I took a class with Jazmyne and I loved it! She has great energy, the moves were really accessible…read moreto beginners, and she was really encouraging. I had a lot of fun and will absolutely be recommending it.

For anyone thinking of taking a class - do it! I started here as a brand new pole dancer with 0…read moreexperience and with very little athletic background and dancing here has become my new obsession. The instructors are kind, fun and make you feel so comfortable. The people here are non-judgemental, uplifting and caring. I've always felt at least a little self conscious when exercising - at the gym, in the street, in group classes - but going here was the first time I was fully immersed in the dance and didn't feel the slightest bit concerned about how I looked, how my dancing was, or how I compared to the other students. Try it!!

Sou Samba is an awesome Brazilian dance studio with the exceptionally talented and vibrant Carioca…read moreda gema, Weslei, teaching Samba de Gafiera, Brazilian Bolero and Samba de Pez. Weslei's very talented wife Celeste helps run this wonderful dance studio with an exuberant Brazilian vibe. If you want to learn Brazilian dance in Berkley then Sou Samba is the place and they even offer capoeira. Valeu!

So thrilled for Weslei and all of the instructors now that they have a home at Sou Samba Studios. I…read morewas introduced to Weslei's style at another studio where he was subbing and instantly knew I wanted to continue to learn from him. I followed him to yet another studio in Oakland and he did not disappoint. He's extremely caring, intentional, passionate and committed to sharing the authenticity of his culture through dance while providing the details and history of specific movements. All of this while building community. Every instructor has their own style, which is such a treat...especially on Mondays for the Brazilian dance class. You literally show up and get something new every time. I was encouraged to try more of the ballroom styles by Celeste and now am addicted to those as well. A friend recently joined me in a Gafieira/Forró class and also mentioned how great Weslei's teaching style was and how he'd love to come back when he's in town again. I have only great things to say about Sou. If you're on the fence, just come and experience the joy for yourself!

I loved going to their Bollywood classes. Wish there was a center on the peninsula as I had to…read morerelocate for work.

This studio used to feel really special, but as it's grown, classes have become uncomfortably…read morepacked. With columns blocking the view + overcrowded space, getting a decent spot can feel competitive, which is a space issue that contributes to increasing tension between members. Lately, some of the messaging around space feels like it's putting the burden on clients, which can come off as frustrating or unintentionally shaming. I get that it's a tough room to manage--but there are better ways to handle it. The minute a business starts treating its clientele as gnats or 'entitled problems', is the moment that the heart of the business begins to weaken. Simple fixes like rotating rows each song, clearer spacing markers on the floor, or more instructor movement (use all mirrors!) could make a big difference. Even having a place up front just for newbies could be a positive way to address this vs making clients feel blamed for environmental and system barriers. There's still a lot to love here--I just hope the studio can hold onto the supportive, growth-oriented culture it's known for.

I've been attending Ruth's salsa classes for about 4-5 months. Ruth is an outstanding teacher and…read moreLatin dancer. A key part of teaching a physical skill is to remind the student as many times as needed what they need to change until they integrate the new idea/movement/whatever. Ruth is excellent at holding out until you get the right idea. Then she moves you right along to whatever you need to do next. Ruth is also super perceptive - She quickly sees exactly what trouble a student is having and then clearly and kindly guides you towards the necessary improvement. I'm impressed by her ability to help people at widely varying levels by giving each person what they need - even though her suggestions are different for each person. Ruth is also friendly, fun and positive. I always feel welcome and encouraged at her class. I highly recommend Ruth to anyone wanting to learn Latin dance.

My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Ruth for the first dance at our wedding. Neither of…read moreus are dancers, but we had our hearts set on a special song. We had never even heard of a Viennese waltz let alone knew how to dance it. Ruth was extremely kind and patient with us, and helped us create a routine at our skill level, listening to our feedback and suggestions all the way. In addition to that, she was flexible with our packed schedule that comes with a month before a wedding. The dance ended up a hit and we got a ton of compliments! Ruth, thank you so much from the both of us!

We've been at this dance studio for four years, and it's been a fantastic experience. My child has…read moretaken a wide variety of classes and has loved every class and teacher. She's grown so much as a dancer and is always asking to take more classes. The recitals are also a standout. They are high-quality productions with great choreography and impressive props. Highly recommend!

My daughter is in her third term of Pre-Ballet at VDZ Dance Studio. It's perfect for us. The…read moreteachers manage to capture my daughter's twirling fairy princess imagination while also instilling patience, discipline, and basic pre-ballet mechanics. As a mom who took ballet very seriously until high school, I like what I see at VDZ better than what we experienced at a different studio. And I love that they put on performances for their families! There was lots of preparation but it didn't feel stressful; watching my daughter perform a piece in the school's Nutcracker performance was incredible and she was so proud of herself. I recommend without reservations.

Just started taking the adult beginning ballet class here, and I really enjoy it. I've already…read moregotten some new insights about my feet, and as well as some well-earned soreness in the arches. But, oh those calves are getting a workout, and skirt season is here! Conveniently located near Rockridge BART. Not badly priced: $12 drop in, $40 for a 4-class card. And I really like the instructor, Mary Armentrout.

I grew up at Danspace. This is the best ballet studio in the Bay Area, not because of the number…read moreof professionals that come out of it (though there are a few), but because Danspace really takes care of your body. Beth makes the studio feel like family, and you will feel welcome here no matter what your body can do or what it looks like. Great place for adult beginners. Danspace provides excellent foundational technique that will carry through to every class you take from now on. If you're looking for a place to send your kid for dance classes, this is it. Danspace is nurturing, encouraging, and most importantly, they value your kid's health far more than any other studio in the bay area. Your kid will come away from ballet with lasting technique and higher self-esteem, not lower. There is no recital mania at Danspace--the emphasis is on teaching, not performance, so while there are performance opportunities, you will not have to shell out for fifty bazillion sequined leotards and tutus. Take Carly's jazz class if you're an adult/teen with a bit of experience. She's a great teacher and will push you to try things you didn't know you could do.

(Based on the fitness class)…read more Not only is the Y easy to find it's perfect little spot in Berkeley across the campus. I recently joined the Hoop Dance class which is so awesome!! I loved every moment even though my hula hooping skills are a 2. There was a decent enough of room for the 12 participants and instructor (who is the sweetest) to swing those hips. Tons of fun and definitely a 10 in my book.

This review is for their fitness/ dance classes…read more I've taken belly dancing (with Nanna), Yoga, and I'm currently taking Pilates. The classes have been relaxed, run at a comfortable pace, and very instrumental. I've enjoyed every instructor I've had so far-- they've all been really fun, and obviously love what they do. The environment has been really encouraging and safe (ie it's OK to look like an idiot while swiveling your hips-- "no one's watching"). Prices are reasonable (about $40 to $50 on a 6 week session depending if you're a YWCA member or not). Only downside is that classes are often crowded, but the instructors seem to manage that all right.

Shahrzad is an incredibly talented and beautiful artist. My husband and I reached out to her and…read moreasked if she could help us with our first dance for our wedding. We had chosen a unique Persian song and wanted a dance that combined American and Persian dance elements. I had asked a few other dance instructors who seemed unsure how to proceed but Shahrzad listened to the song once and instantly invited us for private lessons. During the first lesson, Shahrzad showed us the dance she had created and I fell in love with it. She had taken our vision and made it even better. We could tell she had taken time to listen to the lyrics and create a sweet and romantic story that followed along with the lyrics. As for the actual dance instruction, Shahrzad was very patient and kind. When she asked us what our level of dance experience is, my husband mentioned he has two left feet and I told her I dance socially but don't know any special steps. Shahrzad was able to adjust certain moves to match our skills and tailored the dance so that we would feel comfortable performing it in front of our wedding guests. Each lesson with her was pleasant and she was also flexible with our work schedules. Shahrzad is also an honest person and after a few lessons, she told us she felt we didn't need any more lessons. She offered to video tape our dance for us and provided verbal feedback so that when we went home, we could watch it and practice. On our wedding day, the first dance was the highlight of the evening for everyone. Neither my husband nor I have ever had so many people come up to us and compliment us on our dancing! Every person who commented on the dance said it was the best first dance they had ever seen. It was romantic, flirty, and engaging since it told a story. And most importantly, my husband and I had so much fun practicing it and performing it! Even today, a few weeks after the wedding, our families still project the dance onto the TV during gatherings and watch it. I highly recommend Shahrzad for dance instruction and am looking forward to hopefully attending some of her dance workshops in the future.

I've been dancing and studying under Shahrzad Dance Academy (SDA) for 6 months now after having…read moretaken classes with other studios in the Central Asian and Persian dance styles for 2 years. Shahrzad Khorsandi focuses on teaching the technique and incorporating grace, esthetic beauty through movement, and self expression! Which for me has been the perfect balance. I love and highly recommend her classes!!!

Love the studio so much! Sindhu is a fun and professional young woman and she's turned BDC into…read moresomething so exciting. Classes here are

From the owner: Bollywood Dance Central offers Bollywood, Bhangra, Semi-Classical, and Bolly Cardio classes for all…read moreage and dance levels! Our goal is to instill discipline within Bollywood dance and encourage our students to commit to their craft. Becoming a GREAT dancer takes consistency, time, and commitment. As an academy, we truly challenge every single student to go above and beyond. Our goal is to bring a higher level dancing to communities across the United States. We are currently in 5 cities and 3 states. Our BDC family is only as strong as it is with our dedicated parents, instructors, and managers.

Positives: They…read morehave like 17 squat racks in a room. It's amazing to see. The chemicals in the spray bottles are blue, so I know the workout equipment I'm spraying it with will be clean. The cardio area looked nice but I didn't get a chance to use it when I went two weeks ago. Negatives: Their upper body free weight area is kind of stuffy.

The Berkeley YMCA continues to be my least favorite branch, which is unfortunate because it is my…read morehome branch. A month ago or so, I was there on a Saturday afternoon, and a staff member comes into the locker room to announce they are about to close. I hop in the shower and quickly get dressed. The staff tell each member on their way out that next time, they need to leave earlier. I can certainly understand wanting people to exit by closing time so that you can clock out as soon as your shift is over, but how about setting yourself up for success by starting with some sort of announcement about closing time? Do they really think all members know the exact gym hours -- which vary by the day of the week? I don't think they have public address system, but it would solve the problem of members not being aware that the gym is closing soon. The public library gets everyone out on time by announcing 30, 15, and five minutes remaining. The YMCA should do the same. One more thing: the men's locker room is has an unpleasant air -- and it isn't just from the men. The vents push warm air in for some reason, making it uncomfortable. I guess it's another way they try to get people to leave.