I also agree with the sentiment of another reviewer and I don't believe they teach well. They tend to focus a lot on footwork and shines, but don't plug it into partner or explain why you would want to participate in this. So take something I should be more beginner level and make it intermediate. From my experience, social dancing people tend to be more at the beginner level so this doesn't help many students and it can make them feel frustrated which shouldn't be a chance of paying for a service to teach you how to do something. Also, as a result, they only have limited time to teach the partnerwork so they aren't able to discern how to make the lead or follow effective again, making social dancing more difficult. Would not recommend. read more

Everyone should try their classes as it encourages one to open a whole new portal of happiness

The review is limited only to the bachata class on Tuesday, and is my personal experience. I have been to a fair share of classes in the bay area, and this class ranks quite low for anybody less than intermediate, even though it claims to be for all levels. The first half of the class focuses on intricate solo dancing, which might suit a stage performing competitive bachata dancer. If one's aim is to get better at social dancing at clubs, the first half is unfortunately quite pointless. Leaving the utility and motivation aside (not everybody wants to social dance), this part moved very fast, and was more suited to seasoned dancers who were well versed with bachata movement. I never felt like we paused to make sure we got it right before moving to the next fancy segment of solo styling. Which brings me to the second half - aka the partner dance. The pace here as well was frustratingly fast, and it didn't seem like it mattered if the students got it before the instructors shared the next part of the dance. What was more frustrating was that even though the number of leaders was 2x the number of followers, the instructors chose to share newer steps after each rotation, even though only half the leaders would actually be able to practice in one rotation. As opposed to other classes in the bay area where we spend time to practice and make sure to get it right as part of the class, this one just focuses on going fast. To what end, who knows? I think the class should be more explicit in its target audience aka "Intermediate + Performance oriented" dancers instead of "All-level" as noted on the website. No points for guessing that I am not going back anytime soon. read more

This dance company has really stepped it up during this covid crazy time! They offer online classes and have currently added in person, socially distanced, classes as well (space is limited due to covid). They offer anywhere from beginner to advance private lessons too. If you're looking to add some rhythm in your life I would 10/10 recommend reaching out to Inessence Dance Co. read more

Dance classes are hard to review, because all students will take away something different. What could be a 5 star experience for one student could be a 2 star experience for another. I took one class and here is what I took away: Many of the students in the class seem to have been attending on a regular basis. The crowd is on the younger side, I would guesstimate the number of students over 30 at less than 25%. Total guess though. There are many reviews here which claim this class is good for beginners. That may be true for some beginners but my personal experience is that this class moves rather quickly and could be overwhelming for some who are completely new to social dancing and are looking for a more gentle welcome to bachata. A dancer would already need a well developed sense of rhythm and body awareness in order to keep up with the pace of the class. Whereas in many social clubs the first 1/2 hour is dedicated to just getting the basic step down, these lessons launch into more intermediate footwork after spending about 5 minutes warming up with the basic. Which is great, I thought it was a fun challenge and I had a great time. However this isn't the class I would bring my friends with no dance experience to as I feel they would become frustrated. The class was pretty full and if you're in the back rows it can be difficult to see the instructors in order to learn the steps. Another word about the footwork: this is great for performance and developing one's own personal dance style but in practical application the footwork isn't something that can be performed with a partner in a club type social situation. At least not in my experience. After the footwork portion a circle of partners was formed. The instructors demonstrate the routine to be learned and then the routine is taught step by step. Pretty standard for a dance class. I would put the routine at an intermediate level. Intermediate meaning that some basic social dance foundations are assumed. Like the footwork I would say the routine was aimed 50/50 at performance and social applications. Performance moves don't always translate well onto the club dance floor. However about 50% of the routine would work just fine with a random partner in a social setting. Good: - Great balance of leaders and followers - Friendly people - Excellent development for advanced beginner to expert - Great instructors - The partner moves could be helpful. - Great if you're looking to perform or join the dance team Could be not good, depending? - Some who are completely new to dance may become frustrated - Not necessarily aimed at teaching practical social dancing that translates well to a club setting with random partners. Summary: My review is based on attending one class. I consider myself advanced beginner to intermediate and I had a pretty good time and I learned a lot. Students who attend regularly will most likely see stellar benefits and the opportunity to join a performance group is enticing. If you're completely new to dance and looking to join this class as your first intro to social dance be aware that the learning curve may be steep. read more

Sammantha and Bryon are two of my favourite dance instructors and my gold standard for team directors. Friendly yet professional, knowledgeable in every way, fun and well-structured lessons, and amazing choreography. They are wonderful performers AND social dancers (very important) and are very inclusive and encouraging when it comes to breaking gender roles in leading and following. In the Ladies' Team practices, Sammantha goes super in-depth about technique and styling. It's so helpful in both performance and social dancing and has rapidly improved my dancing in a lot of areas! That brings me to the dancers in the company--with their amazing attitude, Samm and Bryon have fostered one of the most welcoming communities in the Bay Area and drawn together some of the kindest people to form one big family. Such team spirit with zero cliquey-ness. I am so proud to be a part of this team! read more

I was completely new to latin dancing when I started going to Bryon and Sammantha's bachata classes. In 5 short months, I've made more progress than I would have in 20 months on my own. I've gone from avoiding social dancing like the plague to performing on stage at huge venues. Their footwork training is unparalleled and you'll notice it when you visit festivals with folks studying for far more years under other instructors. Folks at workshops are fairly surprised when they find out my lack of experience, but I attribute this to Inessence training, rather than any sort of intrinsic skill on my part. Bachata is all about forming connections with dance partners and Inessence has helped me do that with an amazing group of friends. They've created a welcoming environment for folks of all skill levels to participate (Sammantha was actually the first person who ever pulled me onto the dance floor). There's nothing quite like having a supportive group of talented dancers to go social dancing with. Life's too short to be a wallflower. Inessence Dance Co is a great way to take that first/second/1000th step towards being an amazing bachata dancer. read more

I can't even begin telling you all how amazing Bryon and Sammantha truly are! Their dance style is so smooth and fun! They are welcoming to every dance level, from beginning to advanced, even dancers who have been dancing their entire lives. They effectively communicate what it means to dance bachata, and are the perfect examples of what it should look like. They are extremely encouraging, constantly pushing you to do YOUR very best. I brought a friend of mine,(a beginner), to their bachata class and she loved it! I encourage each and every one of you reading this right now to stop what you are doing, find them on facebook, take their class, and thank me later :) Not to mention their dance company is my favorite team to watch! So fierce! read more

When I first discovered bachata music/dance in 2011, I wanted to learn how to dance in an environment with instructors who are both serious about improvement - but also supportive/non-competitive. Sure, I'd go to dance clubs & take some one-off hip hop classes over the years, but I wasn't one of those people with years of ballet / jazz / hip hop / etc. training. Bryon & Sammantha were a great fit for me for the following reasons: - they're supportive of you no matter your level - they challenge you to take your skills to the next level - they foster a friendly & encouraging dynamic, so even on the performance teams, you're rooting for (and not competing against) each other While there are other solid bachata instructors in the Bay, I especially appreciate Bryon & Sammantha's unique dance style: they exemplify the best of "dominican" (intricate yet musical footwork) and the best of "urban" (smooth, fierce, and hot). There are very few people who can compete with Bryon's "swag" or Sammantha's impressive hip movement. Also, I love how diverse yet close the team is - we have students, techies, lawyers, models, non-profit workers, a photographer - coming from seemingly every ethnic background - and yet we some how manage to work hard and play hard (i.e. social dancing, bachata festivals, etc.) together. read more

I've been going to Inessence Bachata lessons in Oakland for the past month. They teach LA style bachata which I really enjoy more so than the Dominican style. The instructor are excellent and teach a fun class. The first 1/2 hour is spent on basic line drill footwork mixed with advanced patterns. In the 2nd 1/2 hour you learn a routine with a partner. You don't need to bring a partner since everybody switches partners frequently. I'm a beginner at Bachata but I've been able to get some of the patterns down. It's great exercise and a fun way to spent a Monday evening! read more

Sammantha and Bryon are the most energetic and smoothest dancers in the bay. I've learned so much in these past months and their classes are soo fun and friendly. New people always warm up so quick because of the vibe given in the room . They are awesome and if you are thinking of learning to dance bachata, meet new people, and have fun, I recommend seeing Sammamtha and Bryon. You won't be able to stop attending their classes . read more

Inessence Dance Company teaches patterns and foot work that you can apply to the dance floor. My social dancing has excelled and now I am more confident with my movements. As a follower I have learned a lot from Sammantha, from arm movements, body rolls, and especially hip movements. They break down counts and foot work as well as partner work. . Their style is their very own, smooth and sexy. Bryon and Sammantha are great at what they do. I Love Me Some Inessence!!!! read more

This dance class is a mixed group of beginners and experienced Bachata dancers. The studio is super fun and friendly and very welcoming. Bryon and Samantha are excellent teachers, and I highly recommend this spot to anyone who wants to learn Bachata. read more

They finally have a yelp page! Smoothest bachata style and most intricate footwork ever! They are perfect for beginners because they promote such a supportive learning environment and perfect for advanced dancers because they always find a way to challenge you. This is not any regular dance team, you actually feel like you're part of a family. They make you a better dancer in general without you even realizing it because you're having so much fun. Try them out, can't hurt! read more

The instructors of Inessence Dance Company are Amazing..like jaw-dropping when you watch them dance! And they know how to teach very organized classes. They give you attention, advice, and motivation to keep improving as a dancer. I just recently moved to SF (it's never easy moving away to a new place) and I am so thankful that these instructors were so welcoming and encouraging! One of the highlights of being in SF for me! read more

The weekly Tuesday night class is a great place for both beginners and advanced dancers. Their dance teams choreographies are AMAZING. Bryon and Sam are both really good at helping each individual dancer make improvements in terms of footwork and styling. If you want to obtain advanced training from experienced instructors and learn moves that you will be able to adapt into social dancing, this is the perfect place!!! read more

This is a great dance company! They are so experienced and very good instructors. Their socials are the funnest events as they have themed socials every so often where there are performances and free style dancing. They both are great dancers. They have Tuesday night classes which are awesome. I totally recommend Sammantha and Bryon to any one. You will love this dance company! read more

Bryon Stroud and Sammantha Arias are amazing dancers. If you're ever in the bay area, check them out. Beyond Smooth.

Samantha and Bryon are dedicated and passionate bachata dancers. Both instructors have great personalities which explains why their weekly bachata classes are filled with good vibes and positive energy! If you search them up on youtube, you will see how smooth & clean their style of dancing is. Through Sam and Bryon I have learned that THOUGH it is important to stay up-to-date with todays hottest bachata hits, it is also important to remain connected with the roots of the genre. With that being said, they incorporate (both) modern & traditional styles into their routines, which is awesome! If you think you "can't" dance, stop feeling that way! Sam and Bryon are welcome to all levels whether it's beginner or advanced and are there to teach and help you. (& trust me, there are ALWAYS new people and beginners attending their classes. Your not alone) :D. Ultimately, at some point, every dancer started as a beginner :). Join their classes, won't regret it! read more