Private Lessons are also a good solution for couples who do not wish to switch partners during group classes.

The cost is $50 for a up to 4 people. Sorry, but we don't allow a private lesson with more than 4 people.

$50 is a flat fee. This means if there is one person, you pay $50.  If there are two people, you pay $50, not $100. If there are three people, you pay $50, not $150. And if there are four people, you pay $50, not $200. And if there are five or more people, we won't do the lesson without special permission from the owner Rick Archer

The best way to set up a private lesson is to email us at: dance@ssqq.com

If you do not have email access, then phone us at  713-861-1906  from 10 am - 3 pm weekdays to schedule a lesson. 

If you will let us know in your email what you need to learn, then we will put you in touch with an instructor and you can set up a time to meet at the studio.

Historically Dance Studios have utilized Private Lessons as the main staple of their business.  Contrary to this trend, SSQQ has made its mark emphasizing Group Lessons over Private Lessons.  Let us start by pointing out the obvious: Our Group Class Dance Program is a phenomenal success.  We average over twelve hundred students a month. There is no other dance studio in America like SSQQ.  We are truly "one of a kind".

Nevertheless we openly admit there are many compelling reasons why there are times when Private Lessons are better than Group Lessons. 

For one thing, Group Lessons move at the pace of the "average dancer". If you are a fast learner or a slow learner, either way you will be dissatisfied with the pace of the class. A private lesson moves at your pace!

Perhaps you want to prepare for special occasions like a high school reunion, Rodeo Kickoff Dance or an important event such as a Wedding Dance.  In certain situations, Private Lessons are often the best way to go. For example, it usually takes only one, maybe two privates lessons to prepare for a Wedding Dance. If you are like most Wedding couples, you put this off till the last minute. Fortunately a Private Lesson will solve your problem nicely. 

Or maybe you are in a hurry!  You just signed up for a cruise that leaves Galveston next week. Okay, in this situation Private Lessons make sense.

Private Lessons are definitely the way to go if you intend to be part of a dance exhibition or a dance competition. Style, technique, subtle leads, the secrets of following, and tricky footwork are always better taught in a Private Lesson.  Literally, if DANCE EXCELLENCE is your goal, then one-on-one training with a good coach will always be superior.   To use a simple analogy, SSQQ Group Classes are good for Elementary through College level dancing, but Masters and PhDs in dance require a gifted coach for success. Indeed, SSQQ is home to many dance champions. All of these people started with Group Lessons, then switched to Privates when it was time to prepare for Dance Contests.

That said, there are advantages to taking Group Lessons over Private Lessons as well.
First and foremost, Group Lessons are economical. 

The price advantages of Group Lessons over Private Lessons are clear. For example, here at SSQQ a man can take 8 hours of Twostep for $46 or a one-hour private lesson for $50. The private lesson may cover more material because it can move at a faster clip, but realistically there is no way the man will ever develop the kind of muscle memory he would have achieved in eight hours of a Group Lesson.

Unless you are very wealthy or you are in a big hurry, Group Lessons have a huge economic advantage over Private Lessons.  If at some point you wish to become a competitive dancer, then Private Lessons are recommended. But this step is usually not taken until you are one or two years into dancing.

Until you reach a point like this, Group Lessons using different "Levels" will do an excellent job of preparing you to become an excellent social dancer at a fraction of the cost you would invest using Private Lessons.

Second, if your object is to become a good Social Dancer, then Group Lessons are the way to go.

In a Group Lesson, you learn how to dance with normal men and women. In a private lesson you learn to dance with a professional who is a Dance God or Dance Goddess. There is a big difference! 

Let me share an embarrassing anecdote. In the early 80s, I took two private lessons a week in a dance known as the Whip.  My training in the Whip lasted for about a year. At that time, Western dancing was big.  I was simply learning the Whip as an afterthought, but never actually danced it in public. My teacher was a man who was a phenomenal dancer.

It didn't matter how fast the music was - he simply instructed me to use more power to help him rotate faster!  He taught me to use whatever force was necessary to accelerate him or decelerate him to hit the beat.

After a year of tossing a 180 pound man around, I was ready to start dancing the Whip with women in the Real World. Immediately I was surprised at how much easier it was to move a 120 pound woman than it had been my male teacher. If the music was fast, it was effortless for me to spin that woman a little faster to keep the beat.

Soon however I noticed that women were turning me down repeatedly for dances. Others came up with excuses like suddenly needing to go to the restroom.  I began to wonder what was going on. This went on for several weeks until a lady named Debbie Oswald told me to sit down. Debbie explained that all these women - herself included - felt manhandled. She said that when I had been dancing Western, I was wonderful to dance with. But ever since I began to dance the Whip, I had become a huge topic among the women in Debbie's circle of friends. She said these women confessed that they were TERRIFIED to dance with me!  Debbie said the women all agreed that my timing was excellent, my leads were excellent, my knowledge of patterns was extensive, but none of this mattered because I was too strong. It simply wasn't fun to dance with me. If I would stop forcing them to turn so fast, then maybe I could lose my bad reputation. 

I had noticed that many of the women would lose their balance when I turned them faster. My teacher was such a great athlete that he could spin faster than any woman or man in the city. Extra speed didn't bother him at all. But the women I danced with who didn't have perfect technique simply lost their balance when I used force. They would lose control and would almost fall except that I would catch them. Nevertheless the near wipe-out had to frighten them. A light bulb went on.

Learning to dance with a professional was nice, but it had backfired when it came to dancing with normal human beings. I was devastated to learn what my problem was, but thank goodness Debbie confided in me. I learned my lesson the hard way and soon adapted my leads to the women I was dancing with, not some pro from Mount Olympus.

Third, Group Lessons are a great deal of fun.

If you are single, there is no simpler way on earth to develop an extensive circle of friends than by taking Dance Classes.  SSQQ has quietly acquired the reputation of being one of Houston's most effective venues for finding boyfriends and husbands, girlfriends and wives.  Slow Dance and Romance go hand in hand.  Unlike computer dating services, SSQQ group classes allow people to meet and mingle the old-fashioned way. People get to start as friends and build relationships over the course of time.  Quick moves are unnecessary. Unlike Bars, you don't have any of the pressure to ask total strangers to dance or use the best pickup lines.

Here at the studio, practically anyone you ask to dance says "yes" and striking up a conversation is effortless. It is not an accident our studio has averaged 25 weddings and engagements per year over the last five years. You put a woman in a man's arms to romantic music and very powerful things begin to happen.

There are no Birds and Bees when you take Private Lessons.

Not everyone actually is interested in the Dating Game here at the studio.  Although there are many married couples and couples who are dating each other steadily who take group classes, there are some couples who would simply like to dance with each other. 

And why not?   It is perfectly understandable that Group Classes are not for everyone.

SSQQ is a Dance Studio. Private or Group, it doesn't matter. Take your pick. We will be happy to serve your needs either way.

Private Lesson Policies

1. Private Lessons are booked through individual instructors, not through SSQQ. If you have to cancel a lesson, call or email the Instructor directly. 
    
2. It is no problem to cancel a lesson.  However please respect that an individual is fighting traffic and sacrificing valuable time to provide a service that YOU requested. Please show the instructor courtesy and warn them in advance that you will not make your lesson.  In this day of cell phones and email, communication has never been easier. Standing an instructor up without warning is rude and uncalled for.
    
3. If you cancel your private lesson less than 24 hours before the appointment, you are still responsible to pay the instructor their money.  We frequently have other people who are in line for your time slot, but without enough notice it is nearly impossible to fill that spot at the last minute.

Example:
A Private Lesson was set for Wednesday, August 17, at 6 pm.  The instructor (Rick Archer) showed up for his lesson on time only to be stood up.  The next day the following email was received:

EMAIL ONE
-----Original Message-----
From: Bird, F
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 3:29 PM
To: Rick Archer
Subject: SORRY!

Won't be able to make it. I will email you later and set up a FOR sure time!!!


EMAIL TWO
From: Rick Archer
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 11:35 AM
To: Bird, F
Subject: RE: SORRY!

I teach four private lessons a week. As you might imagine, I get many requests to teach private lessons. I deferred two other requests for the Wednesday slot to other instructors to honor my commitment to you.  Last week when you canceled was no problem because you gave me two days warning. Yesterday I had no warning at all and showed up promptly for your lesson.

Please remit a check for $50 to:
Rick Archer
Houston TX

Thank you.

EMAIL THREE
-----Original Message-----
From: Bird, F
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 2:57 PM
To: Rick Archer
Subject: RE: SORRY!

Rick,

I deeply apologize for not giving you enough notice and causing you any inconvenience. I love SSQQ and would never intentionally do anything to hurt your business. I have talked it over with Michael and we would love to continue with you if you already haven't scheduled another couple for that time slot. All our stuff is sorted out now, so coming each week should not be a problem & if something does happen to occur I promise to give you a reasonable amount of notice.

I will bring a Check for $50.00 Next lesson, or I can mail it whatever you prefer. Once again My apologies.

Thank you, FB

EMAIL FOUR
-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Archer
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 3:47 PM
To: Byrd, Faith
Subject: RE: SORRY!

No hard feelings. I really like both of you. It was just aggravating to fight all that traffic for no reason. Please send the check asap and I will put you down for next Wednesday.

Rick Archer

EMAIL FIVE
-----Original Message-----
From: FB
Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2005 3:51 PM
To: Rick Archer
Subject: RE: SORRY!

I just put the check in the mail! See you then & Thank you!