Ssqq Dance Studio
(713) 861-1906
4803 Bissonnet St
Bellaire,
TX
77401
29.7103
-95.4625
Neighborhoods: Southwest, Bellaire
Reviews & Ratings for Ssqq Dance Studio
12 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 12 reviews
You get what you pay for
by MickHouston
June 19, 2009
took the beginning salsa class with my girlfriend. class was so big that you could not hear the instructor if you happened to be at the end of the line which was often as the men would rotate (the loud music from the other rooms made it difficult to hear the instructor as well). In fact, I don't believe the rotation helped at all; I would have preferred to stay with one woman as the rotation was a serious distraction and deterrent to the learning process. I left after a couple of classes and will use videos from youtube to learn the salsa. Oh ya, the woman instructor seemed to border on bi-polar; her mood was up and down showing some anger ever so often scolding the men however the male instructor actually showed some patience with the female students. go figure.
- Pros: price
- Cons: large classes; impatient instructor
Very disappointed with Salsa lesson
by SalseraSL
June 15, 2009
I recently took the intermmediate Salsa crash course. I was disappointed throughout the course for the following reasons:
1) Instructors didn't know how to find the 1 beat with music! A fundamental mistake that stuck out like a sore thumb. It's sad that we are being taught bad habits from the instructors. Half the time we started on3 and on5. Maybe they need to take the basic course again..... (side note: their off-beat dancing wasn't because I was mistaken and it was me who was off-beat. Others in the class also picked this mistake out)
2) While practicing the moves without music, the instructors didn't count. They would just say the name of the moves. Therefore, you heard heels hitting the ground in no unison. I've never been to a salsa class where they didn't count "1,2,3-5,6,7" while dancing without music.
3) Instructors arguing during class. There was 1 guy and 1 girl teaching. Throughout the class they disagreed on teaching style and this was unprofessional.
4) Poor description of moves. Some movements were called "this weird thingy" or had no title at all. Most people in the intermmediate class will know what "cross body lead" or "open break" is. Yet they didn't use these words to help us understand the moves.
I felt like a worse dancer after leaving the class. The instructors were good people, but they shouldn't be instructors. I don't think anyone should be teaching salsa that can't dance on timing.
- Pros: Not too expensive
- Cons: Poor instruction
Great teachers and great people make for fabulous dancing
by elioxia
September 25, 2007
If you are interested in learing how to dance socially and want to learn in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, then SSQQ is the place to go. I've been dancing there weekly for almost 2 years straight and I can say going to class is one of the highlights of my week! SSQQ is great for absolute beginners who just want to learn how to dance (which is where I started), but it's also great if you want to build technique and add to your list of moves to whip out on a local dance floor. The teachers there are very nice and approachable. Never did I feel dumb for not getting a move or intimidated into not asking for another demo. Class sizes do vary by dance and level and sometimes can be a bit crowded due to popularity, but in my experience SSQQ has always tried to move bigger classes to larger rooms to accomodate. I've never walked away feeling that I wasn't getting my money's worth. I don't know where else you can get 8 hrs of dance instruction for $50. All SSQQ classes are group classes. Many couples often complain about not getting to dance with their partner. However, I've discovered that in social dancing, especially when you are learning, it is important to dance with many different people. Dancing is about leading (for men) and following (for women). Sure I enjoy dancing with my partner, but I've found that if we only dance with each other, we end up developing bad dancing habits to "adjust" for each other's mistakes. There is no faster way to realize you are doing something wrong in leading or following than by dancing with someone you usually do not dance with. Trust me, by the end of one group rotation, usually both my partner and I somehow "miraculously" fix the problem that we had at the begining of the rotation (without either of us having to torture each other to do it!) Then when we go out and dance together, we dance more smoothly with each other and enjoy ourselves even more. Hats off to SSQQ for bringing great teachers and nice people together to dance!
- Pros: Congenial atmosphere, good dance instruction, receptive teachers, fun crowd
- Cons: So popular it can sometimes be crowded, parking
SSQQ Responds
by richardjarcher
August 30, 2007
My name is Rick Archer. I am the owner of SSQQ. I would like to point out that several comments posted by Katklaw in one of the SSQQ Reviews on City Search are deeply inaccurate.
The following 3 allegations have no merit whatsoever:
1. (unless you agree to buy the big package)
2. pressure filled environment
3. high pressure sell
Everybody has a right to express their opinion, but they do not have the right to speak incorrectly.
Anyone who is familiar with SSQQ knows we do not have any "big packages" to sell. This false statement alone compromises the integrity of the entire complaint. The truth is that our classes sell for $40 and $50 for a month of group dance lessons.
Furthermore, SSQQ absolutely refuses to pressure its customers into taking any classes.
Quite the contrary, we pride ourselves in being the least commercial dance studio that has ever existed.
Furthermore, I defy Katklaw to identify anyone at SSQQ who is involved in high-pressure sales.
In truth, we try to make our classes fun and hope our customers will return of their own free will. There is no arm-twisting at SSQQ Dance Studio, of that I can assure everyone. 30 years of business indicates that our low key philosophy is effective.
As for Katklaw's curious assertion about our "unusual clientele", consider the source. Besides, our students would probably take that as a compliment.
Least Recommended dance studio
by katklaw
April 25, 2007
I have taken numerous lessons through the years in Houston to keep my dancing skills up to date and would never send a friend to SSQQ. The management, as well as the staff that works there regularly, are unusually snippy and sarcastic (unless you agree to buy the big package) and the pressure to buy is their biggest priority. I would like to go to their studios (they are in close proximity to my house) but since I have yet to have one pleasant experience with them , and since my last dance experience with them was so negative, I am going to keep going to other places in town. I appreciate that they have been in business for quite a while in Houston, but there are too many other dance studios in the city that have a friendlier and less pressure filled environment. Definitely try somewhere else first.
- Pros: Been in business for a while, larger studio
- Cons: Surly service, unusual clientele, parking, high pressure sell
Too much switching of partners
by amymcafee
December 10, 2006
My husband and I, along with two other couples, took the Rumba, Cha Cha, and Tango class. When we arrived at our first class, the Rumba had been replaced with swing. Although swing is fun, it was not what we signed up for. This would have been fine without the constant switching of partners. There were twice as many women as men in the class, and I was only able to dance with my husband 3 times throughout the two-hour class. We took a dance class in hopes of improving our dancing as a couple. The other two couples had similar complaints. In the future we will pay the extra money to take semi-private lessons at another studio.
User review by chart
by chart
December 17, 2005
A friend and I left after half a class. They give you all kinds of reasons why mandatory switching is good, but when you get stuck with the big greasy sweaty guy for 20 minuts, no reason is reason enough.
I really just wanted to dance with my friend, and that's not possible at SSQQ.
Great lessons! by Laura A. at InsiderPages
Contributor
November 07, 2005
My father and I signed up for dance lessons at SSQQ before my wedding and I am so glad we did! The instructor was fabulous and was very patient with both my father and I. Two, one-hour sessions was plenty of time to learn the steps to our father daughter song. We definitely wowed everyone at the reception! I have since recommended SSQQ to numerous friends and they always call me raving about it! Definitely check out SSQQ is you are looking for dance instruction!
Taught us the basics we needed! by Christa T. at InsiderPages
Contributor
October 05, 2005
Husband and I took several private lesson before our wedding so that we didn't look like fools on the dance floor! The instructor was professional and easy to work with. She taught us basic dance moves that made us look eloquent without knowing much. The instructor had lots of experience and didn't make us feel silly. We had a fun time! Price was reasonable for the private lessons, too.
SSQQ Dance
Contributor
September 13, 2005
SSQQ is basically a dance school for the non-fancy. They have 2-hour crash courses to long classes extending several weeks, a few times a week. They also have classes for people with 2 left feet for those who have no training or who have never danced before in their life. Great place to learn all kinds of dance (salsa, 2 step, swing, merengue, ballroom etc) and socialize as they encourage partner switching during practice.
