Igor was so incredibly kind and accommodating to our comfort levels. As beginners it was easy to feel comfortable at SOUL ballroom, we feel very ready for our first dance!
Carly B.
5.0
Igor is a wonderful teacher and helped us construct the perfect dance for our wedding!
Catey A.
5.0
About this vendor
Igor & Meghan Afonkin
OWNERS
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
We get it—planning a wedding is stressful enough without worrying about your first dance. Between picking the perfect flowers and seating family members (while trying to keep everyone happy), the last thing you need is to panic about stepping on each other’s toes.
That’s where our SOUL MATE Dance Journey comes in to SAVE the day.
At SOUL Ballroom, we transform this special moment into an unforgettable celebration of your love story. Let us make your first dance the easiest—and most enjoyable—part of your wedding prep.
What Is the SOUL MATE Dance Journey?
Our program is designed to make dancing feel effortless and natural, so you can focus on what truly matters: CELEBRATING YOUR LOVE
The journey is divided into four phases that guide you from start to finish:
1. First Steps: Learn the basics, including 2-3 foundational steps and lead-and-follow techniques to get you moving together confidently.
2. Dance Blueprint: We’ll create a customized choreography tailored to your song, style, and story—making your dance truly one of a kind.
3. Transformation: Refine your movements with expert techniques, polish your connection, and bring your choreography to life.
4. Celebration: Perfect your routine during a final rehearsal, ensuring your first dance is stress-free and ready to shine.
Welcome to fill the application to let us know about your vision and details about your wedding.
https://www.soulballroom.com/wedding-program
Why Choose SOUL Ballroom?
Our unique approach will guide you to move as one, uniting two hearts to beat in perfect harmony on the dance floor.
Let’s create something magical together!
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Meet the team
Igor & Meghan Afonkin
Owners
Dancing has been the heartbeat of our life for over three decades. For the past 20 years, We’ve had the honor of not only dancing professionally but also teaching and choreographing routines. In 2019, We were thrilled to be crowned the Professional Rising Star United States Champions. Choreographing dance routines isn’t just a job for us, it’s our deepest passion. There’s something magical about working with couples, especially crafting their wedding dances. We believe that the memory of that first dance lasts a lifetime, and we pour our heart into making it truly special for each couple!
Reviews
5.0
out of 5.0
37 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
SOUL Ballroom is highly recommended for wedding dance coaching, with welcoming, patient instructors who tailor choreography to couples' comfort and skill level. Beginners report fun, supportive lessons that build confidence and impress guests. The studio is friendly, flexible, and great for date-night practice.
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 8
Carly B
5.0
Igor was so incredibly kind and accommodating to our comfort levels. As beginners it was easy to feel comfortable at SOUL ballroom, we feel very ready for our first dance!
Catey A
5.0
Igor is a wonderful teacher and helped us construct the perfect dance for our wedding!
Any questions?
Erin T
5.0
My fiancé (now husband) and I did one of the rapid sessions with Igor in the month leading up to our wedding. We came in with our song selected, but no other prep or prior dance ex...
perience, and he choreographed a beautiful and doable routine for us! We were so happy with it and felt very supported.
Kinsey H
5.0
Igor was fantastic! Made us feel super comfortable for our first dance! Neither of us had any dance experience and he made this experience fun and now we are looking forward to our...
first dance!
Arianne T
5.0
My partner and I checked out SOUL using one of their free Intro to Bachata classes! Igor was an amazing and fun instructor so we signed up for the first dance wedding package! We’v...
e done 2 of our 5 classes and our first dance is coming together just how I envisioned! Igor has done a great job of listening to what I want, being flexible if we are not comfortable with something and overall has been positive, attentive and wonderful to work with!
Chere M
5.0
Wonderful instructor. We are using Soul Ballroom to choreograph our wedding dance.
We’re not dancers, but the instructor made the dance so easy and fun to learn! We sent him our s...
ong choices and he’s a genius when it comes to choreography. I highly recommend for anyone looking for dance lessons for a wedding or anytime for that matter. My fiancé and I really happy to be working with Soul Ballroom.
Danny G
5.0
Igor helped us choreograph a slow, rock vibe dance in under 1hr. He was super skilled in understanding the music and putting it into dance. I’d recommend his expertise and creativi...
ty for anyone who is looking to jazz up their first dance!!
Taylor G
5.0
Igor was a wonderful instructor who helped us choreograph our first dance! We aren't musically incline by any means, he was amazing at helping us with a few complex moves and desig...
ned a beautiful dance that left our families teary eyed and speechless.
Brandon P
5.0
Igor choreographed our wedding’s first dance, and it went perfect! Our friends couldn’t believe we had it in us. He helped refine our technique and steps based on how quickly or sl...
owly we were learning moves, which let us push ourselves or back off to focus on other things. Highly recommend!
Taylor L
5.0
Igor was amazing!!! He made my fiancé and me feel so welcome and comfortable, even with 0 dance experience or clue what to expect. I would recommend Soul Ballroom 1000 times over!!
Alyssa F
5.0
I chose SOUL Ballroom because they were responsive, had clearly outlined services, and reasonable pricing. I would choose SOUL ballroom again for the same reasons but also because ...
of their lovely studio space, creative choreography, and excellent instruction. I’ve enjoyed it so much that I’ve considered taking personal dance classes after our wedding!
Response from SOUL Ballroom Dance Studio
Alyssa, thank you for such a kind note! It has been a total joy working with you on your w...
edding dance. We’re so glad you’re feeling confident with the instruction and enjoying the creative process. Hearing that you’re considering staying on for personal classes is the best compliment we could receive! We can’t wait to see you back on the floor soon
Christine P
5.0
The instructors here are very professional and put the couple first. They are very easy to communicate with and helped us to choreograph a beautiful first dance for our wedding. If...
you choose to invest in dance lessons, SOUL ballroom is worth it! We are learning so much together and having a ton of fun with a dance that is special and unique to us!
Response from SOUL Ballroom Dance Studio
We are so happy to hear you're having a great time, Christine! It’s been a pleasure workin...
g with you both to create a dance that is uniquely yours. Thank you for the kind words about our instructors and for recommending SOUL Ballroom to other couples!
Marisa M
5.0
Excellent! A pleasure to learn dancing here. Personal approach and accommodating all the wishes and needs.
Abby H
5.0
My wife and I came in as beginners and the studio made us feel welcomed. We had 6 total lessons with our dance instructor, Victor, and by the end we felt excited and ready to show ...
off what we learned. Victor put a whole routine together and taught us each move step by step. He did a great job of sensing what we didn't feel comfortable with and either adjusting what we did or giving us tips to master it. We highly recommend this studio for anyone looking for a little help before their big day.
Kevin H
5.0
My wife and I had a spectacular experience with SOUL Ballroom. Igor and Johanna have been excellent instructors in helping us choreograph our first dance for our wedding. Everyone...
here is so welcoming and helped us build the confidence we needed for our big day . Our guests were very impressed with our dance. We appreciate the time, effort, and patience of our instructors. We highly recommend SOUL Ballroom if you are looking for someone to help you with your first dance or just simply want to learn how to dance. This place is for you no matter your skill level.
Connor H
5.0
We've been taking dance lessons with Igor, and it's been a wonderful experience. He's incredibly kind, patient, and supportive throughout the process. The studio itself has a welco...
ming vibe and is conveniently located. I also appreciate how flexible their hours are. I’d highly recommend this studio to anyone wanting to learn how to dance or simply looking for an enjoyable activity.
Shae H
5.0
we’re currently doing ongoing lessons for our wedding with Igor and absolutely enjoy them! Igor fully took into account our comfort level and desires when coming up with a dance, a...
nd is very easy and fun to work with. but it’s not just him, everyone at SOUL ballroom is so friendly and always warmly welcomes us when we show up! there are some times when we have to share space with another dance class going on, but there’s always plenty of room and we don’t ever feel like we’re going to bump into others. i also enjoy how we can use our dance lessons for things outside of our wedding dance, so if we only need a couple lessons to learn our dance, we can use the rest for something else! i would definitely recommend checking out SOUL ballroom to anyone in the twin cities 😊
Kaya T
5.0
SOUL Ballroom helped us prepare for our wedding and made our special day even more memorable. Throughout the entire process, our teacher was attentive, truly listened to our needs,...
and customized everything to suit us perfectly. We highly recommend them to everyone! They also assist in preparing the entire wedding party for an unforgettable dance night.
Emily G
5.0
My partner and I used Soul Ballroom to help us choreograph our first dance and my father daughter dance! It was such a great experience! I had a few songs ideas in mind, and we wor...
ked through some movement patterns with each song choice to see what felt right. We chose to have a fully choreographed dance and it was so approachable. We also had so much fun doing lessons together! By the time our wedding day arrived my partner, my dad and myself all felt confident and happy to show off our dance moves. I'd also highly recommend taking some of their beginner ballroom classes in addition to private lessons for wedding dance choreography, it made our reception so fun to be able to swing, salsa and two step around the dance floor. The studio is very welcoming and the staff are so friendly! Thank you Soul Ballroom!
Matthew F
5.0
Soul has been great at choreographing our first dance! All of the instructors are so positive and supportive. Group classes are also low pressure, so all skill levels and embarrass...
ment are welcome.
Response from SOUL Ballroom Dance Studio
Thank you so much!
Kallen B
5.0
SOUL is the best! We are not musical people for the most part so we came into dance lessons with a lot of nerves. Igor made us feel so comfortable and taught us so much very quickl...
y. Our first dance was 100000x better than it would have been had we not found SOUL. Couldn’t recommend it more!
Stefanie W
5.0
We worked with Victor who helped choreograph our first dance for our wedding. He was kind, friendly, and easy to work with. Also very professional and passionate about dance and te...
aching. He was easy to work with and made it fun to learn. Very glad we found him to help with our first dance. Definitely recommend!
Jennifer F
5.0
Johanna was a fantastic teacher! We were both very inexperienced with dancing but she took the time to explain each step and help us remember. The day of dance went so well and we ...
got tons of compliments. Plus the weekly classes were a great date night through the chaos of wedding planning!
Response from SOUL Ballroom Dance Studio
Thank you so much!
Mack S
5.0
Soul ballroom has been nothing less than magical for my fiancé and I. They are very skilled, knowledgeable, and professional. We have never danced before but are utilizing this se...
rvice to assist us with our first dance at our upcoming wedding. We are glad that we decided to book with Soul.
Sally L
5.0
We got a package before my son’s wedding in April to learn a few dances. As total beginners we were amazed at how much they taught us that made us more comfortable on the dance flo...
or and made the dance so much more fun! We looked forward to our lessons each week and Igor and the other teachers were fabulous! I highly recommend this studio!
Emma S
5.0
Would highly recommend SOUL Ballroom to anyone interested in learning a new skill for fun or for a special occasion! My husband and I took lessons in preparation for our wedding an...
d enjoyed our experience so much that we’ve continued our dance lessons after the wedding. We started dance lessons with two left feet but through our experience at SOUL we found our rhythm and a new hobby we can share together. SOUL Ballroom offers a wide variety of dances to learn and the lessons are tailored to you and what you want to achieve. The atmosphere is fun and inviting and the instructors are a joy to be around!
Matthew Z
5.0
We had a great experience with SOUL Ballroom in preparation for our first dance. Our instructor was very thoughtful on our asks and helpful every step of the way!
Pavel K
5.0
We recently took a wedding dance class at Soul Ballroom Dance Studio, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish. The instructors were not only highly skilled but als...
o incredibly patient and supportive, making us feel at ease every step of the way. The studio itself has a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for learning and practicing. Thanks to the expert guidance and personalized attention, we were able to master our dance and feel confident on our big day. We highly recommend Soul Ballroom Dance Studio to anyone looking to learn and enjoy the art of dance!
Nick S
5.0
Great service, very welcome studio and teacher!
Paul K
5.0
We recently took a wedding dance class at Soul Ballroom Dance Studio, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish. The instructors were not only highly skilled but als...
o incredibly patient and supportive, making us feel at ease every step of the way. The studio itself has a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for learning and practicing. Thanks to the expert guidance and personalized attention, we were able to master our dance and feel confident on our big day. We highly recommend Soul Ballroom Dance Studio to anyone looking to learn and enjoy the art of dance!
Vladi P
5.0
My partner and I had the pleasure of taking a wedding dance class at Soul Ballroom , and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted w...
ith warmth and professionalism. The instructors were not only incredibly talented but also took the time to understand our goals and tailor the lessons to our needs. The studio itself is spacious and well-equipped, creating the perfect environment for learning and practicing. Thanks to their expert guidance and encouragement, we were able to learn a beautiful dance that exceeded our expectations. We’re so grateful to Soul Ballroom for helping us create unforgettable memories on our special day!
Justin R
5.0
SOUL Ballroom is amazing. The owners, Meghan and Igor are incredible. You would not regret having your wedding or event here! I would 10/10 recommend SOUL to anyone looking for a v...
enue.
Jennifer F
5.0
Very professional. Talking with them was very easy. The floral decor is so pretty! Great place to host an event.
Christine D
5.0
My husband and I worked with SOUL Ballroom to help with our first dance and had an incredible experience. We specifically worked with Igor who listened to our song during our first...
session and immediately choreographed a routine that was easy enough to learn yet also incorporated moves that would impress our wedding guests. He was very patient and a great teacher who helped us learn the basics and then bring in more emotion & natural movements to make the dance really shine. We did a total of 5 lessons and felt really confident based on the instruction & support Igor provided for our wedding day. The dance went so well & our guests were incredibly surprised all thanks to Igor's help & amazing choreography! Having weekly dance lessons in the last month leading up to our wedding was also a great built-in date night for us to connect during the final weeks of wedding planning to step away from the stress and enjoy a fun, new activity together. We would highly recommend SOUL Ballroom to any couples looking for help with their first dance to feel more confident & comfortable. It was the best experience & amazing instructor!
Jennifer C
5.0
Everyone go to SOUL Ballroom! My fiance and I took the intro lesson and then 2 hours lesson with Igor and it was so much fun! He choreographed a really awesome dance and worked to ...
make it "us" and gave us a ton of tips for our day. I highly recommend taking dance lessons with your significant other prior to your wedding as we feel much more comfortable dancing together now and it was a fun to do something together to prep for the wedding.
Ashwath G
5.0
Soul Ballroom exceeded our expectations for wedding dance classes. They were incredibly accommodating, working around our busy schedules seamlessly. Igor and Johanna, our instructo...
rs, were exceptional - patient, passionate, and skilled at breaking down routines.
Their inclusive approach made the experience even more enjoyable, as we were able to bring my parents along to learn some moves. The entire team made our time there unforgettable. Definitely recommend!
Emma W
5.0
Absolutely amazing people! The environment is so inviting and the teachers make it so easy to learn. I definitely suggest them!
