About this vendor
Soho Dance LA Sherman Oaks is a premier Ballroom Dance Studio owned by Latin Hustle Champion, Raul Santiago. We offer personalized dance instruction for singles, couples and groups. Our Wedding Dance Consultation includes 30-min of dancing as well as discussion of the first dance "vision." We aim to provide the best dance experience possible, making our students feel comfortable and extremely happy with the end result of their dance experience.
Details
Business Attributes
- Hispanic or Latinx-owned Business
Music Genres
- Bollywood
- Caribbean
- Classical
- Country
- Dance
- Disco
Reviews
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4
out of 5.04 reviews
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I'm here to offer a fresh perspective on Soho Dance LA, diverging from the swathes of outdated or suspiciously internal-looking reviews. My goal? To shed light on what seems to be a deeply ingrained culture of rudeness and exclusion, particularly towards newcomers.
From the moment I stepped through the doors, the vibe was unmistakably cold. A few students went beyond mere disinterest to outright rudeness, setting a tone that felt both unwelcoming and unnecessarily elitist. This wasn't just a peripheral issue; it seemed to be a systemic problem, emanating from the very top.
The owner, who doubles as an instructor, embodies this unwelcoming culture through and through. Teaching on the dance floor, his approach was peculiar at best, marked by a condescending tone and a striking lack of empathy or encouragement. It's a style that, unfortunately, promotes a hierarchy where only the 'elite' or insiders seem to matter.
The atmosphere reeks of elitism, with a majority of the participants carrying an air of superiority that's both uninviting and off-putting. It's hard not to feel like an outsider in a place that should celebrate the joy of dance and the community it can create.
It's also worth noting that the glowing reviews, which seem disproportionately favorable given the experience I had, might not be as unbiased as they appear. There's a strong impression that these accolades could be coming from friends, family, or even the studio's internal circle, including perhaps a few genuinely talented dancers who are the exception rather than the rule.
For anyone looking to rediscover their passion for dance or to step onto the dance floor for the first time, I implore you: look elsewhere. The negative culture fostered by Soho Dance LA could do more harm than good to your dancing journey. Thankfully, there are other studios nearby that offer a more positive, welcoming environment for dancers of all levels. Save your sanity, and give those places a chance instead.
We had been taking salsa classes with Jen for a few months. We really connected with her teaching style and fun personality. For our wedding, we wanted to have a special choreographed first dance. After meeting with Jen and talking about what we had envisioned, Jen surprised us with a fascinating dance routine. She combined elements of slow Rumba, lively Cuban Salsa dancing and solo styling. Jen worked with us to break down the routine and help us perfect the moves and timing. We wanted to have a unique and grandiose routine and Jen's knowledge of different dance styles helped create quite a sequence for us combining 2 songs full of fancy moves with smooth transitioning. Our friends and family were all on their feet clapping and cheering. We couldn't have wished for a more awesome first dance.
Thank you so much Jen!
Great place to learn to dance for weddings. Yaro choreographed a dance for my now son-in-law and I, which was a complete surprise to my daughter and all the guests. We got such a cheer and so many great reactions. I loved my lessons and also learned basic dance moves so I could enjoy myself more on the dance floor. I love this place.
Jennifer choreographed our first dance, step-by-step. We brought in the song, then she broke it down piece by piece to make it achievable. Jennifer went above and beyond, even making us a video of the dance moves so that we could practice at home in between rehearsals and leading up to the big day. She was also able to edit the song down to give us the best possible chance for success and to keep our guests entertained and the night flowing smoothly. Can't recommend the SoHo Dance LA Sherman Oaks studio enough. She elevated our first dance so that it exceeded our wildest expectations, and now all our pictures and video look like we are professional dancers and we get to take all the credit!
Contact
14261 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA
Soho Dance LA Sherman Oaks
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