Best Funky Lessons Vancouver Near Me

Dan B: So much fun here! And really nice little space!

Albert Saravi: Good place, very clean. Good air ventilation

BJClayden: Latin dance events for years. One of the best spots in town

Tom De Pauw: The Sunday night salsa and bachata and kizomba dance was well attended, very friendly, clean and spacious. I will surely return.

More Memorable Events: The Danceys are such a wonderful support for the local dance community. They are thoughtful and kind and run events that are inclusive and loads of fun. I smile so much when dancing at the ballroom that my face hurts. The dance instructors are talented and very good. Had an excellent bachata lesson with Carla and Javi. Wonderful experience for my neubie friend. He left with some useful skills and confidence to keep trying and having fun. Can't ask for more than that. And dancers of all skill levels enjoyed the lesson because everyone learned something. Can't wait to return.

Omar Serry: Amazing staff, studio and vibes. Special thanks to Patrick, Lily and Kebera!

Greg Dombowsky: Modern space with a good sound system. Relatively good parking nearby. Great instructors and owners. Their parties are often busy as well.

Farah S: Great managers and great teacherWill be back for many many other classes for sure.

Nathalie F.R.: I went there for wine and cheese night. Laid-back (I.e. not very intimidating) environment! I danced 4 hrs without a break. Was it the music? The dancers? The fact that I haven't danced in ages? The vino? Idk. Perhaps all the above. But yet one thing stands-- the staff here are down to earth and pleasant ^^

Greg Slonina: I'd say this is one of the best dance studios in Vancouver

Beth Mac Donald: I finally got to experience Salsa lessons. I am so thankful that I got to experience it here! The instructor was friendly, helpful, hands on and made lessons FUN. Great way to spend a Friday evening.

Paula Bruna Victória Ferreira Schutt: Dance school with great instructors! I took salsa lessons with Patrick and he is the best! Love their socials, very friendly environment! I just wish it could be more spacious like the old Dancey Ballroom, but I understand that Vancouver rentals are crazy expensive.

David Maud: Not only a great place to learn Salsa, but I love the social element of it as well. The best dance group I've joined!

Marni MacLeod: Great studio to learn all kinds of new dance styles. Taking a Salsa refresher right now and the instructors are great, the people are welcoming and over all it's been a wonderful experience.

Anton Lobashkov: Nina is a great teacher!

Rolando Hernandez: Nice space, central and easy to park.

Arturo Luna: If you like to Dance this is the right place.

Bill Cheung: Nice to see so many new dancers and many coming to dance Salsa and Bachata.

Francisco Mauro: Nice place to dance and meet new people

Linda C: Wonderful studio to learn dancing.

Kenny B: We are a 60+ couple who went for our wedding first dance lessons here. We were lucky to get Julia as our instructor. She is amazing. She quickly choreographed an impressive routine for our off-the-wall songs. Shout out for Arthur Murray and Julia!

Andrew: Sheryle and her staff have been absolutely delightful, professional and completely accommodating towards my partner and I who are raw beginners - five stars for customer service!

Deepika Bharti: Its a place where you get kind ,patient & lovely people as your trainer/Teachers, Even overall everyone is really warm.....They are like International Champions but you can never tell as they are just so humble!! If there is any iota of doubt or you're perturbed about the price and wanna go elsewhere, Let me assure YOU WILL GET TRUE EXCELLENCE!!......I highly highly recommend Anthony (kind, super fun, TRUE PERFECTION!!) & Curt (Soooo Patient, Fun ,YOU'LL NEVER BE BORED WHEN HE IS TEACHING )........Now go and start dancing :)

Dana Christopherson: Studio and teachers are really great. We have the intro package which teaches you a few easier dances to see what you like. There are social distance classes as well as zoom based ones (we have seen those for groups) and everyone is wearing a mask which is great.

Jenny Graham: A wonderful space, with wonderful students and wonderful teachers. Whether you’re a beginner or have danced for decades you’ll find a community of people waiting to welcome you and some of the best dance instruction you’ll ever receive.

Peter Kostka: Amazing instructors who focus on teaching you how to lead and follow first. We'd gone to a lot of dance schools before, and this is the first that really taught us how to dance as a couple.

James Wang: Some of the classrooms are a bit on the older side, but the new renovations look great!!

Edmund Yang: Well appointed space for musicians.

Monique Wilberg: A place of musical learning and inspiration....

谢俊: It’s closed to kitsilano beach. My daughter learns violin with Jacob. He is an amazing teacher. We like him pretty much!

Enki Sumerian's show: Regula..

Patrick Li: A great place to get started on knowing the beauty of music.

F: Believe it or not, the parking lot of VAM has a nice view.

Firuz Noroozi: Hi im from iran. And i want Know How much does it cost? Tnx

Lily lau: I go there. The teachers are really nice but the building is really old.

Steven Zhai: I attend percussion lessons there and the teachers and staffs are extremely professional and passionate about their job.

Ryan Pan: Beautiful venue, plenty of free parking space available.

Vladimir Medakovic: The best music school around!

Diego Marques: Two faced place. overstated and overrated all staff are only seeking for money and publicity if you want to be part of it go ahead.

Juan Gonzalez: Most beautiful conservatory my eyes have seen.

Nicholas Cotton: Great venue, good acoustics.

jennifer brouse: I feel like I found my mother ship. I have lived in Vancouver almost as long as Harbour Dance has existed, but for some reason, I never took the leap. A few years back tried a couple of intermediate classes with Nathan (so fantastic!) after he subbed hip hop at my gym. I was mostly able to keep up with that level, but I ended up injuring my foot (because I did it in heels the second time and wasn't ready for that!) and then the pandemic happened.I have returned to HD this month with much trepidation and anticipation. The intro classes are challenging, but they are doable and engaging, with cool, current choreo. All the instructors are very supportive and encouraging of intro level students. The pace is brisk and the classes are full, but I am meeting so many new people. In a city that can seem cold and unfriendly, this studio is an oasis of like minded people passionate about music and movement. I don't have a formal dance background, but have danced all my life, been active with fitness and yoga and fine art modelling. Choreography can be intimidating, but I am going for it!I am so excited to have begun this journey and life long dream. My favourite classes so far are Intro Keep it Sexy with Trey on Mondays and on Thursdays with Carlo. I am also taking as many classes with Eric as possible. The staff are so kind and friendly. You will learn moves and have fun here! Don't be shy! Everyone is self conscious, if you chat you'll make friends so easily here. Even the experienced dancers are super friendly to beginners.

Celine Pio Roda: For everyone saying HDC isn't for beginners, do try Laura Kirchner's Heels class or Heels Progressive Workshops as they do a good job teaching you the very fundamentals of jazz funk/heels/femme dance styles. For Hip Hop, do try Ken Yung or Ritchie. Speak to the HDC staff to figure out which beginner classes would be a better fit for you as not all beginner classes are the same in difficulty level. The great thing about HDC is you grow exponentially fast in your dance journey when you train here.

95 Stoney: be sure to never be late for classes here for whatever reason. The receptionist is so nice that she would just hung up the call while you are explaining the reason for being late.Amazing customer service.

ZHEN CONG: Pretty nice to have this place to learn dancing. Real beginner friendly. ❤️

D C: Echoing other reviewers that this studio is NOT beginner friendly. Purchased the intro offer but only went to one class because of the stand-offish and judgmental vibe. For the record I took the intro class with Mary Gavilan. If you're a true beginner who feels shy and intimidated, I recommend trying Formation Studio instead.

NONO SHEN: Best dancing studio i have found in Vancouver. All teachers are so friendly and amazing - they made me not only fall in love with dancing, arts but also life.

R Pono: I can't emphasize enough how much of a gem this studio is in the city. There's really no comparison with other dance studios. They have the best classes, incredibly talented and skilled teachers and really aligned with the current industry. Whether you're a professional seeking to upgrade or polish up your skills or an absolute beginner looking to explore the joys of dance, there's a class and teacher here for you 💕

Olivia Boon: Amazing, amazing, amazing - this studio is my home away from home. My dance journey has been filled with love and positivity thanks to the wonderful teachers, owners, and staff at Harbour. Try a class or a training group, I promise you won’t regret it!❤️ Thank you Harbour, for everything! ❤️

Ingrid Oliveira: TLDR: Unfortunately, the reviews stating that this place is not for beginners are true. It is also not a place for people who only dance as a hobby. It feels more like a place for very experienced dancers to practice their skills rather than a place to learn.I bought the "new student" package to take ballet classes and, after my first class, I don't feel like coming back. I've danced ballet for a few years in the past, but only as a hobby. Since I didn't want to start from zero (beginner class), I booked the intermediate class which is described as "for dancers with anywhere from one to four years experience who enjoy a slower-paced class with less complex dance steps."While the dance steps aren't very complex, the class is really fast-paced. Most "students" are actually professionals or highly experienced dancers or have been taking classes with the instructor for a long time. So it is easy for them to memorize long and fast sequences, but if you are new to HDC, you just stay there trying to catch up while feeling lost and dumb. In addition, because the class is so full, the instructor is unable to do hands-on corrections, and there is also no interest in the new students' backgrounds to make sure that they keep up with the class. The least that could be done is to place the new students near experienced dancers at the barre so they could have a reference during the barre exercises. Even giving the new students slower variations to get used to the instructor's style would be enough to make us feel more comfortable in our first couple of classes.I also asked about the beg/intermediate class, hoping that it would be a better fit. However, the instructor said that it was basically the same as the intermediate class. So what's the point in giving it a different name? As the schedule for the beginner classes* is impossible for me, I've decided not to use the other classes from the package that I bought. It was a highly uncomfortable experience for me, I've never felt more out of place and just wanted to leave the class asap.*The beginner classes are clearly not for beginners, since they would be more of my level and I do have previous ballet experience.Note: the instructor, staff, and dancers were all super friendly, the music used in class was great, and the choreography was beautiful. However, I'm just too dumb to pick up fast-paced sequences after a 5-second explanation in my first class.

Sizhuo Qi: I’ve been taking ballet beginner class at UBC and I find the ballet beginner class of HDC isn’t for beginner students.The instructor didn’t teach any basic hand positions or feet positions, she just did all techniques combined directly assuming everyone is familiar with the terms and movement. I felt like it’s a more intermediate class.I noticed most of students in the class can already dance well and they could follow and memorize the practice movements with no problem even the instructor went through what we need to do for the practice really really quickly, the students don’t look like beginners to me.Anyways, it’s hard for a real beginner with no dance background or experience to follow the class.

Candice Zhang: Great studio but my only problem is that it is not necessarily beginner friendly - for context, I’ve been dancing as a hobby for around 2-3 years now (on and off), and the beginner classes are still pretty difficult for me! It also doesn’t help when a lot of the students in beginner classes are obviously professionals who can do full splits and very advanced techniques! It would be great to have more true beginner classes.

Reene Weston: My daughter went and she really enjoyed the variety of the attendees

Ann: TLDR: Great studio for confident dancers, not great for beginners.(Context: I danced from when I was age 5-17, and started taking beginner Hip Hop classes at Harbour Dance during university. So I have a lot of experience dancing I was not professional or particularly exceptional. I took Harbour Hip Hop beginner classes for 3 years, on and off.)Fantastic staff and instructors. Some really fun classes to take with incredible niches being represented. There's a lot to be desired, though, in terms of overall infrastructure and accessibility (though I don't blame them directly, finding real estate in Vancouver is difficult at best, but I think it's important to mention as it affects your experience).I think they are victim to their building's restrictions as it does not fit the number of people coming to the classes. Both the change rooms, classrooms, and reception area are incredibly cramped. You are also always brushing shoulders with professional dancers, which is quite intimidating when new to the studio. It's hard to dance full out when your classmates are only a meter away from you. The classrooms get very hot and stuffy, especially the downstairs studios.There's a particular gamble you take when paying for a class. Eventually, I had to stick to one teacher because it wasn't clear what kind of music/style other teachers were going to teach (likely a common gamble when taking a class broadly called "Hip Hop"). I once got stuck in an hour class with a teacher who was especially harsh to beginners (the most anxiety I've ever experienced in a dance class).It's hard to bond with an instructor because of how many students attend a class and the instructor is often racing off to somewhere else after class (home or another class) so there's a lack of rapport unless you push your way into talking to them. I mean, I can imagine how hard it is to connect with the hundreds of students they teach alongside providing quality teaching, I deeply sympathize.Another thing that was very stressful was how the seasoned company dancers would join beginner classes. It has the same effect as graduated students visiting their high school teachers, it's very off-putting and defaults the spotlight to them. I imagine they envision themselves taking on a sub-teacher position so more dancers can see the choreo (wouldn't be necessary if they had smaller class sizes) but their relationship with the instructor can make attendees feel othered.If you're used to dance culture, you likely won't find any of what I've said off-putting or anxiety-inducing. Having experienced dancers join your class could be fun and exhilarating if you don't experience insecurity about your own skills. But I think overall when you're catering to beginners, having everyone take humility in their ability is really important. You sign up for a beginner class to be surrounded by people like you, equally unsure and vulnerable. So when a very experienced dancer comes in it can be upsetting and unexpected.All that being said, I've moved on from Harbour because the amount of anxiety and intimidation I felt from being jostled around in the cramped and stuffy reception area to professional dancers joining beginner classes was too much. Unfortunately, Vancouver has a meager selection of quality Hip Hop Drop-In Adult classes and leaving has left me with very few options (Culturally Defined has been one option I've thought about due to their more restrictive registration, individualized growth focus, and beginner friendly progressives). What was inaccessible about Harbour can't truly be changed unless someone buys them a gigantic studio and encourages a more welcoming environment to new dancers of all ages (though professional dancers coming to class + the high school graduate metaphor seems like an issue that far exceeds a dance school and is a personal ego problem). I wish the best for them and all the dancers there, it was a fun couple years but I am far too tired to cope with the roller-coaster of anxiety this studio is.

Mia November: Absolutely love Eric malapad's grooving class

Terri Critchley: Groovy vibe, excellent selection of classes taught by reputable professionals, fun from start to finish! Highly recommended.

Yunduz Rakhmangulova: Tried ballet intro class. It was quite fun, good energy, good speed.

Kirsten Thomson: I have really enjoyed coming here and it has reignited my love for dance! The teachers are are very talented here and have great choreography, and the studios are quite large and nice.My reason for 4/5 stars is because some of the Intro level classes are truly beginner friendly, and some are not. I think once you find your favourite teacher (for me it’s Sydney!) you can have the most fun, because even within the same style of dance the classes are really different depending on the teacher.

Symone Dhariwal-Verma: Welcoming, challenging classes for all levels and styles. Had a fantastic time

Tim Hu: Harbour Dance Centre is my favourite Vancouver dance studio! Every teacher is so friendly and I just loved the open and welcoming atmosphere of the studio. Definitely a great place to dance and meet people in the dance community. Incredible variety of classes. Lots of great year-round and summer programs for dancers seeking more of a commitment. The location is great and very transit-friendly.

patrykaj: Salsa dance teacher is a good teacher and very funny

KD Pirahna: My son is enrolled here. Great school.

W C: Jean Lyons School of Music is a fun music school. Teachers are enthusiastic, talented, knowledgeable, polite and friendly. Recitals are held on a regular basis, showcasing all ages and all skill levels among the school students in a warm and friendly environment. My son have taking lessons here for 5 years. He love the school and his piano teacher.

Elizabeth Chong: This music school provides a wonderful environment for children or adults to learn piano or theory. It provide a wonderful balance of teaching students to be highly trained musicians but at the same time makes it fun. My kids have been students at Jean Lyons School for 8 years (Jean Brown is their teacher, and is amazing!) , and I, too, went to this music school for many years as a child (my teacher was May Lim, who was/is wonderful). Greg Hartley and Dina Corrado taught my son theory/harmony and were terrific. All of the teachers at this school are excellent, dedicated, and supportive of the students.

Valerie Ng: After being taught there for over ten years, I can undoubtedly say that the quality of excellence and dedication from the teachers and the school is always prominent and a priority. I would highly recommend starting a music career with Jean Lyons as they inspire and instill confidence within students through lesson and performance.

Sam Lin: I've been learning piano here for over 10 years and have never had anything but a positive experience with staff and students.

C T: Feel so fortunate to have professional and caring teachers at JLSM

Anita Ho: This is an amazing music school with a variety of experienced teachers from all different musical backgrounds. We have had a pleasure to be a part of this music school as it brings out the best in our children's musical talents!

Markus Masaites: This school is an excellent environment for any level Piano student to develop them selves in theory or performance. They also have many resources to support students, such as cheap tickets to professional concerts and performing opportunities for students.

Ima Xtar: My child has been learning from Jean Lyons School of Music for 7 years and I had been a student there when I was a teenager. If you want a great school to learn music theory and to play the piano well, this is the place for you. I highly recommend this music school if you wish to pursue your Royal Conservatory of Music exams or if you wish to play recreationally.

Karen L: Both of my children have attended this school, the first since 2004. I myself am a former student. All the teachers and staff are professionals, friendly and patient. A great atmosphere, I highly recommend!

Christina L: We have been at this school for 8+ years. I am continually impressed by the quality teachers who nurture musical excellence. An exceptional school.

Michael: Best Place Ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jade lanore: Cole is an excellent, inspiring and thoughtful instructor and is also considerate and patient. He has been instructing my daughter since she was 5 years old, allowing her to pursue her own musical tastes and encouraging her to try new things, including performance and song writing. At 8 years of age, thanks to Cole, she now has the confidence, skills and love of music to play and quickly learn new favourite songs on her own. I highly recommend Cole’s classes.

Karen Campbell: Over the past 4 years Cole has taught our every member of our family how to play the guitar, from beginner chords through to advanced classical guitar to our now teenage son. He's thoughtful, creative, and his enthusiasm for music makes for a great experience.

Annemarie Kaan: Have been having lessons with Cole for 2 years now. Cole has a great way of teaching that fits with your pace and your wishes in terms of music choice. He's always patient and has the ability to impart his great talent and skills to students of all ages. The end of term concert is always fun, no pressure and good incentive to practice! I would highly recommend Cole for guitar or uke lessons.

derek root: Cole is a knowledgeable, energetic and fun teacher who imparts solid technique and at the same time instills a deep appreciation of music. He is extremely professional and warm in his communication style. Our daughter who is 11 has been taking lessons with Cole for 5 years. She started with ukulele and is now playing electric and Spanish guitar. Cole has also put a band together with other students of the same age. It’s all great and exciting! I highly recommend Cole as a guitar instructor.

holly Townsend: Hi. My name is Robin Townsend. I participated in Coles group lead guitar class. I developed a lot of new skills in a short time. Cole has been very encouraging and helpful. It has been an fun learning experience. The video lessons were particularly helpful. Thanks Cole. Looking forward to seeing you soong!!!

James Kulferst: 1st guitar class for me. Class gives me direction and motivation to learn. Classes are casual and fun. Cole is great as a patient and supportive teacher.

Rebecca Li: Awesome teacher! Great listener and open to teaching what you like.

Jeanne SBas: Cole is awesome, he's great with kids and adults. My boy learned quite fast with him :-)

stanley cw fung: I feel Cole loves what he does and makes you feel great when you are learning and improving. He creates a very comfortable environment for a beginner student.

tim welsh: Cole is just the right instructor for our son. Cole keeps him engaged, and successfully challenges him to learn new things. In the 4+ years Cole has been his instructor, our son has progressed from being a new learner to being accomplished with the ukulele, guitalele, acoustic guitar, and electric guitar - and Cole has got him singing at the same time. We hope Cole is our son's instructor for years to come.

Trevor Thomas: I recently completed my first term learning the ukulele with Cole. He is a great teacher – kind, patient, and passionate about teaching. The lessons were structured around learning chords through playing songs. Cole is very positive and encouraging, and he allows his students to progress through their own discovery, experimentation and learning. Cole provides a video summary after each lesson, which is very helpful. Highly recommended.

Lesley B: Cole is a fantastic dedicated teacher. He truly loves what he does and it shows.Our daughter started with him playing keyboard as part of a kids band he was putting together and private guitar lessons. She had been paying guitar for a couple of years, but she made huge improvements in only a couple of lessons with Cole.With the band, he has encouraged the kids to busk and play gigs, volunteering to drag his equipment along and help them set up - he goes above and beyond.

Jonathan Wong: Cole is awesome! The classes are small groups which is great and Cole sends a video of what we covered in class which makes practicing easy. Highly recommend!

Paul Whittle: Great teacher and the group classes are fun !

David Crowe: I really enjoy my weekly lessons with Cole. As a beginner he has helped me improve tremendously over the last six months. A great class and a great guy!

George Hoberg: I took beginning guitar lessons from Cole and he is fabulous. I was quite nervous about it, being 61 and not having had any music training. But has been very effective - patient, calm, and manages to make learning fun. I took a group lesson from him and it was a nice way to learn. I highly recommend Cole's Guitar Lessons!

Adam Henderson: Cole's a great teacher and customizes his approach to the individual student.

Amanda Pitre-Hayes: Cole is a truly exceptional teacher. He put together a super fun group of us for our intermediate lessons that resulted in an experience that was both social and instructive. He is super good at meeting you where you’re at as a student. Stretching you when you’re ready to grow, and bringing you back into the fold if you’ve been too busy to practice for a spell. Positive, efficient, fun... Can’t say enough about his talent as a teacher. Have learned so much from Cole and am already looking forward to the next term.

nathan Matthews: Cole is a fantastic teacher! If your child has an interest learning to play an Instrument, Cole is a very patient and thorough teacher, his instruction had made my son's enjoyment of playing drums grow and grow!

Kathy Wong: Cole is an excellent teacher! He takes a very positive and engaging approach to his lessons. He is always introducing my son to new and challenging pieces of music, and he always goes the extra mile by providing additional instructional videos and such to his students. Not many, if any, other teachers do that. And he often provides other support for his students outside the classroom, helping with gigs and with choosing/purchasing the right instruments. He's quite dedicated to his students!