Westmor Dance Studios

If only I could give this place 0 stars! Im reviewing this place as someone that booked the place for a party. The place itself is very big and spacious, it’s used for a dance studio and parties. The place looks very outdated, you would think because people throw parties/​events the location would have more of a neutral color. The walls are orange with red curtains. The carpet is red (super dirty and ripped up). The owner is very adamant about not removing her own decorations (really old plastic plants, Christmas lights, and organza ribbons) because «it would be too expensive to have someone remove and put it back». That was so upsetting because if you’re trying to decorate with whatever theme your party is it clashes. We had got this place because it was offered to us as a gift and we figured if this person is recommending it why not. I regret it so much, because the day of the party I’m there decorating and a dance instructor shows up with her clients, I asked her if she was going to teach a class and with a nasty attitude she confirms that she is. So I said to her that I would ask the owner because no one had inform me of this, I get on the phone with the owner and sure enough they can dance around the tables and chairs your setting up as long as they don’t touch, move, or put their items on the tables. Well the first thing they do start putting chairs where I didn’t have them the rude instructor putting her cellphone on my tables (yeah I’m being petty at this point but she was disgustingly rude Blah). So 12:30 comes by (the time the instructor said she would leave by, also my guests and photographer had arrived) we asked her wasn’t she supposed to be done by now and she responds with we went over and we will stay an additional 15 min you guys didn’t pay the venue for this time so we’re staying. Now I don’t know what was agreed between the person that paid for the location and the owner but either way that is such a crappy way of managing a business, because 1 why does this instructor know about what was and wasn’t paid, 2 you have these people with nasty attitudes running around like the own the place yet they’re paying for the venue the same way the person that gave it to us did. Well party is coming to an end, when this skinny older man comes yelling you need to get out everyone now and I’m like wait a second it’s barely 6 (we agreed on 1−6pm and he arrived at 6:06) and I’m trying to explain to him how we still need to clean up (even though there was a $ 100 surcharge for a cleaning crew) and remove the table cloths chair covers wait for the rental place to pick them up, also wait for the décor lady to get her stuff. And he responds in a loud tone I don’t care dump it all and get out I have to lock up get out. We call the owner and she says oh no don’t listen to that man you can stay as long as you need, then finally the people that need to pick up the table and chair covers show up as well as the décor lady we’re in the middle of getting the place together when another dance instructor walks in and immediately takes picture of the studio, keep in mind that there are children still running around and she captures their faces on her shot. So I asked her to delete the picture that we could get the kids out of the way and she could take it again and she goes off on how she’s going to show the owner the mess there is and I told her that was fine but she needed to delete that one. She was so upset that we hadn’t moved the tables and chairs (none of that was done for me) and we informed her that a cleaning crew was to show up at 9 and do it. I feel very disappointed and I urge people not to do business with this person. Unless she fixes all these issues. People that instruct dance lessons there need to be respectful of others that do business with the owner and rent out the place.

Great dance studio for those ballroom/​nightclub dancers who are looking for a place to practice. The dance floor on the 3^rd floor is very big, and is perfect for those marking their choreography on competition sized floor.
Floor fee is only $ 5 a person, or $ 10 a couple, for the whole day! Lots of great and friendly people teach and practice here, and they add to the flavor of the studio.
The only real downside I have is the parking around Westmor. Being in downtown, it can be difficult getting free parking around the streets (in the evening). 6pm clears the meters on 6^th street, and 7pm for the meters at Wilshire. Otherwise, there is a parking lot behind/​adjacent to Westmor that cost $ 5 (at least last time I’ve used it), and a short walk.

This is my favorite place to ballroom dance in LA. The dance floor on the 3^rd floor is huge (competition sized), smooth, and easy on the legs and knees. This is a great place for competitive dancers to practice as it’s only $ 10 per couple all day! The upstairs ballroom isn’t air conditioned so it can get a bit warm on hot days, but the smaller ballroom on the 1^st floor is air conditioned so that’s always an option.
Note: as of Feb. 2009, practice is not allowed on Wednesday nights from 6 – 10 pm, unless you’re taking a private lesson that night.