Veronika was our dance instructor and helped us choreographed our first dance for our wedding. We chose to dance to Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls, and she had such good advice and was open to changing choreo that we were not comfortable with doing. She was amazing. I had zero dance experience, and never dance even at parties. My husband wanted to do a dance, so we went to a bunch of studios and Fred Astaire stood out! First off, their studio is huge compared to two other ones we visited. Also they had a huge parking lot since it's located in a plaza. scheduling classes was easy and we took 8 classes over a span of 2 months. Overall, if you are looking for a place to learn your first dance, I cannot recommend this place enough. read more

Fred Astaire Dance Studios - Dance Studios Near Me - San Mateo, California

We signed up for wedding dance lessons with Rob and he helped us craft a beautiful routine that incorporated all the elements my fiance desired including the viennese waltz. My fiance came in with a strong dance background and i came in with none, and rob was able to patiently coach me through everything until I was able to get things just right. His positive attitude and ability to break things down into simple steps were super helpful. Recommend him to everyone!! read more

Fred Astaire has been a great activity for my retired mother in law . They are very encouraging and care about their dancers. Their classes are for all levels. In addition, the studio has great communication and host fun social events. Thank you ! read more

Our friend recommended this studio for wedding dance lessons, and we had a wonderful time learning beautiful, personalized choreography for our first dance over 12 lessons. The studio was very responsive when we reached out and everyone there was friendly and supportive. We were paired with our amazing instructor, Lydia. She was exceptionally patient and helpful, guiding us through every step of the routine. She consistently checked in to ensure we loved the dance, understood the steps, and if there was anything specific we wanted to incorporate into our routine. I cannot recommend her enough - despite us having little to no dance experience, she was always extremely friendly, encouraging, and incorporated everything we wanted into the choreography. We genuinely looked forward to our lessons every week and cannot wait to dance the routine at our wedding. Truly couldn't be happier with how things went, especially the fun lifts she helped add to our dance. read more

Definitely recommend it ! This amazing place has been a dance home for my daughter for 5 years now ! She loves spending time there with her friends and learning from amazing coaches ! read more

Fred Astaire Dance Studios - Alice practicing after lesson with amazing coach Aira - Dance Studios Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Fred Astaire San Mateo is a beautiful dance studio with amazing and friendly staff. The studio has a very invitiing atmosphere filled with vibrant energy. My partner and I spend a lot of time in this studio having lessons and practicing, and we just love it. The teachers are well trained dancers providing top of the class lessons. I often see wedding couples having fun while learning and perfecting their first dance routine. I see beginner dancers enjoying their social foxtrot or salsa lessons with their teachers. There is also a strong competitive dance community, with couples training to become champions. It is a fun place to be!! Highly recommend to anyone interested in ballroom dance!! read more

Fred Astaire Dance Studios - Dance Studios Near Me - San Mateo, California

Eli is an amazing dance teacher! He's so patient and always willing to work within our comfort zone.

My husband and I have been taking private lessons at Fred Astaire since February. Our instructors, Lydia and Max, are great teachers, incredible dancers and, most importantly, fun to work with. The studio is airy, clean and has great floors. The front desk, Rob and Vita, are welcoming and know what is what. Rob also gives wonderful feedback on our dance moves and is always upbeat and encouraging. Tomas and Aira, the owners, go out of their way to make you feel at home. read more

I have been taking private Latin dance lessons from Razmik at DanceVita for six months. I am a beginner, yet I learned so much and it's amazing to see how much my dancing has improved thanks to Razmik's teaching. He's very patient and encouraging, and even though I am a beginner, I feel welcomed and not intimidated by Latin dance. He can always pinpoint my problems right away, so each lesson is very effective. It's inspiring to learn from a world class teacher like Razmik. I feel so grateful and lucky that I get to learn from him. He shows me how beautiful and fun Latin dance can be and helps me improve along the way. I really enjoy every lesson and look forward to many more! Updated after eight months: I am getting more serious about learning to dance Latin and have been taking more classes from both Razmik and Olya at Fred Astaire in San Mateo. They're excellent teachers: both are world class professionals themselves and they can always give me great feedback so each lesson counts. I'm seeing great improvements in my dancing and it's hard to believe that I only have been learning from them for a year! I also just really love the community at the studio: everyone is so friendly and encouraging; we're united by our shared love for ballroom dancing. read more

I love this dance studio! I'm taking private lessons with Max who is a great teacher-making it fun. I'm in the "social dance" program, learning all the dances-salsa, swing, waltz, tango... The studio also has monthly themed dance parties. August's Disco party was great fun. If you want to learn how to dance, I highly recommend the studio. read more

I have been taking classes in this studio for many years and found everyone there extremely supportive and encouraging. I strongly recommend this studio. Me and my wife also are taking classes with Olya and we had a fantastic experience ! She's patient, encouraging, and makes every lesson fun and engaging. Olya is a great teacher and we highly recommend her! read more

Wedding Dance, Social Dance or Competitive Dance- this studio offers all with highest level of expertise and attention to details. If you have been thinking to dance, definitely give Fads of San Mateo a try! read more

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We came to Fred Astaire to get ready for our first dance for our wedding, and working with Lydia was the best decision we could have made! From day one, she made us feel comfortable despite us both being total beginners. She broke down everything in a way that was easy to follow and made the practice both productive and fun. Our lessons were the highlight of our days leading up to the wedding! Lydia has a talent for balancing technique with personality and taught us not just the moves, but how to feel the dance and make it look natural and confident. She was patient when we needed extra time and encouraging when we got it right! By the time our wedding came around, we felt totally prepared, and our first dance ended up being one of our favorite moments of the night. We got endless compliments about every facet of the dance. We can't thank Lydia enough for her talent, warmth, and guidance! We're planning to keep coming back to make dance a regular rotation in our date nights! If you're looking for a place to turn your nerves into confidence, look no further than Fred Astaire! read more

Dancing at Fred Astaire is so much fun. The teachers are excellent and the dance floor is top notch. I love the convenient location and easy parking. read more

This studio made my retirement filled with elegant movements, music, joy, plus brain and muscle coordination challenges... (1) Quality of Teaching - Instructors won championship in various competitions. They are young and ambitious while continue polishing their art to the next level by competing worldwide and being coached. Personally I know students traveling very far from San Francisco or East Bay or from Cupertino, CA. (2) Transparent Pricing - Unlike other dance studios I attended before, here you get a published fee schedule applicable to everyone. (3) Friendly Staff - Teachers are patient to repeat steps with you and to answer your questions. Office administrators are flexible to accommodate your schedule. Everybody knows your name. (4) Monthly Parties - Learn a new dance move with fellow students and teachers in a quick partner rotation. Students then show off what they're working on in performances. I was a bit nervous performing Tango, but people cheered me on and my professional dancer teacher made me look so good on video! It will be treasured in my life! read more

The studio has a very professional air from the first time I entered the studio. The dance instructors are amazing dancers themselves which made me feel I need to step up my dance practices. And lastly their fees are very reasonable compared to other dance studios. I have been in attendance for a little over a month now. read more

Vika was our instructor for our wedding dance, which is a fusion of indian and western songs / styles. We had so much fun learning from her. She did a wonderful job on our choreography and what's more, made us feel so comfortable and happy with her kind, relaxing, and supportive presence. You are awesome Vika! read more

We learned our wedding dance here in the studio. Every staff here are friendly, kind and easy to communicate with. Our instructor is Lydia. She's the best!! She's always so encouraging and helpful! It's a pleasure to work with her! Highly recommend this studio! read more

I've been taking first dance lessons at Fred Astaire San Mateo and have had the absolute pleasure of working with Lydia--she's incredible! Her patience, encouragement, and clear guidance make every lesson fun and productive, no matter your skill level. As a couple who was a little nervous about dancing, we really appreciate how Lydia takes the time to break things down and make sure we feel comfortable and confident before moving on. She's not only a skilled dancer but also a fantastic teacher who genuinely wants you to improve and enjoy the process. We always leave class feeling better than when we walked in. If you're thinking about taking lessons and want an instructor who is kind, knowledgeable, and super supportive, I highly recommend Lydia! read more

Our family has been part of this amazing dance studio for years. The atmosphere is welcoming and full of positive energy. The instructors are incredibly talented, supportive, and passionate about what they do. Ballroom Latin, Standard, Smooth, social, or competitive dancing, this studio has it all. It truly feels like a big family, where everyone enjoys dancing. Highly recommend! read more

We love Fred Astaire San Mateo! We booked an 8 class private lesson package right away after our intro lesson with Zorik. He has made us feel so comfortable and at home in the studio even for beginners. We trust the staff's expertise and Zorik has been a very thoughtful and encouraging teacher. We plan to book more lessons, as we are having the best time dancing here and learning choreography for our wedding this May! read more

[cross-posting from Google reviews] I've been coming to Fred Astaire San Mateo for ballroom private lessons, classes, and rounds for several years, and the quality of instruction is unmatched. The teachers, students, and staff take excellent care of the space, and promote a warm, respectful atmosphere for everyone. I always mention FASM to friends and family looking for ballroom instruction, and everyone who's come in have had lovely experiences. 10/10 highly recommend! read more

FADS San Mateo is an amazing studio for all types of dancers - from beginners to social dancers to competitive dancers!! All the teachers, staff, and owners are highly professional, skilled, and friendly, and the space is beautiful with big floors and a great sound system. Highly recommend for all dancers in the area to give it a try! read more

Best dance studio, very knowledgeable teachers and amazing dance program! Highly recommend!

My fiancee and I took 12 classes to choreograph and learn a first dance for our wedding. This was the first time we had done any dancing ever and I was super anxious, but we ended up having so much fun and looked forward to every class. Lydia was so wonderful every step of the way, not only choreographing an amazing dance that blew my expectations way out of the water, but also checking in to make sure we were happy with the dance and within our comfort level. Super happy with how our dance came out and would highly recommend to anyone looking to do something special for their wedding! read more

My 14-year-old daughter has been dancing at FADS since she was six. The studio has a beautiful space, the atmosphere is amazing, and all the coaches and owners are first-class. They take an individual approach to each student, regardless of their level. I highly recommend it to dancers of all levels and styles--it's definitely worth a try! read more

What a nice experience. My first ever dance lesson, so yes, we picked the right place, also the front desk was great to us with the customer service. Our instructor, Lydia was fabulous. She was perfect for us as we are definitely beginners. This studio is highly recommended. Thank you Lydia read more

Our 15-year old has been dancing at FADS since she was 6 years old. This studio is not only her home away from home but also the place where she's learning some of the most important lessons in life: hard work, respect for others, and the benefits of belonging to a community that combines athleticism, beauty, and joy. The teachers have long been a part of our family, and our daughter respects and loves them deeply as both kind humans and superb dancers. The studio is spacious, light-filled, and very clean. We recommend FADS highly, whether you're a professional dancer or someone looking to try dance for the first time! read more

Couldn't possibly be happier with the staff and attention to my daughter's dancing. Thank you for everything you have done for us and continue to do! The Bernardo in the Bay Area! read more