Figure Skating or Ballroom Dancing? Which Costs More?

Question

Hi, Im currently 14 years old and im thinking of goin into either figure skating or ballroom dancing. But, my problem is that, I cant make up my mind..I hear that Figure Skating costs more because you need/should take ballet classes and you need to have a choreographer n stuff.
Ballroom dancing has long since been my passion but, lately, all i can think of is figure skating. I there such thing as taking it as a hobby? I mean..it's still to expansive for a hobby?

Answer 1

Here's an example of some of the costs my parents incurred when I was competing and training hardcore:
Ice Costs: $500 - $1000 every three months
Coaching: $100 - $200 a week for lessons
Skates: $1000 - $1500 custom made, new ones every year
Blades: $750 usually lasted around 2 years
Competition Dress: $500 x 2 for material & supplies (2 dresses per season)
Practice Wear: $200 - I'd get new stuff every season
Music Fees: $200 a year to cut 2 new programs every summer

Off-Ice
Gym Membership: $40/month
Runners: $120 every 6-12 months
Off-Ice clothes: $120 every season or so
Off-Ice Coach: $50 per session, 4 sessions per month

Need I say more? Now don't let this scare you off. If you really want to skate then skate, but give it a try on a more casual basis to see if you still feel the passion for it. But if it's hard costs that you're looking at, I'd stick with Ballroom.

Answer 2

Well, if you're just going to begin firgure skating, it's not as expensive as some people here make it sound. You could probably get a decent pair of used skates for between $200-$250. You could get a dress to practice in for under $100. If you just take group classes at your local rink, that will probably be about $100-$150 for a session (about 3-4 months). Or you could take private lessons once a week or so from a coach and that would cost about $30 or less for a 30 minute lesson. Ice time may still be expensive, but sometimes you can go to public skating and practice if they let you and it's a lot cheaper. Also, you don't NEED ballet lessons or a gym membership. Usually only highly competitive skaters do these things. You could take ballet if you want, but who knows, you may just be naturally graceful since you already do dance. And as for the gym membership, why not stick to jogging outside on nice days and doing cruches, pushups,leglifts, etc. Investing in a decent jump rope might also be a good idea. See, it's not really that bad.

Answer 3

Figure Skating is expensive, but if you take group lessons, use rental skates, and just wear exercise clothing in the beginning you can keep it more affordable for a while. You can definitely keep skating just as a hobby too. You just take group lessons, and you can keep it less expensive that way too. You don't have to get into skating competitively and start getting private lessons and you also can keep the costs down. You should try skating at a public session and then you will know if skating would be something that you would like. I wouldn't buy skates right away because they can be expensive for a decent pair. Usually you buy your first pair used. If you get really into skating skates can cost $1,500 (easily more) and then lessons, dresses, and off ice training can cost even more. You can buy a decent pair of used skates if you just want to do it recreationally, and you can buy an ok new pair for around $200. I don't know the costs of ballroom dancing, but that is kind of what figure skating costs.

Answer 4

To be really good at figure skating it's very expensive. You need to buy ice time, a coach, costumes, ballet lessons, a gym membership not to mention that good skates can cost close to 1000 dollars.

However, if youre not going to compete, figure skating can be much cheaper. Many rinks offer group lessons so you can see if you like it and want to get more involved.

I would try it. Ballroom dancing may help you a lot with skating. Don't quit ballroom if you have the time.

Let me know if you want more info. I competed in skating for 10 years and i danced professionally after my skating career was over.

Answer 5

The decision is yours- but I am here to help u make that decision.

First, try getting on the ice, and see if you even like skating. There is no point in getting into something your not interested in. Don't worry, I wanna be a figure skater too, so I am unofficially off-ice training right now. i haven't actually gotten to hit the ice yet, so I do not know if I can really adapt to it. If you love it, go for it, and start out taking group lessons. It is an expensive hobby, but if its your passion, GO FOR IT.

Since you've been ballroom dancing for a while, I guess you've got experience and talent, and maybe you have a real shot. But transitioning to figure skating maybe a little hard. Whatever you do, enjoy it


GOOD LUCK

Answer 6

Figure skating is expencive. I pay a lot of money for my skates, a good boot is about 300 dollars, and a good blade is 100 dollars. Plus you need private lessons with a coach which is like 50 dollars for a 25 minute lesson. Then their is a cost for buying music for programs, and cutting the music. Then the big prices parents dont want to pay is for ice skating dresses. Parents usually get mad because they are so expencive and you only wear them once, for competition. And you don't HAVE to take ballet, but in the end it really, really helps!
I don't know much about ballroom dancing but I know shoes and dresses are a lot of money.

Answer 7

you can definitely take figure skating just for a hobby. that's what I do and it's awesome.
1: you really don't need ballet lessons. there are plenty of figure skaters who don't take ballet.
2: you don't necessarily need a choreographer even if you decide to compete. your coach should be able to help you with your program.

you like figure skating and ballroom dancing... maybe you should check out ice dancing!

Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

Answer 8

The choice is up to you. Ice Skating i think would cost more because you need to pay for Ice Skates, Lessons, Later on when you get better you will pay for privete coaches, dresses, compitions. Ballroom is just classes, outfits, and other things ballroom dancers. Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

You can take figure skating as a hobby but it would definitely be expensive. For starters, a good pair of skates is expensive and lessons are costly too. Then you have to get skate guards, tights and stuff.

Answer 10

Toby is pretty on the mark as far as the costs of skating go. I would say that my parents budget pretty much the same way. Mind you I am very competitive and I think Toby mentioned that in her(?) post too. For a beginner skater you wouldn't need to spend as much but it's still pretty expensive.

As far as skating on public sessions, don't go if the ice really crowded as it can be dangerous skating with tons of people who can't skate. They can fall in front of you and you can hurt yourself if you trip over them. It happened to a friend of mine and she had to get stitches in her chin and she broke her wrist too.

On the other hand, once you learn to skate, you could always combine the 2 and go into ice dancing.