This is a review for west coast swing and studio. First off the studio is spacious and charming and if you go to any of the dances, people are welcoming and kind. Also solid dancing...even as an intermediate dancer, I find myself wanting to dance with everyone because the skill level here is just that good. Plus Larisa Tingle, Anastasia, and Michael are all friendly and kind people who actually care and do their best to make any moment at starlight enjoyable! From hiring some of the best instructors and djs to just having snacks and good vibes in general, Starlight is one of the best dance studios in SD and I honestly can't recommend them enough. 10/10 definitely recommend coming out here to learn and dance west coast swing. read more

I'm surprised that I haven't already written a review on Starlight yet as I'm here at least twice a week for Salsa with Majesty in Motion (they rock!) I guess there isn't a whole lot to say except that the floor (both spaces) is very nice and large enough to support over 100 people, the air-conditioning very strong, the lighting bright and the parking ample. Not sure what else I can say, but I'm definitely a fan! read more

Starlight Dance Studio - Dance Studios Near Me - San Diego, California

First, this is a review for the studio and specifically for West Coast (WCS) with Parker. First the studio- you need to know a) that no one will get back to you, at least not for a long while and not with anything helpful, if you call or write them. If you want to go, just go to the class you want the 1st week of the month. b) the Yelp deal if for instructors, not contractors, and there is no good way to know which. WCS and Parker were a contractor, but as the yelp deal said no exclusions and I had bought 2, I pushed it and they did let me use it. However, this wasn't a pleasant start to things. Once you get there the studio itself is large and nice, but parking can be tough. Second, the Beginner WCS class wasn't like any other beginner class I've been to. (And due to injuries unrelated to dance I've been to many across the world.) There was no discussion of fun, connection, or repetition of moves. It seemed like an intermediate class at many points, with moves taught that were new to me (after many years of dancing) and which overwhelmed the friend I brought. After a month, I'm sure we both learned a lot. If you are an intermediate dancer, you can take the beginner class free. Everyone else was intermediate and this class was clearly taught to brush up the intermediate dancers. If that's you, you might love this. If you are a beginner, I cannot recommend this class unless you are a professional dancer or want to be. It is very large, you almost never dance with an instructor or get any personal attention, and it focuses on learning many many patterns very quickly. It's just not a supportive, fun environment. It's work. Maybe after a class or two somewhere else, this would be a good way to learn new moves. The clearest thing I can say. I brought a total beginner hoping to instill a love of WCS in them so we could dance together. After a month at Starlight they never wanted to come dancing West Coast ever again. After one day at another studio, they finally smiled while dancing and said they would love to try again. I would go back as an intermediate dancer because they have a dance after class, but wouldn't bring a beginner and will look for other dances. read more

Went on a second Saturday, West Coast Swing night. Earl Pingle's dance. Jack Smith was Dj'ing, playing old school, funk and top 40's. The sort of music I like to dance to. Attendance was around 50-75 dancers, a few came from LA to dance. The dance floor is ample, could fit easily twice as many dancers. Long and narrow dance floor, great for ballroom traveling dances like the waltz. AC is great. There is a smaller dance floor next to the entrance and snacks and drinks are offered with your entrance fee of $7. They were welcoming and there was another San Francisco dancer there, who I knew...small dance world. Ample parking. read more

Great instructors for different dances, and the only studio in town that have Brazilian Zouk classes! read more

Starlight Dance Studio - Zouk class! - Dance Studios Near Me - San Diego, California

Starlight has been my favorite dance studio for many years. The instructors are talented dancers and teachers, perfect for novice to advanced students. They offer a wide variety of lessons, and weekly dance parties to practice your new moves. Starlight Dance Studio is the place to learn to dance in San Diego County! read more

Starlight Dance Studio is the best place to learn dances of many types and styling. Michael Kiehm is the ultimate professional teacher. Ronnie Debernedetta is also a great teacher that chose to teach dance as his first love rather than his other profession of being a lawyer. I have been dancing most of my life but am constantly learning from these ultimate professionals! read more

Love this place.... Ronnie and Nancy are great for the two step class and Parker is excellent for the west coast swing. They offer an array of classes for just 10 bucks each or 35 for the month. All of their instructors are good. If you want to become an instructor they also have a class for that. Go try it out! See you there. Oh yeah and they also have an open dance class Friday's that starts at 715 and goes until everyone leaves 11pm I think. It is predominantly WCS. read more

I don't have any experiences with other dance studios since these were the first dance lessons we've ever taken. But, I do have experience with customer service and everyone at Starlight makes it a priority! They treat you like family (the good kind, not the dysfunctional kind). The studio is always clean, plenty of space on the dance floor, and the instructors are top notch. The only minor inconvenience is parking - depending on when you go it can be crowded (Sundays are bad because there are 2 churches in the mall and evenings can be bad due to the restaurant). If you do private lessons we highly recommend Brandy; she's a great person and even better instructor. We never feel like she's criticizing us but instead truly wants to see us get better. Plus she has a way of explaining the steps and the reasoning behind them so that you "get it". read more

Now 4 times as big as when it originally started, this place has long been known for quality dance instruction and fun parties attracting many of the best local dancers. Whether it's ballroom, tango, west coast swing, or salsa, this is one of the first places to consider for classes or for dances open to the public. This is also the home studio of Majesty In Motion salsa dance performance company - and Project Swing. If you need dance shoes, Carmen's Dance Shoes is next door. read more

I have taken classes at this studio and it is a great space to learn. There are two big rooms and plenty of parking. There are so many classes to choose from and styles. I think Michael Kiehm is a great instructor and very personable. I know there are people who drive from North County just to take classes here! read more

I remember Michael Kiehm when we were hot disco dancers back in the day! He has always been an uber talented dancer, and he is a first-rate teacher. Not all good dancers make good teachers, but he did. The studio is spacious, the classes are fun. If you have the urge to burn up the floor, this is a great place to learn. read more

I have taken salsa classes there for many years and I honestly think it is a great place to learn. David is a great instructor who is extremely nice and talented. read more

I had friends who were invited to do a Samba workshop at this studio. They flew all the way from Brazil to teach this workshop. However, Michael Kiehm did not promote the workshop (on his website or Facebook) nor mentioned it to anyone (even though the dates and time were confirmed a month in advance)! At the first Saturday, no one showed up to the workshop due to lack of promotion. At the second Saturday workshop (to be held on Oct 19 at 12:00), my Brazilian friends showed up to teach the workshop; however, the studio was closed. There were people outside waiting to take the workshop, but Michael Kiehm never showed up. This is horrible business and very unprofessional. We have two Brazilians who paid their way to the US, paid for hotel rooms and transportation, and meals, to teach Samba de Gafiera, and the owner didn't treat them with ANY respect! I would never recommend this place to anyone! read more

I love this studio. The classes are the BEST! They specialize in West Coast Swing, but teach plenty of other dances, too. The owners, Tony and Larissa, are so accommodating. Thursday night included an hour lesson (two ballrooms one for beginners and one for intermediate) plus a dance. This is a $20 deal you get for only $10!!! It's my favorite dance of the week as so many people come to practice. Everyone is so friendly! You'll love it! read more

I've been taking classes at Starlight for several years and am always learning something new and current. They offer classes for all the popular dances in Swing, Latin, Country, and Ballroom and there are classes for all levels from beginning to advanced dancers. Starlight probably has the most diverse offerings of classes in San Diego being taught by internationally known competitive dancers and instructors. Michael Kiehm loves to teach and is truly a people person who keeps his classes fun and entertaining along with giving the best instruction around. read more

I live far away from this studio, so I have only been there once. The best thing about this dance studio is they have some world class dance instructors, most notably Michael Kiehm and Ronnie DeBenedetta. The dance floor is fairly large, but it has poles in the middle of it, so you have to be careful when dancing there. I wouldn't recommend ordering dance videos from them, though. I ordered a video from them, and they sent me the wrong one. I called them several times about it, and I left messages, and they never answered the phone and never returned my calls. read more

We love Michael Kiehm and starlight so much. Great lessons daytime and evenings.

The parking lot is unlit... there are lighting fixtures, but I've never seen them on, leaving the parking lot dark and scary.

I lived in Los Angeles for many years but made often trips to San Diego, including visits to Starlight. Michael Kiehm, the owner, is probably one of the most kind and generous dance professionals I've encountered, both as an instructor and as a studio owner. Now that I live in San Diego I'm at Starlight several times week dance and feel fortunate to count Starlight as my dance home. Thank you, Michael, for providing and maintaining such a wonderful dance center for the San Diego dance community! read more

I'm the kind of guy who thinks dancing is pretty gay. This guy makes it cool and fun and YO that's saying ALOT! peace.

This is the best place to learn to dance in San Diego. Full range of classes from Salsa to Viennese Waltz. The classes are friendly and fun. There are no long term contracts - people come back because they love it. Many people who dance here, have been coming here for years (my husband and I started here and have been coming here for 8 years now) . Michael Kiehm (studio owner) is a wonderful dancer/teacher. And the other instructors are excellent also. read more

We love taking lesson with Michael Kiehm at the Starlight Studio. He is a great dancer and great teacher.

I joined Micheal's Latin Technique-Routines for Exercise & Styling class today and had a great workout. I have been a student at Starlight Dance Studio for the last 18 years and have always had a positive experience. Michael Kiehm, the owner, is a gifted dancer and a very patient teacher. He has compiled a group of talented and professional instructors that offer class at various times during the day. I really like that he is offering classes during the day since I am now retired and able to "play" during the daytime hours. I encourage all of my fellow retirees to take a look at the extensive class schedule offered and give Starlight a try. You will find a friendly, professional environment and you will leave with a smile and some new dance steps. Enjoy! Carol Ann read more

Michael who is the owner and instructor is the best! He is very patient, encouraging and a master at what he does best-dance! He is an excellent teacher and guides people gently without making them feel embarrassed in his classes to improve upon their dancing. There are many other instructors at this dance studio who are also very professional and great teachers. Huge dance floor ( 2 dance floors). The Saturday night West Coast Swing dances are fun and the people attending are friendly. I recommend this studio frequently to people who are wanting to learn to dance or improve upon their skills. read more

This was by far one of the best studios I have ever been to for dance lessons. Everyone here is friendly and they really try to help you in learning. read more

Michael Kiehm is the exemplification of what a dance instructor should be . His primary aim is for his students to realize and maximize their potential by making expeditious and steady progress to the next level. He is a master of all ballroom dance forms. Along with his expertise in teaching technique he is adept in motivation his students to strive for constant improvement. Where other teacher may be satisfied to just mark time with their students. Michael encourages and enables rapid strides to the next level in whatever dance he teaches. read more