Reviews & Ratings for Ssqq Dance Studio

02/03/11

Love Highsteppers Dance Troupe Urban Two Step Class

by The Katt

First of all, the old reviews need to be dropped because SSQQ, with its new owners and new location is one of the best kept secrets in town. Right now I'm taking urban 2-step classes which is taught be Susan of High Steppers Dance Troupe. SSQQ really did a good thing adding this to their list of offerings. Susan is a great teacher and I love the dance which I had never seen before. It makes me feel sexy (not raunchy) and romantic. As usuall the other dancers at SSQQ are a lot of fun as are the dances they regularly host.

09/30/10

From a Teacher's Perspective.....

by Alwaysdancing

I've taught at SSQQ for over 16 years! So have been there through all the good and the bad! I walked in to learn to dance as a tribute to my brother who passed away, we had always said we'd take dance classes.

I never left...was there for a year learning to follow, follow that for a year as an assistant and learning to lead. I am thrilled to be at the New SSQQ with the new owners!

People go to dance classes for many reasons, social, competition, to get out of the house, to get exercise...etc.

I've been asked are you bored yet? Not even once! Every month you meet new people to add to your friend list, you are helping people reach their goals and yes, you meet quite a few characters. Get bored? Not possible!

I try to give the best examples of the moves we are learning, make sure everyone can see and hear, not always possible but do try. I am always available for a student, before or after class. I've had students call me to ask, "how does that move go again?" Had privates at the last minute in the middle of the night because they were heading out of town and please!! Yes, I'll help you.

Every teacher and student is different, every minute can be enjoyable, helpful and exciting. You both go in with the best of intentions, and there's a good chance you become a dancer! I love SSQQ and all our teachers and students! So hope you try for yourself before you pass judgement!

SSQQ Dance Studio

1431 C 20th St.

Not to be confused with old address still listed on Bellaire. The new studio is brand new and up todate. Lots of parking and the new owners are a joy to work for and give everything to making this the best place to dance!

09/10/10

NEW Dance Studio Location and Owner

by 1Dancegirl

The comments written on the S S Q Q Dance Studio were made BEFORE the NEW Dance studio opened at 1431 20th Street, which is near Ella and Loop 610 N. There is a new owners too. Things are pretty cool there with a club-like atmosphere. The place is newly built out and it is very clean and roomy.

I took lessons at the old dance studio location for 15 years, and obviously I enjoyed the music, the lessons, the dancing, meeting people, the parties, and getting exercise. And, I always learned something new after so many years. My husband and I met there--the first best thing. The second best thing about old dance studio is I never felt lonely there.

04/29/10

Best Thing I Ever Did Later in Life

by DancingGirl54

I joined SSQQ after my husband of 32 years passed away. I always loved to dance - he didn't - so I never learned any. It helped me get back into the social settings of being single once again. I love changing partners, it helped to teach me how to dance with ANY man, not just one. I can follow any man who can lead! I met many, many new and great friends there and am looking forward to beginning again at the new studio (closer to home actually) in May. Being widowed, I am NOT a rich widow that can afford more than $40-$45 per month - much less per lesson or per hour.

• Pros: Great Instructors, very friendly people.
• Cons: Parking was one, but new studio on the way!

04/24/10

Highly Recommended

by shynessx2

I began taking lessons at SSQQ a year and a half ago. I was at a crossroad in life where it could have gone on the same as it had been (lonely) or to learn to overcome the shyness that goes along with being an introvert. I chose to overcome the shyness.

Through the rule of switching partners, I learned to hold a conversation with another human being for two minutes at a time. I truly love to dance and this has become a source of joy and a creative outlet for me, not to mention great exercise and a great way to release the stress of the week on Friday nights.

SSQQ has WONDERFUL instructors, who are very patient and kind, and yes, it is more of a social dancing club than "professional" dance lessons, but if you are looking for a place where everyone's personality is different and to be accepted for who you are, this is a great place to go.

• Pros: Great Instructors, Cost, Wonderful for forming Friendships
• Cons: Cannot think of any

04/19/10

It's good for you.

by TexDak

I see people complain about switching partners all the time. This is why I do it. I decided to take lessons so I can get out of this box I put myself in. I like to dance, but I have some fears so I'm very uncomfortable out on the dance floors. It's nice to see other people feel the same. Look into their eyes, your new dance partner for a few seconds, and you see it. It's finally nice to be around some people that feel the same.

• Pros: Great interaction.
• Cons: Kind of crowded, the parking not the studios.

03/30/10

Enter the studio with your eyes wide open

by Houston Dance Queen

Want to belong, improve, control weight, and have fun – consider dance lessons. For some that decision becomes a way of life enhanced by caring instructors with a knack for sharing knowledge and skill to gently nudge students to their goals in a fun experience. For others it is a self inflicted hell with intimidation, criticism, obnoxious partners, new faulty muscle memory, up selling to “private” lessons, etc. N.B., when you buy a private lesson, always know how many other students there will be. Five students to me is NOT a private lesson.

To build a successful business in a highly cyclical industry, an aggressive personality helps. Personally, I would prefer a dance partner who shares my values of aggressiveness. Same is true and even more so for a dance instructor. I am offering up my time, my senses, and my mind to receive instruction. People with an agenda beyond helping me at my pace quickly destroy an anticipated positive experience. Sadly, the wonderful experience with effective caring instructors is overwhelmed by a single negative experience with the opposite personality.

If you believe based on feedback from instructors in basic instruction that you are making expected progress only to be presented with instructor comments in the next level class such as “Did you take the basic course?”, “Did you show up to all the lessons?”, “Did you stay for the full lessons?” “Your elbow should be here.” “You need to stop in the line of dance rather than cross it.” “You have already fallen behind two new moves in this class while my assistant worked with you on basic stuff.” “This lesson is not a place for you now.” “Why don’t you join lessons for such and such dance tonight instead?” “Here is a card of someone who can offer “private” lessons to help you.” N.B., card was from my former instructor from whom I learned faulty muscle memory.

Fortunately, I took two sequences and had a positive experience with the other dance sequence because the instructors taught both levels and presented material to the average pace of the students in the classes. It has now become clear as soon as instructors with a different agenda see what I have learned; I run the risk of comments similar to those from the previous paragraph. I have zero interest in a repeat of that experience.

I understand from two sources that the owner/head instructor of sixty instructors has sold the business and that the business is soon to move to a location with more parking. Check carefully for the policies of the new owner and be conscious that Dirty Dancing, Urban Cowboy, Saturday Night Fever, and Dancing with the Stars drive an interest in dance lessons and dance venues. Treasure your time and resources and decide what works for you. Enter this dance studio with your eyes wide open.

• Pros: Lots of wonderful instructors and students
• Cons: An opportunity to create a self-inflicted hell

02/28/10

Kinda ghetto...

by Kasekaki

When going as a couple, it would be nice to know that your other half isn't being hit on by every low class male in the class. It would appear that this is where some guys go to pick up women. The instruction isn't too bad, but being forced to dance with every single person in the class ruins everything.‎

• Pros: cheap.
• Cons: low class and dirty.

06/19/09

You get what you pay for

by MickHouston

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

06/15/09

Very disappointed with Salsa lesson

by SalseraSL

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