For the Fred Astaire Eagan Ballroom, it's not just a business. They really care. They believe in what they do. Yes, there is an element of excellence that may be achieved, but they are all about sharing real joy in life. Through dancing.
So, an old guy like me goes and buys the groupon for two intro classes. It didn't cost much, so I didn't have a lot to lose. I had actually taken dance lessons 35 YEARS AGO, at the age of 20 and failed badly, and I felt going in I already had two strikes against me. It turned out that they are so good over there, that within 5 minutes I knew in my heart that I could do this thing, and do it well. That inexpensive Groupon was maybe the best money I had ever spent. I can't tell you enough about the huge amount of enjoyment I experienced there. And I'm not a young man anymore - got some weight issues plus the knee replacement surgery.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the name of my most outstanding instructor, although I have the feeling all of the instructors there extend the highest level of professionalism and courtesy. Rosie Muska is not only a very accomplished and most knowledgeable instructor, she also has the ability to make everything easy to understand and easy to do. You can tell she really loves what she does. I would like the world to know how wonderful it is to succeed at something new in life even at my older stage in life.
Okay. This is a high class place, so it's not exactly cheap (very clean with a pleasant atmosphere). The folks who operate Fred Astaire have to put bread on the table too. However they worked with me to develop a multi-class package that includes some dance parties that sound like a lot of fun. I don't know if they do this for everyone, but they allow me to break down the cost into smaller payments that I can easily afford.
You know what? My next lesson is in a couple of days, and I just can't wait! Thanks, Fred Astaire!