Came here for SAOCO DC Cuban Salsa dance lesson. The space is gorgeous. Open space, great hardwood dance floor, plenty of seats. Class was organized. I was aiming for the beginner class, although they assessed my level and suggested I was more at the intermediate level, so I went with that. Teachers were polite, welcoming and encouraging! They demonstrated the steps, we practiced, they made slight suggestions and answered questions to make sure we were grasping the material. What I really appreciated is that they did not over explain steps. We covered a lot of material in a class session and it was really straight forward. Then open rueda and social after the class. I am still somewhere between beginner and intermediate, so the open ruedas are still a bit overwhelming, but in time I will feel more comfortable! Highly recommend! read more

Chevy Chase Ballroom - Dance studio - Dance Studios Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Thank you, Eliza! Our first dance was unforgettable thanks to your guidance. After working with Eliza, one of our guests said, "I have never seen a first dance like that." We cannot recommend the team at Chevy Chase enough, and we are especially grateful to Eliza for her patience, creativity, and hard work in getting us ready for such a special moment. read more

Chevy Chase Ballroom - Dance Studios Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My fiancée and I had a wonderful time at Chevy Chase Ballroom. Ciro is an amazing instructor with tons of patience, and he made our weekly lessons something we looked forward to. We feel confident going into our first dance for our wedding and have loved this part of our wedding planning. Thank you, Ciro for making dance fun even for non dancers!! read more

Love the classes, great instructors, beautiful atmosphere. Really highly recommend it! read more

Alina helped us choreograph our wedding dance, from selecting music to practicing our transitions in our wedding shoes. We had a wonderful time learning the steps and really enjoyed our lessons! If you're considering a specially choreographed dance for your special day, or just want to learn some basic steps, I highly recommend this studio. read more

Enjoyed our lessons here for our first dance. Reason for the lower star rating is that we were disappointed that we were only able to get choreography for the first minute of the song in the wedding package. Somehow getting additional lessons was 3x the price so we couldn't do that. So basically we are stuck trying to finish the song ourself instead of getting a full choreographed song as described. read more

We are so appreciative for everything Alina did to make or first dance so beautiful. We had cheers and tears, and we had so much fun dancing on our special day. My partner and I did their wedding dance package. Alina was an amazing teacher. She was flexible when our schedules changed, and she was thoughtful and helpful in her constructive criticism. She made things fun, and went above and beyond. read more

My husband and I were referred to Chevy Chase Ballroom by our good friends who were recently married this year. Their first dance was amazing and in anticipation for our own wedding, we purchased five private lessons. My biggest fear was having my feet crushed or my wedding dress stomped on and ripped apart -_- My husband and I came in with high hopes and we were not disappointed. Our instructor for all five private lessons was Ellen. All new students have a complimentary 30 minute private lesson. When we first met Ellen during our initial consultation, she was really warm, patient and funny. She never made us feel uncomfortable despite our lack of coordination. Throughout our entire wedding planning process, our dance lessons became one of our favorite things to look forward to doing together. Ellen taught us the basic box step and created a whole routine for us to dance to for our first dance song (some spins, a lift, a dip). Her commentary was constructive and never came across mean, she was great at making a light joke to soften her critiques. We went from zero experience to being able to pickup and execute a choreographed routine for our first dance, many of our wedding guests gave us compliments on it... so we were very pleased with the results. I would recommend Chevy Chase Ballroom to anyone and everyone who is interested in dance, the staff were always friendly and kindly greeted us whenever we arrived. I cannot speak enough about Ellen, she is an amazing teacher! If you have your doubts and are a new student, just sign up for a complimentary consultation and see for yourself how great she is :) read more

TL;DR: I went to Chevy Chase Ballroom to learn how to dance for a Viennese ball, with zero (or maybe even negative) dance skill. After the ball, I kept with the dancing because it was fun; two years later, I find myself dancing competitively. Everyone at the studio is terrific, but IMO, Ellen is the best -- a truly incredible dancer, a wonderful teacher, and a brilliant artistic mind. -- A few years ago, if you'd told me that I'd be all in on ballroom dancing, I would've looked at you like you grew a unicorn horn on your forehead. Saying I had two left feet then would've been generous. But Chevy Chase Ballroom changed all that. I started at CCB back in late 2016. A friend of mine wanted to go to a New Year's Ball in Vienna-Not-in-Virginia. Have you ever seen a Viennese waltz? It is . . . an incredibly intimidating dance for someone who knows nothing about dancing (me in 2016). But with the help of Dmytro and Ellen (more on them below), I boot-camped Viennese waltzing in two months. Did I belong on Dancing With the Stars? No. But did I stave off dance embarrassment in Austria and have tons of fun while looking like I maybe knew what I was doing? Absolutely. After the ball, I stuck with the dancing because I wanted to learn how to do it socially. I started going to several of CCB's many group classes. I also continued my one-on-one lessons, with Ellen walking me through the slow waltz, the tango, and the foxtrot. Then the ever-so-elegant country two-step (okay, that one might've been my idea). Then she slowly convinced me that cha-cha, (East Coast and West Coast) swing, and rumba were good to know. I don't quite know when we went from "let's learn how to dance socially" to "dancing competitively seems like a great idea!", but it happened sometime in the two years after Vienna. Ellen is now my professional dance partner. I am *slightly* biased, but you cannot go wrong with Ellen as your instructor, regardless of whether you're there for your wedding dance, to brush up on your social dancing, or to work on technique/competitive ballroom dancing. She is kind, patient, supportive, down-to-earth, has a great sense of humor, and has a way of breaking down dance concepts in a way that's easy to understand. Every lesson, she brings the same energy and infectious enthusiasm that she showed when I started at the studio. Moreover, Ellen is a terrific choreographer and is one of the most gifted artistic minds I've met (and this is across the performing arts, like musical theatre, ballet, etc., not just ballroom dancing). But you can't go wrong with anyone else at the studio, either -- and I know this firsthand, as I've literally worked with everyone else, too. Dmytro is a savant when it comes to dance technique. Tom is also a terrific dance technician (and the king of '70s hustle dancing). (At some point, you may talk to Tom's wife Yuko, the studio administrator who makes everything run smoothly.) Alina's a brilliant instructor who's taught me how to be more confident in cha-cha and rumba, a feat given that I sometimes feel like the least suave person in the world. Gaby is an exceptional salsera who's great at channeling the rhythm and flavor of Latin dancing. Of course, I can't forget Irina -- the warm, welcoming matriarch (and owner) of the studio. She's a showdance champion with a true gift for the intangible -- she'll give you what you need to turn your dance into a story and a performance. But beyond that prowess, Irina treats the studio like family, taking the time with each student to make sure that you enjoy dancing with the same passion that she does. CCB has something for everyone, regardless of your skill level or your motivation for wanting to learn how to dance. Between the group classes, the one-on-one lessons, the dance showcases, competitions, and everything in between, you'll find what you need and learn from the best of the best. read more

Chevy Chase ballroom has been such a fun place to take dance lessons. My partner and I are in our early 30s and have been taking dance lesson for about a year and made so much improvement. They teach a variety of classes and came up with a great dance for our wedding! Couples dance lessons are a great way to connect weekly and have some fun and get some exercise! read more

My fiancé and I took private lessons here to choreograph our first dance for the wedding. We used Groupon to get a discount on the first three lessons and then bought two more lessons to finish learning the whole song. The overall experience was great! We had a lot of fun, the instructors we had were all great, and the location is so convenient right next to the south metro exit. I'd pop over after work for a lesson and then we'd get dinner nearby at one of the many restaurants. I'd definitely recommend this place, and we're thinking of taking some of the group classes next! read more

Chevy Chase Ballroom sparkles as the gem of ballroom dancing. CCB, as it is known, exemplifies ballroom dancing instruction par excellence. You will not get a better dance teacher in the DC metropolitan area. Irina Sarukhanyan, the owner of Chevy Chase Ballroom, carefully selects each talented dance instructor to form a winning team for you to excel in ballroom dancing. Furthermore, Irina, the teachers, and the staff make CCB a home away from home by creating a welcoming environment of social events that are fun and lively! The studio is also beautiful and inviting, making it an exceptional dancing experience! As I have been a member with Chevy Chase Ballroom for over two years, I enjoyed learning a plethora of ballroom dances, everything from Foxtrot to Rumba and everything in between. My dance instructor and competitive pro/am partner is Dmytro Churchun, who is a magnificent professional ballroom dancer in his own right, possesses a passion for teaching ballroom dancing which is unparalleled. His devotion to his students can be seen through his strong meticulous attention to technical detail. He is clear and descriptive in explaining improvements and patient with your executions. Moreover, through his magnetic personality and his love for dance--Dimitri makes the learning experience, whether it is teaching the fundamentals to a newcomer or instructing styling to an accomplished dancer--effortless, exciting, and fun. And, to seal the deal, Dmytro, whose newly acquired third language, English, possesses fierce humor and wit. Dmytro is the consummate professional with a cheerful twist. He is simply the best. Joining Chevy Chase Ballroom has been one of the best things I have ever done. I am confident in any social dancing situation; so much so that to my amazement, I now compete in dancesport competitions. Most importantly, I don't have two left feet anymore! If I can learn, anyone can learn. Being a member of CCB family made all the difference! th read more

Chevy Chase Ballroom - Dance Studios Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My husband and I had a great experience at CCB taking dance lessons for our first dance at our wedding. We had Dmytro as our instructor and he was fabulous. My husband and I had zero dance skills going into the experience, but chose a difficult song to dance to, so we needed a lot of help! Not only did Dmytro help us choreograph the entire song, but he also taught us various skilled moves such as the dip, lift, and spins to incorporate as well. Our wedding guests were totally amazed by our first dance! We also had a blast during the lessons and actually miss taking them. Dmytro was so fun and friendly. Thanks CCB! read more

My Fiance and I absolutely love Irina and her studio. She and her teachers are very nice and welcoming. We were both nervous in the beginning but Irina helped us through the process and now we really love. We started taking lessons for our wedding and will be back after the wedding. I found the Chevy Chase Ballroom after looking at other studios. Leaving from DC, we often drove but when we did ride metro, it was pretty easy. The studio is clean and scheduling is very easy. They text you reminders of your class which is very helpful. We look forward to going back. read more

Classes run by Gottaswing take place here. Overall, decent swing dance venue, but the crowd is older, and the dancers are somewhat less experienced. Great for beginners who want to get into swing and lindy hop and people who like to swing to modern music. read more

Chevy Chase Ballroom - Monday dance night - Dance Studios Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I used to swing in college. And by that I mean, I learned how to twirl around and look cool when big band music was playing. But that was five years ago, and it is now 2010:THE FUTURE. So, I was just a tad bit rusty, and I would never have gone to Chevy Chase Ballroom by myself, but my friend Sarah just happens to be in "the scene," so she insisted I check it out. What else am I going to do on a Monday night? The place is one metro stop over from me, and admission is $5. So I went. (And by went I mean walked, and by walked I mean, slogged through a crap ton of mud on Wisconsin and probably ruined my best work shoes. Erp). I get there, and the "ballroom" is just an old wooden floor with benches surrounding it; not exactly The Salsa Room, but I instantly felt at ease -- everything about the evening was casual and comfortable. I waved to Sarah (who I found out through the course of the night knew EVERYONE), and immediately was claimed by someone as their dance partner. The whole night was like that: you dance with someone, the song ends, you stand by a bench, someone else asks you onto the floor. You meet at least a dozen new people with varying degrees of dance skills, you get some fun exercise. Bottled water is $1 (you'll need it), the bathroom down the hall has one stall, and there are places to sit if you get tired (you'll need them). After an hour I wound up sweaty and smiling. Swinging is like that. read more

I have to admit, I'm biased-I live within walking distance of CCB. That being said, the floor is great, the people welcoming, and the $5 price on Mondays for swing can't be beat. The building is a little beat up, but the newest owners are apparently in the midst of renovating. I'll bump it up to 5 stars once the dust settles. :D All in all, a great space for swing or bal-this is the only place around that has a bal night, as far as I know. Basically, it's this on mondays, jam cellar on tuesday, and glen echo on saturdays for the best floors and crowds around. read more

Ellen choreographed our first dance and she delivered exactly what we asked for; don't waste your time with anyone else. She's wonderful, easy to work with, and a great dancer. All the staff are very kind and competent. read more

Short version: Fun, friendly people, welcoming and patient with amateurs. Amanda is awesome and taught us a killer wedding dance. Longer: My fiancee and I took 3.5 hours of lessons here before our wedding, to choreograph our first dance. I was skeptical but was proven wrong. Amanda was our instructor and in four meetings over two weeks she took a couple with four left feet and made us look like pros. Several wedding guests singled out the dance as their favorite part of the entire day. The dance really wasn't so fancy or difficult; it just looked very well choreographed and had a series of fun moves that had people clapping and cheering. This cost us maybe $300 (I forget the exact price) which seemed steep to me at first but in hindsight was worth it. The lessons themselves also turned out to be more fun than I expected, they were a visit to a different world. The studio was very welcoming, they seemed to take a personal interest in us and our wedding. And Amanda, specifically, was just wonderful: very funny/sassy (not to mention a great dancer!) but ultimately very patient, she never made us feel bad for our (many) mistakes -- despite her good-natured teasing! :-) read more

An amazing dance studio with very knowledgeable and friendly instructors. My (now) wife and I took lessons with Dima at CCB for our first dance. He choreographed a beautiful routine for us. Dima was dedicated in making sure we mastered each step while also creating a comfortable and enjoyable experience. He even choreographed how we walked into the reception and provided direction on music transition. We look forward to continuing dance lessons with Dima. An amazing dance studio with very knowledgeable and friendly instructors. My (now) wife and I took lessons with Dima at CCB for our first dance. He choreographed a beautiful routine for us. Dima was dedicated in making sure we mastered each step while also creating a comfortable and enjoyable experience. He even choreographed how we walked into the reception and provided direction on music transition. We look forward to continuing dance lessons with Dima. --Ali and Jessica Ali and Jessica read more

Chevy Chase Ballroom (affectionately known as CCB) thrives on competitive and social ballroom and latin dancing. They offer private lessons and group classes. The yelp crowd is big on swing on Monday nights and salsa dancing on Sunday nights... but most dancers here are into ballroom and latin a la Dancing w the Stars! (but better) CCB has a big, renovated space with wood floor and mirrors. A typical afternoon sees a mixed group: singles learning for fun, wedding dance couples, and a regular crowd of competitive couples. The co-owners are all pro ballroom/latin dancers, former champions. The "College Nite" social dance on some Saturdays is the best social in the area (and everyone is welcome). CCB's practice/floor fees are pretty steep, unfortunately, and the studio can get pretty crowded on some nights. read more

Chevy Chase Ballroom is a great place for beginners, professionals, and anyone looking for a specialty dance. I recently moved to DC and was looking around for a dance studio to help with a professionally-choreographed surprise first dance (waltz and salsa) for my wedding. I am a former competitive figure skater and dancer and we wanted something super fun for our wedding. Chevy Chase is the best in the area hands down. We tried other studios, but didn't find anyone with the kind of high standard of dance experience we were looking for. Garry is fantastic and so are all the other teachers. They are very warm and inviting and have truly created a dancing family. We are now thinking of continuing to dance together post wedding! Highly recommend!!! read more

All dance studios, including Chevy Chase Ballroom, tend to have attractive young teachers who dance beautifully. But not all know how to teach their students how to become a better dancer. This is a studio that really teaches. Unlike many other places, no one is put through a cookie cutter program. From the first lesson, the instructors pay careful attention to what your skill level is, how you move, whether you can follow the rhythms of each dance. Then they create an individualized program to help you achieve whatever level of skill you want. And along the way, you find yourself having more fun than you may have thought possible. I can personally attest to the fact that you do not have to have any particular talent at dancing to benefit from lessons here. I was always self-conscious about dancing in public, and avoided ballroom dancing because I feared being embarrassed. Irina and the other teachers here have helped me develop my dance skills , but also my confidence on the dance floor. I've seen many other students go through a similar transformation. So whether you've been dancing all your life, or are just trying to learn a few steps for an upcoming event, this is the studio that will make you a better, and more comfortable dancer. read more

This is an excellent dance center! My now-wife and I took dance lessons here before our wedding and it was incredible how fast we were taught a new routine and how easy it was to put it all together. Our first dance at the wedding reception was amazing and beautiful, all thanks to Chevy Chase Ballroom and their excellent instructors. Definitely recommended!!! :) read more

Absolutely incredible lesson. They were able to take us in, give a listen to our first dance song, and choreograph a dance for us. We are looking forward to practicing for our big night! Thanks Irina!!! read more

My husband and I had a such wonderful experience taking wedding dance lessons this past summer at Chevy Chase Ballroom with Dmytro Churchun for our September wedding. In fact, it was our favorite part of wedding planning and one of the best parts of our wedding day. We miss CC ballroom already! With ZERO prior social dance experience together, we were able to perform a hybrid foxtrot and swing dance 2:30 min routine that was a fantastic surprise for our family and friends. Dmytro was super encouraging and the most patient with our complete lack of rhythm and synchronization. He helped create a dance that was fun and very "us." In the three months leading up to our wedding, we ended up taking 7-9 lessons though I'm sure most couples don't need that many, we loved having the lessons to break up the tedium of other wedding planning tasks. We felt it was excellent value and well worth the investment. Dmytro and Irina are top notch at what they do and you cannot go wrong with Chevy Chase Ballroom no matter your skill level or time constraints! read more

See all

We got a groupon for 5 wedding first dance lessons at Chevy Chase Ballroom and were very happy! We worked with Ellen first and then Dmitri as Ellen had to go on leave. Both were very patient and talented in teaching us a dance for our wedding last month. We went from absolute beginners to being able to wow the crowd at our wedding. They also were able to calm us down and we had so much fun learning! Our dance was fun and unique to our personalities. The location is very convenient with good parking nearby and easy class scheduling with night classes available! Would definitely recommend :) read more

Fabulous experience! We adore Chevy Chase Ballroom! Its fun, kind and dedicated staff are remarkable dance instructors. My fiancee and I took private lessons with Irina in preparation for our wedding. Irina kindly and patiently choreographed our first dance. We arrived to our first class as total amateurs and in seven lessons Irina taught us how to fox trot, rumba, lift, spin and swirl. We will be forever grateful to Irina and Chevy Chase Ballroom for helping us make our first dance memorable. read more

While visiting in DC for a couple of days, I missed my lessons and practice in New York right before a competition. I had a fantastic lesson with Dmytro Churchun; he is competitive ballroom dancer and a professional at his craft. He was generous with his instruction and genuinely loves dancing and teaching people to dance better. The environment is friendly and welcoming and the dance floor is spacious and well lit. Whether you are looking to begin dancing or want to take your dancing to the highest level you will find talented and skilled instructors. Most of the reviews I've read have been for weddings and learning social dancing, but if you are looking for more you can find it here! read more

Fantastic floor. Amazing array of dancers. Excellent music for the beginner to the expert. Monday nights at the Chevy Chase ballroom are an intimate and swing focused experience custom made for the swing dance connoisseur. Sure, it is not as fancy as Glen Echo--but then what is? The floor moves like silk and you can dance with everyone from the first lesson awkward beginner to the show performing expert and everything in-between. It is a very family kind of vibe you get here. As in, the core of swing dance community people who show up here are all like family. I was away for 11 years and came back to the area recently and after a lot of double takes (I had been gone for quite some time, after all) I had folks welcoming me back with open arms and great dances!!! I don't mind there being no alcohol, for the focus is on the dancing that way and you don't get the weird creeps either, AND you don't get some guy who is so buzzed that when he leads you in a move he ends up hurting you. *Bonus* As far as the other reviewers making comments about no food around I am not sure what they mean, Friendship Heights is liberally peppered with restaurants.... read more

Chevy Chase Ballroom is one of the top 2-3 dance studios in the DC area. The floor is big (at least when the dividing wall is open--there's a sliding wall that divides it into two rooms), it's all wood, with a sprung floor (so your feet and legs don't hurt as much after extended dancing). There are mirrors on the walls so you can see yourself dance. It's a very pleasant environment. The owners, Garry and Irina, are super nice and very welcoming. The instruction is top notch. They have a variety of teachers, from studio professionals, to local pros, to visiting national and world-caliber pros, who teach a variety of styles, from ballroom to Latin, to tango to swing. They have social dances just about every week, so you can strut the stuff you've learned on the dance floor. I have been coming to CCB for almost 20 years now, and feel like it's my dancing "home". read more

For Swing dancing, its tough to top the floor of CCB (only Glen Echo can compare), but it shouldn't be a destination beyond dancing. Unlike Clarendon Ballroom, there's no bar associated w/ it, the ceiling is low and visually claustrophobic, and there's no place to socialize except the hallway and it smells like a locker room. The restaurant and bar scene in the area is also relatively limited. Tuesday's dj'd swing for $5 has a good crowd as does the $15 live band Friday scene. Because its strictly a swing scene, the dancers tend to be a little better than other venues. read more

I can't speak for the classes, but I came here to learn my first dance before my wedding. We worked with Kate and she was amazing! She asked for our song in advance and then came to our lesson with dance steps in hand. Kate was great, she broke down all the steps and was so warm and patient, while my husband and I stumbled over each other. She worked with us until we were both comfortable, and gave us a handy cheat sheet for reference. We had a great experience with Kate, I'd highly recommend her as an instructor. And our wedding dance was a hit! read more

DJ'd swing dances are Monday nights, and live bands are usually Friday nights - schedules are posted on gottaswing.com . The folks here are welcoming and patient with beginners... it's a good mix of levels. I try to bring my own water and food (both are allowed, just not on the dance floor), since there's not much in the area. read more

My favorite studio in the region. Best customer service and teaching staff. It's no wonder I've been a regular at CCB for 10 years.

Excellent instructors with a focus on good technique that provides great grounding for enjoying dancing. Opportunities to learn lots of different dance styles, no partner required. Light, open, well-maintained dance space with springy wood dance floor. Warm welcoming community with lots of chances for practice and social dances. We came to learn to dance for our wedding and got hooked. read more

My husband and I took 10 lessons at Chevy Chase Ballroom with Alina as our instructor to prepare two dances for our wedding. We had an amazing experience working with Alina, who was able to help us choreograph a dance to a more unique song (an Irish fiddle tune) in addition to our more traditional choice for our first dance. Alina was quick to respond by email when we first reached out and she was an absolute pleasure to work with. We felt so comfortable working with her, even as two people with zero prior dance experience. Alina always made us feel good about our progress and encouraged us to practice at home (which was necessary!). My husband also did one dance lesson with his mom to prepare for the mother/son dance and Alina was able to put the choreography together in just one session. The best decision of the entire wedding process was taking lessons at Chevy Chase Ballroom. It made at least one aspect of wedding planning fun. We highly recommend Chevy Chase Ballroom to anyone interested in dance lessons, whether for a wedding or anything else. read more

Irina is very easy to learn from. She has a wonderful way about her and really good teacher. Good understanding of beginners ability.

My fiancé and I had an absolutely wonderful time choreographing our first dance at our wedding with Dima. He was patient, very clear with his instructions and created a fun and entertaining first dance made up of swing and foxtrot. He's also just a lovely individual- funny and kind! We were not sure we could master the choreography at first, but he was so good at helping us to get it right that it all went perfectly. Thank you Dima and Chevy Chase Ballroom! read more

Excellent instructors and a friendly atmosphere. Irina is very skillful at helping student learn how to achieve their dancing goals.