and I would recommend it very highly .

Apart from learning a lot they are really a laugh a minute

She doesn't attend every week now , but oversees the whole thing and teaches us on a regular basis.

It hasn't started back yet after Christmas , but is going to at the end of Jan/beg of Feb .

One thing about Karen's classes also is that I think they are considered a reasonable price for what you get

Vincent and Flavia teach in Guildford at the moment. They do private lessons or group lessons which are very much like Karen's sound - great fun and good value for money

I don't know about good VFM. £80/45 min I'm sure I read. I would expect to be pretty awesome after a few lessons for that amount of dough.

Dave

Plus, I think some of the SCD pro's must have bumped prices up MASSIVELY since they starred in SCD.

Makes business sense, but a little unfair if they charged new rates to existing clients.

Dave

I would realy like to have a lesson with Brendan,but am worried would not be able to concentrate
Thought maybe of Anton or Ian, but am worried that they only teach in London

London is where they have the biggest market, hence they make more money, so they are all based around London or the Surrey area (also a hit with Mark R stalkers )

Dave

I'm taught by Hanna Karttunen . . . she's absolutely amazing.

I've learnt more from her in a single lesson than I had in a year.

For Karen's classes it is £75 for 8 weeks of classes and £25.00 membership fee per year.

You dont have to join , but it then becomes £12 a lesson.

Also with membership you get money off tickets for end of session parties ( She does a Party night every 8 weeks on average )

The class is from 7.30pm to approx 10pm.

Two classes and a practice session

The classes are held in Purley , Surrey ( part of Croydon ).

She is moving venue at the moment , but it will still be in the same vicinity

Just out of interest, would you need a partner?

No , but we never have enough men

But Karen does make the men we have rotate so you get a chance to dance with a man

Karen does not attend every class now , but we do see her on a regular basis.

This is very good value as I understand a private lesson with Karen is something like £150 for an hour.

We often have Ryan and Lindsey , two up and coming professionals teaching us , and we have had Brendan taking a class , Matthew and Nicole , Nicole on her own and Andrew and Hanna

Ok, thanks.

Brendan! I think I better start going to her class! Jokes

Maybe you should .

He is good friends with Karen and was at the Christmas Ball
and has been at one of her end of session parties

See now that sounds much better value. But £150 an hour! What does she sleep on, a bed of money?

Dave

It's pretty much a normal fee for somebody of her status.

Well its a bit far for a regular class but do you think shed mind if I turned up to her parties just to see Brendan

The fees sound fine. I'm not saying I can afford them but many professional fees are higher. Start with a city solicitor and I will guarantee that you'll find Karen a bargain.

Working out (very roughly) what she makes in a year:

Say she teaches 4 1 hour lessons in a day = £600
5 days a week = £600 x 5 = £3000
Minus cost of dance hall or whatever = £500?
Yearly income = £300,000

Then add on all the sponsors, appearance fees, and balls etc, etc and you have to say she could probably never have to work again if she didn't want to.

In all fairness, she has made the most of her talent, and put it to good use.

Dave

I'm not sure they would be a very good dance teacher.

I'd rather not get into any legal battles and avoid the fees.

Dave

Couldn't promise he would be at every party though . but she plans to have at least two Balls a year and if the last one is anything to go by it would really be worth coming if you were a Brendan fan .

Have posted some footage of Andrew and Hanna dancing on Brendan thread a while back ( At the Christmas Ball )and it has Brendan in the background sprawling on a chair

But I think she doesnt work all year.

She seems to have certain times when there aren't enough hours in the day and then the quiet months.

And what sponsors ( dont think she has them coming out of her ears ) .

The Ball btw was £45 - £60 ( not exactly a fortune I've heard for that sort of thing )

I think she earns well , but works very hard