Arthur Murray Dance Studio

5 stars for the instruction quality and the staff, only gave 4 because it is fairly expensive, and I wish there were more options than the «packages» for each level.
We’ve been going to this Arthur Murray location for about 5 months now, and really enjoy it. We started with a Groupon ($ 20) for 2 private lessons and 2 groups, and decided to spring for the «beginners» set of 10 classes. Our instructor is Lisa, and she’s absolutely fantastic. All the instructors are great dancers, and are enthusiastic, courteous, and helpful teachers.
Yes, it’s expensive, but these are private lessons. Due to the cost we probably won’t continue beyond the «set» that we’re nearing the end of, but we’ve really learned a lot more than I could have ever expected and we’ve enjoyed every minute.
They will try to sell you on buying more lessons, but it’s just the reality of trying to run a business — this is a big company and they have their corporate policies that the employees must enforce. Remember the instructors are people too, just trying to make a living.

I LOVED the time that we spent with our Groupon. Whitney is AMAZING and I think that everyone should be able to take lessons with her. We have one more group and practice session and that is where the 4.15 stars comes in and not a full 5. It is quite pricey for the 6 lesson package, so we are in the process of deliberating as to whether or not we can afford it as we just got back from Greece yesterday and will be headed to Belgium in later summer months. And I didn’t feel that they were pushy, but I just know that the cost probably will scare away most people. Awesome dance ambiance though.

The instructors are actually very good.
*BUT* (and this is a BIGGIE); IF you’d rather not be cornered (I mean literally trapped for 1.5 hours in an office with a tiny, yet frightening & extremely high-​pressure salesperson, who will basically tell you that your relationship will DIE without our DAAANCE classes”, I’d strongly suggest to skip it.
Take your $ 8,000 (seriously; that’s just the very beginning) somewhere else.
I got a Groupon package for 4 classes plus 4 groups. After our first, we cut our losses and RAN.
I’ve also noticed that as their reviews get worse, they have magically disappeared.
Also, we weren’t engaged (at the time) and I was shocked by the number of employees who were downright RUDE («So WHY do you want to DANCE if not for your WEDDING?!!», i.e. «What do you mean, there are no rich parents to milk for every penny they have?»)
Sorry, Arthur Murray, there is now a ring on my finger, but there STILL are no parents to relieve of their nest egg. And yes, we’re wildly in love, but we are so NOT going into debt for THIS. Sorry. Not everybody is a sucker just itching to throw away $ 50,000 on a fictitious «Fairy Tale Day» that’s really a stressfest & a mountain of debt that later on is worth… what?
Some of us just want to love our partner, have a rockin’ MARRIAGE and yeah, DAAAANCE a little too. Just not here, not like this.
Oh, I gave them 2 stars because they are truly awesome dancers. And passionate. So if you’re independently wealthy and your soul wants to dance!, go for it!

The instruction: great!
The studio: great!
The pressure to sign up for an expensive package: ummm…
I really love everything about the studio but the prices.

My fiancé, father, and I went to Arthur Murray yesterday for lessons on dancing at my imminent wedding. This could have been a disaster for many reasons:
1. I’ll repeat, it was my fiancé, father, and I. Two men and a woman. One of whom is the father of the woman. All of them ballroom dancing! Together. Awkwardness? Methinks inevitable.
2. How do I put this… I am uncoordinated. Not, like, oh-that’s-cute-she-occasionally-stumbles-uncoordinated. Like, back-​in-​high-​school-​all-​my-​dance-​teachers-​talked-​to-​me-​in-​very-​simple-​sentences-​because-​they-​assumed-​I-​was-​intellectually-​handicapped uncoordinated. Or like, as-​I-​type-​this, one-​of-​my-​thumbnails-​is-​bright-​red-​and-​a-​toenail-​is-​black-​because-​I-​am-​constantly-​mashing-​myself-​into-​things uncoordinated.
3. So are my father and fiancé.
…Imagine my radiant thrill, therefore, to report that all 3 of us successfully learned to foxtrot and rumba last night. Our teacher, Sarah, couldn’t have been nicer or more funny. The staff was friendly and engaging. The studios were big and clean.
Arthur Murray is an international franchise, meaning that there are some corporate-​mandated policies that might rub guests the wrong way. Alarm bells enforce strict limits on 45-​minute lessons, and I can tell that there’s some pressure on employees to sell dance lesson packages. However, I can’t begrudge the individuals who worked with us these quirks, since they’re clearly beyond their control. Anyone who can teach me to dance in 90 minutes — after 27 years of total ineptitude — is a hero.

I don’t know what the 1-​star reviewer experienced but it’s very surprising. I started going to this studio in January with no experience or dancing background. My instructors, male and female, have always been very friendly and helped me dance away my nerves.
This place is not for people who want a lesson once in a while just to be forgotten a few days later and go unused. The group lessons at clubs/​bars are good for that. It is a bit pricey but you’re getting detailed instruction from professional and talented instructors. I think this is for those who are committed to building their skills from class to class and learn to dance correctly, comfortably and confidently.
I’m not affiliated with them in any way, it’s just a lot of fun and nice to see results.

Do you love being berated by pretentious, know-​it-​all snobs? Then this is YOUR place! You’d think that using a groupon deal they would do everything to rope you in to purchase one of their overly priced dance packages. Definitely not the case. As soon as my soon-​to-​be wife and I walked in the door we were continuously the target of all jokes and ostracized for our lack of dance experience. You’d think they would have exceptional service to keep us coming back for more. Very disappointing. Phil was the only redeeming part of this entire experience. Cool guy, nice and encouraging, and all the women were less-​than-​cordial. Unless your a dance expert, stay FAR AWAY from this facility. I wish I could get a 50 dollar refund on that groupon.