Brush up on your foxtrot at Fred Astaire Franchised Dance Studios in Hamilton. We offer lessons in mambo, merengue, rumba, salsa, samba, swing tango and much more. For class information, please contact us today.
The intro deal is a bit misleading. I believe it's 2 private lessons, 2 group sessions, and 1 party session. It then leads to an introductory group of sessions which is 5 or 6 additional private lessons, at a significantly increased rate, where you learn the basics but not anything else such as dancing to the timing of the music, how to recover when off beat, etc.
Then comes the big whammy. They want a LOT of money to continue the sessions where they show you all kinds of dances, more group sessions, and party sessions. They want a lot of money as a down payment, then expect weekly payments until your class ends or the fees are paid, whichever comes first. They throw a lot of questionable math at you then pressure you, hard, into committing on the spot. Suggestions made on how to pay for it included splitting the cost with my partner, using a credit card, or a line of credit to pay for it. As someone getting married in 6 weeks, I don't have lots of spare money to put towards something like this. We let them know this up front, and we were told they could help us out with that. We never received any help other than the suggestions above.
We made it clear at the start we were looking for dancing for our wedding and that was never really respected or noted. We also suggested things we felt were our strong suits and enjoyed doing, but were told that it wasn't a good idea as it didn't match their vision.
I think we'll be taking our business elsewhere in the city where there are classes catered towards dancing at a wedding, and then maybe return here down the line as time and money permits.
The staff are generally quite bubbly and attentive, and know their stuff. We did have a couple of little hiccups but other overall, the staff were good.
Location is nice, Parking is OK, spaces are small and the rear of the building is poorly lit.
I'd recommend this to a friend, but only if they know what they're getting into up front, or if they have lots of money.
You will not find a more energetic professional studio. Every instructor is friendly, encouraging and excel at what they do. You will not find anywhere else like this. The instructors get to know you and make you feel amazing, they go the extra mile by singing for your birthday and even call you when you're sick.
The dancing is top notch and the confidence it gives you when you're out on the dance floor (for a wedding, out for a weekend) is amazing. They're there with you on a one to one basis and you get the attention you need. You will not find a better and more exciting dancing experience!
I would like to thank Fred Astaire Dance Studio for opening the door to my new life adventure. I finally found the nerve and willingness to take a chance and fulfill my dreams of becoming a confident dancer. With the high energy atmosphere and the stand out top performance of all the instructors you wouldn't want to think about going anywhere else. A personal thank you to my instructor Joe, a true inspiration, his dedication and brillance is allowing my personal strengths and talents to shine.
Danica.
It is the year 2012. I am still fulfilling my dream. My sore feet and stress fractures have never stopped my hopes and dreams. I cannot believe it's been 5 years and I'm still dancing despite my hurdles. We are a family here at Fred Astaire. The staff watch you grow and when you're down in the dumps they build you back up. I can't say enough about this wonderful studio. I'm so glad to be a part of this family.
Marilyn
My girlfriend and I decided to look for ballroom dance lessons as a fun activity to keep us physically active and as a skill we could use when attending weddings and functions.
After considering a few options, we decided upon the Fred Astaire studio as it seemed to best fit what we were looking for. They offered a very reasonable introductory package consisting of a few private lessons, group lesson, and a party lesson for us to gauge whether or not we wanted to begin taking lessons regularly there.
Here is what we have observed in the few months we have been there:
- The studio is clean, a comfortable temperature, well lit, has plenty of seating, and washroom facilities. Occasionally, the dance floor became uneven due to humidity causing the surface to rise up in some places.
- The staff is courteous, very positive and encouraging, and well trained. They occasionally give you a different instructor to provide a different perspective or area of expertise to your dancing instruction. The studio also features well-known dance personalities from time to time.
- They have recently upgraded their music machine and have thousands of dance-appropriate songs on queue.
- Your instructor is able to tailor your dance instruction to your goals as a student, whether they be competing in dance competitions or just staying active and having fun. Their hours are flexible and they are accommodating to the schedules of their students.
- Our only gripe was that the price for lessons was high, but you certainly get what you pay for. This studio takes dancing seriously, and no matter what your age or body type, you will benefit from their expertise!
Definitely recommended.
