Studio Tropa

I was giving some time in order to give the owner a chance of contacting me back, but since I haven’t gotten a response in over a month, I’ll write my review.
I used to love this place… I had a year membership a year ago, and it expired and I tried something else for a while, but decided to come back here, because this was where I actually enjoyed working out and loved it so much… until recently, when they decided to close down the studio without providing any information to anyone.
There is a sign at the front door that says that due to their lease being up, they needed to move to a new place and that we should contact them via facebook or email in order to see what’s going to happen. Guess what… I’ve sent multiple emails, facebook messages, and I was even able to get Jerry Maese’s phone number (owner), and I’ve sent several messages to him directly, without getting a reply back.
I’ve recently purchased a yearly membership (you pay up front), which I started using at the end of July, and I was not even two months in, when I realized they closed the place down (mid September 2015).
I’ve attempted to follow up in case they were able to find a new place and I can go ahead and continue with my yearly membership there, but since they are not returning my messages, I consider that they do not care for their faithful clients and consider it is fine to charge for a year-​membership beforehand, knowing that in a couple of months they would be closing down without already having another place to go to.
VERY RUDE AND UNPROFESSIONAL!!! I wish they can contact me back so I can either get my money back, which is the right thing to do here, or provide a new place where I can continue with the classes that I actually enjoyed very much.
There are no updates on their website, in fact, they have a schedule running, as if they were still providing classes there, so, do not fall for this and pay, because they will steal your money.

Studio Tropa offers the best Zumba classes and instructors; as well as, other classes like Insanity. Desiree and Jerry are great and the workout is fantastic and very upbeat. I’ve been going to Studio Tropa’s classes off and on for the last year and always have a great time.

This is the most fun gym! The instructors are so enthusiastic and versatile that you just feel like you’re having an amazing time while getting an even more amazing workout. I am so glad I read Unilocal reviews and signed up at studio Tropa.

I have been attending classes at Studio Tropa for about 5 years now and it is the best I have yet to experience. I have tried taking fitness/​Zumba classes at gyms but none of those instructors make me sweat and have fun like I do here. The music selection, cardio fitness levels, the choreography and the instructors make you want to come back every time. And of course it’s fun!

Been a member of Studio Tropa since January 2012. Love the place and the instructors. Everybody is very friendly. The energy is amazing. Hands down, the best place to take Zumba fitness, INSANITY LIVE, and cize LIVE classes!

I have been attending Studio Tropa Zumba Classes for over 4 years now. I have been in an out of gyms and other fitness courses through the years and have never stuck to them, due to boredom. I have stuck with Studio Tropa Zumba because it’s fun, fun and you are guaranteed to get great results! The Instructors are awesome with great energy. You will def burn anywhere from 500‑1000 calories per class. I have easily lost a dress size after going continuously to classes for 1 month! If you are looking for an alternative to the same, redundant workout, I say give Studio Tropa a try! The instructors all have different styles of music and choreography so the variety is fantastic! It truly has been a life changing experience for me! :D

I’ve been a Studio Tropa member for the past two years. Jerry and his team changed my life, they have teached me how to stay healthy and enjoy it at the same time. If you are looking for a place with great energy, awesome instructors and lots of booty shaking, this is the place.

I love this place! The classes are fun and rewarding. Jerry thee owner is great and really cares about his clientele and all who are striving to feel good about themselves.
Jared his son who teaches INSANITY is Awesome! He goes at a pace to help you learn the exercises yet maintains a level of modesty to allow you to feel that you can do it and he’s not a show off. He really is seeking to teach you to get the maxims out of this workout! I must say it’s not for the faint of heart, but you definitely in 30 minutes will feel the burn the cardio and the transforming of your body to prove it ! Go Jared you rock! Of course I travel all the time but when I’m home I’m off to a worthwhile workout with Studio Tropa and Jared!

What an awesome way to work out & at a reasonable price! Dancing & sweating & awesome instructors. Studio Tropa really has a night club vibe going for it, so do not expect a ballet studio! Desiree’s classes are my favorite — though I have to disclose that I haven’t tried all of the others, yet. The students are everyday folk — a great reflection of Houston, all sizes, shapes and ethnicities, there to sweat & dance.
Your first class is free, so try before you buy!
Then sign up! Your body & your mind will thank you!

I heard about this zumba studio from a friend and finally got around to try it after I saw a Groupon deal. I’m currently doing a month of unlimited classes and liking it so far. It gives me a good cardio work out and hopefully a zumba butt in the near future!
The classes are an hour long and I always go home sweating. Half of the reason why I’m drenched is because I’m jumping around for 60 minutes and the other half is because there is no airflow. There are a couple of fans but unless you are standing right in front of it, you will not feel it. The studio is also a little dark and there aren’t many mirrors. The instructor is usually on the well-​lit stage showing you different booty-​poppin’, shimmy dance movies. I really like Desiree’s class because she is always so energetic and really motivates you to keep moving even when you’re tired. She sometimes even comes down to the floor to dance with everyone.
I love how the instructors make you feel welcomed. You can tell that some clients have been going for a while since they know all the songs and dance moves. But don’t be discouraged! No one really cares that you’re not hitting the right positions on the right count. You’ll start to get the hang of it after a few classes.
Tips for new clients:
1. You can park in front of the studio or in the lot to the right of the building. If you park in front of the studio, someone might end up double parking behind you. Then you might have to wait for them to leave, which might take a while since people like to hang out after class. Sooo just park in the side lot or on the street.
2. Your first class is free! Arrive a little early so you can fill out a short form.
3. Bring water and a towel. You will need both!
4. Wear comfortable work out clothing and shoes.

I lovessss Studio Tropa. It’s laid back and energetic all at the same time. Liliana is so much fun. She is great about making eye contact and smiling and pumping you up. She does a great mix of music and in a good order. We’ll do a faster, hard hitting song, then a slower song with more salsa moves to cool you down. Then back to booty shaking and body pumping. The hour in her class flies by.
At first, you’ll be tripping over your feet and have no clue what’s going on, but soon you’ll be up at the front with the regulars. It’s mostly ladies (maybe 1 guy for every 10 girls) and the ladies here don’t judge. Also, most of them aren’t skinny minis in tight boyshorts and sports bras. They are real women trying to get their groove back, and I like that.
The studio is fine — 3 stars. There are lots of fans blowing and plenty of cubbies to store your things in. The stage is raised for you to easily see the instructors no matter how full it gets. There are a few mirrors if you have some crazy desire to watch yourself wiggle, but there aren’t TOO many mirrors if you want to avoid them.

Studio Tropa is my happy place! Zumba is the only excersie regimen that I have been able to stick with and its all because of the instructors at Studio Tropa. Jerry the owner is super helpful, and will answer any and all questions regarding excercise or developing healthy habits. The staff is all friendly and you instantly feel at home. If youre looking to have fun while getting a great workout, I recommend Studio Tropa.

I purchased a Groupon deal for Studio Tropa classes while back both for myself and my sister. With everything else going on (we moved my sister to Houston), I forgot about it until I received a reminder couple days ago. Phoned the place and spoke with Jerry, he was very helpful and nice. We went by to activate our deals, place seemed clean, staff was helpful. We stayed for a little bit to see the starting class and it was a Zumba class, seemed like a beginner stage. What I liked about the class especially is, you’re not packed like sardines in a small area (unlike some other places).I have not attended an actual class yet but am looking forward to it.
Outside parking can be chaotic but I saw couple of cars double parking.

I was sweating bullets!
Great work out, wish it was CHEAPER thought!
Parking is not so good either: /

Initially addicted!
The only other place I’ve taken Zumba is @ 24hr Fitness and I never made it to a 2^nd class there… I didn’t even get close to breaking a sweat and I felt like my hour would have been better spent on the treadmill. So when I found Jerry and Studio Tropa, I was really excited. You get a great workout here and are dripping with sweat when you walk out. Not sure if Angel is still there, but I loved taking his classes as well. Some of the other instructors are a little hard to follow, but you eventually catch on.
After a while though, I started getting turned off by things…
1. Problems with the floors (part of the ventilation issue a couple of people have mentioned in their reviews maybe??) — I’m not sure if this issue has been fixed, but when the room got really humid, the floors would become slippery. At one time (for weeks+) there were cloth mops placed sporatically througout the room so that you could dry off your spot when you were starting to slip around… this never really worked too well and the floor remained slippery. I just felt like a business that had their stuff together would have gotten this fixed ASAP.
2. Location & Parking — If you’re coming from downtown, its a complete pain to get here on time for the night classes… then when you finally do arrive, there is limited parking.
3. No Changing Rooms — You can either use the bathroom or a spare closet sized storage room with a curtain as a door. (I will say that their site now mentions that they have this along with a shower facility so I guess you’ll have to check it out yourself to find out)
These things along with their (in my opinion) unorganized business practices just annoyed me after a while. I felt like they could easily improve things to make it a better environment for their members, but they don’t bother to because they’re making it just fine without doing so. Maybe when they notice a drop in members, they’ll start to change a few things…

It’s hard to write this review, but I had to do it, by my Unilocal code of honor says I have to.
I bought a groupon awhile back, and attended ONE class. The groupon was $ 20 or $ 25 for 20 classes, which I thought was a KILLER DEAL! Bellaire is a bit out of the way for me being that I am in the Trose, but I had heard good things about Jerry and his Zumba studio. Now, I have taken classes at a couple of other places around town, so I knew what to expect for the most part going in. I came in on a Saturday morning, and the front desk chick was super sweet, and helpful. I was given a punch card to keep for my 20 classes. The instructor Erica, was the one teaching the Sat. morning class. I found it EXTREMELY hard to follow her. Plus, it was dark, had poor ventilation, and obstructed views of the teacher. I like when teachers show you the move first, count it out then move on to the music. She just went from one move to the next, taking for granted that everyone there knew the routine. Many people were completely lost, especially those who had never tried Zumba before. Her energy was great, but the teaching skills honestly made me want to give up.
Fast forward weeks later, when I decided it was time to give Studio Tropa another try, maybe this time with the famous Jerry, or a different teacher. Though I was a bit turned off by my first turn, but hey, I’m all for second chances. I went to look for my punch card, and low and behold it was gone. Now, yes it is my own fault I lost this paper punch card, but surely they must have a way of keeping up with the TONS of people they sold this groupon to – Surely they would have put me into a computer riiiiiight?
Wrong.
I called one afternoon and spoke to Jerry and told him about the situation. He said well, sorry but that’s the reason why we gave you the punch card. REALLY? Now granted $ 20 is NOTHING, and its not that big of a deal, but what I have a problem with is these businesses that advertise all over the world (buywithme, groupon, living social, mammapedia) then act SHOCKED when they sell 500 of these certificates. I explained that I had lost it, and he said well we really weren’t prepared for the response from all the advertising we did, and there was NO way for us to fit everyone on a spreadsheet in the computer… HUH? Does a spreadsheet only hold 500? He DID (hence the two stars) offer to give me 3 classes for free, I just had to remind him when I came. I appreciated that part, but most of the classes he teaches aren’t for the people who bought the groupon, but it would be a little uncomfortable saying-​he remember me, you said I could have three free classes…
At any rate, there are a ton of places in Houston who offer Zumba, and teach it well (my favorite so far is Karen who is at Niamoves, and YMCA Galleria) I think its extremely poor business practices for businesses to advertise through groupon and not be able to keep up with the demand.

I went to Zumba class for the first time. It was really great. I just signed with
$ 15 for 10 Zumba classes. After that ends, I am planning to sign up for $ 55 unlimited.
Good location and friendly instructors.
Jerry is a great instructor. Make sure to show up a little early to get a good parking spot and if you are newbie the back row is the best place.
Eventually, I hope to move towards the front!

Location — Great! Walking distance from my office in Bellaire. Parking is just okay. They are located in a what appeared to be a congested storefront, but there was plenty of parking behind the building.
Studio — Was very welcoming with a reception area and large desk. Just past the desk is the HUGE studio which is wide open with the stage straight ahead where the instructors stand. Don’t except the room to be lit up all light and bright like a studio room at the Y or Bally’s. It’s actually quite dark with mood lighting and other lighting focused towards the stage. This is good, cause it keeps the attention on the stage and not on you or your neighbors.
Staff — Was great! I looked lost when I walked in late and right away I was greeted by someone who asked if it was my first time there.
Instructors — All were great and easy to follow along to. I have never danced before and dont have much rythym, so I was suprised that I could follow along so well. There was one exception though, one of the instructors did a fast song with equally fast moves that frequently changed. Most of the other instructors moves lasted at least 4 – 8 beats but this lady changed moves like every 2 beats and was hard to follow. (Per Kristine V’s post on 10÷12÷10, the instructor’s name is Gaby – stay away from her class if you are a beginner) The good thing is that I wasnt the only one lost with her although there seemed to be a few people upfront whom you could tell were regulars and knew what she was doing.
Tip 1… YOUR FIRST CLASS IS FREE! Upon entering, you will be asked if it is your first time after which, you just sign a waiver form and are directed to pick a spot in the studio.
Tip 2… Dont park on the front row directly in front of the building unless you want someone to park behind you and block you in. I am an IN AND OUT person, so as soon as the class is over, I dont want to have wait around until someone moves their car. If you dont either, dont park on the front row.
Tip 3… Check Groupon every few months to see if there is a deal. Twice already (that im aware of) Studio Tropa was featured on Groupon with 5 classes for $ 20 which is a 55−67% savings off the regular cost per class of $ 11-​$ 15. They also offer an unlimited pass for $ 55 per month.
Overall– This is a great place to get a great workout while having fun.

I love Jerry, the owner & head instructor, but I’m not a fan of Studio Tropa. It’s not the same as it was when I experienced the beginnings of Tropa Zumba at various establishments in the loop.
The Studio
— Parking is in the rear behind the chain linked gate
— The floors are scraped concrete and give the place the feel of a nightclub rather than a studio
— There’s obstructed views because of the structural views in the middle of the work out area
— It’s dark.
— It’s not well ventilated.
— I have to go through horrendous rush hour traffic to get to an evening class since it’s south of the Galleria.
Instructors
— Jerry is very awesome and can do a zumba class in his sleep. To date, his classes were the ones that got me the sweatiest. He doesn’t need a microphone because his cues are so refined from all of his years of experience.
— Coryne is the cofounder, co-​teaches with Jerry, and has a different style. I can’t follow her as well as I can with Jerry.
— Gaby is the Zumba toning instructor. She’s this cute, petite lady who can really dance but I find it difficult to follow her instruction.
— Erica — I like her moves and her choreography has enough repetition so it’s easy to feel success when following her. She also has good cues.
I will finish up my Groupon but I don’t think I will return to Studio Tropa after that.

Jerry is the best dance instructor that runs the best Zumba class I’ve ever been to… I’m one of those people that needs serious help with choreography, and even I love this place. It’s fun, goofy, creative, and a major workout — what more can you ask for?
Make sure to come early, or else you might not get a spot even close to the front. It seems like 50+ people attend each class, which is a testament to how enjoyable Jerry makes exercise. He teaches most of the classes with the help of some other talented instructors. I consider myself lucky to have found a workout that I enjoy with instructors that have a passion for what they do.