Finding Space to Teach in and how much it should cost to rent

[babalina]

I moved to a small community and want to start a beginner belly dance class here. One of the problems I am having it that there is no dance studio within 25 miles of my home (mirrors would be nice), but would have to teach in a space without mirrors for now. The local community center quoted a price of 35.00 / hour (huge space). I called a couple of dance studios in the neighboring cities asking if they rented out studio space but they never returned my call (I did not say "belly dancing" but orientale dance, actually). Can anyone give me some advice on "reasonable" cost of rental space? For the 35.00, I would need to have at least 5 students to start with to make it worth my while. Thanks for any help.

[mahsati]

Most of the studios I have rented at have been $15-$30/hr., but I have paid up to $50/hr. for prime time at a busy studio.

[alyssaraks]

Dance studios never called me back either. A few places I taught at before I had my own studio: gyms, dance studios (a ballroom studio that hadn't opened yet when I first moved here), a yoga studio, the ymca, a cultural arts center.

The best was really a percentage of my enrollment. I found that I WASN"T making much, if any, money when I had to pay to rent the space. Sometimes it's hard to get the word out unless they are handling the advertising for you. I'd say if you were going to rent, don't go too much over $25 or $30 if you have to handle things yourself. Again, if they flyer for you, put you on their website, newsletter, and handle sign ups, then maybe you could consider paying more. If you work a split, 70/30 is fair. 60/40 even, but don't let someone take advantage of you with a 50/50.

[Shaharazad]

I have been teaching at a state university for the last 4 1/2 years. I get paid per hour, (9 contact hours) - meet twice per week for 5 weeks. I can't complaint I am happy with what they pay me, they do advertising and I do advertising and I don't pay room rental fee.

[sabrinabellydancer]

try the yoga studios and martial arts studios too (if they have a suitable floor). sometimes their rates are better.

[artemisia_danst]

the places i currently teach in charge in between 5 and 50E per hour for rental.

[tahiradancer]

Church basements. Really. And get some old mirrored closet doors to lean up against the walls. The Church will probably even allow you to store them there. And generally, they don't charge very much!

{{{HUGS}}}

[ScarletDancer]

I was in same boat but am working out the details to teach at a yoga studio. Their floor isn't ideal (carpet but commercial grade) but they have mirrors. I am getting space for $20 which seams to be going rate in a smaller town.