Salsa International - School of Latin Social Dance

Best school to learn the foundations in salsa dancing with the greatest community of people. Everyone at this school both teachers and students are welcoming and supportive. I couldn't have chosen a better dance school and just feel grateful for the number of friends I've meet here. Their curriculum is fast so your going to learn quickly and progress faster than you think. Its also a great school to just enjoy your time dancing. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED :) more

had a great experience as a first-timer at Salsa International. I was admittedly a little shy and nervous for my first lesson, not being naturally gifted rythmically, but i quickly got over it. The staff was very personable and made me feel extremely comfortable. I've since completed the basic course and hope to improve from there. And the owner Gina is fantastic and easy to talk to-- if you get a chance to see her in action, she's also great to learn from....not sure what the guy below is talking about...highly recommended! Pros: patient staff, convenient location,knowledgeable instructors more

I have been a fairly regular student at this school for a couple of years. I am shocked to see any reviews knocking Gina at all, that's just crazy, and to me it seems like a personal problem. There are too many people that love her and feel just as strongly. But you know, Haters are always loud. For those of you who are looking at the school, there are about 15 instructors at there in total, male and female, and Gina might teach 2 or 3 hours a week out of 30 classes! If someone doesn't like her style, there are two other female partnerwork instructors and 3 for ladies styling. From my experience at other schools, that's a pretty good female staff ratio. Across the board, the instructors CARE about the students. Some are gentle - some practice tough love. The best thing about SI is that you have many options, and you can learn what and how you like. Pros: Great place, amazing people, best variety of teaching Cons: None for me more

After taking classes at a variety of places over the past four years, the advanced classes remain, in my estimation, some of the best out there. Gina deserves a round of applause for putting the group of instructors together as she has...she offers a variety of teaching styles, within a fun and encouraging environment; all of which a person will be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Every time I have a friend ask me for a place to learn salsa, I recommend Salsa International out of all other places I have learned from. Kudos to Salsa Int'l! Pros: Positive, encouraging environment; Excellent instruction Cons: None! more

I truly believe Salsa International is an exceptional school. Because I've taken classes in many other studios, I must say this one stands easily above the rest. It's strengths are: the fact that it provides a great atmosphere and sense of community for all its students, which is a great thing because you can then practice what you learn by going out socially with a big group of people. Second, you can learn a wide variety of salsa dancing styles. There is a solid program for those interested in learning on1(most popular style worldwide), on2 and there is also a strong program for those interested in casino style. There is a nice mix of instructors who each brings something special to the table. Gina, the owner of the school and also a main instructor, really takes the time to teach her classes & does it with a lot of passion and dedication. Mike Brown is in charge of the advance classes and performance groups and is a great instructor and asset to the studio. Chris teaches the Rueda program and is also very organized and passionate about his classes. Other stand-outs include Edwin and Joel who really bring their own flavor to their classes. All in all, this is a great place to be...and a great place to take your dancing to the next level for a bargain price!!!! Pros: Atmosphere, Variety of Dancing Styles, Instructors, Performance Groups, Price Cons: None. more

Most Salsa schools in New York will only teach you on2, which is new York style. That's great, but if you want to take your salsa skills anywhere else in the world you should know that on1 is the more popular style worldwide. I love Salsa International because there is a great variety of material you can learn from including on1, on2, chacha, Rueda (very good program), a little bachata and merengue. Most importantly there is a sense of community that I did not experience in other schools I tried. I have made many friends and over the last six months experienced a side of New York I never knew existed. You can dance salsa everyday of the week. Kudos to Salsa International and the great staff, for running a fun program and probably the most affordable in New York. There you get more bank for your buck for sure! Pros: Affordable, fun, variety, friendly. Cons: Socials have a relatively low turnout! more

I have danced with Salsa International for quite some time and it is by far THE best studio there is in NYC for various reasons: -you can actually dance salsa just after completing the one month basic class, yes it can get tough but very rewarding. Instructors are very caring and invested and are fantastic dancers. The classes range from Basic through Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Advanced, on 1 - on 2 - mixed rhythms: cha cha , bachata, merengue, rueda.....never stop learning and having fun. also a fantastic social get away. great people there and a wonderful and continuously growing and steady community. i read the only 1 bad review on here and i must say: what were you smoking when you were there - ha ha : ) that is not the gina everyone knows. director of the studio, extremely talented, the best energy, BEST teacher!!!!!!!! tough at times, i am not gonna lie : ) and all the other instructors, Junes (mmh : ) ), Mike, Veronica, Katie, Ryan, Yoshi etc etc. are all great, everyone has their own twist and will improve your style. you can tell i am a fan of SI - so will you!!!! all thumbs up, well that makes it 2 thumbs up for this Salsa studio : ) Pros: Instructors, Challenge Factor, Social Community!!! Cons: Little bit crowded during ""Salsa"" season, but cause it's the best : ) more

I originally went to this school because of a coupon that I got right here on City Search. I find this studio to be special. I have visited several schools in Manhattan and what sets this school apart is the real caring that emotes from all of the instructors from the top on down. You are always aware that the instructors will do whatever is necessary to get you to the top of your game. Sometimes boisterous, always fun. I highly recommend giving it a try. Pros: Friendly staff, great environment, happy people, energizing activity, excellent exercise Cons: Are you kidding? more

I've been dancing at Salsa International for several months now, and couldn't be happier--or having more fun! The new studio space is beautiful, Gina and the rest of the faculty are awesome, and all the students are incredibly friendly. It's a great place for beginners--their Basic Salsa program is a steal--and more advanced dancers will be continually challenged by the upper level courses. The Friday night socials are a blast, too. Highly recommended! Pros: Everything! Cons: Not a one. more

One of the best dance studios in NYC. I began taking classes at SI,17 months ago. Gina, owner and head instructor at Salsa International is an excellent instructor and her technique and dedication to make us a better dancers is what makes SI a community of passionate salser@s. \r The studio has amazing instructors for On1, On2. Rueda de Casino, Ladies Styling, Mens Body movement, cha cha, Bachata/merengue. Thanks to all Salsa International Instructors, I now feel extremely confident to go out and show my salsa moves.\r Pros: Instructors, Staff, Friday FREE practice and review session. Cons: NADA more

Gina at Salsa International can take a rock bottom beginner with two left feet and have them dancing salsa reasonably well in a very short time. Her program is unique to the various studios in NY City. The entire faculty is warm and welcoming and extremely competent. The student community fosters a great deal of camaraderie and there are many social outings planned outside the studio. The advanced classes are challenging and taught by some of the best instructors in NY. I would highly recommend SI to anyone who wants to learn to dance to improve their social life or just their level of fitness. Pros: Friendly welcoming staff and students more

This salsa studio has moved to a new location and the rooms are 1000% better but the owner is still very unpredictable. She has a very authoritarian style of teaching that is not enjoyble for me. The Casino classes are a dream though. Chris Rogicki is the teacher and he is unbelievable organized, patient and thorough. \r \r Casino!!! yes!\r \r Avoid classes with Gina if you want a friendly atmosphere with no yelling. Pros: Chris Cons: Gina more

I have been teaching at Salsa International for three years. At Salsa International I have found a unique community of people out to meet new friends and share their interest and eventual love of dancing salsa. I began teaching Casino Cuban Rueda and then International on 1 and now I teach various mambo on 2 classes, merengue/bachata and cha-cha. I can't say enough good things about SI, from the students I have met who are passionate about learning to dance, to the friends I have made and spent entire weekends with dancing and hanging out, to someone I now consider a good and close friend of mine, Gina D'Ambrosio, who has committed herself for the last 7 years to making Salsa International a great community of people who share a love of dancing.\r \r If you love dancing the way I do, SI is a great place to learn, to improve, and to enjoy dancing salsa, (as well as merengue, bachata, cha-cha, cuban casino rueda, ladies styling, men's body movement, and much more). If you do come check out the studio, ask for Gina, or for me, my name is Mike, and we'll look forward to wecloming you into our community.\r \r Pros: Different styles of salsa, a variety of teachers, weekly practice party and regular studio outings Cons: We are always looking for feedback to improve the studio more

i've been a student for almost two years now, and have really enjoyed the experience. Its amazing how much i've grown as a dancer in such a short amount of time. I love all of my teachers and have been sooo encouraged by them....its cool to see they care about dance and also want to see students make progress.\r SI has a great group of students and teachers and is lots of fun at any level...beginners will get a firm foundation, and more experienced dancers will be challenged to grow further! I recommend it to everyone who wants to have fun dancing, but also feel able to dance salsa anywhere they go in the world. more

Excellent structure and very fun environment. Gina and her staff really know how to break down the steps to their basics so anyone can learn. The only reason why I don't attend any longer is I moved. Would highly recommend to anyone who's seriously interested in learning. more

Gina is an amazing teaching. She is friendly, fun, and down to earth. I'm impressed at how she keeps everything fresh after teaching salsa for so long. Each class is something new and creative. I learned street salsa years ago and finally started taking classes a few months ago... and I'm so glad I did. The people are friendly, not intimidating at all. \r \r If you're a beginner -- SI offers a great deal - if you attend all basic classes offered, the cost per class for one month is $4.25! Under $5 for a class in NYC is unheard of! \r \r I'm only writing this review (my first review on any website) because I really believe that Salsa International deserves it. Oh and there's a $20 coupon available through Citysearch so wait, $85 - $20 = $65 / 20 classes = $3.25 per class! (that's for Basic Salsa).\r \r I'm in Level 2 which is filled with turns and combinations. At the end of class you seriously say to yourself, ""wow if I did this in a salsa club I'd look pretty friggin good!"" \r \r The only con is that sometimes classes are very crowded, but otherwise, 5 stars.\r Pros: nice people, good music, great teachers, perfect midtown location Cons: sometimes classes are overcrowded more

Salsa International has a great class schedule with a fun, well rounded, talented staff! With little to no dance experience, the Unlimited 4 week Basic Salsa Class had provided me with a wonderful fondation and an excitement for dancing! Now, classes at Salsa International are in my weekly routine as a fun, energetic excercise. Pros: Convenient Midtown Location, Fun/friendly staff more

The staff at Salsa International is fantastic. They are incredibly talented and patient. They make everyone, even the most awkward of dancers, feel encouraged and comfortable. You get a lot of instruction for not much money, so it's a great bargain. And even if you never master the moves, you will definitely enjoy yourself! more

I've been taking classes here for over 2+ yrs and I always have a blast in class. The rich assortment of classes and the quick pace of the dance combination has made this my daily cardio routine. The instructors are friendly, professional and well trained but they also inject a good dose of humor into the learning process, which makes the class a lot more enjoyable. When I began they had the best offer I could find (and still do), four basic classes a week for four weeks, come as often as I like. Pros: Professional, Trained instuctors, Friendly atmosphere more