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Fred Astaire Dance Studios

4.6 (76 reviews)
Open • 12:30 pm - 8:30 PM

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Jennifer T.

This place is awesome. I stumbled in about a year and a half ago and haven't stopped going back since. They always say hi and bye as you come and go, and the studio really makes you feel wanted, welcome, and like a happy family. Everyone is extremely kind, gentle, and happy. Happy truly is what they are, through and through. All the instructors I have worked with: Sam, Hunter, Alvaro, and Victoria are patient and friendly. They just want to see you succeed! The typical pace for their classes is about 3-4 moves in a group class, but they always try to make sure no one gets left behind. If you are looking for a place for personalized advice and attention, this is a great place for it. They also do something called 'festival' seasonally, which means fun opportunities to dress up at dance party. Thank you to this studio for becoming my family and uplifting me throughout dark times in my life. Protip: When you buy lessons or group classes in a pack you can get a discount/deal!

John B.

I feel deeply honored and privileged to have been paired with Pearl Bonilla, with whom I have been learning Bachata since June 2024. I have always been impressed not only by her professionalism but also by her extensive knowledge. When encountering something she doesn't know, she knows exactly where to go for information and what resources to utilize to ensure her clients' success. Pearl has a very positive and encouraging attitude. Her professional training and experience give her the insight and skills to teach complex multi-step dance elements that students might believe they could never master. When she has doubts, she collaborates with other staff members who possess the needed knowledge, and they openly share their expertise with her. She maintains high expectations for her students, yet these goals are realistic and attainable. Occasionally, Pearl skillfully manipulates situations to help clients overcome challenging phases in their learning. Her light-hearted and cheerful personality continually supports clients, including myself, during difficult times in their learning journey. I began working with Pearl in June 2024 for Bachata lessons. As someone who is not the most coordinated or dance-proficient individual, I initially worried that she might become frustrated with me. However, Pearl overwhelmed me with positivity, which truly inspired me. Throughout our lessons, she remained consistent and encouraging. At one point, feeling that I wasn't learning enough, I combined two 45-minute sessions into one 90-minute session. Under Pearl's guidance, I have genuinely blossomed in my dancing. I now synchronize my steps with the music, use proper hand signals, and maintain good timing. Feeling confident, I chose to expand my horizons and learn Salsa. Naturally, I faced the same challenges, but Pearl's positivity motivated me. She has a sweet demeanor and is an outgoing young lady. I am confident anyone can learn to dance, Latin or ballroom, under her guidance. I was honored to write this review, and I want to emphasize that my words are solely my own. These testimonials reflect Pearl's strong and diligent customer service skills. She is very detail-oriented and methodical. Pearl takes the time to think about the steps her students have completed and can analyze them from both the lead's and the follow's perspectives regarding dance elements. She is straightforward and diligent in finding accurate answers from knowledgeable sources when unfamiliar with a(n) specific dance element(s). The first-year staff works together seamlessly as a cohesive unit, focused on benefiting each client individually. Elly Gomez Four months ago, I expanded my repertoire of dance instructors by adding a second dance structure. Elly Gomez is a remarkable young lady who has been dancing for eight years and has an extensive background in competitive dancing. She possesses an incredible flair and a positively contagious attitude toward life. Elly is incredibly outgoing and knowledgeable about dance steps from both the lead and follower perspectives. She is very dependable and punctual with her dance-related assignments and appointments. If she needs to leave a lesson early, she always prorates the session so that no one feels shortchanged, and she is accessible for any last-minute schedule changes. Despite her young age, I am genuinely impressed by her musical and dance background. Her flamboyant personality and her calm spirit make her truly unique. Although she has room for growth, she has much to offer due to her passion for music and dance. I am privileged to write this for her, free from external influences or factors. I feel honored to have Elly as my dance instructor in Cha Cha and American Tango. She has a wonderful spirit and an endless supply of patience. Elly Gomez Four months ago, I expanded my repertoire of dance instructors by adding a second dance structure. Elly Gomez is a remarkable young lady who has been dancing for eight years and has an extensive background in competitive dancing. She possesses an incredible flair and a positively contagious attitude toward life. Elly is incredibly outgoing and knowledgeable about dance steps from both the lead and follower perspectives. She is very dependable and punctual with her dance-related assignments and appointments. If she needs to leave a lesson early, she always prorates the session so that no one feels shortchanged, and she is accessible for any last-minute schedule changes. Despite her young age, I am genuinely impressed by her musical and dance background. Her flamboyant personality and her calm spirit make her truly unique. Although she has room for growth, she has much to offer due to her passion for music and dance. I am privileged to write this for her, free from external influences or factors. I feel honored to have Elly as my dance instructor in Cha Cha and American Tango. She has a wonderful spirit and an endless supply,

My husband and I at a local, formal Viennese ball with our instructors, Sam and Noe, and a fellow dance classmate.
Thao H.

My husband and I decided to give the Fred Astaire Dance Studio a whirl when we came across their Groupon offer for two discounted private lessons. We took our lessons with Noe, who taught us the beginner basics for the waltz per our request. Noe was friendly, enthusiastic, and patient. He had a wonderful way of putting us at ease and taking us through the steps. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, even my husband who previously dreaded the mere thought of dancing because he was convinced he had two left feet, couldn't hide his smile and genuine enjoyment during our lesson. Afterward, Hunter (the studio owner, and also an energetic and skilled instructor) explained what our pricing options would be for future private lessons, if we chose to continue, and how we'd be privy to group classes, which are taught on a frequent basis and cover all manner of dance styles (waltz, foxtrot, tango, cha cha, salsa, rumba, merengue, bachata, samba, swing) at beginner and intermediate levels, where group classes are available free of charge, so long as you take at least one private lesson per month, which is super reasonable and certainly sets this studio apart from many others. Given the options and based on our terrific first experience, we decided to go for it. We've now taken private lessons at Fred Astaire with Noe and Sam, who is also extremely personable, funny, and amazing at breaking down the steps. We've come to know and appreciate all of the other dance instructors as well (Diana, Elly, Brianna) who we've worked with during group classes. The entire staff, including Tina who manages admin and front desk, are immensely welcoming and amiable. It's Fred Astaire's dance instructors, their expertise and friendliness, their reasonable pricing for private lessons, free group classes, and the studio's overall fun and laid back atmosphere that has kept us coming back for nearly two years now! Since we've started, we've tried our hand at practically all of the dance styles in the studio, and we've been able to apply what we've learned on several occasions, such as at parties, weddings, cruises, etc. Prior to taking lessons, I used to have to drag my husband onto the dance floor, but now that he knows what he's doing, he really enjoys it, to the point where he's the one ushering me to dance at the first opportunity. The epitome of our dance education with Fred Astaire was earlier this year when they gave us the tools and confidence to prepare us well enough with the waltz to be able to attend and dance at a local, formal Viennese ball. We had a spectacular time, and it was all thanks to our dance instructors. We have loved the time we've spent at Fred Astaire Dance Studio and we hope to continue our dance education journey for many years to come! Cha Cha cha!

I'm sure not as low as we were supposed to go, but what's important is we had the confidence to do it at our wedding!

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Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the patient and encouraging instructors and the welcoming atmosphere. Lessons are often personalized, and the facility is clean and comfortable.

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The staff are so nice and the classes are fun! We're learning a lot of new dances and enjoying the friendly atmosphere.

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Ask the Community - Fred Astaire Dance Studios

Are toddler classes available and if so, when do they meet?

Yes

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Review Highlights - Fred Astaire Dance Studios

“I've been dancing with Hunter for almost 3 years now, and have loved every minute of my experience with this studio.”

Mentioned in 15 reviews

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0.4 mi•Kearny Mesa

Thank you for providing such a wonderful ballet studio for our dancers. The careful balance of fun,…read morecreativity, and hard work creates a warm, motivating environment where students learn the essentials of ballet while exploring contemporary movement. Your highly skilled, professional, and kind teachers are clearly dedicated and welcoming--making the studio feel like a true community. Parents and students are always polite, friendly, and helpful, which adds so much to the positive atmosphere. I highly recommend your studio and appreciate all you do for the dancers. Warm regards, Natalie

My daughter has been with Ballet Institute of San Diego (BISD) for about four years now, and I…read morehonestly can't say enough good things about this school. It's not just a "cute kids' dance class". This is real classical ballet, taught with care, depth, and European tradition. The founder, Eglė Špokaitė, was a principal ballerina with the Lithuanian National Ballet and has performed all over the world! Their head teachers, like Katia Anishchenko (trained at the Vaganova Academy and danced with the Mikhailovsky Theatre in Russia) and Tinatin Mtchedlidze (from the State Ballet of Georgia), bring incredible knowledge and professionalism to the classroom. You can truly feel that you're learning from people who've lived and breathed ballet their entire lives. What I really love is how genuine their recitals feel. They're not just about showing off! They're meaningful, artistic performances. The costumes are beautiful and varied, the choreography thoughtful, and every production feels like a complete story. Through these experiences, the students get to understand what real ballet is. Discipline, teamwork, grace, and artistic expression. Yes, BISD follows a traditional European style, which can feel more structured or strict compared to most American studios. But to me, that structure is what helps the students grow. It comes from deep respect for the art, not from pressure. And over time, I've seen how much this approach has helped my daughter become not only a stronger dancer but also a more confident, resilient young person. If you want your child to experience true classical ballet, not just the surface, but the heart of it. BISD is the place!

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0.2 mi•Kearny Mesa

We watched The Nutcracker performed by the California Ballet School at the Poway Center for the…read morePerforming Arts. This is the first ORIGINAL San Diego production Nutcracker by Maxine Mahon. I don't remember going to other productions where I laughed and felt warm with Christmas spirit. The show was nicely choreographed. The sled was beautifully made for the first show in the 60s and still in today's production. The costumes were so detailed and fabulous. The dancers were a fix from the school's students and professionals. Very nicely done with a short 2-3months of practice!!!

My child has been taking class on Saturday mornings with Ballet A since June…read more I have been fortunate to have had California Ballet School recommended to me by a few families who have been with them for years. My child enjoyed the trial classes which pushed me to sign her up for the rest of the quarter and another. The instructor at the time, who I believe was a sub, made it fun, engaging, and relatable to the kids, all while being able to teach ballet technique and etiquette. I just wanted to pose a concern that I have been observing for weeks before bringing this to light to the manager whom I don't know ever received my emailed concern as I received no reply or acknowledgement to say the least. The instructor of this particular class is a talented dancer and it is evident in the general material she teaches. She has the potential to be a very good instructor. However, I don't believe she is aware that her teaching approach and voice tone is at all appropriate for her class full of 4 year olds... You see, I teach 4 year olds too in my own respective field, and in a class of multiple 4 year olds, I understand where it can be challenging to teach. A variety of attention spans, personalities, and abilities fill this class... They wiggle. They talk. They get silly, and it sometimes gets in the way of what needs to be done within the short hour. I get it. This age is tough to teach. But in the same respect, they are still only 4 years old. And it's not enough to yell at them when they are talking to their peers during transitions. IE "There's no talking in ballet!!!" as they move from the bar to doing across the floors or "I shouldn't have to wait this long for you guys to be ready!!!" "QUIET VOICES!!!" when they aren't waiting in first position. Or when she is explaining a combo that needs correction, she says "Let's play number 1 or number 2", but what does that mean to a 4 year old? And how will this type of sarcasm truly help them improve on pointing their toes and keeping their legs straight? Especially when they aren't being taught the very basic foundations of ballet... like simple body and spatial awareness. They are only really starting to grasp what learning is, and when the material isn't engaging enough they'll lose interest and start doing everything else but what the teacher wants them to do... which starts to happen by the middle of class. While I understand the seriousness of dance etiquette and learning dance technique, as a former dancer myself, dance will continue and come natural with many of these kids, if it is made relatable and fun. Many of these families, like ours, are here because they want to learn! And there are more approaches to teaching this age other than what has been displayed by the instructor these past few weeks. My intent is not to shame or complain or anything but rather to shed light on what I've observed thus far. However the instructor is just too young and inexperienced in teaching young children and I hope this feedback finds her somehow to be able improve her techniques towards something more appropriate to 4 year olds.

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Fred Astaire Dance Studios - dancestudio - Updated October 2026

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