I am learning Salsa, Bachata, Chacha and Cumbia here. The most fun and friendly instructors and student crowd you can meet for Salsa

Just had to update my review and give Amir props. He is such a great instructor. He is a very nice guy, and is very patient. He will take as much time as necessary to explain the moves. I also love his song selections. Every instructor plays whatever song they desire during class and his songs are great. I have, on numerous occasions, added songs he plays to my music collection. Mostly, he has such a smooth rhythm. He dances effortlessly. I took a couple of cha cha classes with him and now I'm taking salsa and I could not be more pleased. read more

What made me check out Latin Rhythms was its reputation. I had heard from people at the clubs that Latin Rhythms has the reputation of proceeding some very good social dancers. So I had to check it out and I was pleasantly surprised to find the instruction to be very high quality and perhaps I'd say the most organized dance curriculum I had seen for Latin dance. While the price point is higher compared to other dance studios, you do get your money's worth in that you get a lot of corrections and they will get you dancing confidently quickly. They will show you how to properly lead and follow. As both of a pro and con, they take dancing here fairly seriously which is good if you are someone who learns quickly and doesn't mind the criticism but may not be the best if you are a particularly slow learner. read more

I've been to a few salsa clubs before as a beginner, but for the most part I didn't know what I was doing. I've been taking the four basic classes and I've learned so much in 4 months! Each class breaks down every dance move into easily digestible steps. I didn't even realize how much I learned. It's not just me either. Many of the other students improve significantly. I went to a salsa club last night, and there were some missteps, but for the most part I was able to follow the lead with relative ease. I had a blast! Plus the instructors are great. Hector at the front always remembers my name. It's a wonderful community read more

Definitely one of the best salsa studios in town. Maricza is a fantastic instructor. I can't give it five stars because the location is out of the way (you pretty much have to have a car) and the sound carries between rooms, which makes it hard to hear the instructor sometimes. Otherwise it's a lovely space with first rate instruction. read more

My dancing shoes were burned a long time ago in a fire set by despair and anger at the fact that fate actually gave me 3 left feet instead of just two. But last weekend, I figuratively bought new ones and actually dragged myself to a Salsa lesson at Latin Rhythms and I have to admit it was tons of fun! We were only in the very beginner's class, taught by the awesome and inspiring Nancy, and we only had an hour so we got just past the basic steps, which is more than enough to be dangerous to others on the dance floor. So we knew just enough to stay for the social and I'm glad we did! I can see how these socials could quickly become addictive: 1) BYOB, 2) Only $10 fee for a very chill party atmosphere, 3) Tons of dancing space and also tons of seating for when you are danced out, 4) So many cool dance moves! It was Dancing with the Stars, but right in front of my face! This place is great for all levels of dancers and non-dancers, even if you need to hang in the back for a bit to get the confidence to dance, it's guaranteed to be more fun than you were expecting. read more

My first exposure to Latin Rhythms Dance Academy was when I joined the Thrill The World Chicago 2009 Team (youtube). The choreographed class preparation leading to the Humbolt Park Boathouse Event was 1st class all the way. I loved it! Maricza" Michael/ MJ" Valentin is a fabulous Director/ Instructor. The whole event completely surpassed my expectations. Very professional. I admit I came only for the Thriller & love for MJ Tribute, but I will be back. I've been around quite a bit & love to take workshops/ dance classes. Therefore,I'm comfortable posting a review & base my score on: quality, talent, creativity & overall consumer value. The studio, Instructors, and entire student body get 5 stars in my opinion. Latin Rhythms is a must try!.....Enjoy........Ciao for now! read more

I am one of those people who has terrible rhythm and timing. Though I have unsuccessfully taken dance classes at many other studios, Latin Rhythms (LR) is by far my favorite, and where I have evolved the most. The biggest complaints people have are that the rooms are divided by curtains, which make it difficult to drown out the sound of the music in the class next to you. This can be very distracting for those people who have to have correct rhythm and timing when they dance. For me, this wasn't much of a problem, since I use to never be able to get the rhythm and timing anyway. The other major complaint is the front desk staff. I have to concur that some of the front desk staff aren't that friendly and make the studio look really bad. This is the one reason why I am giving them 4 stars and not 5. As an example, I asked about fill-in opportunities to one front desk staff member, and was told that the front desk no longer handles these inquires and I have to ask the instructor directly if they have any fill-in opportunities. I thought this was ridiculous and asked another front desk staff member the very next day and got someone who not only answered my question, but did it in a friendly manner. Many other students have mentioned this problem to me. I honestly think it is a big problem which the studio doesn't realize how bad it makes them look, which is tragic, because it is one of the best, if not the best studios to learn Latin style dancing in the entire City. What I like the most about the studio is their class structure and instructors. The curriculum is very well thought out and planned, with 10 different levels of Salsa and separate classes that can be taken outside the regular curriculum, like styling classes and Rhythm and Timing (which drastically helped me to get at least a basic grasp of how to both find and try to stay on beat). I had to learn the very hard way that though there are 10 levels, that you should not be in a hurry to progress to the next level if you have not fully mastered the material, and in-fact, you will be a better student if you do not rush. One of the owners helped me to realize this after she saw how badly I was struggling at keeping up with one of her classes. She pulled me aside, had me schedule a 1 on 1 session with her and then convinced me to do a fill-in class at a lower level. Fill-in opportunities are available for classes which you have already taken and are levels below your current level. These are free opportunities to help balance out the classes, as Latin Style dances require an even balance of both leads and follows. They are a great opportunity to both review and practice material that you have already taken, and they were the key for me to finally put all the pieces together as I didn't have to worry about keeping up in the class, since I already know most of the material (though I needed to polish it up a lot). I see fill-ins and an opportunity for a buy one get one free class. Even though fill-ins are a level or levels below what you know, every instructor is different and teaches in their own style, so you still get to both learn new combinations and get more practice. The thing I like most about LR are the instructors. I have been to many studios, trying in vain to find one that would be a good match for me since I thought I was virtually unteachable. After an exhaustive search, LR was the one that I realize had the best instructors. Some are more "forgiving" than others when students make some mistakes, and I am sure this works well for some students, but they also have instructors that can be very tough and ridged. It took me a while to realize this, but it was the ridged instructors who taught me the most. As an example, one of my biggest problems has, and still is at times, using the correct tension when I turn someone. Zek, who will tell you up front, he is a strict instructor, will force the leads to use a lot of tension to turn him, when he evaluates the leads. This forced me to properly practice correct tension and as he will simply stay still and look at you if you expect that simply very lightly signaling him that you want him to turn will get him turn. In the end, that strict instruction, made me a better lead. I have read the other reviews and understand some of the complaints that others have, and having been to many other studios before, I testify that their some of their concerns are common among all studios. The biggest piece of advice I can give someone if they start taking classes at LR is take fill-in classes. Also, if you don't like the instructor or the culture in your class, try a different one. They are all different. Finally, go out and practice socially. Ask good friends to practice, and once I locked in a solid yes, I invited my other classmates (both leads and follows). If no one else in your class show up, at least you brought one dance partner. read more

If you want to learn to dance muy caliente, go to Latin Rhythms. I don't speak spanish and I didn't know the first thing about salsa before I started going here. Now, after a couple years of classes, I'm a little disappointed that I'm still not a professional dancer. I kid. What matters is that I love doing it and Latin Rhythms taught me how. I'll admit that maybe they're not the best at returning emails (call instead). I almost didn't sign up because of that, but don't let that turn you away! You can meet some really cool people in your class and you'll fall in love with all the instructors. Try out different instructors, each of them have a different style. The location is perfect because it's close to the city, yet free street parking is still a possibility. It's probably a bit difficult to get there without a car however. read more

I came to Latin Rhythms because I saw Maricza win the Bacardi salsa contest at Nacional 27 this year. Her and her partner's piece was great! I can see where Karina is coming from with her feelings that some students at Latin Rhythms are "stuck-up.", I get a lot of corrections from some of the people in class that I dance with, but I think it's worth it to study with Maricza. I agree with Mariana about the ambiance, they have free wi-fi and the cafe is great! read more

I just started taking salsa lessons about two months ago, I was a little hesitant at first but this institution came highly recommended through a friend. I ended up liking the studio.I found the instructors strict while still being kind. read more

I absolutely adore this studio. The structure and pace of classes is demanding, but doable. If you're committed to learning and working on your dance skills, then this is the studio to go to. I started back in mid March, and now I'm at the intermediate level, and loving it. My instructors(Blanca, Sol, Maricza, and Rey) are fantastic, and easy to talk to and learn from. You know this place is good when 4 of their instructors placed into the finals(3 couples) at a competition, and the co-owner of the studio took the top prize(a trip to Puerto Rico for the biggest latin dance festival/workshop in the world). They offer plenty of opportunities to fill in for other classes if you're already enrolled and they need guys or girls in another class. You definitely have to take classes continuously to get the most out of this, and go out and dance in the clubs to get even more. Definitely get the membership. It's worth it without a doubt. read more

I started taking lessons here as a straight-up beginner with no dancing experience AT ALL. When I came for my first class, I didn't know what to expect and was a little nervous, but that soon went away within the first few minutes of class. I took my first class with Maricza who is the owner of the studio. Everyone in that class was a beginner with a variety of dance experiences (a lot to none), but Mariza broke it down and got everyone relaxed and moving. Over the next few months, lessons at Latin Rhythms was something I looked forward to on a daily basis and I learned a lot. The atmosphere there is very welcoming to beginners. There are different teachers and they're all great teachers with plenty of dance experience. There's also a wide variety of dance styles you can take, with salsa and bachata being the most popular. Take a class and you will not regret it! read more

Attended a beginner's salsa class. Nadia was the instructor. She was engaging, fun, supportive and informative. Enjoyed her enthusiasm and the class. The one criticism I have is that there was a salsa class in the next room, and the music and instructor was very loud, which at times, made it very difficult to hear Nadia's instructions and sometimes threw our step count off. But, although a distraction, it was not a major distraction from enjoying the class. Cannot wait for the next class! read more

I love latin rhythms!! I have been taking lessons there for a little over a year now and it's gotten to the point now that i feel a little funny if I haven't had my weekly salsa fix. The environment is very welcoming and the staf is very friendly. I think that they do an excellent job ob breaking down each move and step so that everyone can understand. Every class will be a completely different experience because of the different instructors, but to me that is a huge plus. You get different points of view on the various styles of dance which helps me to better understand what's going on. i would definitely recommend this dance studio to anyone who was interested in learning any of the various styles of latin dance!! read more

I have taken a couple of Salsa classes here and I thought it was taught in a friendly and unintimidating manner. Important for me cause my dancing skills are none to minimal. Place seems to attract yuppies.... with a good ratio of leads/follows. Flexible schedule also helps a lot (they let you take a class you miss any other day during) read more

This is where I started salsa my very first lessons. And even though I don't attend anymore (I live in the suburbs And my schedule interferes) I will never forget where I started. BEST SCHOOL EVER! Thanks to latin rhythms im better at dancing! I love it and can't wait to go back again soon for the socials ! read more

I have taken dance lessons at several studios in the city, Latin Rhythms being my current and favorite studio thus far. This isn't your typical studio, as part of the experience you walk into goes beyond the actual dance lesson, (which they do supremely well). Funny story, during my very first class, my instructor Maricza announced to the class... "You will really learn to dance here. I guarantee it." It's a bold statement to make, but soon after my first class, I realized why she said this. Their studio is located within the Fulton Market Art community in the West Loop, so very fitting, their studio consist of a beautiful, open loft-like space, equipped with an in-house cafe and art along the walls. I like how students hang out before and after their classes, as the vibe at this studio is so positive and contagious. It's my second month taking lessons here, and I've already met tons of good friends and dance partners. The instruction is terrific. The ambiance is like no other. And the people, students and instructors alike, are super warm and friendly! read more

I love this studio so much I drive almost 3 hours to attend! Currently taking Bachata and plan on Salsa, Cumbia..a little of everything because they teach it all! I only wish they were closer to Peoria, IL! read more

I took classes at Latin Rhythms (LR) through the intermediate level and believe the instructors are phenomenal. The salsa moves taught by the instructors are very stylish and make you look awesome. I took lessons with both Jose and Rey and was pleased with their classes. However, although the instructors are one of the best salseros I have seen, I gave 3 stars due to the following: 1. The space is gorgeous; however, since each classroom is divided by curtains, it makes it difficult to hear the music you are suppose to be dancing too. Therefore, if if there is a bachata class and a salsa class going on at the same time, you can hear a combination of both styles of music going on at the same time. This makes it very difficult to dance to the correct beat. 2. There were a few occasions where I took a class (beyond basic) and a majority of the leads had no clue what they were doing. This basically turned out to be a waste of time (and $$$) since the only practice we had in class was with the instructor. I believe they should evaluate each person on the last day of class and see if they are ready to take the next class. If they are not ready for the next class level, they should make them repeat the class until they are ready. 3. Finally, the professionalism of the staff at the front desk is UNBELIEVABLE. My friend and I went to register for classes and the lady at the front desk, Carla (I believe that was her name) was not helpful nor professional. As we were waiting to register during the first week of classes, Carla comments to another LR staff that "Maritza should not allow people to register for classes during the first week of class". When Carla finally attended to us, we asked if a particular class was full she points to a sign and tells us to read it. We read the sign and it said the class was full for leads only. So we told her we wanted to register for the class that was about to start in 5 min. She had us wait 15 minutes since she was so flustered with working on the computer. After 15 minutes passed she had the nerve to ask us what we wanted to do because we were 15 minutes late to class. My friend and I said we still wanted to register for the class even if it had already started. Carla's next response was that it was full so we could not sign up for it. She did not apologize for having us wait and giving us the impression that the class was available for followers only. Nor did she offer to help us find an alternative day. My friend and I ended up leaving the studio without registering for a class. In my opinion why should I spend money at a place that does not appreciate my business. Overall in regards to the instructors I give a 5 because they are all very talented. However, in regards to customer service and professionalism, I would give a 1. read more

no friendly, not fun. everyone was way too serious and mean. If you are not a person who learns the first time something is shown to you, this is not the place for you. I have taken a lot of salsa classes at all different types of places and I have never felt so horrible about myself or the experience. read more

I've been taking classes here for 6 months and I think this studio is pretty awesome. I like that they have a consistent curriculum and really emphasize technique. I've taken classes at other studios before (but not in Chicago) and found that what you would be taught in each class was not very consistent. I've taken classes with 3 of the instructors and and have enjoyed them across the board. If you get a membership (which by the way there is absolutely no pressure to obtain), you also get discounts on your classes and at Alhambra (social dancing on Tuesday nights). If I end up moving to another city, this dance studio is one of the things I would miss the most. read more

I have been attending Latin Rhythms for several years and have found it to be a top notch dance studio. I haven't met an instructor that I didn't like. They are all extremely professional and of the highest caliber when it comes to the art of dance. I have learned so much and have truly grown as a dancer. I love the family atmosphere and the diversity of the clientele. No matter what class level you start in, there is no doubt that if you practice and persist you will advance to the next level. Without a doubt, if you are looking for a fun place with a great atmosphere to take dance classes Latin Rhythms is definitely the place! read more

This review is 100% related to service. I purchased a couples private lesson a little over a year ago for my girlfriend and I. I tried to schedule with them online, and they took a few weeks to get back to a simple email and still did not have a date set. Well, life happened, and we got caught up in other things and forgot about the lessons. Then I was reminded by their random emails they sent and called them to book the class and was told they could not find my account and that they were sorry but the lessons expired one year after purchase. I went back to look at the receipt; it didn't state that anywhere. I went to their website, no note on there or on their FAQ page. I think this is just bad customer service; sure it's not great that I waited over a year. The bottom line is, I paid for the lessons and there were no time restrictions on payment, this was an easy fix for them- refund the money or honor the lesson. read more

I started coming to this dance studio a couple months ago. I love coming here. I've learned alot. Victor is a great instructor. The only complaint I have is that the receptionist can tend to be rude. Before I joined I called a few times and I got attitude over the phone. I heard good things about this place so I let that slide. Other than that, I love this place! read more

Love this place! Coming from another studio and starting classes at Latin Rhythms was an eye opener. I thought that I was a good dancer when I came here but after a couple of classes I learned that there was a lot more that I still needed to learn. The instructors are amazing and are very friendly and helpful. I was especially impressed by the lead instructor Maricza who has an extensive background in dancing. This isn't something she picked up one day but majored in it and has had actual training on how to properly instruct students. She is extremely passionate about dance in general and genuinely wants her students to become good dancers. I highly recommend this place and its instructors. They all have different styles so try them out until you find the perfect fit. Happy dancing! read more

I took a Salsa class at LR this past summer, and it was a nice experience. It's a good studio for those who are intermediate to advanced Latin dancers. read more

I have to say most instructors i have taken classes with are very very good...I took salsa classes for 6 months there and learned a lot...BUT I stopped due to the fact that most people in this dance studio in general, instructors and students are verrry stuck-up...It is is a big turn-off as a new student to be in this type of environment. As a business you should be trying to retain clients not push them away. The mixers they have every month, in which they encourage new students to go, are nice but the same ppl dance with each other..over and over..they really need to get over their huge egos..since then i started taking classes at a new studio which is a lot better attitude wise... read more

We have a strong social network in the West Loop, and love to promote local privately-owned businesses. So when a friend suggested a bunch of us get together for some classes, we decided to finally take the salsa plunge and rearrange our schedules to meet for a class last night. I showed up in person to sign up 2 days before, and rallied some friends to do the same. I brushed off my dance shoes (last used for tango), and was excited about getting back into it. When I got there, there were a few others waiting for the classes to begin. They all went into one of the curtain-divided rooms, and I asked at the front desk if this was the room for my class. No one seemed very eager to help me. After asking a couple of people where I should be for my class, a very rude man announced to me (why are you yelling?) that they were waiting to see if they were even going to have the class. "What?", I said. 'What do you mean 'if' you're having the class?" Now I'm getting a little worried because I rallied 3 friends to come all the way down for this class -one who has to drive 1.5 hours each way from the suburbs for a one-hour class, and the others were driving or cabbing from River North. No one ever mentioned there was a chance this class might not happen, and after reading through their literature, there was also no mention of it. He then yelled, 'if you'd read our website, you'd see we have a 4 person minimum to hold a class-otherwise we cancel it". I assumed this guy must have had a stressful salsa day, and I explained that I did not register on line-instead I showed up 2 days before to register in person, and no one mentioned anything about the class having a minimum (and BTW the person I registered with was sitting right next to him and was hiding to avoid the conversation). I explained that my friends who were on their way had to come a long way to be there, and one had to pay a babysitter. He said there was nothing he could do and there was one other person there also waiting to take the class. Just then, one of my friends (the one who drove 1.5 hours to get there, and paid a babysitter) came in, so there were three of us, plus the instructor. (We were still waiting for the other 2.) The rude dude who was yelling at me then went to get someone else to handle his dirty work at that point. She came over and said in a very condescending tone-I'm sorry, but this class is cancelled. I couldn't believe it. I then asked to talk to the owner, and to my horror, she said she was the owner and it just wasn't financially practical to pay the instructor with less than 4 people. My friend hit the roof at this point (and I was right along with him). The owner, (Marytsa-or something like that) eked out an apology in a very superficial and condescending way. We explained that it took a lot of planning and expense on our part to get everyone there. I understand the whole gotta make it work financially as a business thing. But the way she handled the situation was so unprofessional, especially since she then checked with the receptionist who confirmed she failed to mention to me the class was tentative when i signed up. Had we known, at least we wold have called to see if the class was still on before everyone made the trek there. (Parking was a nightmare, too, btw.) My other 2 friends showed up a few minutes after the class was cancelled and we left, so it was a wasted trip for them, too. In this day and age customer service is more important than ever, and this pompous group of people don't stand a chance. There are too many great studios in the city to waste time at this one. We contacted another studio, and we start there next week. I talked with another friend last night who referred the place to me, and she said she also noticed they are all pretty affected there (and it had been bothering her), and she is switching to the other studio, too. It actually really pains me to give a negative review for a neighborhood place. (I've never written a negative review before.) But this business owner made it crystal clear that she just doesn't care. read more