The people who work here are extremely rude and condescending. I asked if it was possible to learn a simple dance in the next 10 days, having time for 3-4 sessions. Short time frame, I know. We were only looking to learn a few basic moves, but I knew a "no" was certainly a possible response. However, the representative scoffed, laughed, and listed all the things it would be impossible to learn in 10 days. "You wouldn't expect to learn how to play the piano in 10 days, would you? Or learn a new language? Or how to drive a car?" A simple "No, we aren't able to help you" would certainly have sufficed. The ridicule was mean-spirited and entirely unnecessary. read more

GO ELSEWHERE. SALES PRESSURE AND RUDE STAFF AREN'T WORTH IT. I have visited this studio on two separate occasions. Once, nearly 10 years ago, just for fun. We liked the instructor, but ultimately decided to quit because the sales pressure made the experience very unpleasant. There was just constant pressure to do more and more lessons and sign up for endless packages, come to group lessons, prepare for competitions et etc... it was as intense a sales effort as anything I've ever experienced.... think used car lot times ten. They will confront you in the studio to re-up your package. They will steer you to a sales manager as you attempt to leave. They will call, text and email you constantly. I literally had to block their number on my phone. Then, more recently, a few weeks back, I visited again to do some last-minute prep for my wedding dance which was 10 days away... foolishly assuming things would be different 10 years later. We did a 90-minute lesson (2 back to back "units"). Again, we liked the instructor well enough, but before the lesson even ended, the sales pressure started... first with the instructor who was showing us all these skills we needed to learn and then recommended multiple lessons per week for several weeks. He passed us to a man behind a desk who is also an instructor and maybe the franchise owner (his face is on all the pictures inside and he was there 10 years ago). He had a very rude tone from the start and told us he recommended their $2500 "wedding package" which was over several months. When we told him we didn't have time... our wedding was only 10 days away... at which point he showed us a flyer for a wedding "crash course" for $1500 in which they would assign multiple instructors to us simultaneously within individual lessons over the next week. When we told him we just wanted to do 1 or 2 more lessons like we just had, he became hostile, told us "no" and literally said "I know what you need better than you do. I won't do it." He was rude, unfriendly, and literally turned our business away simply because we wouldn't sign up for his wedding package. I actually felt bad for the instructor as he invested 90 minutes of his time with us and his boss just kicked his clients out the door. There are dozens of quality dance studios in Manhattan. Go somewhere where they don't treat you like pond scum or pressure you into services you don't want or spam your phone and email relentlessly until you have to block your phone. read more

My daughter are pretty green. Jacob was our instructor and made us feel at ease, and comfortable in being new to ballroom dancing. What an outstanding teacher. What a beautiful studio, with two separate dance floors. Wonderful. read more

This studio is fun. It's fun because dancing is fun; it's fun because the atmosphere is friendly, warm, and encouraging; and it's fun because the instructors make the classes fun with a dash of humor, a lot of patience, and a love of dancing. Of course, much of my love of this place comes from my experiences with my private lessons instructor, Olga. I love her; she is the best! Is there anything she doesn't know or cannot do? If you want your lesson to be technical, she can get technical. She can go into such details about the proper form for your frame, hip motion, foot placement, the characteristics of the dance, the nuances of the step, etc., whether you're learning American or International style dance. If you are a beginner who has never danced before, she can also keep it so beautifully simple. Olga will start you off with just the basic pattern of the steps. For all that she knows, it is not beneath her to simplify the dance to such a degree. That is what makes her a great teacher, she is flexible and adaptive; she adjusts the lesson according to your level. It also means she is very good at judging her students and knowing what he or she can handle. But saying all this still does not do Olga justice. She is an amazing teacher because she is also masterful and creative in her lessons. If you do not understand, she will not hit you over the head with the same instructions over and over. She will try to find other ways to help you understand as she employs metaphors, humor, and even props in the studio. Olga is not afraid to lock you in a phalanx of chairs to make you get used to smaller steps for fast dances like salsa or swing. Ha! She is confident and relaxed during class and she keeps her students relaxed with a smile, laughter, and funny comments. This helps to prevent the sense of frustration or anxiety that may come with learning anything new. She is a teaching mastermind! :O) It might sound like I am exaggerating in my praises but I am a person who believes in meaning what you say and saying what you mean. My CFO even makes fun of me as being gullible for being so literal. I say what I say because I truly believe it. This place is fun and my teacher Olga is super amazing!! Aside from the wonderful instructors like Olga, there are also a lot of great characters among my fellow students. They add to the fun and interesting atmosphere of this place. There is the wise-cracking university professor, the quiet and soft-spoken businessman who becomes a smooth, quick-footed dancing machine with the fast dances, and once in a while, a Cat will wander in and curl up on the big, red couch with a good story to read as she waits for her class to start. And me? I am nobody; I do not exist. But in the few hours where I do exist in the studio, I am the guy who never wears more than one layer of clothing come winter blizzard or summer heat. For some reason, Iveta thinks that is supposed to be weird. :O) But I do it for the training, to discover the infinite potential of this shell, this human body of mine. Finally, this place is fun because of the sense of random surprises. From time to time, you might find yourself in a group class taught by Iveta herself. Iveta and Gherman are the studio co-owners and two time ten-dance champions. Yes, a group class taught by a two time ten-dance champion!! Iveta also likes to think up fun games and activities for dance parties and events at the studio so she is all about fun and surprises. read more

Arthur Murray Dance Studio - My first big performance at the studio was a waltz for Halloween. I was dressed as Edward Scissorhands. They always have fun, themed events. - Dance Studios Near Me - New York, New York

Best dance classes and instructors in NYC! Everyone is professional, personable and interested in helping you become a better dancer. My husband and I came here for wedding dance lessons and stayed after the wedding. Our wedding dance was a blast, and the classes and events are so much fun! read more

Arthur Murray Dance Studio - Dance Studios Near Me - New York, New York

It all starts when the elevator opens, and you're greeted so warmly by Chris and Faye. It continues with a lesson by an upbeat, patient and super friendly instructor, who makes you want to dance more (psst. ask for Jessica). It continues with a group class to add a few final touches. It finishes with a practice dance atmosphere, to try out you moves. The whole staff is amazing. Dancing is fun. read more

A very nice studio. Very small group lessons providing individual attention to students. I think the studio instructors leaned more towards international style. I would love to visit again when I have a chance. read more

My fiance and I tried out the dance studio via a Groupon for some "tips" towards our wedding dance. We worked with Esther and Alex and loved them so much we decided to buy a package and look like pros on our big day. :-) We are half way through and can't believe how much we have learned already! We love the group lessons and the parties are always a blast. They offer a well rounded package that takes you from your private lessons to group classes to parties with other students. We are having a great time and can honestly say its the part of our wedding planning that is the most fun. We are really looking forward to not just dancing at our wedding now but to take our lessons and use them for a lifetime of dancing! We would recommend them to anyone whether it is for a wedding or just because you want to learn how to dance. Such a wonderful group of people who sincerely want to help you learn! And ladies....if you think your guy won't do it...trust me! Get him in there for one class and he will want to go back! read more

This is a wonderful dance studio. Every instructor is very professional, friendly and they can dance! The owners - Iveta& Gherman - are world-class. If your partner is not into dancing but you are looking for a dance studio on yelp...this is a school to try as your partner will convert into a dance aficionado very quickly. The studio provides lots of additional perks for students such as social dance evenings, dance parties and group classes - it's almost a social club for people who love dancing. As a graduate of their "wedding" dance program, my spouse and I continue taking classes there. I highly recommend the studio for individuals and couples of any age. read more

My fiancé and I cannot dance. That doesn't mean we don't attempt it but for our wedding dance we needed help. Cue groupon deal to the rescue. In two private lessons we have been transformed from people who stand and sway to people who know some real moves with actual names. I am thrilled! Without a groupon though their prices are HIGH. Like, OUCH. So...yeah. The downside, predictably, is that they put on MAJOR pressure to buy more lessons. We skipped going to the group lesson because we felt so overwhelmed by the pressure and didn't want to go in/experience that again. read more

This is a great place to learn and enjoy dance. The studio is centrally located and very well maintained, but the best aspect of this studio is the staff, professional, talented yet friendly. I went there thru a social meet up event for an introductory class, liked it so much that I have decided to keep on learning for much longer. If you are looking to learn dancing with great teachers and also enjoy the process this is the dance studio to get to. read more

My fiance and I had looked into finding a dance studio where we could get some lessons for our upcoming wedding. We found this place on an Amazon Local deal and went to check it out. We were paired with Leah who is not only a great dancer, she is also incredibly patient and very personable. She took us through 2 private lessons focused on Swing and Merengue, both of which seemed effortless for her, though challenging for us. We really appreciated her personal touch and attitude and she's a joy to work with. As the other reviewer mentions, prices seem a bit high, we are still debating which package we will go ahead with for future lessons. I would highly recommend Leah as an instructor and we would be looking to continue to work with her. read more

My boyfriend and I bought a Groupon for 2 private lessons, 2 group lessons, and 1 party thing. We were hoping to work on Swing, but we weren't really given that option: all Groupon customers get put through the same type of system, learning the basics to different types of dances. When we asked to focus on Swing, we were basically told no, we would have to buy more lessons. Understandable, but I wish the Groupon said that there would be structured lessons we'd be doing, and we wouldn't have a say in the matter. And holy moly, the sales pitches. The staff was EXTREMELY pushy, and would ask us 2-3 times per lesson if we planned on purchasing a package (which were $600, by the way). At one point, after replying no, we were not preparing for a wedding dance, the instructor asked if we planned on getting engaged any time soon so we could take lessons there. I get it, they want us to come back and they want to make money. But once we said we didn't plan on it, their interest in us vanished and they didn't seem to care what kind of experience we had. Needless to say, after our two private lessons, the sales pitches pushed us away from coming back to finish out the deal. read more

My husband and I redeemed a Google offer at Arthur Murray towards wedding dance lessons this summer. Esther, our instructor, did an amazing job choreographing our super quirky wedding song - everyone at our wedding loved it! My husband had never taken dance lessons before and after 8 weeks of lessons was able to lead me flawlessly through our whole dance. Thanks to Esther & the staff at Arthur Murray we now have the confidence to bust a move on the dance floor together! read more

I have been coming here since February 2017 and if has been such a pleasure! Not only the teachers, but all the students are so sweet too. The dance lessons are based on a curriculum which makes it easy to see your progress and there are showcases where you can get your medals!! I wish I could give more stars if I could. It has been a great hobby for a grad student like me!! I really don't think about work or school at all when I am here and it's a great place to be!! I highly recommend it! read more

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In preparation for our wedding, my partner and I took several classes in Arthur Murray. Neither of us know how to dance, but during our wedding day, it seems like we really are dancing to the beat! read more

This a great dance studio - very clean and bright studio. I bought a groupon for 3 private lessons with George. He was really great and made the lessons fun. We met 2 other teachers including Gherman, the owner and everyone was really friendly. My partner and I will definitely be back. read more

There is a very friendly and welcoming staff from the time you enter the studio. It is located in a convenient location close to the subway and train stations. They offer a wide variety of dances depending upon the customer 's requests. read more

You need to be on high alert when dealing with Arthur Murray, especially the 5th ave location. Their commercial practices are the least scrupulous of any company I've ever dealt with. On day one, they'll try to force you into a specific lesson package, without telling you what all of the different options they offer are. When you ask for options, you get opaque answers, and you can't take home the different pricing sheets that they bring with them (but don't show you). They'll also tell you that they'll refund unused lessons, but then they don't. Very, very unscrupulous. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone. read more

We are getting wedding lessons here and very happy with our choice. Eric is an amazing instructor. Everyone there is friendly and the atmosphere is unbeatable. Would highly recommend. read more

Booked a group class through Howaboutwe.com. The staff was very accommodating. My boyfriend and I were running late (15minutes for a 45 minute class) and they let us join in without an issue. We didn't actually miss any of the dance steps that were taught. The instructors were friendly, helpful, and super patient. As part of Howaboutwe.com, we were offered two additional private lessons for 60% off. He was all for it and we will be back in two weeks. He's a great dancer to begin with but had me laughing the whole time trying to get the steps correct. I can't wait to return! read more

My wife and I signed up for dance lessons for our wedding a year ago in September and we were immediately hooked. Arthur Murray Dance 5th Avenue is a delightful place to discover ballroom dancing. The staff creates such a wonderful atmosphere of support and encouragement. You get so much when you sign up for private lessons; not only instruction by talented professionals but weekly group classes, practice parties, and special events. We have met some amazing people who are also studying dance. These people have become our pals and we look forward to catching up and dancing with them every week. The absolute best part is with all the physical activity we've lost weight and improved our health. Now that we found it, we hope dancing at the 5th Avenue studio will continue to be a big part of our lives. read more

We are so happy we chose Arthur Murray for our wedding dance lessons. We are beginners, and the instructors are very welcoming and motivating no matter what level you are. They truly make us feel at home. Eric is absolutely wonderful in every way and brightens our week! Kelsey added a whole new dimension when we recently did a couples workshop, and we loved working with her too. read more

I will not tell you how much we spent on this nonsense because it's embarrassing considering how worthless it was. Unfortunately we did not get the groupon and so paid an exorbitant amount for the 8 classes we were told we needed in order to master our wedding dance. I was immediately pissed off when our instructor told us after we had paid for 8 classes upfront "oh did you guys sign up via that groupon deal?" Ummm no what groupon deal??? Ugh. We were done with the choreography for one third of our song after the first class ... They got so worried because they could tell how annoyed we were at having been sold 8 classes without the groupon that our instructor literally started 5 minutes late the next 2 classes and ended 10 minutes early saying that was enough taught for the time being, he "didn't want to overwhelm us". I had my fiancé time each class after because I felt so ripped off. Our instructor went on vacation so we had to book with someone else who didn't have a clue about what we had been taught and kept having us rehearse the same thing over and over and finally after wasting 3 sessions told us "you are going to have to cut this song short we won't be able to finish this in 3 more sessions". At this point I told her that we had specifically been told 8 lessons would be fine to finish to which she responded "none of your guests want to watch you dance for 2.5 minutes, they don't care"!!!!! I was so shocked that I went to speak to the manager telling her that was absolutely unacceptable to say and that both instructors had wasted our time! To my great shock she said "well she is right, no one wants to watch you dance for 2.5 minutes". I was so upset that I argued with her after which she promised she would give us a third instructor who would help us finish the song even if it meant an extra class on the house. Arthur Murray did help us master our wedding dance however they made what is supposed to be a fun experience an extremely stressful and unpleasant one while making us feel ripped off. I don't recommend this place to any future bride/groom (even with a groupon)! read more

Love this place and our instructor Jessica!! My [now] husband and I initially signed up for two dance lessons before our wedding, and we loved Jessica so much that we ended up going 10 times! A true 10/10 experience. Can't recommend them (and Jessica) enough. read more

I've been taking lessons here for a few months now. Before starting at this studio, I was a bit apprehensive as some of the reviews were concerning to me - in particular comments about strong sales pushes, which I hate. There were, however, also good reviews so I decided to give it a try. The place has a very friendly and familial feel to it - the staff are very energetic, helpful and operate with an overall happy attitude. The studio is spacious and easy to navigate around while dancing. I have not experienced any of the pushiness from its staff that I was expecting based on other reviews. I was also told the school has been under new management for a few months so perhaps this is why. Nevertheless I really enjoy my time here (along with other students who I got to meet at group lessons and dance parties) and recommend it highly. My main partner is Esther and she is just awesome! I also took a couple of lessons from others and they are really strong dancers as well. read more

The dance instructor was very nice and a good teacher. However, the sales pitch was intense and super annoying. The lady at the front desk gave us attitude that we did not want to sign up for anything beyond the groupon we purchased. I get it, I guess, but it was over the top and we repeatedly had to say no, which just gets annoying and distracted from the class. I don't think I would go back just because of the sales pitch, which is a shame, because the class was good. Also, it's ann read more

I have had the pleasure dancing here for over a year. I've grown from a total novice into an actual dancer! The owners and teaching staff are actual professionals in ballroom dance. They have vast knowledge of technique, history, and varying styles of many dances. They are also really invested in clients' experiences and are so positive and encouraging. I really look forward to the weekly classes and lessons here. read more

Everyone here was SO professional and friendly. We have been wanting to take dance classes for some time but didn't know where to begin. We came across AMDS through a Living Social deal and we don't regret going. AM treated us as if we paid full price for the private lesson and we appreciate that. We wanted to take lessons for our wedding in June, but really didn't know what our dance "plan" was. Wasnt sure on the song or style. But Jean Pierre our instructor helped us feel comfortable for our first time. For the first 45minute private lesson we had a lot of fun. When our "package" runs out we will definitely continue to go. read more

A few month before our wedding, my fiancee (now wife) and I signed up for the 10-lesson package with Arthur Murray on 5th Avenue. Neither of us had any experience with formal dancing and we were hoping to do a fancy first dance and didn't want to embarrass ourselves. We had one-on-one lessons and could also participate in free group dance lessons. Our instructor was Andrew and he was the perfect fit for us - knowledgeable, talented, patient and fun to work with. Nik and Chris and the rest of the staff were also very helpful and fun to be around. By the end of our lessons, it was amazing how far we had come along and we knocked out our first dance without hesitation - or embarrassment! I would recommend this Arthur Murray to any beginners like us who are nervous, but want to learn how to dance. read more

One of the professionally run studios I have ever been in. For teachers to ownership, the professionalism, courtesy , ,patience, is nothing less than A Perfect 10, on a scale of 1 to 10. , please no that you will immediately fell like family. Frank Lauria read more

My husband and I used them to prepare for our first dance at our wedding. Besides being pricey, the studio was often overcrowded which for beginners can be very distracting. Regardless, the staff was very friendly and professional and at the end of the day we loved our dance and we were able to pull it off at the wedding! read more

My favorite dance studio in Manhattan. It is beautiful, easy to get to, and the teachers make dancing fun. I would not have thought dance could be easy, but Gherman, Iveta and the other teachers make you feel comfortable right away and by the end of the hour you are really dancing. The studio offers group classes, private lessons and super fun social dance parties. You don't need a partner either. Great stress reliever You will definitely leave smiling. read more

My husband and I took our wedding dance classes at Arthur Murray, and loved it. We had a great time, and ended up with a dance that was unique and fun. We'd highly recommend it, and plan to return to keep dancing and learning! read more

My husband and I purchased the groupon deal to get basic lessons before we got married in January. We liked it so much that we bought additional lessons, but couldn't get in there before the wedding. We did learn enough over the initial 3 lessons to really dance at our wedding. We still have the rest of the lessons we paid for, but not a month after the wedding I tore my ACL so we can't use them for another few months. The lessons, since we paid for them, can be used any time, so we will pickup again when I am healed. read more

I got a gift certificate for my birthday and what a lovely gift! I took four private lessons with two instructors and both of them (Alex and George) were absolutely amazing. You get so absorbed in the experience that you want to go back again and again. The studio is nice and clean and the staff is super friendly, it's like going home and dancing! I definitely recommend this studio and plan to go back to continue my dance education. read more

Keep in mind that people who write good reviews get free lessons as a part of a deal they have. I considered doing it but was so soured by the place I'd rather give a real review. No one working there is good a working a phone or computer. They constantly had issues with their scheduling systems seemingly from being confused on how to use their own computer. Also they were shady on what prices were. I got the groupon for four or five lessons and two group lessons. I called the place before buying the deal and asked how much private lessons would be if I bought more after the groupon was over. I was told i could buy lessons one at a time for 99 each. I was told this on the phone two times. then when we were there getting our groupon lessons they basically said that was a mistake and a singel lesson was closer to 200 or something. then they make you site down with this woman who is their sales rep there EVERY time you go for a lesson and she tries to sell you more lessons as a part of a package. she is awful and her pitch makes no sense. she tries to sell you like 5 private lessons and unlimited group lessons for a month for like 600 or something. anyway my fiance did the math and its really not a deal at all. plus what if you don't have the free time to use it all up in a month? it's also weird bc she shows you the "deal" on a sheet of paper but then says you can't take the paper out side of the studio like its some kind of secret. the private lessons are always on a dance floor with at least two or three other couples dancing and its very hard to hear because of bad acoustics. you are always fighting to play your song over the other couples. some times we bumped into others. then the group classes are weird and awkward because you have to dance with other people. i had to dance with like 5 other sweaty guys when i was only there to get better with my fiance. the instructor we had was nice but hard to understand through the accent. We always got there on time but started late bc they booked the instructors back to back and then were always running late which frustrated me. I would not recommend this to anyone. Groupon SCAM. read more

This place is simply a joke. If you consider taking classes at Arthur Murray, you can expect the following: Group classes are rare, they are scheduled only at short notice and you will never know which dance they are going to teach you. Their philosophy of building up your knowledge of random ballroom dances at the same time might work for those who can afford to spend a minimum of 10 hours per week at the studio. But for us it didn't work at all. Hence we thought we were better off taking private classes ... what a mistake. First of all: You'll most likely be sharing the room with at least one other couple, who most likely will be learning a different dance from yours. So while you're struggling with your Swing six count basic for instance, Tango music could be blasting out of the speakers. When complaining about this we were told that every dance school in Manhattan was doing this. Not true: we took a private class at Dance Manhattan before, where we had a room to ourselves. Secondly, while willing to offer special deals on larger packages (e.g. four group and four private classes), once having received our payment, A.M. employees were less than keen to ever return any of our calls in order to make an actual reservation for a class. Finally, even when booking a class with a particular teacher, we more often than not ended up with a different one, because they seem overwhelmed by their own reservation system. Two days ago, we were frustrated enough about being assigned a different teacher again, that we simply walked out on our prepaid 90 minute private class to bring this farce to an end. 100 bucks out of the window, but money well spent on never having to deal with the people from Arthur Murray again. We're amazed that a place as incompetently managed as this one can survive next to many great schools, which are only blocks away. read more

My fiance (now my hubby) had a great time taking lessons with Jean-Rene for our first dance. He developed a very fun and elegant dance routines. We had a great time learning and first dance turned out great read more

One of my good friends recommended Arthur Murray Dance studio by Columbus Circle because I didn't know how to find a good one when I decided to start learning ballroom dancing.This studio was perfect because it was right around a corner from me and it had a great reputation. And most important i didn't have to spend hours searching for reviews online trying to figure out the best studio in town. So, here I am inside Arthur Murray studio waiting for my intro lesson with the instructor. I have to say how nice and welcoming everyone was there. The studio itself was very clean and nice. In my intro lesson instructor introduced me to different types of dances to help me to identify which ones resonated with me and which ones I'd like to learn. I really enjoyed it and wanted to start. Ok, then came the financial part of learning to dance based on a program the instructor chose for you. I think if I knew in advance how much it would be I would've not even consider ballroom dancing. Yes, it is was cheap but at the same time if i truly wanted to learn the proper technique and the ability to dance more or less well I had to open up my wallet. It was definitely an investment and I am glad I made one. I've been learning so much and I can now dance like I never thought it would be possible for me and I am only half way through my program. The studios is like second home to me now :) with all the friendly people in there. I ended up learning later that there are many dance studios in NYC but most of them don't concentrate on details and proper technique as much as Arthur Murray does. I feel I am in great hands here and can't wait to see myself dancing like a pro :). There are many various reviews out there which sometimes sound opposite of each other. At the end it is your personal experience with the studio, with people working there and etc. I can definitely say that I am happy with my choice. read more