Interesting link. It seems that some who would like to find non-paid partners to dance with are being crowded out by the boys and girls trying to put food on the table!
Social dance instruction is often a scam. Though in the US, it can function as safe social club. You pay your money, and you are exposed to others who can pay and value the experience enough to pay, and who are likely to be considerate of your feelings.
Most cities also have more informal dance groups, that emphasize one or another type of dancing- swing, zydeco, salsa, whatever, and offer some relatively inexpensive a la carte lessons. They also frequently stage dances- often several times a week- so that one doesn’t have to be comfortable in a nightclub atmosphere to enjoy the dancing. It is also quite a bit cheaper than clubs.
But I am mostly unimpressed with the skills and the teaching ability of the "teachers". The average music teacher that one might find for an instrument or voice is 500% better trained musically and pedagogically than the usual social dance teacher. An exception seems to be Argentine tango teachers. Most of these people around here anyway are really good, both as very musical and attractive dancers, and as teachers. Even the Americans mostly go to Argentina frequently to better their skills. It is a very attractive dance, not yet as infected with the huge emphasis on contests and competitions that ballroom and some other dance styles are. IMO, most of these events are to drum up business for teachers, and to establish a pecking order for teachers, and to make people feel inadequate to just go out and dance.
Serious dance like modern, jazz, tap is a whole different story. There are so many really good teachers and dancers in this area. But it is sure physically taxing and coordination demanding!
Ha