Flamenco NYC- Dionisia Garcia

I love dancing and I love flamenco music; sadly I almost got traumatized by this very rude instructor.
After this very bad experience I can agree with other people who have posted: she is very arrogant, aggressive, disrespectful, and has no concept of time (my classes started between 25– 50 min later than expected). She might have a technique and know about flamenco but treats students in a completely unacceptable manner.
I was so excited to be in a flamenco class I did not research reviews before registering for this class. If you have the opportunity to read these reviews, please notice how this person gets either 1 vs 5 stars… iffy. I personally doubt any student would enjoy being treated the way she treats students, much less give her 5 stars.
Being in that class felt like being abused. I tried going more than once thinking maybe it was my problem, but class after class I just noticed she never stopped being disrespectful. I am still in shock wondering how someone like that can be open for business.

Let me start this review by saying that I am originally from Spain, and I loved dancing since I was a little girl. I would dance at home, in the street, at family events; I learned to dance by precariously picking up what I saw. As I got older I realized that I wanted to go further than that. I wanted to dance flamenco. So I started taking classes as a teenager, and after many years of classes and teachers (in Spain, the UK and NY) I can tell you that nobody has EVER cared about me, and each one of us in the studio, like Dionisia does. And by caring I mean investing all her energy to teach you everything in an incredibly detailed way, and not just rushing through steps and choreography. Dionisia watches every one of us individually, even if we are in a group, she gives specific comments to each one, she corrects arms, posture, hands, fingers, head, neck, shoulders, footwork, compás…everything. Some people may find this a bit too much, but I believe that if you really want to learn, I mean really, I dont think there’s a better way than the way she does it. It’s not easy, and you will get frustrated. But you will find yourself overcoming personal frustrations and insecurities, and learning more and more every day. And Dionisia has that contagious energy and pulsating passion for flamenco that makes you want to be better everyday. The beauty of her studio and learning with her is that everybody is welcomed: absolute beginners, beginners, intermediate, advanced… Try the workshop if you haven’t danced flamenco before or you haven’t in a while, or walk into one of the classes if you have, and see if the level suits you. And above all, be prepared to dance your heart out with a technique and presence that you never thought you would ever have, and enjoy every moment!!!

I’ve only done one class, but I’m hooked. Dionisia is passionate about her art and about her students. If, as some reviews claim, you feel put on the spot, please note, that Dionisia cares deeply about how each of her students is taking in the class.
I haven’t taken a formal dance class in more than 25 years, and felt the class and Dionisia are transformational.

I really wanted to like this class — I’ve been trying to find a good flamenco intro course. However, this course was a waste of time and money, which was disheartening. Major reasons:
1. The class starts between 30 – 45 minutes late, and there are no apologies for that.
2. After a late start, the teacher talks about nothing for at least 30 – 40 minutes — not about technique but just asking students how they feel and focusing on minutiae.
3. You dance for maybe 25 minutes total.
4. Class ends around 50 – 60 minutes later than it was supposed to.
Unfortunately I won’t even be returning for my last pre-​paid class because of this structure. I’m sure she’s an amazing and talented dancer and artist — but not the right teacher for me.

I’ve danced basically for over 30 years now (mostly ballet but I’ve been taking flamenco classes for a while too) and I’ve gone through my share of dance teachers. I can say without a doubt that Dionisia is one of the best teachers I’ve had… EVER!!!
A lot has been said here about her and I can totally relate to most of the comments. She is a very dedicated teacher and she pays a lot of attention to every little detail. You can actually see how everything she does in her class is carefully designed to take you one step further. She is super passionate about flamenco and it’s impossible not to be swept away by her artistry. If you’re looking for someone who is an excellent teacher and who can also inspire you and move you with all the truth and the meaning that can go with even the tiniest motion, then this is it.
I don’t live in NYC so I can’t take Dionisia’s classes as often as I would like to. So whenever I am there I take every class I can. Every level: from the advanced to the absolute beginners workshop. I’ve taken the workshop several times, actually, and it always amazes me that every time I take that class I get something new out of it. I should have learned it by now: in dance (as in everything in life) you have to be patient. Dionisia tells us sometimes that maybe your mind can grasp something today but your body is not ready yet and that’s OK. Or yes, as some other reviewer pointed out, she’ll tell you that you’re not hearing properly. Well, if you allow yourself some time to process it all, you’ll get to those «Ooooooh! Now I get it… Oh my God, she’s so right!» moments (which are wonderful, by the way). Which takes me to one more very important thing that I look for in a teacher: she/​he has to be someone I can totally trust. And that is something that was there from the very first class I took with Dionisia.
I’m not saying that everybody will absolutely love Dionisia’s classes… maybe not… we all have different learning styles. But if you want to learn flamenco, truly learn flamenco (and some more things while you’re at it), you owe it to yourself to at least try Dionisia’s classes. You just have to be patient (with yourself) and trust that you’re in the best possible hands… because you really are!

You can often tell the mark of a teacher by watching her class. And while Dionisia’s students look disciplined and devoted, they also appear frightened and cowered – perhaps cringing at the prospect that personal insult will be hurled their way any moment. The mood is rather joyless.
As Dionisia will tell you, it’s not just technique that makes a beautiful flamenco dancer; It’s also her spirit. Flamenco is discovering and owning who you are.
When we fear making a mistake because of Dionisia’s wrath, however, our spirit is stifled and caged. We might pick up on some of the technique, but without the freedom and encouragement to discover, we aren’t able to truly dance — to breathe life into the technique with fearless spirit, to discover ourselves as courageous dancers rather than obedient little students.
Dionisia is clearly a gifted flamenco dancer and artist. I challenge her to bring the same commitment and passion to becoming a teacher who nurtures and inspires with constructive criticism and positivity, rather than scolds and stifles with her melodramatic negativity,

I finished my introductory workshop with Dionisia a month ago. If i can think of a few words to describe her teaching syle those would be: absolutely inspirational, passionate, truthful, detailed and sincere. As many others commented in other reviews, you will probably not get too many compliments from her which I did not mind at all. As an absolute beginner all I sought and seek in a teacher is what she was able to provide to every person in the workshop: you will get personalized and keen attention to the slightest details (she knew everybody’s names from day one). Her approach was not about getting us to feel good about stamping our feet without first truly understanding some very basic principles of this genre. Breathing, history and background, posture and attitude with respect to the style. I felt transported to a different place and culture whenever I entered her studio. She really cares about you and your journey through Flamenco. I love that sincerity and honest approach to teaching. A truly inspiring teacher. I look forward to starting my new Flamenco I classes next week. I highly recommend Dionisia’s studio!!!

I took the Absolutely Beginner class with Dionisia this summer and CAN’T wait to go back for the Beginner 1 classes. Her passion for Flamenco is contagious and her knowledge and insights profound. They far outweigh any complaints that I might have for her so called «berating» of students. Her style of teaching is definitely different and may be a little harsher than what you are used to, but it’s honestly not that big of a deal. Maybe I don’t see much wrong with it because I grew taking piano lessons from a former Soviet piano teacher who took things just as seriously, was abrasive at times, and told everything as it was. Dionisia treats her students as if they all meant business. So if you are just looking for fun downtime leisure, maybe she’s not really for you. Truth be told, I don’t think her particular teaching style is catered to those who have grown up only accustomed to the North American way of teaching /​learning which is often sugar coated with meaningless compliments. As someone who grew up else where, when I first moved to this country I thought the teachers here were just so «nice», but for no reason!
If you are open minded to cultural differences, want to learn the real thing, want to improve your dancing and hear real constructive criticisms, you’ll enjoy Dionisia’s classes immensely. And because she is usually critical and doesn’t give meaningless compliments, the few occasions when she does get excited about something you did right and compliments you, you know she MEANS it.
PS I also thought her giving her time so freely was more of a plus than a minus. How many teachers (regardless of subjects) in NYC will do this for you, for FREE???

Early this year, I was searching online for some dance classes and I found Dionisia’s website with information about an upcoming Flamenco workshop for beginners. I used to dance Ballroom dancing years ago but I’ve never danced Flamenco. I had no idea what to expect but I quickly decided to give it a try. I never thought I would continue past the workshop but I didn’t have to think twice about it when the workshop ended. I learned about proper posture, breathing, new dance technique, opening your heart and confidence. That’s how my adventure with Flamenco started…
…I have been studying with Dionisia for about six months now and I fell in love with Flamenco ever since the workshop. If I could, I would take classes every day. Having been dancing Flamenco only for a few months I was able to perform in an annual show in front of the audience which was a breathtaking experience.
Dionisia is such a talented dancer and a devoted teacher that always wants best for her students. She is very committed and detail oriented. She also pays a lot attention to our well-​being, reminds us about staying hydrated and getting proper nutrition in case we forget. :)
It takes commitment to learn Flamenco and if you want to see results you have to put your heart into it just like Dionisia does. If you’re looking for a laid back classes where you come whenever you want, you’re free to do whatever you feel like and how you like it, it is probably not for you. It’s a challenging type of a dance so don’t expect to know it all from day 1.
As for the negative reviews, I find them unfair and offensive. Don’t waste your time on reading them.

She’s a nasty, rude woman. Don’t bother spending your money and wasting your time. I’d give her 0 stars if I could. She berates her students and has a bipolar personality. There are better flamenco teachers in the city. Also, as mentioned in other reviews, she arrives very late and makes the class stay later.

I had the most unpleasant experience at this school.
Unfortunately, I have to completely agree with another negative reviewer of this Flamenco teacher.
While she is clearly skillful, Dionisia is rude and disrespectful, with occasionally turning sweet, but even that in condescending manner.
Classes indeed start at random times, from being 10 to more often 30 minutes late, without even a hint of apology or a sense of rush from the instructor.
Dionisia tries to get very personal with her students, asking them questions irrelevant to the dance studio only to pass judgements and ridicule them with the acquired information in front of the class.
Instructions are given with contempt. It seems when Dionisia feels like explaining something, she can actually get it through, but more prevalent tactics is to be singling out and scolding students.
If you are into abusive dynamics, this might be a pleasant place. But please do not send your children here, I am afraid bi-​polar attitude of the teacher might do some serious damage.

This school is top notch. I have studied with Dionisia for 4 ½ years and she always pushes me to the absolute limits. I have taken other dance classes before where the focus is cutesy choreography that is fun if you don’t really intend to learn the essence of the dance, and Ive taken classes where you go for a year and a half and the teacher still doesn’t know more than half the names of the people in their class. I have also taken classes where you rarely get personal help and you feel like a faceless being. Dionisia’s school is NONE if these. She not only gives you personal attention but gives you individualized attention, tapping into the teaching methods that will sink in as deeply as possible. This can sometimes be a tough experience, but stick it out and you won’t regret it. Dionisia is an amazing and graceful dancer as well as a super and passionate teacher.

I have been studying flamenco dance with Dionisia Garcia for about 4 years now, and she is one of the best for sure. The classes focus on technique and the language of flamenco, not just mindless choreography and entertainment pieces. She wants to ensure that all the students are capturing the essence of the language and vocabulary as opposed to just wanting to perform something for the same of performing it. As an Indian dance student for many years, I thought joining flamenco back in 2007 would be a good idea because of their intertwined roots in history. Quickly after starting, I realized how much of an individual subject it is regardless of its roots and historical collaborations. With patience, discipline and a strict understanding and foundation for knowledge of flamenco, no one is better than Dionisia Garcia.
Find her on facebook and follow her on twitter — sign up for her workshops (they happen periodically). The studio is beautiful and the classes are so worth it.

I was interested in studying a no-​partner-​required dance, and decided to give flamenco a shot. I just finished the Intro to Flamenco course with Dionisia and it was wonderful! She is very friendly and sweet, while at the same time keeping everyone focused and on point in her classes. It’s a challenging dance, but she is very patient and makes you feel like you can get it. You can tell that she is incredibly passionate about her work and loves teaching. I definitely plan to continue studying with her.

If you want to learn flamenco dance in New York City, you have to try a class with Dionisia for sure. By far one of the most thorough and technically superb flamenco teachers, Dionisia focuses a lot on posture, breathing, correct technique in footwork and upper body movement in all the classes I have been to. You’ll experience a lot of things in her classes, from stress to relaxation, frustration to satisfaction… And you will get to also experience some of the funniest quotable quotes (like «Don’t become crazy like a pineapple!») The choreographies are always challenging and not for the weak! Students have the option of performing in full-​blown theater productions several times a year. She is a good teacher for all levels, but for a correct start to flamenco, she is a must! Her website has current class and workshop schedules, current class locations (like many of the other flamenco teachers, she used to teach at Fazil’s Time Circle Studios before it closed, and now she is at Roy Arias Studios, still in Hell’s Kitchen), online payment options, general information about flamenco, and some flamenco links I really like.
UPDATE: Dionisia has her own studio now :) It’s very nice, extremely easy to get to (a block away from Penn Station!)
[Disclaimer: I have been studying flamenco in New York City for over two years. I don’t dance anything else. I have taken classes from other flamenco teachers in New York City. And I am friends with Dionisia, though I doubt she’ll ever know I wrote this review!]