A first dance was not even something that was being entertained as a possibility for the first 9 months of our engagement - I am FAR from being a natural on the dance floor, and had actually made it my personal mission to avoid the dance floor at every wedding/bar/club/gala/you name it I'd ever attended. That said, the thought of changing that, much less doing so with 100+ sets of eyes looking at us, actually made me sick to think about. My now wife had finally accepted that a first dance wasn't going to happen but I knew how much it meant to her so started looking around and ended up surprising her with a package of private lessons from Ball Room Dance Chicago. In retrospect, doing so was one of the best decisions I've ever made. We started out with a package of 5 lessons, but enjoyed them so much and found them to be so helpful that we ended up buying 5 more lessons after that. With all of the other expenses involved in a Chicago wedding, I was initially reluctant about cost - but it absolutely ended up being worth it in the end. We worked directly with Lydia who was truly AWESOME. I'm still not sure how she did it, but she (along with the entire BDC team) managed to make us feel totally comfortable from day 1. She was extremely patient, took the time to understand our personalities, and listened to what we wanted (and didn't want), even when we weren't exactly sure what that was. She's very knowledgeable, and had an exceptional ability to articulate things in a way that made sense to both my wife and me, despite the fact that we learn very differently. She also has a great sense of humor, which we really enjoyed and appreciated, especially in the heat of the wedding planning process. I could keep going, but will just sum it up by saying that Lydia and the BDC team are amazing..I'd even go as far as calling them miracle workers. We ended up with a beautiful first-dance, choreographed to Missy Higgin's 'The Way You Are Tonight", with multiple spins, and a dip at the end to boot! In the end, Lydia and the entire Ballroom Dance Chicago team took something that I literally dreaded going in, and turned it into our favorite part of the wedding prep process. They made the seemingly impossible, possible, and gave us memories that we will cherish forever. We are so grateful to have worked with and highly recommend Ballroom Dance Chicago! -Kristi & Jaclyn read more

One 4-star review, and seventy-one 5-star reviews...clearly I'm not going to tell you something new here. BDC is incredible, what are you waiting for? Before my now wife and I even had a wedding date, venue, florist, cake, and all the other stuff needed these days to get hitched, we had our first class with Lydia. We were nervous, I was a bit skeptical, but after that first lesson we were hooked. Lydia found a way to channel our personalities into the perfect dance that featured a never-before-seen "Double Dip". Jealous? You should be. Before BDC my dance skills would be best described as "novice", "terrible", or "seizure-esque". Except for the Robot, I can do a hell of a Robot. After a few lessons we had the basics and started perfecting our dance. Hour long private lessons helped us become masters, showcases helped us prepare for dancing in front of others, and complimentary wine helps with...everything. Lydia fit us in for a few last minute lessons the month before the big day, and sent encouragement up through the main event. Once we were out there she was in our heads counting it out "Quick. Quick. Sloooww. Sloooww." and it went perfect. We received a standing ovation and heard great things from everyone in attendance: "My unbiased opinion? The best dancing. Ever. In history." - Mom "We didn't know you could dance like that!" - Bridal party "It's an abomination!" - Rev. Shaw Moore So my advice to you is to sign up as soon as possible. Our experience with Lydia was outstanding, and by the end we were close with whole staff, just a fantastic group. The more time you let the team at BDC work their magic the better your dance will be and the more fun you get to have with them. Plus, free wine. Make that seventy-two 5-star reviews. read more

When my fiancee and I were looking to choreograph our first dance, we contacted several studios and got easily the best vibe from Ballroom Dance Chicago, so we went with them. Matthew recommended a ten lesson package to us, which sounded like a lot, but his enthusiasm was infectious and we trusted him, so we went with it. What ensued was nothing short of life-changing for us: instead of just choreographing a simple dance for us to do, Matthew *taught us to dance*. We learned to feel the dancing in our bones, to express the music and our feelings with our bodies, and bust out moves applicable to any music and situation. Only after we had the basics down did we get down to the particulars, which was a lot of fun and demonstrated Matthew's artistry and eye for choreography. We learned so well that when our wedding band played a slightly different arrangement of our song, we were able to simply roll with it. My fiancee and I discovered through Ballroom Dance Chicago that we loved to dance, something we weren't sure of before. We continued taking lessons right after our wedding (unwittingly moving up to "intermediate" moves before long) right up until the week we moved from Chicago. Needless to say, this studio is a huge drawing card for us to move back. I recommend Ballroom Dance Chicago to absolutely anybody, without reservation of any kind. I should note that although Matthew was our primary instructor, we did have Szewai pinch-hit once, and though her style of instruction was a little different (maybe with more emphasis on detail, though this is not to say that Matthew does not teach the details), she was superb as well and I would recommend her to anyone. read more

We started dance lessons with Ballroom Dance Chicago to prepare for our first dance at our wedding. We were BLOWN AWAY by the quality and value of this new experience. The beautiful studio and expert instructors make every lesson a memorable experience. My husband has never danced before and after lesson number one he was hooked! He loved the challenge of learning new steps and seeing the progress from lesson one to lesson ten. I really appreciated how our instructor, Matthew, made the lessons fun, engaging, and exciting. We left the studio feeling energized and more connected to one another. When we performed our first dance we received a standing ovation. It was truly a highlight of our big day! We both agreed that it was the best decision we made throughout the entire wedding planning process because Ballroom Dance Chicago gave us the space and time we needed to connect to one another and have some fun! We plan to bust out our first dance choreography at each anniversary to relive the joy and magic from the first time we set foot on the dance floor. In addition to having an incredible first dance experience, we were so moved by our time with Ballroom Dance Chicago that I started dance lessons with my father. It was so special for me and my dad to spend time together each week. We had such a great time that we plan to start lessons back up in the winter. I can not thank Matthew and Ballroom Dance Chicago enough for these priceless memories. We will cherish them for a lifetime! read more

I've had a lifelong "Fear of Dancing" problem, which I found out is fairly common for guys. Our son was getting married and I told my wife that on such an occasion I would finally confront my fear and really dance with her (as opposed to just the "shuffling feet in place" ersatz dancing method). Our son recommended Ballroom Dance Chicago and so, tamping down my anxiety, I tried it. This has been truly a great experience. I'm not going to lay on some schmooze that BDC waves a magic wand and you become Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers.Like everything worthwhile in life, you have to put your mind and body into learning how to dance. This is why BDC is so great. Matthew and his team are the most loving, nurturing, patient, and talented dancer instructors on Earth. Even a klutz like me can catch on and learn to dance! And I experienced something truly amazing doing this. My wife and I have been married for 35 years. When I took her in my arms at our first dance lesson and looked into her eyes - it was like we were 19 again; I felt like a kid on my first date with a beautiful girl. I kid you not.. Brothers and sisters, listen up: Dance lessons from BDC are a hell of a lot cheaper than couples therapy - way funner...lots more romantic! Get off your butt and try it! read more

My fiance (now husband) bought me the 5-class package to take lessons for our first dance at our wedding and so glad we took our lessons at Ballroom Dance Chicago! Lydia was our instructor. Working with her for 5 weeks made everything so much more fun! She really embraced us as a couple and helped us become much better dancers. She choreographed our first dance around the song we chose and was patient teaching us with great constructive criticism. The studio is so pleasant in a nice area and all of the staff are inviting and nonjudgmental. They also offer a glass of wine or beer which is a perk after a long day of work and ease the tension of learning a new dance ;) The dance ended up being perfect for what we were looking for.....much better than just swaying back n forth but also not overly complicated so we killed it on the dance floor looking like pros! My husband and I consider going back just for fun. If we pick up any kind of dance as a hobby to do together, this is the place we will return to! read more

Guys (and ladies who's guys are like this) - when you need to evolve past fist pumping and pretending to do the Dougie, this is the place to be. I love to dance (move awkwardly and wildly to beats both perceived and real) but didn't have one single ounce of training for something as special and important as my wedding. My fiance (now wife, thankfully that worked out) and I took lessons here for three months leading up to our wedding, coming in about once every other week. Our stellar and personable teacher was Rachael, who did an excellent job and became a friend in the process. I've met some of the other teachers, they all seem to excel at what they do and they do it in a fun and friendly manner. Be prepared to spend a little bit of money, but you pay for what you get - top-notch service and training and a wedding day dance you'll never forget. Plus, try out the galas they host each quarter - really fun BYO events each quarter where you get dressed up, drink, and dance! read more

My husband and I wanted to dance a first dance that wasn't "middle school shuffle" style, so we were planning to find local dance lessons pre-COVID. When the virus hit and we were under strict quarantine regulations, I did some research to see if online dance lessons were a possibility and found Ballroom Dance Chicago. Mandy and Matthew were quick to respond and answer any questions I had about their offerings, so I decided to book lessons with them, and I am SO GLAD. They took the time to work out when lessons should be sent and reviewed based on our schedule and pending wedding, and each individual lesson was easy to follow, fun and unassuming. The result ended with us having a unique dance that truly impressed our guests. We are so thankful to Ballroom Dance Chicago for a wonderful experience and for helping us create beautiful memories to last a lifetime. Not only was the quality of the dance top-notch, but the people behind Ballroom Dance Chicago are even more so. read more

My husband and I wanted to feel comfortable, beautiful, and confident for our first dance during our wedding, so we enlisted in the help of Ballroom Dance Chicago. We were immediately greeted by Angela and after a brief consult, we knew she and BDC were a perfect match. Angela was not only a talented dancer, but also a patient, kind teacher. She genuinely cared about us and our first dance; it showed as she tirelessly answered our questions, repeated steps, and danced with and alongside of us until we got it just right! During wedding planning, tasks can be daunting, but we looked forward to our midweek and weekend rehearsals with Angela. We were always greeted with hugs and smiles and always left feeling upbeat. Our wedding dance went wonderfully! But, more importantly, we had so much fun because Angela helped craft a beautiful dance that felt like "us" and gave us that extra vote of confidence we needed. Thank you BDC and special thanks to Angela! read more

My fiance and I had a wonderful experience at BDC! We worked with Lydia and loved her! She is super sweet and we had a blast working with her. We were always laughing and having a great time throughout our lesson. Taking breaks in between turns to sip on complimentary wine :) BDC has incredible customer service and they personalize your entire experience. They send reminder emails about each dance lesson that are personal not just a computer generated email. The week of our wedding we got two emails wishing us good luck on our dance. After our wedding, we also received a few congratulatory email as well as a hand written note from Lydia. BDC also offers free showcases for you to go and practice with your partner pre-wedding or just for fun. The space is also a beautiful loft space that was very cozy. We couldn't have asked for a better dancing experience. We plan to keep coming back now that our wedding is over to see Lydia because we had so much fun! read more

As my husband and I began planning for our wedding, one of the things we knew we wanted to have was a choreographed first dance. We tried out a few studios, but ended up going with Ballroom Dance Chicago. From our initial meeting with Cathy, we just clicked. She was so fun to work with and really helped us make our vision come to life. After months of hard work, being able to do our first dance in front of our friends and families was definitely one of the higher points of our wedding day. I highly recommend Ballroom Dance Chicago. Their staff is friendly and professional - not to mention great dancers and just fun to hang out with. It's clear they're passionate about what they do and want their clients to look and feel amazing when they're dancing. We can't wait to go back and lean more dance styles and moves. read more

My husband and I took took private dance lessons at the Ballroom Dance Chicago (BDC) before our wedding. The atmosphere at BDC is fun and classy, and the talented instructors there are extremely professional and friendly! Cathy, our beloved and happy-go-lucky instructor, worked with us to not only choreograph our First Dance, but also give us a great foundation in ballroom dance. Each lesson brought joy, growth, and lots of laughs. Also, BDC provide opportunities to practice your wedding dance in front of other students (which was INCREDIBLY helpful in preparing for the big day...definitely take advantage of this!). By the time our wedding came, we were feeling very confident in our skills and excited to show them off. I could go on and on...I cannot say enough good things about Ballroom Dance Chicago! read more

We would like to thank everyone at Ballroom Dance Chicago for the amazing experience that we had learning to dance for our up coming wedding. Special thanks to Matthew for running an incredible business and creating an environment where we felt welcomed every time we walked through the door. Most sincere thanks to the most awesome instructor, John. John was a pleasure to work with and his teaching style was perfect for us. His skills as an instructor are exemplary but he also created an atmosphere that was so much fun! We looked forward to our dance lesson every week. Because of John, we are very confident about our first dance as a married couple. We would strongly recommend Ballroom Dance Chicago to anyone looking to learn or enhance their skills in dancing. read more

We cannot recommend Ballroom Dance Chicago enough. As an initial skeptic of doing a choreographed first dance, my now wife convinced me to meet with Matthew, and within 30 seconds he had put all of my fears and reservations about my ability to learn and perform a choreographed dance to rest. He's incredibly genuine and professional, and his style, coaching and choreography put our minds at ease and left us with a rehearsed dance that we both felt confident and natural with going into our wedding day. I'm so glad we decided to work with Matthew for our wedding as its one of the best parts to relive through videos and photos. We could not be more happy with our experience at Ballroom Dance Chicago, and Matthew is an absolute rock star. read more

ANGELA RULES!!!! But seriously, she is the most incredible dance instructor/choreographer and human being. After my fiance and I got engaged, trying the complimentary Chicago Ballroom Dance class was actually our first wedding-planning step, and luckily we were matched with Angela. We loved her bubbly personality and openness to help us mold our wedding-day first dance vision. Investing in our first dance choreography and lessons was one of the best decisions we made during our engagement. Not only did we begin to develop lifelong dancing skills we will use throughout our lives as a married couple, but it also helped us to have fun together during the hectic and sometimes stressful period of wedding planning. read more

Working with BDC was an easy and seamless process. From registration to signing up on for classes online, it was easy to schedule out our dance lessons. My now husband and I worked with Angela on our first dance for our wedding, and she designed the choreography around our style (some simple moves but nothing overly complicated or overdone). Every class, we enjoyed getting to know Angela, while learning our dance in a fun, welcoming environment. In the end, we scheduled extra classes just for practice, since we weren't doing it at home, and Angela kept those sessions engaging and worth it! Would highly recommend to other couples, and we'd love to return and take a look at some of their other dance offerings! read more

After a few years of being too scared to take lessons, I decided to sign up at Ballroom Dance Chicago and it was a great decision. I have been blown away by the welcoming environment, the friendly and skilled staff, the ease of feeling comfortable in the space, and the quality of teaching. I have been working with Matthew and he is an incredible teacher. I have learned so much, because he knows exactly what a person needs to work on and how to convey ideas in his teaching. And while the lessons are full of practice and learning, Matthew maintains a light spirit that keeps it fun. The lessons with him are the highlight of my week. I highly recommend this dance studio! read more

My husband and I found Ballroom Dance Chicago after realizing we may need help on our first dance for our wedding. After a consultation visit, we quickly signed up for 5 classes to get us in shape. Our teacher, Annamarie, worked with us effortlessly to create a game plan. Every week we gained a bit more confidence and really looked forward to the classes. By the end we were shocked and impressed that we actually put together a beautiful dance so quickly. Annamarie was a great teacher - super fun and patient. The studio is very welcoming and has great energy. Highly recommend! As well as treating yourself to a local brew from one of the brewers nearby afterwards :) read more

We used Ballroom Dance Chicago and John at the Lakeview location to get ready for our wedding first dance. From the beginning, John and the rest of the staff were welcoming and engaging. They gauged our level of dance experience (my wife has some, I have none) - and worked with our song choice to develop a fantastic first dance routine for us. The lessons were a great escape from the chaotic wedding planning and were great mini-date nights for us. By the end of the lessons, we were both comfortable with our routine - as well as some pointers on how to dance all night! We received a ton of compliments and we could not have done it without Ballroom Dance Chicago. read more