Surprised my wife on our 25th Anniversary with a dance lesson. We learned to Tango, Foxtrot, Salsa, and Swing. Tiffany was absolutely wonderful. Took us by the arm (literally) and within moments, my wife and I were dancing - and laughing at the fact that it wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it might be. We intend on signing up for more classes. Thank you AMDC for being so encouraging and accommodating. read more

I have been dancing at Arthur Murray San Jose for a number of years. My current teachers are Blanca and Tiffany and I cannot say enough about them. They are outstanding; knowledgeable, friendly, and supportive. They are real upbeat and patient, which makes learning fun and a very positive experience. Unfortunately, I have limited time to practice beyond the private lesson so they help tailor a program that works for me. If you want to excel quickly in your dancing skill, attend the free group lesson and parties. Other options will be special coaching and competitions. If you have an interest in dancing, come down to Arthur Murray San Jose....you may be able to walk out dancing after your first lesson! read more

I have been ballroom dancing for a bit...over a couple of decades, and most of that time to the present has been with Arthur Murray, both locations : San Jose and Los Gatos. They are and always have been truly wonderful, fun, amazing, patient, friendly, supportive and inspirational. Through the years, including my own, I've seen people from 9 to 92, young, old, coupled, singled, excited and nervous, come through the doors and become positively transformed..and happy! I've been to other types of studios. This is the studio that takes the time to get to know you: what you're looking for out of your time here, from learning a single dance for a special wedding or party, or a few or many of the fabulously fun dances from Cha Cha to Waltz, Fox Trot to Mambo, Bolero to Swing. You can enhance your life, skills and personal health just by learning a few steps, a few dances, and practicing with fellow students at the weekly practice parties. And if you're interested in sharing what you've learned, you can at the in studio showcases, inviting your family and friends for a nice evening out at the studio. And if you want to take it to even another level, you can participate in the fun, glitzy, glammy local Arthur Murray District Showcases and Dance-o-ramas! Whatever your spark, Arthur Murray San Jose and Los Gatos has the best, most friendliest staff to start you on your journey! Dance is a gift you give yourself! See ya on the floor! :o) read more

Have been dancing here for years. A really helpful upbeat place to learn and practice. You will need to be serious about learning and improving your dancing. It will take up a lot of your free time but is worth it for all fun and exercise you will get. Also it is not a cheap place to hang out. You will enroll in a program tailored to you that will include private lessons, group lessons and parties. Optional will be special coaching and competitions. If you have an interest in dancing this is the place to really polish your skills--latin, social or ballroom. read more

I started taking lessons in August 2017. My distant cousin is a ballroom dancer and I was inspired by Bruce Lee (Yes I am a Bruce Lee fan...Hi Blanca!) to learn cha cha. My teachers are Blanca and Zach (sometimes). They are great teachers and they let you be you when you learn. They will make a program that will help you succeed. Your experience will be great if you work hard, show that you are willing to learn, and practice whether that's at home, group classes, or practice parties. Other instructors are cool and so is everyone else. No matter who your teacher is, learning how to dance is just like learning how to do other things. It will be easy at first and then it will get hard (that's where I'm at right now). Finally, you come out on top as a better dancer. It can be expensive, but it is worth it. They are also willing to work with you. I do not know any other ballroom dance studio that is in the Bay Area besides AM SJ and AM LG. read more

It's so hard to put into words all the feels this place gives me. First of all I ended up coming here after looking online for dance lessons. I tried the free class they offer and well the rest is history... (started in February 2017) Anyone who knows me knows that I love music, and with music comes dance. And therefore my love for both. I've done different types of dance throughout the years. But I admit I don't know everything. And that's why I keep coming back. They truly listen to me, and teach me in order for me to keep growing and challenging myself! And I loved to be challenged, as one instructor says "I'm going to blow you mind"! Yes I love that! Keep it coming...!! I've also taken advantage of taking classes with all the instructor, they all have a different teaching methods, experience and that has made my learning truly exceptional. And of course learning! Learning is what keeps me coming back! But a different kind, the one about my inner self and soul. Honestly I could go on but I can't describe the things that you feel when you master a turn, a step, or you have an aha moment, those I believe you have to experience on your own two feet!! read more

I really loved our instructor at Arthur Murray! She was very sweet and seemed knowledgeable of the different dances.She was probably the only positive of the experience. As for the rest of the experience it just wasn't a good fit. The sales-consultant wasn't "pushy" but she definitely was a bit much. This seems to be the case at a lot of dance studios. We are still in the early phase of our wedding planning and she was just kind of overwhelming..asking us millions of questions many not related to our wedding planning or dance, watching part of our lesson, etc. She may truly just be a friendly person but it didn't mesh with our style. They play a new song on the dance floor almost every 5 minutes and this is very distracting, especially for a first lesson. The floor is pretty crowded and we only got to listen to our wedding dance song for about 5 minutes of the lesson. If you are wanting a more intimate experience with the opportunity to dance to your song I would not say this is a good fit. We were told that we may be able to use the private room when it is not crowded but were not given the opportunity to do so during this lesson even though there was only one person in there. My suggestions to Arthur Murray and other dance studios: private lessons should be booked in the back room and couples should be able to dance to their wedding song for every session. I realize this may be uncommon at a lot of studios but do not feel it is asking too much. The price is on the higher end, approximately $100 per lesson, regardless of the package. The wedding packages do not really get less expensive when you buy more. This is not ultimately our deciding factor, but it does seem a bit steep for sharing the floor with at least 6 other couples and not being able to listen to your song for more than 5 minutes. read more

My husband and I went here for wedding 'first dance' lessons and we were pretty happy with Arthur Murray. We first went for their free private lesson for new students and then bought the cheapest wedding package, which includes 4 private lessons, free entrance to one of their dance parties, free group classes, and use of the studio for practice. We liked Arthur Murray because the staff is very upbeat and positive, they start you moving right away at the beginning of the lesson, and I like their romantic variation of the fox trot that they use for a lot of wedding dances, which is called the foxy. Also for our wedding dance, they basically taught us a pattern that we repeated a few times, so we didn't feel overwhelmed with tons of choreography. On the downside, they are a little more expensive than the other studios that we looked at. (And most studios average around $70/hr for private lessons!) And in the evenings, the medium sized studio can get a little crowded so you have to weave your way around people on the dance floor. Also, their staff will constantly try to sell you on more lessons, so you have to be prepared for that. But ultimately, I liked their teaching style more than the other ballroom studios that we went to. Their staff will keep you moving during your entire lesson, which is really the best way to learn how to dance. And I liked their choreography too. In the end, I felt like my husband and I totally rocked our wedding dance and it was much better than doing the junior high dance shuffle. read more

Sadly, not impressed. I wanted to like it (we have friends who work for A.M. in other states), but we just didn't have a good experience. So far we've had two private lessons and a group lesson. Private Lesson: Our instructor was nice enough, but in 30 minutes I don't want to spend a bunch of time chit-chatting about our upcoming wedding. I want you to TEACH me DANCE moves. I'm a dance teacher (not ballroom, but I can move) and future hubby did marching band for 100 years (he can also move). The pace should have been about 3 times faster for us, but we came away annoyed that we only learned 2 or 3 moves in 30 minutes. I wish there had been more adjustment to ability. Group Lesson: I understand group lesson dynamics. In general, if you are a quick learner, group lessons are tortuously slow. It was OK in that regard. My issues with the group lesson were that the instructor couldn't count the music (waltz is in 3's - so 5-6-7-8 shouldn't come out of your mouth), and he refused to answer questions. Literally would not answer my questions (such as - where should I be looking? How should my shoulders be held?). I was told 'don't worry about that, it'll mess you up.' No, thank you, I'm fine. Tell me what I'm supposed to do. Notice how I've been copying the girl in class the whole time with where she's looking, and I'm totes OK. Pricing: They are EXPENSIVE. I understand paying to be taught a skill is pricey business, but this was ridiculous. The wedding package prices they offered us were astronomical - and that, coupled with the bad experiences with the teaching style and philosophy of the studio, and we won't be coming back. I wouldn't suggest it... read more

Last year I bought a deals package. I don't remember what the whole package included, but I went to 2-30 min private lessons and 1 group dance. My instructor was wonderful. I told him I had taken a 1-unit ballroom dance class at Foothill College so he added a few moves to our lesson above the general "this is the basic step" training. He was also very in tune with my breathing and my general vibe. I felt like he wanted to teach me how to dance and wasn't concentrating on anything else. I also liked the feel of the studio. It was well lit and felt modern and new. There were also many instructors in the studio at any one time so the place felt bustling and fun with a lot of positive, high energy. The age of the instructors ranged from early/mid-20s upward. The group class I had was also great. I learned the basic move for Bachata which I didn't know before. The instructors step in to be partners when there is a mismatch of genders. The only reason I deducted a star was because of the sales pitch at the end. I wasn't expecting it (perhaps I should have) and I felt a bit cornered and pressured and made me not want to come back for the other paid for portions of my package. That being said, I guess this is standard protocol so it should be expected. I did not continue with the studio only because for me, the prices were high. I was dancing just because I love it not for wedding practice or what not, so I'll have to find a less formal/less expensive route to learn ballroom dancing. read more

We came to Arthur Murray in the summer of 2012 with high hopes to learn the Viennese Waltz for our first dance. (Dancing with the Stars can do that to you!) We came in with some dance experience but were true beginners at the Waltz... For those who don't know (and we didn't at that time), Viennese Waltz is the upgraded, faster version of the Waltz. Even so, our dance instructors patiently worked with us each week on basic footwork and timing. Each week we would learn a new move or two and go over the things we still needed to work on. It was a really comfortable atmosphere to learn - we felt like we could laugh at ourselves and still get constructive criticism. After a couple of months or so, our instructors put together a routine. They patiently taught us this routine - showing us what it should look like, dancing a couple of the steps with us, and then letting us try out the motions. We never expected such commitment from Arthur Murrary, particularly Genevieve and Christina, who really made our wedding day special. In the end, our first dance was beautiful! Our friends and family were so pleasantly surprised - they even noticed my handing styling on the crossovers!! We are still going to Arthur Murray and plan to for as long as we can. read more

Arthur Murray Dance Center - the best dance move ever: the runaround - Dance Studios Near Me - San Jose, California

A lady friend of mine told me that she was going to take me dancing in New York City when I went out to visit her. Given that she knew very well that my two fears in life were dancing and heights, I took this for what it was - an attempt to get me to leave my comfort zone. I immediately googled "east coast swing lessons bay area" and found Arthur Murray San Jose. As a college student with less than significant income, the price seemed VERY significant. But I needed to learn, so I bit the bullet, and could not be happier with my experience. I lacked confidence on the dance floor, and made it very clear that I had only ever been dragged onto it before. My teacher, Jessica, made that all go away. Great attitude every single day, kept me on pace to learn what I needed, and tailored every lesson to my specific skill set. If I felt insecure in some aspect, she helped me get through that by having us practice until I got it right. A very motivating staff - who I am sure treat everyone this way - is some more of what warrants this as a 5-star establishment. Ultimately, I am about results, and Arthur Murray delivered. I went to NYC after seven lessons, and I held my own at a social dance, which is more than I ever thought possible, and my lady friend was very pleased. There is no substitute for private lessons, and my experience was worth every penny. If you're a guy like me that wants to conquer an inability to dance, this is the place that I will refer all of my friends. read more

I walked into Arthur Murray Dance Studio as a result of following my passion for dance. I had tried several others that were alot cheaper but I wasn't learning anything specific and usually walked out frustrated. I started in Sept. 2009 and thought it would be a short lived adventure but the instructors made it so easy to learn and fun all at the same time that I got hooked. It's like a 2nd family to me. Everyone is genuinely caring and passionate about what they do. I started out with awkward balance and was concerned because I had arthritis in my knees but my instructor took that into consideration and has showed me many tips and things I can do to improve that and it helped me to over come my fears and boosted my self confidence more then I ever imagined. Thanks Dustin!! Now I'm getting ready to do my first performance (solo w/instructor) and pulling out all the stops. Yes, they are more expensive but I feel its worth every penny as they also offer alot of other classes where you can work on turns, technique, etc. that you don't get from some of the other dance studios. Just want to send a big shout out to all the Instructors at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in San Jose. You Rock!! read more

This ever happen to you? You drive by the same businesses every day, barely giving them a thought as you go to work, or come home from dinner. Then one day, for whatever reason, you decide to visit one of those businesses and discover something great. For us, our first visit to Arthur Murray in San Jose literally changed our lives in the best possible way. It even changed the course of our daughter's future career goals, and we're very excited about it. Our experience with Arthur Murray started one day when my wife decided that our daughter, age 16 at the time, needed a more effective approach to dance instruction. Years before, our daughter had tried group dance lessons at the Dance Academy USA but their classes were tiered based on age and we didn't start her early enough. She was older than the others in her class and felt out of place. She tried Tap dance at another studio, and although she did well, she did not take to Tap as a dance style. She's always loved dancing around the house, self-teaching the choreography from movie musicals, and dancing with her friends and working out routines, but we never found a way to get her engaged in a structured approach to dance. That is, until my wife looked into Arthur Murray. We drove by their San Jose studio on De Anza Blvd. almost every day and never gave it a second glance. Then on burst of inspiration, my wife decided to get our daughter a few private lessons at Arthur Murray. Our daughter was apprehensive and anxious going in, convinced it was another waste of time. Two lessons later, she was completely hooked, and my wife and I, well, we can't imagine it any other way now. A year later, our daughter is a standout ballroom dancer having learned a number of styles, participates at AM dance parties at least three times a week, attends lessons once a week, she wants to Minor in Dance in college, learn to be a dance instructor, and perhaps have her own AM franchise in the future. And all this started with just a single visit to that place with the big Arthur Murray sign out front, near Home Depot. Now, we know that our daughter story is perhaps unique, but just like her, every student at AM has their own story for why they visited AM the first time, and why they go back every week. Some got started by taking a few lessons to learn how to dance for an upcoming wedding and discovered a love for dance. Others just wanted to do something different with their spouse and to learn to dance together. A few decided that they were so busy with their jobs, they needed a way to get out, get some exercise, and meet some people. And there are some who just got tired of watching all the dance reality shows on TV and decided to give it a try themselves. Everyone starts for different reasons, but they all have experienced the same end result: they love to dance. And for some, like our daughter, their early apprehension and fear of getting on the dance floor has been replaced with a continued desire to learn and be part of the AM experience. You'll never know until you try. We continue to be impressed with the quality of the instructors and the caliber of leadership at AM. Juan and Cari run the AM studio on DeAnza in San Jose (AMSJ) and the studio in Los Gatos (AMLG) near Linardi's. Juan and Cari, award winning ballroom performers, are extremely talented dancers who have a big heart for anyone who wants to learn, and they've hired a hand-selected team of quality instructors and staff at both locations who are not only great at their craft, but are very warm and professional people that make the process of learning dance as much fun as dancing itself. Our daughter is currently being trained by Dustin and Genevieve at the AMSJ location, and frankly the quality of these two people, and all the others we've met and observed, makes us wonder how they found all these great folks to support two major dance studios that are just within a few miles of each other. Juan and Cari know dance inside out and know their business very well. You will be in excellent hands. You may have read some previous comments about the cost, and although it may be higher than some other studios, this is a matter of getting what you pay for. Knowing what this has done for our daughter, it has been worth every penny, and the continued influx of new students as well as those who continue to learn and enjoy AMSJ and AMLG is evidence that AM provides a healthy balance between cost and benefit. So if you have any desire to step out and learn a bit of Mambo, Rumba, Cha Cha, or maybe the Waltz or Fox Trot, or a number of other dance styles, AMSJ and AMLG are the premier dance studios in the South Bay to help you learn them, and perhaps embark you on a new experience where dance isn't just something you do at the occasional wedding, but becomes part of a new and vital lifestyle for you. Stop by. Ask questions. Try them out. Then dance, dance, dance! read more

I've been taking lessons for 6 years and it has become a part of my life. The people are wonderful and are a second family. I started out just wanting to be able to dance with different people at events like weddings, parties, cruises, etc. That goal was accomplished early on but I stay because it is so much fun. The best thing about me taking lessons is that it motivated my husband to take lessons when he saw how much fun I was having without him. Now, after he has taken lessons, we can dance with each other (something which I never thought would happen!) People who say that the teaching is not any different from other studios are just plain wrong. They haven't taken enough lessons to see how the system works. It is not enough to take private lessons unless you are taking them every other day, because your body forgets. The body remembers with repetition and Arthur Murray's group lessons and parties help to reinforce the private lessons at a much lower cost. The overall value of the packages are worth it. You learn enough here to be able to go to the cheaper studio's parties and look great dancing. There is so much joy at the studio. I highly recommend at least giving them a try. read more

I must say that this is probably the most skilled crew of dancers anywhere in the greater San Jose area. What I have seen them do with students is nothing short of astonishing, not only with me, but all the others as well. read more

The first time I stepped into Arthur Murray I was terrified. I can't tell you how welcome they made me feel... they became like a second family to me. That was FIVE years ago and I have been taking lessons ever since!!! My first request was to learn Salsa but then I got hooked on all the other dances, eight in my program right now. The staff is very accommodating and there never seems to be negative energy any time you go. I can't imagine not dancing and can't say how long I will be there. Probably until they kick me out!!!!!! (just kidding, Juan). read more

I am getting married soon and have never really learned to dance. The thought of it was ruining the vision of my wedding. I called Arthur Murray and scheduled a free lesson and then signed up for an 8 lesson package. I am so glad that I did. In a very short time I gained the knowledge and experience that makes the thought of dancing at my wedding a positive rather than a negative. The instructors gave lots of friendly encouragement and helpful tips. Kudos to person training and hiring the staff, the instructors are so positive and skilled at starting you off at a level you can handle and then working in new steps when you are ready. I have never heard one negative comment from any of the staff. This is the biggest compliment I can give them. read more

If you need wedding dance lessons, this is the place to go to, as the instructors here are so friendly and knowledgeable and accommodating! I'd contacted a couple of other studios before, and was told that we needed months of lessons for a wedding dance and that they couldn't teach us ONE dance. I found that snobbish. As my husband and I had NO time to do that, this studio was willing to help us in the week that we had and we learned enough in 3 private lessons to do a reasonable first dance and were quite happy with that. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing to learn a first dance in a short amount of time, and they're probably great for those with more time! read more

I have been a student at Arthur Murray for 4 years and am having a wonderful time. The quality of the instruction is very high and they have created a wonderful family type atmosphere. Dance and have a great time. Barbara M. read more

Customer service is excellent. The trial class was okay. The reason I say this is because I said I was an intermediate salsa dancer and wanted to level set and see what I know and what I do not know, so I can become a better dancer. In other words, I was looking for a class that could push me out of my comfort zone. In the first trial class, they started off with the assumption that I never danced in my life, and the entire 30 mins was spent in very basic steps that I master for a very long time. Being born in Souh America, I already have rithm, I am on beat, and I am comfortable with challenges. I felt dumb the entire class, waiting for the moment where the instructor could impress me. Actually, the instructor was off beat a couple of times (unbelievable). When the class ended, I asked him to dance salsa for real before I left. Surprisingly, he decided to take the other female instructor for a dance, and still I was not impressed at all. I have been dancing in general for about 20 years, and salsa dancing for the past 12 years. I say I am intermediate because I have never taken actual classes, but I have been dancing in clubs and festivals with very good dancers for many many hours, so I can sort of tell who knows how to dance good salsa, and who is BS. There are better instructors for salsa dancers. Look for dancers in the Latin community, even if they are group classes. They will give you the shortcut to get to an advanced level without charging you enormous amounts of money for it. read more

Hands down the best most professional dance studio I have ever been too. My fiancee and I started tango lessons in preparation for our wedding. We tried another instructor at another studio and were not impressed. It wasn't until I started lessons with Christina that we felt things come together!!! OMG, in just the first two lessons we refined all our moves and really feel like we are getting somewhere with our steps. Christina is patient, professional and gives helpful feedback. Her teaching and technique leaves us energized and feeling like we can really do this, where before we felt lost. I'm so glad we started our private instruction with Christina. She really knows her stuff and can break it down in a way that makes sense for us since we have no dance background. The Studio is clean and the lighting is perfect. This is probably one of the best dance studios I have tried this side of the Bay! Where once i felt fear for how my wedding dance might turn out, now I feel comfortable and confident. Arthur Murray Dance Studio rocks!!!! read more

Arthur Murray is the best studio any where, I looked into every single dance studio in San Jose, and found that they were all stuffy or a place for singles to "hang out" I walked into A.M. last on my long list not feeling very confident and definitely not wanting to ask many questions. The first person who saw me walk in greeted me and 3 others came to my assistance, they didn't try to sell the place they just talked and got to know me and what I wanted. I am very out going but like I said I had been put off by all the other places in town. I have been going to dance off and on for 5 years, taking time out for my kids in sports, and would only recommend Arthur Murray. They are very good at breaking everything down and teaching you at a pace you can tolerate. The teachers are wonderful, and the owners are professional dancers... They have very high standards for their teachers and that gives the students the best to learn from. Once you start you can work with different instructors which is a great way to learn faster. The students are incredible, they are a lot of fun to be with, and they all dance for the joy of dancing. They have a wide range of ages and are great with children as well as adults. There aren't enough adjectives to describe how fabulous this studio is and even though the dance floor is full often, it's not a big deal because it teaches you to dance with others around you, seriously how often does one couple get a dance floor to themselves? It's an amazing experience and everyone should try it! I went in to lose weight and lost 50 lbs in the course of about 8 months. The way I see it is your doing something healthy but having so much fun you don't even realize it until you need a WHOLE NEW WARDROBE!!!!!!! I love Arthur Murray and the people there! read more

The website lists a bunch of group classes and mentions in a bunch of places that they offer different programs such as group lessons, but you can't take them unless you sign up for a package of very expensive private lessons. And then you can only take a group lesson in the same week that you took a private lesson. So it's not so much a variety of programs that are available, it's one program of private lessons with group lessons as a side. The website is deceitful. read more

My wife and I walked into this dance studio by chance 3 years ago and we have like it all along. Since Juan and Cari Jo took responsibility for the studio it has even gained in quality and dynamism. The staff is well trained and caring. They will always go the extra mile to plan around your need and schedule and adjust to every one's ability and ambitions (from casual dancers to die hard). The team maintains a very friendly atmosphere that makes learning how to dance pleasant. In addition to your dance lesson you get many opportunities to practice during group classes and parties. read more