My wife and I came to Arthur Murray Dance Studio to get lessons to our first dance. Stephanie was our instructor. We didn't have any dance lessons background before so we didn't know what to expect. We did a consultation and got the 12 lessons package. Stephanie is very patient in teaching us. We didn't on a dance song and Stephanie helped us create a routine of dance movements. We practiced at the studio twice a week and everything went according to what we could imagine. We are very thankful to Stephanie that we got a memorable dance in our wedding. Nicky, Phong and Stephanie are very friendly. Gordon read more

As far as general Ballroom works, Arthur Murray Seattle is hard program to beat. Events and classes are running six days a week. Once signed up as part of the program, you can attend almost as many group classes and Friday night parties as you like. The staff and students are truly a treasure cove of some of the warmest, sweetest people you'll ever meet. United by love of dance, dedicated to improving their skills and helping others improve with them. If you are willing to immerse regularly, the community aspect alone will totally transform your dancing and leave you with solid foundations applicable in almost any setting, and last you a lifetime. What ties everything together here are the individualized private lessons though. Every instructor brings something unique and special to teach, and will work tirelessly to tailor a lesson plan entirely to your goals. I cannot recommend this studio enthusiastically enough. read more

The most expensive dance studio in Seattle, and believe me, they are not Baryshnikovs. Try anything else before signing in. I expected that there were at least 6 lessons for the price they charged me. Then, I was surprised that only three lessons are covered. read more

Brought my best friend here to learn the basics for his first dance at his wedding. The instructors were very patient and easy to work with. They took the time needed to make sure my friend and his fiance knew the basics to get through the wedding. read more

I love this studio! Phong & Stephanie are wonderful patient talented teachers!! My fiancé and I both have experienced nothing but amazing!!!! You have to put in the work and practice nothing is easy! We will continue to take classes with them!! Thank you for coordinating our first dance! XO Rob & Jess read more

Arthur Murray Dance Studio - Our family dance party!!! - Dance Studios Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The staff here is made up of the most patient and talented dance teachers I have ever encountered. Nicky, Fong and Stephanie teach to the student's skill level and to the individual. I am amazed by how much progress I have made in such a short time. Although lessons aren't cheap, you will find yourself seeing results! The location is great, there is plenty of parking and everyone in the classes is supportive. Overall, I highly recommend them! read more

This is a great place to learn to dance. The instructors are very energetic and friendly. They provide a safe and supportive environment to learn even for complete beginners. When I first went, I felt awkward and stiff, but they provided positive feedback and constructive criticism to encourage and instruct me. The group lessons and parties are great ways to practice what you learned in your private lesson and they are offered for free when you sign up for private lessons. They have group classes everyday of the week with different dance taught each night, so you can get a good sample of dances. I didn't know there were so many dances out there, but they start from the basics, so it's easy to learn and advance. Also, all the students are really nice even if you are a beginner, because they know from personal experience when they first learned to dance how hard it can be. It is the best bang for your money to go to as many group classes and practice parties as possible. Like anything in life, practice is critical for mastering a skill. I gained skill and comfort with dancing through the combination of private lessons, group classes, and practice parties at Arthur Murray. read more

My wife and I have been students at Arthur Murray in the Seattle location for two years. One of the benefits of taking lessons at Arthur Murray is that you can always join for group classes in other studios, free of charge. That is great when you live in a larger city and can then pick which group class to attend based on what each studio is offering on a given day. It is also great if you are travelling on vacation and want to drop in. We have taken multiple group lessons in the North Seattle (Aurora Ave) location and have found them to be some of the best group classes out there. First the class sizes are very small... on one occasion in fact, I was the only student. This compares with 20 students at the Bellevue group classes or 40-60 at a Century Ballroom class. You can learn a lot more when the teacher can actually watch you, dance with you, and give you technique and styling feedback as fast as you can take it, not as fast as the slowest member of the group. Our group classes have been primarily with Phong (owner of the franchise) and Zack. Both are excellent instructors who provide great feedback as well as keep it fun and interesting. Even though we are not official students at this Arthur Murray, Phong thoughtfully called us one day to let us know their schedule changed and they wouldn't be having group class that night. While my wife and I attend classes and parties together, we have that we learn faster by rotating partners and enjoy that aspect of the classes. Of course sometimes you get a beginner but then everyone starts from somewhere and you are never stuck with anyone too long! I have not attended parties at the North Seattle location so can't comment on how they run them, but imagine they would be similar to other Arthur Murray locations. read more

What I really enjoy about this particular Arthur Murray dance studio is that all of their group classes are in-line. So if you don't know a dance you can take Foundation, B1,B2, & B3 classes all in a row, the same day! Its a great way to come up to speed on a dance you don't know well, or to improve a dance you already do! read more

I was more scared here than I was in a locked church in the backwoods of Appalachia where a Jesus peddler tried to sell every tape, CD, and book he carried around in his profile-spray-painted tour bus. - Upon entering you are "greeted" with the most superficial, enthusiastic yells of "Hi", "Yay", and "Welcome" by every member of their staff (it was obvious within minutes that the staff were creating a very strained social self) - All of the staff are trained/forced (I am guessing) to maintain a superhuman level of positivity and energy that comes across as artificial and hollow (every sentence, spoken or written, ends with three exclamation points). - A 60 minute private lesson is really 40 minutes of dancing and 20 minutes of an extremely hard sell (multiple salespeople). - The 40 minutes of dancing costs $50-$80 (or perhaps more). As reviewers of other Arthur Murray chains have said, dancing can be learned for 1/3 the cost (community centers, private teachers on craigslist, etc) or free (youtube, etc) in a much more relaxed and enjoyable environment. - The merengue lesson that was part of the Friday night dance party taught me how to move forward and to the left. Then the party started. No right turns or reverse? The instructor also built in sexy little dance features to the sequence (girls tossing their hair, guys pulling out pistols and shooting the women, etc) and then, like many dance places, had us switch partners. So even though I'm married, the instructor, with the trademarked Arthur Murray fake enthusiasm, constantly urged us/me to be sexy and wild, so by the end of the lesson I ended up firing my sexy love pistols at 4-5 different women while my wife was sexily tossing her hair at 4-5 different men. Switching partners by itself is bad enough, but to switch partners and add all this cheap, sexy trash was about an 11/10 on the awkard-uncomfortable-hating-life scale. - The scariest part of the night was when the staff stopped the Friday party music to introduce certain paying clients and then dance with them to showcase what clients have learned. One of the women rolled her ankle severely at the end of her showcase dance and was in immense pain. All of us watching were very concerned. As if it was rehearsed, the staff, within 30 seconds of her injury, shooed us away from her ("Give her room!"), turned off the lights, blasted some cha-cha music, and gave us a "free" impromptu cha-cha lesson. The instructor was extra enthusiastic and vigilant of our eyes that were wandering back to the injured woman. He would yell "cha-cha cha-cha-cha" louder and louder until he had forced our obedience and successfully created a cha-cha dance prison. - Whenever we sat down to rest or talk about how disturbing the experience was, within 20 seconds staff members would come over and tell us to keep dancing or personally take us back to the dance floor. - We just left the building without saying a word when we sensed a good moment to escape. Alas, the moment was not good enough, as one of the staff members actually came out of the studio and yelled "Leaving so soon? You're coming back, right?" I was afraid of being molested all the way to our car. Just as the backwoods religious peddlers prey upon the ignorant and fearful and destitute, Arthur Murray seems to not only prey up on the lonely, who are looking for a more fulfilling social existence, but to do so with the most in-your-face, cult-psychology techniques of group and individual control and manipulation. read more

My husband and I have been learning how to dance here for 4 years and we love it! The instruction is patient, encouraging, sequential and very fun! The skills are introduced in a systematic way and practiced well before others are added so that our dancing grew in a natural way, layer upon layer, like an onion grows. My husband had always said, "I have two left feet," and "I can't dance," and other self limiting things. So I was beyond surprised when after 30 years of marriage he signed us up for lessons for a birthday present. The sequence of instruction seemed slow to me at first but I began to see that it moves as fast as the couple is able to assimilate it. In our case, we started slowly. But as my husband gained more confidence and fluency in the movements, our dancing soared! Even if you and your partner are not starting from the same place there are numerous opportunities to dance with others, including the instructors, at the group classes and parties. The instruction is so personal and geared to exactly where were, that I honestly believe that my husband would have given up in discouragement if we had tried to learn in any other venue. read more

I've been a student at Arthur Murray for three months now, and I just cannot believe how much I have learned in such a short period of time. All of the instructors do such a great job at breaking down the steps and techniques to the many different dances they teach there, and they are all so encouraging and friendly. Within my first few weeks of taking lessons at the studio, my boyfriend became really curious about it because he could see that I was so excited about going to classes almost every night of the week. Admitting that dancing has always been outside of his comfort zone, he still wanted to check out Arthur Murray because he could see how much I loved it there. After his first group class and dance party, he actually shocked himself by the amount of fun he had! Now he's coming to classes regularly (although still not as often as I am), and his confidence in dancing, along with mine, has gone way up. I would love to dance competitively someday, and I truly believe that Arthur Murray will help my "someday" come sooner than later... but just as importantly, they've turned my boyfriend and me into real dance partners! I am so thankful for that!! read more

I was contacted by the owner via a Yelp message, saying there has been some restructuring. He included his phone number and asked me to call him. I am not going to do so - given the very hard sales pitch I received from everyone at Arthur Murray, I have the feeling that that's part of their business model. I'm not going to waste my time calling and being given a sleazy pitch again. Thanks but no thanks. We were able to find a private dance instructor for our wedding. She charged a very reasonable amount, gave us great, private lessons with no pressure. If we want to pursue dance lessons again, we will go through her. read more

Yes, its not cheap. Its a safe place to learn dancing. The overall business is managed professionally like a Four Season or a Club Med. The staff plays three roles: dance instruction, personal dance trainer and creates a safe experience for you and all other customers. I say "safe" because behind the staff overly enthusiastic greeting and support is their effort of making you comfortable in getting challenged and learning in a place where others are not at your same level. And it works. And its why I'm a fan and willing to pay extra. The proof is during the parties in which they mingle all dancers with all different skills dancing different styles. Here, not just the staff, but everybody is happy to dance with everybody else and graciously teach and make it a great experience. If money its not an issue, if you are single or have a partner, shy, old, young and you always wished to learn how to dance just try this place, you will love it. Mr. Andrea PS: I'm a fast learner and my coach tailor the private lessons to my paste and I'm not shy. read more