Dance 101 Inc

12/09/09

Used to be good, has gone downhill lately

by dancingdi at Citysearch

I was a Dance 101 customer from a long time ago when the studio first started at their Miami Circle location. Unfortunately, over the years the owner has become amazingly greedy and the prices are astronomical. They also do not make their expiration policy known to people and are not very forgiving of people who miss the information.

A bit of perspective for those who are not experienced in the dance world: Classes at Dance 101 cost more than they would at any of the studios in New York City or LA. Considering that most of the instructors are barely working in the industry on a regular basis and many are not what I would call professional level dancers, I am definitely not willing to pay more than I would pay in the two cities that are home to the dance industry. If you're looking for fitness classes, join a gym. It might not be dance, but it will be far more affordable. If you're looking for dance, there are several other studios that can serve you better with professional dancers and choreographers who work in the industry on a regular basis especially if you're interested in hip hop. My advice as someone who has been dancing since she could walk:

For a one stop shop: Gotta Dance Atlanta

For advanced or focused technique: Atlanta Ballet or Studio Dionne

For high level hip hop training: Gotta Dance Atlanta or Dance 411 Studios

• Pros: Certain instructors, location
• Cons: Price, the owner

12/02/09

Too expensive!!!!

by kiamoore at Citysearch

Will never go there again. Too expensive!! Wow, $20.00 a class. I bought a class card but it was still very expensive and I have had such a bad experience there, I doubt I will finish using the card. What happened to pleasing the customer is what I would like to know because the customer service is very poor there...One day I was 5 minutes late for class and they would not let me attend the class. Why? ...not sure, but if you have already paid for a service, why should you be denied the service because you were stuck in traffic and could not get there in time. The facility is beautiful but what is that saying, "Looks are deceiving." It seems they want to take your money and that's all they care about. I'm not one to give negative comments but it's the truth...Nothing special about this place!!

• Pros: NONE!!
• Cons: MANY!!

10/24/09

Awesome Place to be 7 days a week!

by JMDM at Citysearch

I find that all the negative comments are really unncessary! All of the staff and teachers are extremely friendly! Dance 101 is one of a kind! The prices are so reasonable and they offer so much! The teachers are so knowledgeable about their style of dance! I've learned so much from every teacher. What better way to get in shape and loose inches then to dance! If you get an opportunity you really should stop by and check it out, its worth your time!

• Pros: Best place for fitness and dance

06/30/09

DON'T GO HERE

by ibcgirl at Citysearch

These people are scheisters and will steal your money even after you've PAID for classes. Convenient that they don't tell you their policy, and no wonder they can stay in business charging an outrageous $20 per class and then taking your money without ever giving you a class. Also, the front desk staff seem arrogant, don't smile, and frankly are not very smart. If you do go, make sure you bring something under a $20 bill because they can't figure out the change without a calculator......

• Cons: Expensive, rude staff, stealers of hard-earned money

06/03/09

Good for dancing, not for fitness

by OperationAtlanta at Citysearch

Let me start off by saying that I WANT to like this place so badly. Even though some of the classes were disappointing, I have returned in an effort to try and find some I like. I am trying to really hard to give them a fifth, sixth, seventh, and so on, chance.

They organize it, where some classes are for fun and calorie burn, while others are instructional classes to help you with your dancing. So I will speak to the two different types of classes individually.

PART 1: Dancing for Fitness:

I think the reviewer NoraSchmitz really got the nail on the head. I have also taken the Discover Dance Fitness class with Elaina, the Tighten Up Conditioning class (although Helen had a sub when I did it), and the abs class with Ofelia. I did not think any of them were remotely a good enough work out given that they were supposed to be "fitness" classes. So far the only classes I have taken that made me work up a sweat at all was a disco class and Discover Hip Hop Fit with d.norris.

Therefore, I think if you are looking for a dance class that will really give you a work out, you are much better off going to a gym that offers dance fitness classes. If you can find a gym that has it, Bodyjam is AMAZING. I've heard Group Groove is really good too. Zumba (for latin dance lovers) can be good or horrible depending on the teacher.

PART 2: Dancing for Dance:

If you are taking classes here just because you want to dance and do something else for fitness, then I think it could work. I haven't yet taken enough classes to speak to some of them specifically but I have peeked in on some of the classes. Some of the jazz, modern, lyrical, hip hop, etc look AMAZING and it is fun just to have a place to dance. If you are an experienced dancer, I am sure some of the higher level classes are an amazing calorie burn.

PART 3: Customer Service:

First of all, the place is expensive. In my opinion, it is probably too expensive for the product received. Also, the customer service stinks. Do not ever expect the front desk staff to smile or be nice- because they won't be. Go in with the expectation that the service stinks so you aren't disappointed.

• Pros: Some fun classes, dance for ADULTS, great concept
• Cons: Fitness-based classes are poor, bad customer service

02/17/09

Dont ever go there!

by truespeak at Citysearch

This place is a rip off. They sell you classes and when u come back they tell you that the class on your card has expired and you should have read the website or the sale literature lying in the basket next to the reception to find that out. What a rip off! I will never ever go there again!

10/08/08

Great Concept...Front Desk Stinks at Customer Service

by Janie31 at Citysearch

The classes are fun and fill up very quickly, but if you're looking to call or email for more info on getting started, think again. I'm not sure why they hire "front desk help" when there is none. They are lazy girls that never get back to you, and act as if they get too much business to need yours. That's a sure fire way to lose business, slowly but surely!

• Pros: Popular
• Cons: Front Desk...No Help/Arrogant

06/06/08

Best Classes in Atlanta

by FitnessFanATL at Citysearch

This place is the Bomb!!! Anyone who says otherwise needs to take classes at other Atlanta dance studios and they'll see the difference immediately. Friendly, knowledgeable staff; nice clean studios with great sound systems and lighting. The variety of classes are amazing. I've taken The A-Town Funk and Dance Fitness classes and gotten great workouts in both of them. Even challenged myself to a beginner ballet class and had a great time. Several friends and I have become regulars now; I'm never going to the gym again!!!

• Pros: great location, well lit parking lot

05/04/08

fitness club - good concept but still long way to go!

by NoraSchmitz at Citysearch

Had high hopes for this place because I love to dance and love to get a hard workout. Tried the 1:00 'Discover Dance fitness' on Saturday, because it came recommended (by the frontdesk staff) as a very strong, high-energy workout. What a disappointment! After 20 (twenty!) minutes I had not broken a sweat yet. The choregraphy was SO simple and yet the teacher stopped the music to painstakingly explain the steps. She also had the bad habit of still having to figure out her music during class, with regular trips to the stereo to forward to other songs (this happened at least 5-6 times during the first 10 minutes of the class, and with no direction to the class as to what to practice during that time). Overall, the workout was WAY too easy, no challenge at all. Elaina (the teacher) should try taking a class from Andrew at 10am on Saturdays, at Jean's Body Tech! He does much more fun and complicated moves but yet keeps it high-energy and you never stop (a good teacher gives cues at the right time, to keep everybody moving, and only STOPS the music when absolutely necessary). At the end of that class, everybody is drenched and had a GREAT workout, with every body part having been used to the max. I think that Dance101 is a great concept, and Ofelia is a remarkable woman with inspiring energy, but she just has to look for better teachers and make it more of a 'fitness' challenge, not just a place to do some cool moves in front of a mirror and lights. Most of us don't have much time to work out and every hour counts. Also, their policies are VERY inflexible: my pass had expired and they were unwilling to extend it, or do anything at all. Then, when the class was disappointing, the people at the front desk did not offer ANY kind of compensation for that (free class next time, for example). Just plain friendliness (and business sense!) goes a long way in a business like that. Keep up the work, Ofelia, but it's time to make some adjustments to this concept!

• Pros: good concept
• Cons: not a tough workout, teachers need improving, very expensive for what you get

06/25/07

Best little secret in Atlanta

by travelbugg1980 at Citysearch

I'm torn whether to write this, as I dont want all of Atlanta stealing my workout place!! However, i've got to give these guys their props. Because they're great! Dance 101 is an adult dance studio, with all drop in classes--perfect for the non-comittal types like me! Instructors are really fun, and classes are not only a great workout, but their fun too! Like belly-dancing, or Jazercise, or hip-hop jazz! Just a really cool, low-key place to work out without feeling like you're exercising.... because you're dancing!!!