Cancel

Open app

Search

The First Dance Place

5.0 (235 reviews)
Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 3 weeks ago

Get information

You can now request information from this business directly from Yelp

Services - The First Dance Place

Group fitness

Virtual fitness classes

The First Dance Place Dance Studios Photos

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - The First Dance Place

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Jessie M.

I cannot recommend Katie enough! We wanted to do a fun first dance for our wedding and she made us look like professionals by the end of our lessons. Each lesson was so fun and the perfect date night activity, romantic, fun and you learn a new skill you can break out at any future events with a dance floor! Plus the studio is near a ton of restaurants and bars you can hit up after your lesson. We got so many compliments on our dance at our wedding, people could not stop telling us they were so impressed and kept asking how we learned to dance like that! It's all Katie! We hope to be back in the future but just book the lessons it's so worth it.

Leah B.

Choosing The First Dance Place was EASILY one of the best decisions we made for our wedding! When we came to Katie, we had a very ambitious song and a couple home practice sessions under our belt, all of which amounted to a do-si-do and a loose hope that *maybe* our dance would turn out okay. (Spoiler: without Katie, this never would have been possible!) Katie excitedly took all of our ideas and broke down seemingly complicated dance patterns into an easily digestible format that we could practice and repeat! We learned dips, spins, and found ourselves laughing and having so much fun with each and every class. The sessions quickly turned into date nights and we both agreed that our classes and home practice sessions were the most fun and rewarding part of the wedding planning process! Fast forward to the big day, and we NAILED IT! We had practiced in our venue during rehearsal and thanks to Katie's planning and cue tips during our classes, we were easily able to repeat all the right moves and orient ourselves in the venue. We had only told a select few friends and family that we had been taking dance classes, so when the moment for our first dance arrived - everyone erupted in cheers and IT WAS A BLAST. Katie anticipated that all our guests would clap along to the beat and when they did - I remember just laughing and smiling all through our dance. We ended our first dance on a high (obviously), but also found ourselves so easily dancing and falling into patterns with each other on the dance floor that we hadn't found previously. It only took those 8 sessions with Katie and we found a confidence and ease on the dance floor that will always stick with us and grow. This is a memory that we will hold forever. Katie is the kindest and most easy going human being and will make you feel that you're capable of anything (and any dance)! We'll continue to dance to our song for many years to come and we will always think fondly of Katie and TFDP every time we do. If you're even remotely on the fence about booking these dance classes, THIS IS YOUR SIGN TO DO IT! Take an introductory class and go from there, I guarantee it will be an easy yes and a memory that you'll have forever.

My fiancé and I took first dance lessons with Katie at The First Dance Place, and we truly cannot rave about her enough. We came in as total beginners with a fast-paced song ("Sway" by Michael Bublé) and a lot of nerves, but Katie instantly put us at ease. She's warm, fun, incredibly talented, and knows exactly how to bring out the best in you. Katie not only choreographed a dance that hit every beat perfectly, but she even remixed our song to add more drama and make the performance feel so us. She broke everything down step-by-step, made each session enjoyable, and somehow turned two non-dancers into a couple who actually looked like we knew what we were doing! Our wedding was months ago, and people still tell us it was the best first dance they've ever seen. That is 100% thanks to Katie. If you're on the fence, just book the class!

My husband and I worked with Katie for our first dance, and we truly could not have asked for a better experience. From the very first lesson, she made us feel comfortable, confident, and most importantly, like we were actually good dancers! We came in with zero experience and a lot of nerves, but her teaching style is warm, patient, and incredibly encouraging. She choreographed a routine that felt perfectly "us", elegant without being over the top, and simple enough that we never felt overwhelmed. She broke everything down into manageable steps, celebrated every tiny improvement, and somehow made each lesson feel like a date night rather than a rehearsal. By the time our wedding arrived, we felt completely prepared, and our first dance ended up being one of our favorite moments of the entire day. If you're looking for someone who is talented, professional, and genuinely invested in helping you shine on your big day, go with Katie at The First Dance Place, you will be so glad you did!

Carly E.

We had SO much fun learning how to dance for our wedding! Wedding planning can be stressful but honestly everytime we went to a dance class it reminds us to slow down and remember why we are doing this!!! I want to take dance lessons again just for fun!

Crystal G.

We had an awesome experience working with Katie at The First Dance Place! I have zero dance experience and am extremely timid especially when it comes to being in front of a lot of people. She came up with a routine for us that was simple enough for me to learn but had enough pizazz to impress our friends and family. We had an amazing first dance on our wedding night and couldn't be happier with the outcome, thank you Katie!!

Abby B.

We would recommend Katie & The first dance place for anyone who is looking for a special first dance! We had absolutely no idea what we were doing and are not the most coordinated couple, but thanks to our 10 pack of lessons with Katie she made us look like we knew what we were doing on the big day!! we brought our dog with us. We definitely made it interesting during our lessons, but even more memorable! The space that she host the lessons is in a perfect size studio, and her energy is so chill and welcoming that it makes learning something new seem fun and easy! We absolutely loved Katie & know you will too! Come as you are and Katie will do the rest!

Katie was amazing and made our first dance experience so fun and completely stress-free. We came in knowing absolutely nothing about dancing, and she somehow turned that into lessons we actually looked forward to every time, lots of laughing included. She explained everything in a way that felt easy and encouraging, and helped us create a first dance that felt natural, confident, and totally us.

Belyn L.

We highly recommend couples to take their first dance lessons with Katie. Our lessons with her were one of the best investments from our wedding budget and we had a great time leading up to our special day. Every dance lesson with Katie ended up being a mini date night for us. When my then fiancé and I started planning our wedding, we knew we wanted a dance that felt authentic to us and would wow our guests. My now husband and I are so grateful that Katie at The First Dance Place made our first dance dreams come true and more. We danced to "Perfect Symphony" by Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli, which mixed into "September" by Earth, Wind, and Fire. We had no prior experience with dancing, except a few times at the club, so we were truly newbies. Initially I stressed out a lot about making it perfect, but Katie made the lessons fun and helped me get out of my shell! My husband always had a blast too. She not only helped us nail our choreography, but also helped us fine tune small details so we looked confident and had great posture all throughout. Looking at our videos from our first lesson to the last, my husband and I are so proud of what Katie was able to help us achieve. One thing we want to highlight is Katie's "art of the possible" mentality. I would share dance moves from video clips and Katie always had the mindset of, "Yeah, you can do it! Let's try it!" Because of her exceptional teaching skills and positive mindset, we were able to incorporate dance moves that we're both very proud of. :) We also have a senior beagle and Katie always welcomed our furry old boy. It made dance lessons less stressful knowing that we could bring our dog in. Katie is professional, fun, and an amazing dance instructor. Thank you so much for everything, Katie!!

Photo Credit to PMC Photography

Highly Recommend Katie & The First Dance Place! We can't recommend Katie enough for choreographing our first wedding dance! Working with her was truly worth every penny--she not only helped us look like we knew exactly what we were doing, but also made the entire experience relaxed and fun. As a queer couple, my wife and I wanted to find a dance instructor who was not only accepting but also experienced in working with two brides dancing together. We initially chose Katie at The First Dance Place because of their amazing reviews, and we are so glad we took the leap and booked a lesson package with her. I was especially nervous about our first dance since all eyes would be on us--and while my wife has all the dance moves, I have two left feet! Katie immediately put us at ease. She is warm, friendly, and genuinely takes the time to get to know you as a couple. She choreographed a beautiful routine perfectly suited to the song we chose and our comfort level. What made the experience so wonderful was Katie's patience and teaching style. She broke everything down into manageable steps, gave us plenty of time to practice, and even demonstrated each move for us (sometimes stepping in as our partner). With her guidance, what once felt intimidating became something we actually looked forward to. Thanks to Katie, our first wedding dance turned out beautifully. It's now one of my favorite memories from our wedding day--an unforgettable, magical moment that we'll cherish forever. If you're looking for someone to make your wedding dance both stress-free and special, I highly recommend Katie and The First Dance Place!

The First Dance Place with Katie was truly the best part of wedding planning! It was such a fun time away from the stress and the details. My husband and I were able to just enjoy the time together and experience something new. The dance was a hit among our guests and so much fun to show our hard work. We loved our time with Katie!!

Some of our first dance at our wedding.

Katie at The First Dance Place was the best dance instructor ever! My now husband and I took two lessons with her and were so impressed by all we learned from her and how much fun we had while doing it. Katie has such a kind relaxed energy she made creating and learning the dance fun and easeful even though I was nervous and am horribly uncoordinated. She is so encouraging and good at breaking things down step by step we were able to learn our dance pretty fast. Our dance went flawlessly at our wedding and got a lot of cheers from the crowd. Can't recommend Katie enough!

Jesse H.

We could not recommend Katie or First Dance place more highly. As a queer couple, finding a dance instructor who had experience working with queer couples and in the industry was key, and Katie more than delivered on both. From the moment we took our first lesson, Katie made us feel at home and we knew we'd found an incredible teacher and choreographer. Over 5 months and eleven 1:1 lessons, Katie choreographed and taught us said choreo to our 3:30 min three song first dance (not a small feat). Our first dance was certainly a highlight of our wedding festivities, and many people came up to us telling us that this was the best first dance they've ever seen. Invest in yourselves and your wedding and hire Katie; you won't regret it!

See all

2 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Anna K.
779
40
11

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Abby B.
276
11
4

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Belyn L.
790
53
239

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jesse H.
65
43
41

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Thank you so much Aisling! It was a joy teaching you guys!!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Dan O.
0
12
0

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Thank you so much for your kind review!! I loved teaching you both!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Sarah H.
194
25
74

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

You guys totally crushed it! Great job, come say hi soon!!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Thank you so much for your kind review, Marissa!! It means the world!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Desiree J.
74
36
184

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Katie V.

Katie V.

Thank you so much for your review Dallas! Loved working with you guys.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 6

Ask the Community - The First Dance Place

Review Highlights - The First Dance Place

Working with Cori was amazing - from the very beginning she worked to accommodate our varied and busy work schedules.

Mentioned in 113 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Play Studios

Play Studios

5.0(25 reviews)
1.2 miHillcrest

30 something former dancer here. While it's been over a decade and a half since I've danced…read morecompetitively, every once in a while, I still get the urge to get back into the studio! I love that my brain still thinks I can whip out fouettes, when in reality, I'm far from even 50% as flexible as I once was. But finding the right studio is about getting to have fun and dance. I attended a Jazz Funk class at Play Studio and it was so fun! I appreciated that the class was a challenge. This studio is suited for people with dance experience. While there are likely people here training to dance professionally, there are also people who are just here for fun. But, I like that the classes are at a level that create a challenge and keep your brain moving as you move through the choreo. I hate a boring class and this wasn't the least bit boring at all. The class moved quickly! The vibe was good and it feels like there's a nice community here. I love the variety of options they have and I'm excited to try a pom class next. The studio is located on the second floor of the building. Parking in the area is tough. Although the studio has a parking lot, there are very few spots. There are paid spots across the street, but it's tough to find a free spot, so leave yourself some time.

The facility was great and the owner was really kind and accommodating during my rental. The…read moreclasses and staff are also great. I liked the unique lighting and Marley flooring. The parking lot was also very convenient.

Photos
Play Studios
Play Studios
Play Studios

See all

CYCLEBAR - Cyclebar Experience

CYCLEBAR

4.6(174 reviews)
1.4 miHillcrest

This is such a great spin studio to come to. All of the instructors are fantastic, but my all-time…read morefavorite, Joey teaches classes here. He has such incredible control of his class. His voice is enthusiastic, his direction is clear and his energy is off the charts. The bikes were all upgraded in the past couple years. The studio is sparkling clean. And I do appreciate that they offer earplugs at the front desk, just in case you'd like them, cause it is LOUD in there! A lot of people complain about the parking situation, but there is always parking here. The lot is tight, but there's also an underground parking garage where the spaces are bigger and you can always find a space.

CYCLE BAR @ HILLCREST…read more Parking here is honestly a massacre. It gets extremely busy, especially on weekends. The parking situation just isn't the greatest. There are so many popular spots around CycleBar like Trader Joe's, Oakberry, and other busy restaurants so finding a space can definitely be difficult. But if you keep circling around, you'll eventually find one. I've been to CycleBar a few times before back home in Washington, and I was really excited to try this location for the first time. Unfortunately, my name got mixed up with someone else's and my reservation wasn't showing up on their screen, even though I had it on my phone. But the staff was super nice and got everything sorted out so I could still join the class. They gave me cycling shoes, and I loved that they wrote a cute little note on my locker. The whole vibe of CycleBar is something I've always loved the dark room with the red and purple lighting just feels so energizing. Our instructor was super upbeat and motivating, and I really enjoyed the flow of the class. The only critique I have is that it wasn't as challenging as the classes I've taken before; it felt more like a beginner-level ride. But it was still a great experience overall. I loved the music selection and the energy of the people in the room. Overall, I'd definitely recommend trying CycleBar for your first ride and seeing if it's your vibe. I absolutely love cycling and would continue coming back.

Photos
CYCLEBAR - Cyclebar studio

Cyclebar studio

CYCLEBAR - First Ride!

First Ride!

CYCLEBAR

See all

Dance With Liza - vertical lift

Dance With Liza

5.0(95 reviews)
0.2 miNorth Park

Had such a fun amazing experience dancing at this studio and learning our first dance for our…read morewedding. We were stressed because we only had a few weeks left before our wedding, but they were able to make it work. Liza and mark are amazing choreographers that taught us our full 2 minute dance in 4 sessions. They listened to our song the first day we went in and were able to choreograph 45 seconds on our first lesson off the top of their heads. It's nice having both Liza and Mark there to show us how to do the coupley moves and bounce ideas off each other. They were great at breaking down the dance into easy to digest steps. We are so happy with how our dance turned out. I like that they come up with the entire dance for you but that they are also very open to your ideas too, for example we saw some cute moves on tiktok that they were able to incorporate into our dance. Highly recommend.

Right after Covid, I needed to get out and do something. One of those somethings was west coast…read moreswing dancing. I found Liza and staerted taking her class. And wow! so fun! Going on 3 years in the class! Its not just about learning the moves (which is super important) but how to listen to the music and dance to that. Discovering musicality has been the key to my joy in this class. That, and the super awesome people that come to class, who are now lifelong friends! We dance, we learn, we laugh (a lot), and find the delight of West Coast Swing dancing! If you are looking for a place to not just learn to dance, but find connection, try out our class. #westcoastswing

Photos
Dance With Liza - Teaching two step at Inzane Brewing co. in Vista

Teaching two step at Inzane Brewing co. in Vista

Dance With Liza - Teaching two step at Inzane Brewing co. in Vista

Teaching two step at Inzane Brewing co. in Vista

Dance With Liza - Country two step class

See all

Country two step class

The First Dance Place - dancestudio - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...