A local Brighton/Allston dancing academy where you can learn Salsa and Bachata with people from all ages. You can do drop ins so it works with your schedule (I recommend buying the 10-class card if you expect to do at least 10 classes, which most newbies would need). read more

I just took my first salsa lesson at Salsa Y Control last night, and I was very impressed! When I saw how many students were in the class, I was a little worried, but they have got this down to a science. While we were learning basic steps, standing in lines, they had us rotate so that everyone got a chance to be in front. They also had us rotate when we were partner dancing. I liked getting to dance with lots of different people, and it was nice not to have to worry about being a wallflower! The teachers are great, too. Very upbeat and good at explaining things. Yay! I would actually like to come back for more classes, but I do find the website a little confusing. I found it hard to tell exactly how to pay and when the classes started. I could be just being thick. read more

I bought a groupon earlier this year for beginner salsa on Monday nights and have not stopped dancing since! This place is a great to learn! Andres is a really good teacher and he makes the class fun. He is always encouraging his student to go out to socials so they can practice outside the classroom. I highly recommend this place if you want to learn! read more

Have taken classes here for years and I love this place! Great teachers and everyone is super friendly!

Happy to find a home base for salsa in Boston! Andres and Leah at the Allston studio are excellent instructors who know how to break down the combinations in a manner that makes sense and know how to troubleshoot problems. Equal weight is given to footwork, lead/follow technique, and women's styling. The class atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and there are four different difficulty levels to choose from. The bachata instructors Jenna and Luis are also solid. I only took one drop-in class with them but I would absolutely take more if I wanted to hone my bachata skills. TIPS: -- The entrance is marked with "The Gordon Building" above the door in between The Pet Shop and Froyo World on Harvard Ave. Ring the buzzer if the door is locked. The studio is upstairs to the left. -- It gets HOT in the studio, even in the winter, so it's best not to wear anything too warm during class. -- In addition to having rates for each class session, there's a 10-class punch card available good for any of the classes. Just ask whoever's manning the front desk. -- If you're a first-timer, the studio often runs Groupon deals for the beginner classes only. No partner needed (you'll rotate often). read more

Took the beginner salsa class with Johnny and Kelly. It was a positive experience for the most past and super cheap too if you do Groupon. They teach basics and they a short combo, which you rotate through partners for the rest of the class. I felt that it was very slow-paced and wished that the instructors rotated through as well so that followers/leaders could experience what good dancing feels like. Maybe my experience was worsened by the lack of skilled leaders in the class, so it wasn't fun to dance (it seemed like most of the leaders had issues picking up choreography and dancing with them week to week got a bit irritating as I didn't find that they improved - not sure if this is a class flaw?). I've been hesitant to go back to the studio, but maybe I will try the Allston one. I did like that the teachers had good critiques on my technique, which was the main reason I stuck through the classes. So maybe at a higher level, I will be able to appreciate the experience more. read more

I bought a four class pass, and I've taken three of the four classes so far. The instruction has been okay, but I would prefer more focus on technique and more opportunities for instructor feedback. I get more of this in other dance classes that I take, and those other dance classes are also less expensive, so I don't think this class series has been a great fit for me. More frustratingly, the class has not been a great environment for participants to choose to lead or follow regardless of gender identity/presentation. I explicitly checked with the instructors about this before purchasing the four class pass, and they told me that they were "committed at making sure everyone feels comfortable and has fun in our classes." However, my friend and I were the only people in the class not dancing "traditional" dance roles, and my friend found that many of the (male) leads in the class were reluctant to dance with him and some were downright mean about it. We talked with an instructor about this, but it's not clear that it's going to be addressed with the class. I think it is the instructor's responsibility to set the tone for a class from the very beginning such that people don't have this experience, and certainly to address issues like this if they occur. Although I will probably return for the final class that I've paid for, I don't expect to take lessons with Salsa y Control again. read more

Love the instructors, the location, the price and the people you meet. It's great and it really helps to learn with a group class :) read more

Fun learning experience , a lot of variety to choose , enthusiastic teachers and meticulous in their way of instructing . Love it , wish. Heard of them 3 yrs before and not wasted time at supershag pvt lessons.... Love it!! read more

I have fallen in love with salsa dancing after taking classes at Salsa y Control (in Allston). The classes in Allston are taught by Andres and Leah who really know how to break down each and every step and can pinpoint what your weaknesses are and how to correct them. Not only are they thorough instructors but they always make these classes a lot of fun! I never tried the classes at the Harvard Square studio, but I've heard good things from my salsa friends who have taken Johnny's classes. The succession of 6-week session classes are broken down as follows: Beginners I, Beginners II, Advanced Beginners, and Intermediate. Drop-ins for any of the above classes and private lessons are also available. You can easily move up from the beginners I and beginners II classes, but don't fret if you have to take the Advanced Beginners classes for more than one or two cycles, Andres and Leah really want to make sure you've mastered the basics and turns before even attempting the Intermediate class. I remember I thought I was ready the Intermediate class after only going through one AB cycle and I secretly cried on the inside because I could only follow about half of what was taught and was practically falling all over the place doing so. Also, don't worry about needing to bring a partner, you switch partners every few minutes and get to experience that everyone dances a little differently. If you've never salsa'ed before, need to brush up on your salsa skills, or want to try a new combination of salsa turns and shines, I highly recommend taking classes here! I would've never become the salsera I am today without SyC and the friends I've made through the classes and going to salsa socials. Thanks SyC! :) read more

Can't recommend these guys enough. I've taken group salsa lessons with four of their instructors, beginner through intermediate and have gone to several of their events as well as their weekly Havana parties. They are always professional, helpful and very friendly. read more

This place feels like my second home. Andres and Leah are not only fantastic instructors but know how to make everyone feel comfortable instantly. If you're new to dancing and are nervous about starting classes, come here! You won't regret it. SyC family :) read more

Love this studio! I learned so much, classes are a lot of fun. Andres & Amelia are friendly and SO helpful, and the entire studio/company has a really friendly vibe. read more

Classes are so packed you can barely move-look at some of their video and you can see how packed people are into a room. Dance instructor isn't very friendly. Studio is very small. I did one class and never went back. read more

This is, hands down, the best salsa studio in MA. Even if you are not familiar with salsa or think you can't dance, you just have to try one of their classes to realize how fun and uplifting taking lessons with Salsa y Control is. The instructors are amazing professionals, excellent teachers and about the nicest people I have ever met. I have been taking lessons with them for a few years now and it has been an extremely rewarding experience at many levels. Highly recommended. read more

Salsa Y Control is one of the best Salsa schools in the Boston Area. Their footwork challenge is one of my favorites. The studio is very accessible to boston residents and the dance floor is just perfect. Class price is average. The vibe that these guys transmit is outstanding. Deff recommend it. read more

I have been taking classes at Salsa Y Control for 2-3 years in Alston. I think this may be one of the best schools in Boston area. Friendly environment where you can meet new friends, fun teachers. There is always something new every new session at every class level. Lots of new people coming here all the time. You can become part of the student team when and if you are ready. Salsa dancing skills and confidence I gained here opened a number of entertainment options for me in Boston. Happy to be part of Salsa y Control community. read more

Salsa Y Control is a great place to dance and learn how to salsa. The instructors are so nice and open to any questions. The company is virtually drama-free, which is wonderful!!!!! Whether you are a beginner, advanced beginner, intermediate, or advanced, the people are so friendly and I am always amazed at how much I learn each class, how many friends I make, and how much more clean my dancing has become since going to their studio. They really focus on technicalities and execution, so you look and feel good when you go out social dancing. Salsa Y Control operates like a big family, and every time I go there, I feel welcomed with open arms! read more

This is a private dance company. They work out of several locations so the best way to contact them is via the web. You can also see them teaching group lessons at Havana on Friday nights. Two brothers started the company and eventually one of their wives became the female component. I took private lessons with Johnny over the summer. He is really easy to learn from and he was endlessly patient and encouraging. He really taught me to find the rhythm in salsa music which was the first music that was ever difficult for me. He is also really handsome and made me really nervous haha. They offer all different kinds of lessons but I liked the one on one the best because I was able to address my specific needs the best. My recommendation if you are learning is to start with private lessons and practice at the group lessons. If you have the basics you won't pick up bad habits. Give them a try! read more

I have been going to Salsa Y Control since July 2013 and salsa (& bachata) has become my favorite hobby and activity. Leah & Andres are fun and humble. They don't just teach you but they get to know you and are genuinely interested in you becoming a better dancer. They also are so involved in the salsa scene in Boston, it's comforting to see them at events. They will encourage you to join a dance team and to meet them and other salseros out dancing. I have and would suggest Salsa Y Control to anyone who asks! read more

I have been going to Salsa y Control in Allston for one and a half years and started with no dance experience. This studio is extremely welcoming, affordable and a great place to make new friends. The owners are professional salsa dancers and excellent instructors. No partner is required and I felt very comfortable going on my own for all classes. There's plenty of opportunity to learn new techniques as they teach various levels of salsa. The Harvard T stop is just outside and street parking is also available, making the studio easily accessible. All around, this is the best salsa studio in Boston! read more

I strongly recommend this place for people living in Brighton, Allston, Brookline area. It's on the bus lines (57,66) and Green B line. The instructors are very friendly. They also teach on Havana Salsa Club on Fridays/Saturdays. The pros would be instructors are good (professional & friendly), price is good (it's $10 for students per class), location (at least to me). The only con would be the dance studio is not big. For beginners, I recommend this place and Harvard Ballroom (www.harvardballroom.org). read more

I recently took the 6-week beginner salsa course with Leah and Andres and I LOVED it! The class was a great price, the atmosphere was fun and lively, and the teachers were fantastic. Leah and Andres are amazing dancers and definitely know how to explain each move. Also, there were almost equal amounts of men and women so no one was left partner-less. My boyfriend and I took the class together and I can definitely tell that we have improved dramatically. I HIGHLY suggest this class to anyone interested in learning salsa...plus, Leah and Andres are motivation enough to keep practicing and going back. read more

Salsa y Control is the best salsa company in Boston. No matter what type of salsa experience you are looking for, they can provide it. If you want to take a few beginner lessons so you can hold your own at a salsa club or party, they will get you up to speed in no time. If you want to take your dancing to the next level, they have a bunch of group classes to teach you cool new moves and to help you refine your technique. If you have an interest in learning routines and performing, they have tons of options for getting more involved with the dance company--whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced dancer, and whether you want to do a partnering routine or a footwork/styling routine. I have done all of the above, so I speak from personal experience when I say that this company has made the past 4 years of my life incredibly fun and fulfilling. Leah, Andres, and Johnny have the best attitudes - they love what they do, and they will share that love and passion with you. SYC has become like a family to me and I cannot recommend them enough! read more