This review is long overdue, given that I have been taking dance lessons from Leo for over 5 years. Before I started dance lessons, I thought I was a complete dance klutz with uncooperative feet. But taking lessons with a professional and patient instructor like Leo who also makes my lessons fun and entertaining has given me the confidence to actually compete in ballroom dance competitions and perform in dance showcases. I will miss my "happy place" when I move out of the area in a few weeks. I HIGHLY recommend Pacific Grove Dance studio. Dancing is fun!!! read more

Met with Olga to come up with a father-daughter 'first dance' fir my daughter's wedding. Olga is a true professional! Very understanding & creative given that we have a very short period of time to prepare. Thank you! read more

I don't know what's been happening to me lately. When I have quiet time for myself, I find myself reviewing Argentine Tango moves and steps in my mind. While at the gym pumping iron, I find myself walking tango steps between sets trying to master the moves. I don't even care what the guys think anymore. I've been thinking of traveling to Buenos Aires to spend late night evenings out at milongas doing tango till the sun comes up... I'm even thinking of buying some colorful tango sneakers from Buenos Aires through the internet. Ok, they're purple and lavender...I'm comfortable enough with my manhood to admit it...! Oh Man, I've got the tango bug. I can't believe it...whatsup with me...? What is it about the dance that makes you want more? I don't know. But, when you are dancing with a woman in closed embrace and you feel her close to you, cheek-to-cheek, and you are moving in unison to the music the world slips away. All you feel is the movement of two bodies as one swaying though the dance floor oblivious to the world around you. There is no world: only the music and the movement and the embrace of your partner. You move forward to start a crusada and feel the floor glide beneath you, you come to the cross and hesitate, and release to forward or backwards ochos, and then close-out with closed tango...and then you walk, walk, walk..... In closed embrace you cannot see your partner's eyes, but you feel the wisps of her hair grazing your face; your legs, your pelvis, your chest, your face are all fused together with your partner's body. Nothing needs to be said, tango is a dance of close connection, of feeling, of passion, of intimacy... Shall We Dance in Pacific Grove offers tango classes on Wednesday nights. They are about $10.00 a class. And, yes, they are worth it...! read more

Well...it's OK. My boyfriend & I signed up for a series of 6 group lessons for West Coast Swing. Neither of us has ever formally danced before in our lives, so this was a new experience. We went knowing we had NO idea how to dance, and I know we weren't the only people in the same boat. The instructor was an older gentleman, I can't remember his name. He's pretty good at barking orders and telling you how you screw up, which I guess is his job, but he certainly didn't lessen the tension, at least not for me. He did have a female assistant there who is roughly in her 40's, I think her name is Michelle (?), who is an AWESOME instructor. She's really nice, helpful, and kind in her advising. I'm not sure if I'll ever return, but it is nice to know there's a facility like this in the area. The owner Ingrid seems like a nice lady who knows how to run her business. Rates are not cheap- for group lessons for 2 people it ends up costing $24 a lesson. It's a lovely facility...but be prepared to face a very competitive, mostly 40+ crowd, with not that great of a sense of humor. I would definitely prefer a younger, more fun-loving scene...I for one do much better in a more fun, relaxed, learning-environment. read more

This is the most gorgeous dance studio! It is a dream! You walk up a lovely grand staircase under a hanging chandelier up to a HUGE space with big windows over looking trees filled with white lights and red chinese lanterns. They have a vast array of classes. The space & the instructors I met were aboslutely charming. I recommend Masha's belly dance class. She has very precise and clean technique- it was a very challenging class (and I have been dancing belly dance for 11 years). I would have stayed in that studio my whole vacation just taking class after class there were so many fun and interesting classes offered. It would be a lovely space to rent for a party also. Very elegant but also very edgy- creative and classic. Love LOVE it! read more

I cannot express enough how great this studio is! As soon as I walk up the stairs someone greets you and says hello. With COVID the opportunity to meet the other students is a bit slim, by Leo and Olga make it a point to introduce the students to each other when there's a chance--That really makes me feel welcome as a new dancer to their studio. Oh and it's a BEAUTIFUL studio with natural lighting, huge mirrors, and plenty of free parking very close by. Those are just the "little" things, the QUALITY of instruction is nothing like I've ever had. Leo really listened to my goals and after 1 lesson I left over the moon. The attention to detail and willingness to teach the technique behind the movement is outstanding. After each lesson Leo demonstrates everything we went over while I record him so I have a reference for things I can easily work on at home. I've danced once a week for a month and the improvement I've seen in myself is night and day. I look forward to the day when they can hold group lessons and Friday socials (since I've never experienced those with them) because I know it will be a great time! read more

I love the space and the opportunity to dance in a beautiful setting. I also like the range of classes that are offered and look forward to taking another class. read more

Pacific Grove Dance - Dance Studios Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

I have been dancing at Pacific Grove Dance for about six months, and at various times have worked with all four of the dance instructors. All are accomplished professionals. The private lessons focus on the dances that I am most interested in and are customized as my ability improves. The Friday evening dances are friendly and there are enough partners to dance as many dances as you want. You and your partner can learn a dance for a special occasion such as a wedding, or come on your own and dance with an instructor. They can even train for professional dance competition, if that is your interest. I find it much more conducive to learning to be taught one-on-one by a professional. read more

My wife and I stopped in recently to see about dance lessons. I have a friend who goes here and he is happy with it. I talked to Olga and, honestly, have never had a business owner talk down to me like Olga did. She kept saying I had to take individual lessons for $100/hr and never mentioned the coupons or specials that they advertise on their website. Obviously, she just wanted to get me out of there as soon as possible. I would only recommend this place if you are dressed in your best clothes with hundred dollar bills hanging out of your pockets. I have subsequently signed up somewhere else where lessons are half the price and they offer group lessons. read more

My husband and I found this dance studio one and a half years ago. A free introductory lesson with Olga was wonderful, and we decided to get more lessons. We were beginners then and now we are addicted to dancing. All four instructors are talented teachers. They are patient, polite, attentive and very professional. Pacific Grove Dance Studio organizes showcases twice a year. Preparing to dance for a showcase is fun. It is a pleasure to watch other student's performances and to see how every student's skill improves with time. We also enjoy Friday night social dancing events at the studio. I highly recommend Pacific Grove Dance Studio to anybody who wants to learn or improve their dancing skills. read more

Pacific Grove Dance is the place to go if you want to learn how to dance here in the entire Peninsula. Olga and Leo are the nicest, most talented instructors you will ever come across. They have a great sense of humor too. I have taken private lessons from Olga for about three years now. We have performed and competed at several dance competitions in the bay area taking many first places, and for someone with no dance background, it only portrays their incredible talent and effective teaching method. Their ballroom studio is specious and elegant and the atmosphere is very relax and friendly. Everybody feels welcomed. I highly recommend Pacific Grove Dance. read more

http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-10-Recital-Rules-For-Audience-Members&id=4317276. Never attended a performance that there was so much cat calling whooping and clapping during a performance, thought it was inappropriate. Plus sound system quality was poor! Otherwise the instructors were outstanding, thoughtful and patient read more

The best gift ever from my son - dance lessons for our mother-son dance as his wedding. Leo taught and encouraged and came up with just wonderful steps and moves that echoed the words of our song - Simple Man. He even instructed us through a very nice dip - that actual worked! We so enjoyed the whole experience and were delighted to share this special dance with our friends and family as their lovely reception. Leo and Olga are just great. Leo - Thank you so very much. read more

Beautiful space and world-class instructors; vastly exceeded all my expectations. Highly recommended for anyone interested in dance and at any level. Thank you, Olga and Leo! read more

Olga is a fantastic teacher. My dad and I took a few lessons for our father-daughter dance at my wedding, and we had a blast. My dad continues to take lessons! Thank you Olga and Leo! read more

I see lots of old reviews here of Pacific Grove Dance studio. I want to leave a review for Olga and Leo, the new owners of the studio who opened it about a month ago. I'm a casual dancer and enjoy going out to salsa clubs on weekends, so staying in shape and polishing my caliente moves has been nothing but success at Pacific Grove Dance. I only visited 3 classes so far but definetely polished my moves a bit and learned a few new ones that I can apply and impress my friends! So thanks Olga for your patience and hard work on getting my technique in check. In one of the sessions, I saw Leo teaching a hip hop lesson to another student. A+ for variety of classes! Will definetely come back with my friends for another class or a group session on a Friday night! read more

I cannot recommend Pacific Grove Dance enough. I have been dancing here a year taking private lessons, group lesson and attending the Friday Night Social Dances. Olga, Leo, Sergei and Natasha are all excellent instructors! I have learned SO much, had so much fun, met a wonderful community of incredible people and even been encouraged to participate in dance competitions which I would not have done without the support and excellent teaching of these gifted instructors. We so blessed to have this caliber of teachers. The studio is gorgeous and clean and you will feel welcomed. read more

I highly recommend this studio for anyone looking to learn to dance or to refresh their skills. My husband and I are taking private lessons one night a week. We absolutely love it! My husband has never taken any sort of dance lessons so his learning curve is different than mine. (I have taken a few classes years ago) But we are having a blast! Olga is our instructor and she is very patient and understanding. She works with us when our schedule prohibits us from attending our regular session and she remembers where we are in our program from one week to the next. My husband and I both have very stressful jobs, but when we walk in the doors of Shall We Dance Studio, immediately our stress levels fall. We have so much fun and laugh at ourselves often. We are definitely not "Dancing with the Stars" competitors but learning a little more each week and happy with our progress. I highly suggest signing up and enjoying a weekly date night with your loved one!!! read more

In our town we are very fortunate to have dance instructors of the calibre of Pacific Grove Dance's Leo Sidorenko and Olga Agrafonova. They have been dancing since they were children in Russia and the depth and breath of their talent is a treasure that benefits us all. An adorable couple, with great personalities, they can teach anything your heart desires - ranging from ballroom dance, even competitions, to hip hop and all dance styles in between. Whatever your choice they will teach skillfully in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. Pick a dance style to learn and make great friends in the process! read more

AMAZING new owners! Very professional and caring! Definitely the place in area to learn how to dance easy and fun way!

It hurts to give this place two stars because I really want it be an incredible place, but the description of two stars is "Meh. I've experienced better" and that really sums it up for me. My first gripe is it's really pricey, but it's a beautiful space so I was willing to overlook that several times. I took a few Salsa lessons there to keep a friend company, though I already know how to dance Salsa, and so we'd both go and pay for the beginning class and sometimes stick around to watch the intermediate class, which we were invited to do by the instructor. On one occasion after our beginning class there were too few ladies to pair all of the leaders who were there for the intermediate class (a rare occurrence, indeed) and the instructor asked me to stand in for the class, which I happily did. When I went to leave the owner behind the counter asked me for money for the second class, which I thought was just a misunderstanding and I tried to explain that the instructor asked me to fill in and she looked at me like I was making up a story to swindle her out of $8. (The first drop-in class was $12, but you get the second for $8.) Anyhow, This is a place for regulars, if you're looking to be a regular here you'll grow to be really welcome, if you can't afford to be a regular there, like me, you'll just have to suck it up and take the pompous attitude of those who are regulars when you do decide to go. Also, because it's in Pacific Grove this is typically a 40+ crowd. I think the 20 and 30 somethings are typically doing their latin and ballroom dancing in Santa Cruz. I also took West Coast Swing here. This was a good introductory class and it was helpful that they accommodated the single women in the class by calling in some advanced students to fill in as our leads. The bathroom facilities are nice, however the single toilet can get crowded when it's a full house. Snacks and water are usually available. The dance floor is well kept and the building has a lot of charm. read more

Best dance studio ever!!!!! My husband and I have been taking weekly dance lessons from Leo for two and a half years. Not only have we improved, but it is the highlight of each an every week. Leo and Olga are incredibly talented and professional and we are fortunate to have such highly trained dancers in PG. I can't say enough good things about them. read more

Very good dance school. Mostly for adults, and if you want your kids to learn got to take private lessons. Every Friday night is a dance party which is a lot of fun. Lots of good dancers, friendly atmosphere, they also do competitions and showcases with thei students, so if you ever wanted to learn ballroom dancing try it out. read more

All of you should know that the "Shall we Dance Studio" has changed hands. Shall We Dance closed a couple of years ago and the studio space is now called Pacific Grove Dance, run solely by Leo Sidorenko and Olga Agafonova now. Shall We Dance was NOT a dedicated studio; it ran on a different model and used subcontractors to teach various kinds of dance. You need to ignore reviews before Aug. 2012. I've known Leo and Olga for about 3 years when they worked for a different studio. They were trained (extremely well) in Russia. They have taught internationally and are breathtaking dancers, super teachers, really good people. Their studio reflects everything about them. It's elegant, a dancer's dream (gorgeous floor, full walled mirror) and super friendly. Friday nights are fun. There is plenty of parking in Pacific Grove; the studio is accessible, informal and the dancers are a diverse. The dancers there are not the snotty types you meet at a certain gigantic ballroom in Silicon Valley. People who never have danced a step of ballroom have fun and people like me who have been dancing for a little while still feel there are lots of partners to dance with. I love coming here. I love that Leo and Olga have started their own studio and can make their contribution to nurturing upcoming dancers in the Monterey Peninsula. This studio is not about "selling up, selling up, selling up" the way many ballroom studios are. This one is about giving quality instruction and instilling the love of dance. By the way, Olga's kid's class is amazing. Olga was trained as a child and she knows fun techniques that work. If you want the best teacher in the area for your kids, Olga's the one. They'll adore her and they'll bloom. If you want to compete in ballroom someday, Leo is your guy. He's a wonderful teacher and a great lead--and he wins competitions. Check them out. read more