The Joy Of Dancing Every now and then in life you have a transformative experience. Such was the case for me when I started taking dance lessons at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio on 72nd Street just east of Broadway in New York City. When I started I was just looking to take a few lessons so that I could feel comfortable on the dance floor at an upcoming family wedding. That all changed when I met Ana Jurenec, my primary teacher and former Slovenian dance champion, and Jolanta Mosteika, one of the owners and a former USA national dance champion. I could not have been luckier. They both exude the joy of dancing and are great teachers. They know how to make learning to dance so much fun while challenging me to be as technically good as possible. By teaching the fundamentals of dance technique, they have made my body much more erect, flexible, and coordinated while stimulating my brain by learning so many different dance steps. They have an uncanny ability to know how far they can push me. All these dance activities transfer over to so many other facets of my life like improving my performance in sports and just making my body and brain feel so much healthier. The rest of the staff is also so friendly and wonderful. The studio also has monthly social get togethers where the students can dance with all the teachers and other students and special dance performances are arranged. This dance experience has greatly enhanced my life. It is something that hopefully I will be able to do until I leave this world for the next... where I hope they have Fred Astaire Dance Studios and teachers like Ana snd Jolanta. read more

We worked with Ana for our first dance at our wedding, and the experience was absolutely incredible! With zero dance experience or expectations going in, we couldn't be happier with the outcome. Ana choreographed the entire dance to our song and guided us through it over six lessons. She is an amazing teacher, very patient and fun to work with. She even challenged us with more intermediate steps to make our dance even more amazing and unique. Overall it was the best experience. I highly recommend Ana at Fred Astaire! read more

I went there to learn Brazilian Samba and they taught me the wrong type of Samba. They do not know how to teach Brazilian Samba. Roy Pizzarello read more

My fiancé and I took three lessons with Anna and couldn't have asked for a better teacher! We came in really not knowing how to even dance with each other and by the end had our wedding dance choreography set and looking really good! Reading the other reviews definitely prepared me expectations wise for sharing the room and music with others but it didn't have much of a negative impact. read more

Amazing experience!!! We used a groupon and Anna was our teacher; and we can't wait for our second segment of the deal. She was so great and taught us in a joking and jovial manner. The studio is small, but enough for 5-6 couples to practice. We're buying a larger package once the groupon is finished! read more

My fiance and I have really enjoyed taking lessons with Maladdin. He's really good at explaining what changes we should make, and he totally choreographed a first-dance song for us. What's a bit difficult about this place is that often there are other people dancing -- with their own music. For example, in our last hour-long lesson, we only heard "our" song once. This happens in "private" lessons. I would say this is the biggest drawback to this studio. Otherwise, it has been really fun working with Maladdin, and we look forward to dancing in front of our friends and family. read more

My dad set us up with dance lessons before my wedding and we had such a great time working with the teachers here! They customized the dance to our song and stayed late until we were comfortable or would schedule another session to fit our busy schedule! read more

I've had two lessons and have had a wonderful time learning and dancing. It's everything I expected it to be and more! My instructor is Kiril and he's friendly and knowledgeable. He takes the time to make sure you understand and makes learning fun! Spent time watching the other dance instructors, and they also teach their students with enthusiasm and excitement in their lessons. Would highly recommend this company for any of your dancing needs whether just for fun, to prepare for a wedding or for plans on competing. read more

My wife and I had a great experience at this studio. We went in for 10 lessons ahead of our wedding and were able to walk out with a great routine. 10/10 would recommend this studio. read more

We purchased the Groupon (2 private 30-minute lessons + a dance party - which is the same as the $75 intro package) for the Midtown East location. Both my boyfriend and I have previous dance experience, and we wanted to refresh our memories and learn something new. The instructors were good, although we got kind of bored in the middle of each lesson because of the constant repetition. We'd do the same steps over and over again for 10 minutes, even though we had them down. Since I only had 2 classes, I wanted to learn as much as possible. Somehow, part of me felt like the instructors were purposefully slowing down so that we would keep taking more lessons. They are way too pushy here about more lessons. Every time I talked to the owner, he kept asking if we wanted to do the additional dance package, what we thought of more lessons, and the instructors are also programmed to bring us to him to get the additional lessons. I understand using Groupon and the intro sessions as lead generation, but the constant asking is a major, major turnoff. I don't like salesmen following me at a department store; I definitely dislike the same pressure during a dance lesson. read more

I would try other places. They lure you in with the $75 intro fee then immediately push you into a big package $500+. Each session ends early and they are constantly upselling. Just not the fun/value experience we were seeking. Also, out of no where they start discussing "progress checks". It's fine if you want to compete on DWTS, but for people looking to learn a few moves, it's a bit much.... read more

I have been dancing at this studio for several years and would highly encourage anyone who wants to take dance lessons to try it out. The quality of the instruction is unparalleled and extremely professional. The atmosphere in the studio is warm and joyful! The owners know every student's name and make it a point of greeting you when you come. It is truly a special place! read more

As someone who doesn't have enough spare time, this studio and its instructors are the best. They work hard to make sure I learn and have fun at the same time. Each lesson is a perfect balance of developing my skills and getting some exercise. The instructors are quite talented and explain their points succinctly yet comprehensively. I just bought my daughter and her boyfriend a lesson and they had a blast. Looking forward to going back for more. read more

The worst! I went here to learn a wedding dance with my fiance. They only do private lessons. The first instructor, Jackie, did a terrible job of listening to anything we asked for or had to say. For instance, we knew we wanted to learn a Foxtrot, and she demanded that we also learn two other types of dance. At the rate we were paying, you'd think we could learn what we wanted. Anyway, in the end there was enough conflict with her that we had to switch to a new instructor. The second instructor, Andre, didn't understand English very well, which made learning difficult. Overall, we just didn't learn very much from him in any of the sessions, despite practicing diligently in between. But the biggest issue? We gave him measurements of the space in which we were doing the dance. Rather than actually measuring the space and choreographing a dance that would work in the space, he paced it off roughly. Then he put together a dance that needed more floor space than we had. I even raised the issue, and he dismissed it. So we spent months learning a dance that we couldn't perform in the space. With just a couple weeks left, we went to rehearse and discovered the problem. We were out of lessons, so we just had to do our best to re-work the dance for the space. We spent a huge amount of money on a bunch of lessons. Overall, it was a terrible experience. I had very little experience with ballroom before this, and my wife had none at the time. The experience was so bad that my wife will almost certainly never do ballroom dance for the rest of her life. Do NOT go here if you're a beginner. Do NOT go here to learn a wedding dance. read more

I waited a while before selecting a dance studio in NYC for private lessons as I had taken group lessons before but was now looking to make an investment to the next level. I am so happy I selected this wonderful dance studio for that. They offer a free lesson to try and match you with the just right instructor. They matched me with Draghan who is a patient, fun and talented instructor. After five lessons, I have gained confidence and lost weight! I love the atmosphere and friendly people there and recommend anyone who wants to learn to dance to come join the fun. read more

I decided to take dance lessons because I have two left feet and could never dance at parties. This studio is by far the best in the city and all of the instructors are knowledgeable. They are not pushy and do a good job teaching you anything you want to know. I would highly recommend this studio and all of the instructors to anyone who wants to learn how to dance! read more

A favorite, Tim and all the instructors there are helpful & enthusiastic - great place to learn and advance your dancing. A staple.

The West Side Fred Astaire Dance Studio is the place to go if you want to learn from excellent instructors. I recommend doing private lessons so you get the most out of each lesson. The instructors are a joy to work with. You won't be disappointed! read more

Great teachers. Warm friendly atmosphere! My 10th year and still very much a fan!

I have been taking lessons at Fred Astaire West Side for around a year and it has been great. The staff is professional and friendly, and I have learned a lot. It's fun and a physical and mental challenge. This is really a good place. read more

I love this studio!!! Everybody is so friendly and welcoming. I learned Argentine Tango so much within a short time from Val. He is an awesome instructor and performer! read more

I don't know about the person above that only "took one lesson," but you have to take more than one dance lesson for it to have any impact. Sorry, but it is true. Anyhow, my fiancee and I have taken lessons there for over a year. They are amazing instructors there -- especially Clive and Tonja. We have taken lessons with other studios (to see if cheaper studios are just as good), but Fred Astaire is the most professional, consistently amazing, and just, well, good. Included in the price is unlimited studio time -- which you can't get elsewhere. Also, they through dance parties once a month. I recommend them for anyone who really wants to learn to dance well (well, ballroom type of dancing at least). read more

My son gave me a five lesson package for my birthday and now we have been taking lessons for 9 months! We are amazed by the progress we've made. Our instructor Shone is fantastic - knowledgable, personable, and professional. Very impressed by the whole studio, and looking forward to the future! read more

My now-husband and I really liked working with Will on our first dance for our wedding. I have dance experience and my husband does not, and Will did a great job of getting us on the same page. He taught us just the right number of moves/sequences so that we nice a nice but simple-enough routine, and we felt comfortable with our dance by the time our wedding came around. The dance turned out great on our wedding day! read more

Lessons are pretty good. You learn a lot in a lesson (1 hour long) so if you're learning for a particular event, you don't really need the packages which start at 5 lessons. read more

This studio has the best group of fantastic dancers and teachers on Earth! They are all wonderful people as well as terrific dancers. I would wholeheartedly recommend this studio for learning how to dance as well as having a great time while doing it! read more

This is the best place to learn to dance. My wife and I have been taking lessons here for the past 7 years and have enjoyed every minute. All the teachers are champions and they couldn't be nicer or more encouraging. read more

The Fred Astaire West Side studio under the direction of Jolanta, Darius Mosteika and Val is truly a very special place because the staff and the students are really warm people, dedicated and passionate about dancing. I always say that hiring staff is an art itself and I see that the environment created at the studio has a lot to do with the energy and personalities of their talented great looking instructors. I have been learning ballroom for three years at Fred Astaire West Side. During this period I have seen myself, other students and professionals grow as dancers and individuals because that is what the friendly studio atmosphere pushes for amidst great music and irresistible humor. As they advertise they customize the instruction to each person's needs. I was sorry to read below a bad review regarding a negative experience someone had few years ago. What I can say is that I have had lessons with every single female and male instructor at the studio and each one has a lot to give. As long as you are clear on what your aim is and how you are able to budget your time and expenses they will listen and plan your instruction accordingly. Their annual showcase is very well produced and takes place at the auditorium of the Martin Luther King High School which gives amateurs the fantastic experience of rehearsing and performing with professional ballroom dancers on an actual stage for several days prior to the performance. That is a major plus for me and one reason I would recommend West Side if you are interested in having a performance experience on a stage. Worth mentioning that the ticket sales of the Dance Among The Stars annual show benefit the School For Imagination, Arts & Inquiry. Lately I have been exploring different studios trying to see and learn as much as I can and I would say that the Fred Astaire West Side studio is and will always be my home, an oasis of beautiful artists and personalities from different professional backgrounds, all friendly, funny, witty sharing one common interest: LET'S DANCE!!!! read more

My husband and I have been dancing at this studio since moving to the city 16 years ago. We dance together as amateurs and also in pro-am competitions and showcases with Darius and Jolanta. The level of instruction is as good as it gets. And so are the people who come for lessons and practice parties and become great friends. Something wonderful the way this studio manages to keep us learning and keeps it fun. read more

I could not imagine a studio that is warmer or more welcoming than the West Side Fred Astaire studio.The place has a really positive vibe. I certainly had apprehension about taking dance lessons but they quickly put me at ease. My instructors Jaki and Olga are top notch dancers and they genuinely make me feel that it is their pleasure to dance with me. I am sure that every student is different and they seems to approach each of us in a unique way. They have me doing things that I never thought that I could do. They have me beginning to feel that I can take a woman's hand and know that she will enjoy the next few minutes on the dance floor. Like anything worthwhile, it takes time to learn. It is fun. - This is a comfortable place to step out of your comfort zone. read more

This studio is the BEST! We learned our wedding dance here and had so much fun doing it! I highly recommend this studio! Our teacher Jaki is unbelievable :) :) read more