The Best Ballroom Dancing Lessons

Thursday, March 20th

2025 Ballroom Dancing Lesson Reviews

Dance Vision

• Some lessons free
• $199 per year or $34 per month for subscription
• Video lessons
• Video tools or rewind, replay, pause, and download
• Award-winning teachers
• Access to competitions
• 4.7-star average rating from students

Since 1992, Dance Vision has been teaching dance with a specialization in ballroom. In recent years, it has grown to include a wide range of services, including online ballroom dance classes, dance certification, and events. With over 5,000 classes to choose from, you'll have plenty of opportunities to learn and improve your skills. This year, the program is expanding even further, with over 500 new classes being added. For beginners, there are 55+ programs to get you started, even if you have no experience. The instructors are all highly qualified, with over 70 experts in the field. The best part? You can access a range of their lessons entirely for free.

Tool-enhanced video lessons

Dance Vision's online platform provides you with a range of tools to help you learn ballroom dance, whether you're practicing at home or in a studio. The Figure List helps you keep track of what you need to learn next, allowing you to stay organized and focused. You can also bookmark your favorite videos with the Save Videos function, making it easy to revisit them later. The Loop Videos function allows you to play videos on repeat while you practice, perfecting your movements. The Control Speed tool allows you to adjust the video playback speed to suit your learning style, and you can jump to different video segments to review or learn specific elements. You can also download videos from Dance Vision to work with or without WiFi.

From absolute beginner to expert

Dance Vision's classes offer options for dancers of all levels, whether you're just starting out or have years of ballroom experience. If you're brand new to dance, the "Anyone Can Dance" program is a great place to begin. This program is designed for beginners, teaching the fundamentals and helping you build a strong foundation. As you progress, you can move on to the Bronze Level classes, which take your learning to the next step, teaching you more advanced techniques and skills. The Silver Level class covers intermediate-level work, and for experienced dancers, the Gold Level classes provide expert instruction from world-class instructors, allowing you to refine your skills and reach new levels of proficiency.

Free or up to $34.99 per month

At Dance Vision, you have the option to choose from two different payment plans. The first plan is totally free of charge. This type of plan gives you access to hundreds of classes and allows you to join a supportive community of dancers. With the free account, you can create an account and start dancing right away. The Premium is the main paid plan. This plan offers unlimited access to over 5,000 classes, taught by a team of instructors for $34.99 per month or $199 per year, which works out to $16.58 per month.

Keep an eye on competitions through Dance Vision

One feature we loved about Dance Vision is that the site will connect you with ballroom dance competitions if you're interested in competing. You are also able to access the national championships of ballroom dance by being a student of Dance Vision, giving you access to many of the same opportunities of a traditional school without the in-person time commitment.

High praise from students and teachers

Currently, Dance Vision doesn't have a rating from the Better Business Bureau, but its reputation is still impressive in third-party reviews. For example, Dance Vision's mobile app has earned a competitive 4.3 stars out of 5 on the Google Play Store and a solid 4.7 stars on the Apple Store. There are reviews from both students who use the Dance Vision platform and the program's teachers, who love how easy the platform is to navigate from both ends. Students are especially impressed by the curriculum, as it includes top professionals in every style of ballroom teaching from beginner to advanced technique. In general, it's hard to find complaints about Dance Vision.

Perfect one-stop shop

With top marks, assistance with competitions, and professional and award-winning teachers, Dance Vision stands out as the top option in the industry for ballroom dance lessons. We're impressed by the lesson materials, the leveling system, and the easy-to-use interface. This is a one-stop shop for ballroom dancers, whether you want to enjoy casual dance or competition. For this reason, it earns it the top spot in our review and a 5-star rating.

Liberero's Ballroom Dance 101

• From $40 to $50 DVD purchase
• $17 to $27 monthly membership online
• $150 for weekly in-person lessons in Tampa, FL
• Three learning options
• 90-day money-back guarantee
• Video lesson previews
• Award-winning instructors
• 5-star average ratings

With over 40 years of experience in teaching ballroom dance, Liberero's Ballroom Dance 101 offers three unique ways to learn: DVD lessons, online lessons, and in-person lessons. Their instructors have been producing instructional dance videos since 1979, focusing on patterns that help students build on concepts and transfer their skills from one dance style to another. As an award-winning institution, Liberero's provides an excellent learning experience for both beginner and advanced ballroom dancers.

Learn in person or online

Liberero stands out by offering a multi-modal learning approach. The online classes offer a membership-based lesson plan, allowing you to watch video lessons at your convenience using a PC or mobile device. If you live in the Tampa, FL area, you can choose to attend in-person classes instead. You'll find beginner and intermediate classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as advanced classes on Mondays. You'll also have the opportunity to participate in group meet-ups for dance practice or competitions.

From beginner to advanced ballroom

The DVD courses offered by Liberero's cover from beginner to advanced levels, providing a complete educational experience from the comfort of your own home. Likewise, the in-person classes start at the beginner level and go up to advanced. This way you can expect a full range of improvement. Or, you can choose to take classes more casually. However, as with other DVD-based programs, some customers may find the online course a little out of date for their modern technology. Unless you still have a DVD player, you may not be able to use DVD mode for lessons.

From $50 one-time to $150 per week

While Liberero's offers a range of pricing options, it may take some effort to find the exact costs. To make it easier for you, we've broken down the pricing structure:

• DVD Lessons: A one-time purchase of $50 for beginner lessons (all styles), $40 for basic to intermediate lessons (all styles), and $40 for advanced lessons (all styles)
• Online videos: Pay per level and package
• Beginner: $49 (2 hours of big band style or 2 hours of latin style)
• Intermediate: $39 per video package (all styles)
• Advanced: $39 per video package (all styles)
• In-Person Classes: $150 standard tuition for two ½ hour private lessons and 1 group class per week

High praise from students

One of the standout features of Liberero's is its welcoming atmosphere. You'll find that students rave about the family-like environment and ease of learning. With 5-star average ratings on Google reviews and Facebook, Liberero's has built a loyal customer base that is eager to recommend the business. Many reviewers highlight the "community" aspect of Liberero's, where you can find new friends through your shared passion for ballroom dancing. Since Liberero's is a smaller ballroom dance school, it doesn't currently have a page on the Better Business Bureau.

A competitive multimodal learning program

Reviewers can't say enough about Liberero's exceptional ballroom dance instruction. Regardless of which learning style you choose, you'll find comprehensive, level-specific instruction with a variety of price options to suit your needs. If you prefer to learn from home, you can use the video lessons or DVDs. If you're looking to dance with others and live near Tampa, you can enjoy the community and in-person classes with award-winning instructors who have over 40 years of experience. With its impressive instruction and welcoming atmosphere, Liberero's is an excellent choice for anyone looking to improve their ballroom dancing skills.

Superprof

• Costs range from $20 to $100+ per hour
• Live Zoom lessons or in-person tutoring
• Refunds permitted
• Unique specializations for ballroom styles
• 4.1-star average rating

Superprof has been around since 2013 and has grown into a global platform, operating in 43 countries and 25 languages. With over 22 million teachers and tutors on board, the company has expanded to include tons of subjects and arts. The platform started with school students seeking to improve their grades but has since evolved to offer tutors for various skills and subjects. Unlike many other platforms in our review, Superprof isn't a premade course for ballroom dance. Instead, it is a place that connects you with tutors who specialize in ballroom dance.

Face-to-face or Zoom lessons

Superprof offers face-to-face and online lessons (usually on Zoom). If you choose face-to-face, you'll be matched with tutors that live in your area. You can also limit the results for ballroom dancing teachers to those within a certain distance if you don't want to drive too far. However, due to the setup of the site, you'll need to do a little digging to find a teacher who's genuinely professional. Many of the tutor photos come across like those on dating apps, with teachers posing with peace signs or daily (non-dance) attire. While this may create a friendly vibe some students will enjoy, if you're looking for a pro dancer to help you grow in your ballroom technique, you'll need to dig a little deeper. Depending on where you live, the options may also be very limited. In our local city, there were only 7 ballroom dance tutors available, but we found up to 50 across the US.

Difficulty is determined by each tutor

Each tutor has their own specialization and level, so there's no guarantee you'll find the exact level you want in your area. For example, some of the specializations we saw in our local city included:

• Social lessons for kids
• Swing dance and some ballroom
• Ballet, pointe, and competitive ballroom
• Ballroom and street dances

Many of the tutors didn't talk about levels at all, so you'd have to get in contact with a tutor you like and see how far they can take you.

Cost range from $20 to $100+

Like the levels and lesson content, the costs are determined by the tutors too. In our area, we saw lesson costs from $20 to $65 per hour. The price was the same whether you went to a face-to-face lesson or a Zoom lesson. In the nationwide listings, we saw prices that went to $100+ per hour with teachers who are award-winning competitors.

Solid ratings for most tutors

Currently, Superprof doesn't have a page on the Better Business Bureau. We did find some third-party reviews, though the feelings are mixed. On average, Superprof earns a 4.1-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot. The less-positive reviews each had to do with a specific tutor. So, there isn't anything wrong with Superprof's platform for learning, but individual tutors may cause some problems for you if you don't click. We also found that Superprof offers refunds within 3-5 days, but there aren't any guidelines on what would qualify you for asking for a refund, so you may want to contact Superprof if that's a major concern.

Go-to for one-on-one training

While a private ballroom tutor may be really helpful in polishing up your technique, this method is much more expensive than most online courses in our review. If you need that one-on-one touch, though, Superprof is a great way to connect with someone who can help you. Since the number of ballroom tutors was higher on Superprof than some of our other tutor-based platforms, it earns a very high rating and ranks as our top tutor-based ballroom dancing site.

CLI Studios

• $199 for a yearly subscription
• Pre-recorded video lessons
• Video rewind, mirror, and pause tools
• Covers beginner to advanced materials
• 7-day free trial
• In-person conservatory classes offered
• 4.7-star average across review sites

CLI Studios is an online dance platform that is designed for students with busy schedules, allowing you to level up your dancing and meet your goals at your own pace. With classes ranging from dance basics to advanced choreography and training, there's something for every dancer. Along with ballroom lessons, you'll find jazz, hip-hop, and even contemporary classes. You can pick your level and choose an instructor from over 300 world-renowned professionals, such as Brian Friedman, Ysabelle Capitulé, Nika Kljun, and The Kinjaz, to take classes from. The program is modern and fresh, offering current professionals and CLI's impressive conservatory staff for you even at a distance.

Video format with on-site teaching tools

The studio classes are all offered online. With CLI Studios, you have 24/7 access to a massive library of dance content, including warm-ups, technique classes, and combinations. This on-demand library allows you to train at your own pace, whenever and wherever you want. The video player gives you complete control over the playback experience. You can pause the video to take a break, change the speed, or rewind and rewatch a section as many times as you want. The stop, rewind, and mirror controls enable you to jump ahead to a specific part or repeat a section until you master it. This level of flexibility and customization makes it easy for you to learn and practice dance moves at your own speed. There are five instructors for the ballroom program at CLI Studios, and most are award-winning ballroom competitors. Plus, you get a 7-day free trial to test out the program and styles to see if it's right for you.

From beginner to advanced learning

With CLI Studios, you can take your ballroom dancing to the next level. If you're new to ballroom, you can start with the beginner courses to learn the fundamentals of international ballroom styles, and then "dance it out" with fun combinations that you can perform on your own or with a partner. As you progress, intermediate courses will help you perfect your alignment, master fast footwork like the quick step, and work on articulation to make every performance explosive. For more experienced dancers, advanced courses offer bold choreography, opportunities to layer in textures, and training in performance skills. CLI Studios is a place where you can grow as a dancer even after you master beginner-level content.

Costs $199 per year

When you sign up with CLI Studios, you can start with a 7-day free trial to get a feel for their dance classes. After your trial period ends, you can become an annual member by paying $199. As a member, you'll have unlimited access to over 1,000 live and on-demand classes, with new classes being added every week. Considering that some in-person courses cost between $150 to $300 per month, this is still a highly competitive price for ballroom dance lessons.

Offers in-person conservatory classes

One of the main features of CLI Studios is its emphasis on professional opportunities. If you're interested in going pro in ballroom or any of their other dance styles, you can switch over to the CLI Conservatory page where options for auditions and in-person lessons are available. You can even sign up for their summer intensive if you really want to dig into your technique.

Popular with students, but not the BBB

While CLI currently holds an "F” rating from the Better Business Bureau, it's due to 6 complaints 1-3 years ago, which may be a little behind its current reputation. So, we suggest checking out the other third-party reviews. For example, the CLI app that you'll use for your courses has an impressive 4.6-star rating out of 5 on the Apple Store. The CLI courses also show a 4.8-star average rating from reviewers on Facebook. Students love how CLI blends technique with fun choreography, and some students who have been dancing for multiple years noted they learned tons from CLI Studios. So, no matter your level, they have something to offer you.

Impressive courses and techniques

Due to the massive discrepancy between the BBB and other third-party reviews, we're inclined to trust the feedback from actual students. While the price is a little higher and you do need to commit for a year, CLI Studios is set up to help you succeed at your ballroom dancing dreams. Whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced, you can learn new techniques and polish up your ballroom dancing with CLI Studios' helpful videos and tools. For this reason, CLI Studios earns a high score despite the rating from the BBB, and we highly recommend you check out their 7-day free trial.

Passion 4 Dancing

• $197 for a yearly subscription
• Weekly live lessons
• 3 free videos to preview
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Some 5-star ratings on Facebook

You may recognize the name Passion 4 Dancing from our other review on Learn to Dance. This is the paid program that takes the free courses from Learn to Dance to the next level. So, if you've already explored the free options on Learn to Dance, Passion 4 Dancing is the next step in your ballroom dancing journey. This subscription-based platform offers advanced lessons and over 500 videos to learn from, taught by the same instructors and in the same style you already enjoyed for free.

Video lessons for all ballroom styles

Passion 4 Dancing offers a well-rounded system for learning from the comfort of your own home. With live videos and video lessons, you'll never feel like you're missing out on in-person instruction. The free trial videos and money-back guarantee make this an excellent option for anyone looking to improve their ballroom dancing skills without breaking the bank. You can expect to see courses for Cha-Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, and West Coast Swing.

Building from beginner to advanced

The instructors at Passion 4 Dancing have over 15 years of experience teaching ballroom and Latin dance styles to beginners and advanced dancers alike. With its clear instruction and emphasis on technique, Passion 4 Dancing offers coursework for beginner to advanced students. This program is designed to take the very beginning content at Learn to Dance and elevate it to teach you through to the advanced level.

$197 per year

While the annual subscription fee of $197 may seem steep at first, it's actually a bargain when you do the math and see that it's just $16.60 per month and consider the value you receive. In comparison, most in-person ballroom lessons cost at least $50 per hour. With Passion 4 Dancing, you'll receive:

• Unlimited access to over 500 videos
• New videos every month
• Live weekly classes
• Technique lessons

The live online lessons alone are worth the price, with a focus on technique and a variety of styles. Plus, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Preview with three free lessons

On top of the live lessons, which help Passion 4 Dancing stand out from the pack, you'll still get some free lessons to try before you decide. If you want a broader look at the lessons styles, you can hop over to Learn to Dance to preview all the free content. If you prefer to stay on the site for Passion 4 Dancing, you'll still get access to three free videos in most dance styles before committing, but they are the exact same free videos as those found on Learn to Dance.

Some mixed reviews but overall positive feedback

Happy customers have attested to the effectiveness of the Passion 4 Dancing teachers in turning new students into skilled dancers. However, the reviews are pretty limited. There are only a handful of reviews on Facebook that show testimonials for Passion 4 Dancing. While all of these are 5 stars, we would love to see more total reviews. At the moment, it looks like Passion 4 Dancing is not one of the most widely-used platforms. Some of its lessons are available on the Apple Store through a podcast, but this only has 4 stars out of 5, showing some discrepancy with the perfect 5 stars on Facebook.

Great place for live lessons

While Passion 4 Dancing could use a little more buzz, its standout offerings and competitive pricing make it a course to consider. Offering lessons that move into advanced material along with live lessons, Passion 4 Dancing is a site worth checking into. If you like the teaching style of its two instructors, you may really enjoy Passion 4 Dancing. For this reason, it earns a solid rating in our review. Its lack of focus on possible competitive dancing is really the only thing that keeps it from being a total one-stop-shop and a higher-rated program.

Learn and Master

• $250 single purchase
• Professional instructors
• Asynchronous video lessons via DVDs
• Dance-along CDs
• Online community
• "A+” rating from the BBB for parent company

Learn & Master is a site owned by Legacy Learning Systems, a company that offers in-depth instructional courses for those who want to learn new skills from the comfort of their own homes. Unlike other companies that promise quick and easy results, Legacy Learning Systems focuses on providing systematic and un-intimidating instruction that builds on previous skills. The company has been around for years and started by creating music instruction courses but now offers courses in various topics related to the arts, including ballroom dance.

Mix of video and workbooks

Unlike traditional dance lessons, which require you to adhere to a specific schedule, Learn & Master understands that many students have busy lives. They offer pre-recorded DVD lessons for the Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Rumba, Cha-Cha, and Swing, allowing you to dance on your own time. The ballroom package includes six CDs of approved ballroom dance music to help you practice outside of the DVD lessons, as well as access to an online community where you can ask questions and get support from experienced instructors. With a 13-DVD package of dance figures and ballroom choreography, workbooks, and an online community, Learn & Master offers a unique learning experience that allows you to work at your own pace, without the constraints of a traditional dance studio.

Created for beginners

Learn & Master designed its ballroom curriculum in response to the popularity of dance shows like Dancing With The Stars and So You Think You Can Dance. As a result, they have created a video lesson package for absolute beginners. By providing a structured learning path, Learn & Master's program helps you progress at your own speed, perfecting your technique and building confidence. However, if you're looking for something to bring your technique up to the advanced level or competition level, you're going to want to look elsewhere.

$250 one-time fee

While the full course costs $250, Learn & Master promises that it provides everything you need to become an excellent ballroom dancer. Remember, the package includes 13 DVDs of video lessons, six CDs of dance tracks, over 75 pages of workbook material, and access to an online community. With instruction from top ballroom dancers Mark and Jaimee, you'll receive personalized guidance and feedback throughout your learning journey. The lack of monthly fees is also a significant advantage, allowing you to budget accordingly. However, not everyone may like using (or have access to) a DVD player in today's age of streaming, so this may not be ideal for many modern households.

No trial or refund policy

There's another drawback to Learn & Master. The program doesn't offer any kind of free trial, nor does it offer a refund policy. This means you'll need to carefully consider whether this DVD-based program is ideal for you. For many, it just won't be worth it to pay for a non-refundable beginner program.

Not a lot of buzz for Learn & Master

Currently, Learn & Master's parent company, Legacy Learning Systems” has an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau. Sadly, outside of this, there aren't any reviews for the Learn & Master ballroom dance program, so it's hard to gauge the success of the program for students. While we can say the parent company is trustworthy, it's unclear how effective the ballroom dance program is.

A mid-tier option that feels a little old-fashioned

While $250 may be a significant upfront investment for some students, Learn & Master's package offers decent value for those who are committed to mastering ballroom dance. With a working DVD player and somewhere to play the dance-along CDs, this could be a good option for those who want to learn at their own pace. However, with other programs offering more levels, more than two teachers, and app-based video lessons, Learn & Master is starting to feel a bit behind the times. For this reason, it earns a mid-tier rating.

iDance

• $11 for a Monthly Pass
• $9 for one-day access
• Video class format
• 137 different lessons
• 2 instructors
• Good for beginners

iDance is a service that offers video-style dance lessons for a variety of dance styles. You'll find things like jazz and modern dance as well as Bollywood style for unique lessons with specialized instructors. One drawback is the site itself. During our research, we struggled to find lessons that were recorded recently. The site also comes across as needing an update with minimal information about the actual courses. The ballroom dance selection on iDance offers a variety of different dance styles; however, if you're already familiar with ballroom dancing, you may want to look elsewhere for a more complete experience. iDance is a great option for those who are just starting out, but it may not be the best choice for those seeking more advanced lessons.

Video lessons only

iDance's ballroom department offers a collection of video lessons, covering 137 individual classes across 28 lesson packs led by two instructors: Mandy Carlisle and Ilya Veledniskiy. The video format provides previews, and you can learn from both the leader and follower positions. The videos also enable you to pause and replay the content as needed, so that you can learn at your own pace. However, there aren't any supplemental materials, and the videos have not been updated in years, which may not appeal to some brand-new or younger dancers. But the videos allow you to practice and review the content as many times as you need, making it a good solution for those who are shy or prefer to learn at their own pace.

Lessons stop after level 2

iDance is a good middle-of-the-road option, but only for beginners. While iDance offers a variety of ballroom styles, including Cha-Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero, Mambo, West Coast Swing, Merengue, Hustle, Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, Samba, and Salsa, their ballroom lessons only go up to Level 2, "knowing your basics”. If you're getting ready for a wedding or just want to get a little extra exercise with your partner, iDance is a decent platform. However, if you're looking for more advanced lessons to take your dancing beyond beginner level, you may want to explore other courses.

$11 per month or $9 per day

For an incredibly affordable price of just $11 per month, iDance offers its entire range of ballroom lessons, along with other dance classes available on its website. You can explore various dance styles without breaking the bank, making it a solid starting point for those new to dancing. If you don't want to subscribe, or just want a quick lesson or two, you can pay $9 for a single-day pass.

Privacy has pros and cons

One of the benefits of iDance's video lessons is the ability to learn in a safe and private environment. You don't have to worry about sharing class space with others, but you still receive professional-level instruction. However, this comes with a mirrored downside: you won't be able to practice these partnered dances with a second person unless you have a partner learning with you at home. If you're planning to be in the follower position, it's super important to dance with a partner to learn how different it feels.

No review presence

Sadly there are no reviews for iDance or a rating for the company with the Better Business Bureau. Even on the iDance side, we didn't find any reviews for the program. With no one talking about it, we can't speak to the quality of the courses. But with such low prices, it may be worth it to check it out simply on the merit of trying something new. However, if the old website and limited lessons give you pause, there aren't any solid reviews to help you feel better.

May be worth considering if you're a newbie

Overall, iDance is a "good enough" ballroom dance program for beginners. It's affordable and offers the opportunity to keep the lessons you buy to review over and over. However, if you're looking for more advanced ballroom steps and lessons to take you beyond beginner level, iDance may not be the best choice for you. Given the limitations of iDance, it earns a lower rating in our review. But it's still worth a look if you've never danced before or if you're looking for a budget-friendly way to get started.

Take Lessons

• Prices from $20 to $140 per hour
• Free search engine to find teachers in your area
• In-person and online options
• Safety features include background checks

Take Lessons is not a ballroom dancing course, but rather a unique platform that allows you to discover and connect with qualified ballroom dance instructors. By offering private lessons, group lessons, and video lessons, Take Lessons provides a convenient way to explore different teachers, studios, and private instructors until you find the perfect fit for your learning style. This platform might get your attention, due to the large number of instructors for ballroom dancing that allow you to have your pick of style, level, and teaching methods. Take Lessons' focus is on providing students with a way to discover and connect with instructors.

Video and in-person lessons

As a search engine, Take Lessons offers impressive flexibility. Whether you're looking for in-person lessons or prefer to learn online, this platform makes it easy to find the right teacher. You can filter your search by location, day, and price to narrow down your options and find the perfect match. And, if you'd like, you can even arrange for a teacher to come directly to your home for private lessons in the comfort of your own space. But, while there are a similar number of teachers and tutors in our area to competing tutoring sites, it is harder to change your location and search for new tutors on Take Lessons. There are also fewer total tutors on this platform for ballroom dance.

Lessons from beginner to advanced material

While Take Lessons may not offer pre-packaged courses or predetermined lesson plans, it's a good resource for those seeking personalized learning experiences. By connecting with qualified instructors and exploring different teaching styles, you can create a customized learning journey. You can find a bunch of different levels and styles offered on Take Lessons. In our local area, we found teachers with the following specializations:

• Latin, salsa, cha-cha, merengue
• Solo ballroom
• Social ballroom
• Argentine tango and ballet
• Waltz, rumba, and cha-cha

All of the teachers also list what levels they teach from beginner to advanced.

Prices from $20 to $140 per hour

The prices differ depending on which tutor or teacher you pick. In our local area, prices ranged from $20 to $140 per hour. Across the platform, prices can go as high as $200 per hour, so you'll want to carefully research your teacher before committing. Thankfully, each teacher's profile includes photos and videos, giving you a clear understanding of who you'll be working with.

Security is a priority

When it comes to connecting with strangers, safety is a top priority. Take Lessons promises that all teachers have undergone a thorough background check before they're listed on the platform. This way, you can trust that you're meeting a real person and that they've been vetted by Take Lessons before you make that connection.

Reviews raise some red flags

Sadly, Take Lessons currently has a "D-” rating from the Better Business Bureau. This is due to a few complaints in the last few years. On top of that, Take Lessons has just 1.5 stars on average from Trustpilot. Customers had issues with being charged multiple times despite discontinuing lessons. While students generally appreciate the teachers and tutors themselves, there is a consensus that the platform isn't ideal and has a lot of problems on both the student and teacher sides.

Not worth the potential hassle.

With other more competitive tutoring-based sites, Take Lessons slides down the rankings a bit. While we like the focus on security and the flexibility of one-on-one instruction, the complaints about Take Lessons raise some eyebrows. For a more enjoyable ballroom dancing lesson platform, you may want to look at the higher-rated services in our review.

Learn to Dance

• Free video lessons
• Asynchronous learning
• HD videos
• Made for beginners

Learn to Dance is a website that offers online dance lessons in various styles, including Ballroom, Hip Hop, Belly Dancing, Ballet, and Irish Step Dancing, among others. The site was acquired by Leon Turetsky, a professional dance instructor with a Ballroom dance studio in Boston, Massachusetts, in September 2014.

Free video lessons

You can find free video lessons suitable for beginner dancers, as well as product recommendations for those looking to improve their skills. You can access a wide range of dance styles and levels of instruction on the site, making it a great resource for anyone interested in learning to dance. At first glance, Learn to Dance may seem like a simple website, but it offers a great opportunity to dip your toes into the world of ballroom dancing without breaking the bank. And best of all, it's completely free.

Quick free lessons in ballroom

If you're curious about ballroom dancing and want to see if it's right for you, Learn to Dance is an excellent starting point. With a collection of video lesson packets covering eight different ballroom dance styles, including Partner Dance 101, Waltz, Cha-Cha, Swing, Rumba, Salsa, Foxtrot, Tango, and Merengue, you'll have a solid foundation to build upon. The videos on Learn to Dance are high-definition and offer clear, step-by-step lessons. Each style is taught by the same instructors, making it easy to get accustomed to their teaching style. The videos feature two partners, allowing you to learn both the leader and follower positions. While the lessons only scratch the surface of each style, they're an excellent starting point for beginners. However, don't expect more than a few lessons per style from Learn to Dance - the pages will direct you to a separate website for further instruction.

Just the basics

Learn to Dance offers its lessons in bite-sized packages, each consisting of 3-4 video lessons per style. These lessons cover the basic steps and then delve into specific moves before directing you to the Passion 4 Dancing website for more advanced lessons. Keep in mind that these free lessons are just the tip of the iceberg, and if you want to progress with the same instructors, you'll need to upgrade to a paid subscription on a separate website. However, if you're just looking to get started and decide if ballroom dancing is for you, Learn to Dance is an excellent way to begin.

Not a standout service for ballroom classes

While Learn to Dance's ballroom selection is nice, it's not entirely unique. You can find similar instructions on YouTube for free. The only advantage Learn to Dance offers is collecting these videos in one place and presenting them in high definition. If you're new to ballroom dancing and want to explore this genre without committing to a paid subscription, Learn to Dance is a decent starting point. However, its offerings barely meet our expectations for free lessons.

No review presence at all

Sadly, there are no third-party reviews out there for Learn to Dance or a page on the Better Business Bureau for this program. While it's totally free, so there's no need to worry about trustworthiness or returns, we do wish there was some buzz. However, if you want to see for yourself, you can easily jump into the free videos and preview the content.

Not a competitor even for free courses

As a starting point, Learn to Dance isn't bad. It's a free course, and the lessons are organized by style for you on the website. But it still doesn't really stand out from the pack. You can learn plenty of ballroom skills from YouTube, also totally free, so Learn to Dance needs to work on making itself more competitive in the future. There isn't really a reason to choose this course over other options.

Udemy

• Database for finding online classes
• One-time purchase
• Multiple course options
• Prices range from $16 to $90 per course

Udemy is another online platform where you can connect with teachers to learn ballroom dance, offering a range of online and video lessons. While it's a good starting point, Udemy has a limited number of courses, with most offering under 10 hours of content. In contrast, other options on our list offer more extensive resources, making them more suitable for serious dancers. Udemy's courses may be a good introduction to ballroom dance, but not be enough to help you improve significantly.

Better for discovering new courses

When exploring online ballroom courses on Udemy, you'll notice that some courses are new, while others can be found on their original creators' websites, blogs, or YouTube channels. This raises questions about the authenticity of the content and whether you're getting the best possible learning experience. You may want to consider if using Udemy as an intermediary is worth it or if it's better to go directly to the source for your courses. By cutting out the middleman, you may have more control over the content and instruction you receive.

Different levels depending on the course

One of the advantages of using a database site like Udemy is the ability to filter your search criteria to find the perfect ballroom course for you. You can limit your search by level (beginner, intermediate, advanced, or expert), ratings, features, and video duration. This level of customization allows you to focus on specific aspects of ballroom dance that interest you most, whether it's mastering a particular style or improving your technique. By taking advantage of these filters, you can create a personalized learning plan that suits your needs and goals. For example, we saw that 303 of the results offered ballroom courses with under 1 hour of learning. Only 94 courses offered 6-17 hours of content, which is still very low considering how much time and training goes into any art form, but especially dance.

Prices from $16 to $20 on average

Keep in mind that prices on Udemy can fluctuate. At the time of this evaluation, most courses were on sale, bringing prices down from around $70 to $90 per course to $16 to $20 per course. However, it's unclear how often these sales occur or for how long they'll be available. Within a 2-year gap, we saw similar pricing during multiple visits to the site, so the "sale” may be constant.

Customers think the site is untrustworthy

Udemy doesn't have an impressive reputation. Currently, Udemy holds an abysmal "D-” rating from the Better Business Bureau. On other third-party review sites like Trustpilot, the average rating is 2 stars out of 5. Customers complain that the lessons on Udemy aren't recognized by other establishments and that the increase in skill is minimal (...kind of like what happens when you have a long streak on Duolingo, only to find out you still don't actually know Spanish…but that's the subject of a different review). Others noted the discrepancy in the sales notice on the site, saying they felt pressured to buy when there was another nearly identical sale the following day. Multiple reviews left within a few weeks of our most recent visit said that Udemy has untrustworthy business practices.

Not a competitive ballroom dancing program

On top of its other troubles, Udemy doesn't particularly stand out in the ballroom dance community. Compared to other courses and databases on our list, Udemy falls short in terms of content and depth. However, if you can catch the ballroom dance lessons on sale, it might be worth checking out a quick online class at a low price. On the other hand, given the poor reviews and ratings for Udemy, it might be safer to steer clear altogether.