Dance Students: Be Careful About Terms & Conditions When Taking Private Classes

Firstly I greatly thank a very senior Salsa dance teacher in Delhi who WhatsApp’d this to me:

“Thank you for sharing your thoughtful insights. I appreciate your consideration in maintaining the studio’s anonymity while conveying valuable lessons for students and the industry. Your points about transparency in T&Cs, empathy towards students, and potential for growth are well-taken.”

This article is important for all dance students because it relates to an old “brand / studio / name” it seems in dance industry and so people might highly trust such a dance studio more easily and might not ask for Terms & Conditions before paying for private classes which can cost a lot and later might even lose that money.

I have posted the below text in some Social Dancing (Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba) WhatsApp Groups in Delhi / India / Global. It’s a long text, however, highly critical to read it fully well if you’re going to spend and take private classes for any dance style.

Before I share what I posted in groups, I remembered what the dance studio owner said to me during call. The dance studio owner of an old “brand / studio / name” it seems in dance industry said that I am the only Shakti Saran in his contacts and there is no chat of him with me about my private classes and that according to him I had discussed with the teacher directly. When I had searched for his name on my computer WhatsApp, several chats had come up and I had told him that I’m seeing several people by his name and that I’ll have to search and find the chats. During that time on the call, it was as if the studio owner was correct about this and I wasn’t because he didn’t see any chats about this. Even though the private class chat had initially happened in September 2024 and now it is June 2025, I had kind of remembered chatting with him about private classes and payment and when I searched for chats on my mobile, I found them and shared the screenshot with the dance studio owner. I’ve shared it below after hiding the names of studio owner and teacher because the goal is not name them but to share with dance students about being careful and the dance studios to take more care of their students. It’s critical to keep such chats in records like by emailing to yourself in Gmail and also keeping them in Google Drive.

See below the chat screenshot between dance studio owner and me in which I have clearly, politely and very nicely asked him about private class, instructor and fees and the studio owner has clearly replied the payment terms and details:

This is what I posted in Social Dancing WhatsApp groups:

There is no specific details mentioned about studio owner, teacher or studio in this article. Also, the issue has been addressed by studio owner with a refund about which I never even thought before. However, students, teachers, owners and studios should all be mindful about this because we all contribute and spend in our own ways with love and respect for art and each other.

A dance studio owner called and started getting on my head that I had shared something “publicly” about them (from 8-9 months ago which I have never shared “publicly” because it’s a very small thing for me and still haven’t shared “publicly” in terms of naming the studio, owner or teacher). Moreover, I still wish them the best because mistakes can be made by anyone if they can see their mistake and improve. Earlier today I had shared the issue with someone associated with that studio when they had said that I can contact the studio’s owner to rent their studio. Even then I shared in a very brief manner as a simple reason why I won’t contact the studio owner and never created any issue about them. The studio owner said today after talking to me that he will return my private class fees and which he has done while I’m writing this. Please read below what I spoke to him.

Around 8-9 months ago, my paid private class was refused because I was told I have canceled private classes some different times before, however, there was never a warning or a Terms and Conditions given regarding this. It is a very small amount for me thankfully and so I even forgot about it, however, it can be a big amount for others and hence we should be mindful how we treat others.

The studio owner today said on phone that my private class teacher used to tell the owner that I have informed that I won’t be coming for the class. I told the owner that I had confirmed with teacher before itself that the teacher is there at the studio from 3-4pm to teach group class and then is my private class from 4:15pm for an hour. So it is not that the teacher came to studio for me and I always informed the teacher before my class time that I won’t be able to come so that the teacher never has to wait for me. I said that a main reason I take private classes even though their studio has group classes on the same days is because I stay far away and I am very busy and hence I don’t know if I can come on that day or not.

Even then if the Terms and Conditions were given to me before taking my payment and had clearly said that my class will be considered completed due to not showing up then I would’ve known this from before itself and would’ve accepted it. I hope that everyone would agree to this in their transactions. And seriously, I used to like the private classes a lot and even thought I’ll keep learning from my teacher for the long-term. At least one warning should’ve been given is the minimum humanity they could’ve shown especially as they promote art. I still forgot about it because of the so many things I do and that I have almost no time for this amount.

The studio owner today said that all my conversations were with my teacher and not him. He didn’t even find any chat history with me on discussion of private classes and amount. I remembered chatting with him and so I searched for chat history and shared it with him in which he accepts to 1750 per one hour private class and he himself asks for payment of 4 classes in advance and which I had happily made. Studio owner is the one who had discussed and finalized my private classes with my teacher (whose name is also in the chat) including the amount. So just think that the studio owner doesn’t even have chat history of the amount discussed, forget sharing about Terms and Conditions before starting the private classes. I also told the studio owner that the studio could’ve given at least one warning that from next time the class will be considered completed if I don’t come for the class. Not even a single warning was given.

Also, let’s say if I had never discussed with the studio owner and only the teacher. Then is it the fault of the student to discuss with the teacher of a studio? How will the student know that they are not supposed to discuss about private classes with their teachers? Wouldn’t it be the responsibility of the teacher to tell the student to talk to the owner? In fact from what I remember that is what my wonderful teacher did. I was told to discuss with the studio owner and hence I have the chat records with the studio owner. So I request the studio owners to please keep records of class related discussions, payments and terms and conditions. These are small things and help to keep more positivity before thinking negatively about a student.

I told the studio owner that I am going to write everything publicly because he was getting on my head by saying that I went public whereas I hadn’t. I was polite with respect at least of the past that he had been my teacher. He replied that he knows that I don’t respect him but he apologized for what happened and said that he will return the amount to me and which he has done while I’m writing this. I haven’t shared any names because I wish them the best and in the long journey ahead, I hope that they will take this positively towards improving their work and also hopefully keep positive thoughts of me.

Just think when a dance studio owner says they have no chat history of payment and class related discussions and that the student had discussed everything with their teacher and then the student can lose any amount of money! Hence, all students must keep their own records and take screenshots of important chats and email them to yourselves because mobiles can get spoilt. I actually keep doing this from time to time. Gmail is great as we can also upload to Google Drive if you haven’t thought about this yet. It’s not to hurt others but to protect the self and hopefully also others. Thank You Dear Community! Best Wishes!

After I posted the above in several Social Dancing (Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba) WhatsApp Groups in Delhi then the Dance Studio Owner WhatsApp’d this to me:

I shared this screenshot in the WhatsApp groups and wrote this:

This studio owner had said on the phone he doesn’t have time for such discussions and that he will refund the money which he has done because he knows what he did. He was first getting on my head and then changed to apologies when I started replying correctly to him and now he wants me to share about his studio publicly (negative fame is still fame it seems for some people unless they can fool and loot you without giving you T&C and even a warning – not saying this studio tried to fool and loot, it’s just a general thought on the side). And now he’s sending such a message.

Can you imagine that he as a studio owner (an old “brand / studio / name” it seems) couldn’t find details of our chat regarding my private class booking and payment until I found them in my chat. I will suggest students to avoid confrontations and save your precious time 💎

If you are going to spend on private dance classes then get the Terms and Conditions before making the payment and best is to take the details from their official email id. The studio owner might seem like a nice person when taking money but later might stop your classes without even proper reason.

Keep Dancing,

Shakti Saran

Founder, Dance With Me India