Anyone out there with tips on the best (least expensive way) to start dancing the right way? After drinking in the contests on TV for years I've finally make a decision to jump in. I want to make it a life long venture and have no idea where to begin. Any help is appreciated!!

Well, the main point of social dance, is to go home with your face more sore than your feet ot your wallet, from smiling and laughing. A great many people are quite happy with this for their balroom experience, and the way to get out on the floor doing it is in group classes.

But real lead/follow and movement techniques require training, dedication and hard work with a private instructor/trainer.

So, it is wise to try to set your dance goals when you begin.

I am in the "private first" camp, but it is personal opinion based on my kind of goals.

It is not so much that there are group instructors who are "incomeptent", as inferred elsewhere - but that the things they must impart quickly to social students to get them moving, keep them happy and keep them coming back, very often involve expedients, including a lot of patternwork, that shortcut real training, and result in bad muscle memory which must be painfully retrained later, if one decides to really advance or compete. This whole matter is a can of worms, but having a better idea of what you want at the outset is wise.

Some of us have thrown away years of everything we ever learned about ballroom, and started over from scratch later because our goals changed or we were not mindful of them (and what they require) at the outset, and how to meet them.

We must remember that much of dance is opinion. Many people want to go down the floor with 30 patterns, with small steps and looking very pretty, and are in fact disappointed if they cannot. People like me would rather travel the whole floor with only 3 moves if necessary, with power, grace and technique, and we are willing to continually refine the very basics over & over again, forever.

Highly-accomplished ballroom is like a pyramid - you spend 90% of your time, money and work building and expanding the base. If you try to stick things on the sides, they will fall off. If you put wrong or weak stones in the base, you have to tear it all down. Social dancers don't like, or need, to get so preoccupied with this approach.

I always get compliments on my leading in social situations - but much of the time, I am actually following a woman who has learned patterns in social classes, and has little idea of what true lead/follow is - or could care less. I just smile and thank her.

I don't think that starting with private lessons is a good idea. Especially in the beginning, group lessons are the way to go (for me, and it looks like for the majority of repliers). I started dancing through a club at my college, and the classes were slow paced enough so that everyone who came regularly seemed to get it. The instructors know what they're doing and don't try to teach over their ability. This may not be true with all universities, but that is my experience. (Plus it was cheap)

Trees are people too!
¡Viva los árboles!

Well, there might be a lot of debate on this point but I disagree with Belle and the other guest who posted. If you want to find out if you are really interested in learning ballroom dance, you should start with a private instructor. More students have been discouraged and lost through massive group classes than anyone could begin to count.
Group classes are inexpensive, especially at Universities, and community centers. However, you will almost invariably find less qualified instructors here and they will be trying to teach sometimes unbelieveable numbers of students. You run the risk of learning some very bad habits (which you will have to take a lot of private lessons later to correct). Also, many people come out of big group classes feeling like they "couldn't learn" or they "couldn't get it" --- when in reality the instructor simply couldn't give them the kind of attention that they needed. The best time to take group classes is AFTER you have been dancing for some time with a private instructor and have an idea of what to expect and a good solid basis in dance.
In the long run it is very important that you find a reputable, private instructor. By doing this first you will save yourself a great deal of time, and money. I suggest that if you are budget conscious you might look for an independent studio (ie, not Arthur Murray's or Astaire's etc.). Studios usually mention that they are independent in the yellow pages ads. Independent teachers usually charge by the lesson only, with no contracts or "packages". That means little or no sales pessure on you, and it ensures that you are getting exactly what you want. Finally, put forth some effort to be aware of the qualifications of your instructor...rather like buying a car, the dance business is "buyer beware". Don't be afraid to ask studios or teachers for their credentials, and check them out with someone who would know (like the pro members of dancetalk). It is a really sad feeling to take lessons for years from someone unqualified and then find out your mistake!
One last thing...maybe some dancetalk members in your area could give you the going hourly lesson rates. Here in Kansas we're paying 50-80 an hour...but it is regional. Or someone reading this might suggest some studios to try near you... best of luck!

PS If you are strapped for cash and MUST do only group classes, try to take at an independent studio rather than a Univ. or community center...class sizes are usually much more reasonable and teachers better trained.

Besides what you have heard already, be sure to take a wide variety of dance classes.

Most community colleges offer ballet, modern (especially appropriate to latin dancing), and jazz or musical theatre, as well as alignment classes, etc.

Try different styles of partner dance in group settings. You don't know with what type or style your personality will necessarily 'hook up'!

I cannot emphasize too much how important it is to listen to music and identify with it. Your body can be thought of as an instrument that the music plays. Whatever kind of dancing you end up doing will be strongly influenced by your musical tastes.

Finally, nothing can take the place of practice or experience.