I came to Maui for a mix of work and pleasure and had about 10 days to immerse myself in salsa dancing. My goal was to learn as much as I possibly could in a short amount of time, and working with Rita O'Connor at Private Image Studio was hands-down one of the highlights of my trip. Rita is an exceptional teacher--gracious, incredibly patient, and truly gifted at breaking things down in a way that builds confidence quickly. Because of her, I felt genuinely prepared to return home and continue learning salsa in a group setting, having already built a solid foundation through our private lessons. One of the best parts was that I was even able to attend a salsa dance party the week before New Year's Eve and actually dance--practicing everything I had learned with multiple partners, many of whom were also Rita's students. That experience alone was such a testament to how effective her teaching is. Rita went above and beyond in every way. She even brought her husband in as a second dance partner so I could learn and practice the steps from different leads. At the end of each lesson, she made sure we videotaped the steps--both her demonstrating and me dancing--so I could practice between sessions and see my progress throughout the week. That extra level of care made such a difference. I can't recommend Rita highly enough if you're considering private salsa lessons, whether you're visiting Maui or live locally. I absolutely can't wait to come back to Maui and take more lessons with her. She's truly amazing. read more

Rita is a super professional dance teacher who makes me feel at ease every time. Rita helped prepare my daughter and husband-to-be for their first dance at their wedding to the delight of all! Rita gives me the technique and the confidence to dance my best and shine in so many different styles. For that First Dance or a lifetime of dancing, Rita keeps you on your toes! I learn something new every time and I have been dancing with Rita for over 25 years! I feel totally nurtured and encouraged in Rita's group or private classes:-) Ten Stars! - Louise Lambert, singer/ songwriter/pianist/ instructor read more

Let me start off by saying that Rita did the impossible with my fiance and I. For context, I was politely told in 6th grade that I was no invited back to dance lessons after years of trying lol. My fiance is a tree climber, and we both have two left feet on the dance floor. This was one of the most stressful thoughts of getting married for us- until we met Rita! She was so professional, prepared, funny, helpful, honest and an absolute delight to work with. I was so incredibly impressed with every step of the journey with her. She provided the best possible experience she could have for us, and we feel so lucky to have worked with her. We can't wait to see our families reactions when we walk out on the dance floor for our wedding. Thank you to Rita for being such a phenomenal teacher. If you are on the fence... do it!! read more

We take lesson from Rita every week WE enjoy her professionalism and have been taking lessons from her for over 20+ years, In my opinion she is remarkable in teaching skills and very happy her studio is here read more

Rita did an amazing job instructing and helping us prepare for the Mother/Son dance for my wedding last year! Prior to lessons, both my mother and I could be described as having "two left feet." Rita was able to provide such detailed guidance and direction OVER VIDEO (we live far away). I can only imagine how good she is instructing in person! Can't thank Rita enough for her help to make that dance truly special! read more

In 2013 I saw a placard on the highway that lead me to Rita's dance class! Her extensive training and expertise in all styles of Ballroom dance make her the perfect person to help you add style to your existing dance or learn a new dance altogether. I am so thankful for the encouragement I received from Rita to continue following my passion. My life will never be the same again and it will never be without dance! Thank you Rita for igniting my passion for dance! I am forever grateful! read more

Rita is awesome. We have been taking dance lessons on and off for about 20 years and we've had a lot of instructors that we thought were quite good. Rita is by far the best. We already knew a lot of steps, but with a few private lessons from Rita we learned how to improve our technique in ways that carried over to all the dances. We are looking forward to our next package of privates. read more

I really enjoy taking dance lessons with Private Image Dance Studio! It has taken my dance to a new level! I have had numerous "a ha" moments! If I'm having trouble with a move, Rita sees in an instant what is wrong and can give advice to correct it! She also keeps it fun! I highly recommend taking lessons from Rita! read more

Rita is an incredible dance teacher! She's a professional dancer from NY/NJ area and has been on Maui for at least the nearly 25 years I've been taking lessons from her. I came as a total beginner with zero dance experience and "two left feet" but by taking group classes and private lessons and being coached by her for performances, I've become a really comfortable dancer in nearly all genres of dance. She explains things so well, she makes it fun and funny. She's got a great sense of humor that puts you at ease, you never feel like she's critical or talking down at you. She breaks things down and isn't satisfied until you "get it", she will keep helping and coming up with new analogies to help you get the concept. She is so elegant and refined and helps you become so too! She works so hard to help you achieve your goals and be the best you you can be. read more

We have been taking group classes and private lessons from Rita for years. Rita has instilled in us a love of dance. Rita is a professionally trained dancer and instructor that teaches Smooth and Latin dance, and in our opinion she is the best on Maui. We have learned so much and have the confidence to get on the dance floor when the opportunity arises. We would highly encourage anyone who wants to learn to dance to take lessons from Rita. Rich and Marina read more

Way overpriced. Groups lessons fair. Must take privates to really learn what being taught. Full of herself.

She is a good dancer but lacks the personality to be an instructor. She calls students out when they make mistakes. If a student misses a class due to other obligations, she reprimands them in front of the class. Harsh criticisms of students abound. She needs to remember that her students are doing her a favor by signing up for her classes. If your students refer to you as a 'B' you are obviously doing something wrong. Sorry sweetheart but you need to work on yourself. There are other classes and more fun to be had. read more

An excellent dance teacher. Rita has a rare gift of being able to cultivate and develop confidence in a student (she certainly did for me). She strikes the right balance of encouragement without coddling, allowing one to develop a trust within themselves. She is a very intuitive teacher and person and beyond just teaching me the steps she taught me a love of dance, as well. A wonderful artist, in her own right, I highly recommend her whether you are novice or a dance competitor. read more