Free Dance Lessons

In my little po-dunk, one-horse, 10,000-cow town, a small and free newspaper arrives every Wednesday. I like this newspaper. It doesn't display sensational mainstream news. It covers articles of local events, local people doing good things, local people who have done extraordinary things. I don't always read it. Sometimes, I just scan the classifieds. Sometimes, I just look at the headlines. Sometimes, I read it from cover to cover.

I remember the very first issue of this newspaper I ever saw, when I first moved here. Lawnmower Races was the front-page headlines. I thought to myself, “Oh, crap! What kind of town have I moved into? The omen turned out to be spot-on. I've been here almost 20 years, now, and have learned this is not too bad of a little area – as long as one stays away from the natives; but, that is another story.
My father is an avid newspaper reader and reads this one from cover to cover every week, which explains why it was sitting on the end table in the living room. I was picking up the mess from our Christmas celebrations and picked up this paper with no other intentions but to put it in the recycle. I cannot tell why, but for some reason I opened the paper to a random page and saw an article for a lady who was giving free dance lessons in a nearby town.

Now, I'm not interested in dance lessons for me; I walk with a cane and use my wheelchair frequently. However, my three-year-old granddaughter loves to dance, and to me, she seems rather graceful. She loves to dress up in her dresses which resemble tutus, and she wears her slippers which resemble ballerina practice shoes. Whether or not she dresses the part, she often dances to the music her toys make, to the tv, or even to a cell phone ring tone!

Free dance lessons? Really? What's the catch?

I sat to read her article. She has been teaching dance for almost 20 years. First in New Orleans, and now, here – since hurricane Katrina. She was one of the families displaced from the hurricane and landed in my area. I later found she is kin to a family who has opened a wonderful restaurant with New Orleans's style cuisine – and their food is excellent! I know - my dad is from that area. Anyway...

This lady, who I will call Katrina, has made a good living from teaching dance. She has charged the normal fees for her services. I don't know what prompted her change of heart at this particular time, but she states in her article she remembers wanting to take dance lessons, but her parents told her they couldn't afford it. Stating she lived in one of the 'nicer' areas of the town, she didn't realize her family was poor and she was heartbroken.

Making a nice living from her business, Katrina also stated she lives in one of the 'nicer' parts of her current area, but realized the heartbreak of some local children who cannot afford dance lessons. So, she changed her business structure: all lessons are free, however, the students (and parents of younger students) are required to participate in fund raisers which pay for the lessons. This should allow those who really want to participate an opportunity to do so, even if they cannot afford lessons, and weed out those who really don't.

We had previously checked into another dance studio: $400 a month for 1 lesson a week – per person! No way could my daughter and I, together, be able to afford these dance lessons. We did the math: Each class is one hour, and has approximately 15-20 people. Realistically, about 5 classes a day can be taught. Lets look at the high and low of this equation. The lower end is (100 x 15)5 = $7,500 per day. The higher end equates to: (100 x 20)5 = $10,000 in one day! Multiplied by 4.33 lessons a month: $32,475 - $43,330 per month! This is more than many make in a year! Such a studio would have an annual revenue of up to $519,960 from a single instructor! I have a degree in accounting and can estimate overhead – including insurance - would not make much of a dent in the half a million dollars raked in.

Yesterday, my daughter registered my granddaughter for the free lessons. They both came home with big smiles on their faces. I am so thrilled about this! We thought my granddaughter would never have such an opportunity. The lessons include ballet, hip-hop and lyrical dance. The lessons are free as long as she wants to participate, and as long as we work the fund raisers.

I am truly grateful for Katrina, who chooses to give back to the community in this way. I believe she has the right idea for such a business. I sincerely hope enough parents can, and will, support Katrina with the fund raisers and in any other way they can so Katrina can continue the free lessons. I know my daughter and I will!

I wonder how many others would find satisfaction with such a business structure?

Photos: 1: www.dancestudiolife.com; 2: Amazing beautiful Photography of Dance