We are only on our fourth dance lesson at Fat Cat Dance Studio, and it's unbelievable how far we've already come. We went from not knowing how to dance to actually feeling like one day we may be the belle of the ball! Actually getting ready for our nieces wedding. If you are looking to learn ballroom dancing or really any kind of dance, except for country. Roseann and Bob are absolutely the instructors to call. They are patient, talented, encouraging, and make learning fun instead of intimidating. We are having such a great experience and just wanted to give them a well-deserved shoutout. You will not be disappointed. Check them out and give them a call! Thank you, Roseanne and Bob, for making us excited to dance again. Can't wait to dance with your instruction this week! read more

Fatcat Ballroom - Dance Studios Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

My husband and I have had so much fun with Zak! He is a great dance instructor! We would highly recommend getting your dance on with Zak!!!!! read more

Terry the owner and my private instructor Lindsay are both wonderful. I came for West Coast Swing night and quickly realized this was not the style I wanted to learn so I ended up sitting out half way through, Terry came by and spoke to me about the different types of Swing dancing. Wast Coast Swing is more tame which you move to blues with while East Coast Swing is faster with bigger moves and that's what you move to with big band swing music. Same for Lindy Hop which has even bigger moves. However, at the moment I can't attend their East Coast Swing night because of my work schedule which I would like to change in the near future, so Terry suggested private dance lessons - it's a $1 a minute - and you can choose $30 for 30 minutes or $60 for 1 hour. He introduced me to Lindsay and she's been a patient and understanding instructor, the best kind. Until I can change my schedule, I will be taking private lessons. I'm hoping to learn more than just East Coast Swing and the Lindy Hop (where East Coast Swing originated from), I'd also like to learn the Waltz and Salsa. Lindsay said with private lessons you can learn any style of dancing and even switch up styles within each session. Both Terry and Lindsay have been very helpful and informative, I will definitely keep coming back. read more

Fatcat Ballroom - If you want to learn the Lindy Hop, where East Coast Swing originated from, you can get private lessons starting at $30 - Dance Studios Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Avid ballroom dancers seek great floor, excellent instructor n friendly group. Found at Fatcat! Spacious floor not your typical long narrow space. Lots of class options n Terry teaches to all students in a way the engineer to the artisan can comprehend. Highly recommend! Don't be fooled by location ! read more

Fatcat Ballroom - Dance Studios Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Excellent instruction! My Mother and I had a lot of fun! I was worried it would be awkward dancing with strangers but everyone was kind and put us at ease and all of us new people were nervous together. I highly recommend them! read more

Me , my sister and my College friend took the Salsa Class , did the social after. It was a lot of FUN!

My husband called a couple of places looking for someone to give us 2-3 lessons for our first dance at our wedding. We did not know how to dance at all and were very nervous at the idea of dancing in front of a crowd. After calling some places my husband called FatCats and talked to Yoshi. She immediately came off on the phone as approachable and fun he decided to make an appointment and request her specifically. It was the best decision ever! She was so good at making us feel safe to mess up and try again. She helped us get down the basics and with some more flashy moves in time for our wedding. It turned out so much better than we ever thought we would be able to do! We plan on going back and getting more lessons from her now that the wedding is over especially now that we have some disposable income again. If you are looking for fun date nights, they have a lot of dance parties that you can go to and learn while you are doing it. read more

My fiance and I met at Fat Cats over five years ago so we are obviously fans of the place. But we both were attending classes there for years before then. And we love the place. It's really the only down to earth, affordable dance studio around. It's a welcoming member of the community. And our favorite dance teacher of ALL time teaches private lessons there - Marie Burson! She is hands down the best value in the valley!!! read more

My fiancé and I went to the Saturday night beginners lessons, and it was a blast!! Everyone was very friendly, and the lesson was paced just right. There were many people learning, so it didn't feel like we were the only newbies. We learned the dance and there was free dance time after. Plus free dessert!! Overall HIGHLY recommend. read more

I am 66 and have never had dance lessons - I've sat on the sidelines for years watching others do the Cha Cha and Swing! I contacted Terry the owner of Fatcat and he directed me to a private instructor named Vladamir. Vladamir is patient and an excellent teacher. He communicates in a clear and understandable manner. I requested instruction for the ChaCha and the West Coast Swing - after 2 weeks I can get thru both dances - I may not be great......yet, but this experience has given me the self confidence and skills to get on the dance floor. Thank you Vladamir for being prompt, professional and kind. My next stop is Fatcat group lessons on weekends followed by open dance. WhooHoo! read more

Thank you Terry and team for a wonderful New Years Eve Party! Your decorations were fabulous, and your choice of Caterers -- Longhorn Steakhouse -- was spot on. We had a wonderful time bringing in 2018 last night. The way you set up the tables around the edges made for a large dance floor. Your music and your guests represented an interesting cross section of people. You really do create a place where people can come and enjoy themselves while learning. You are an excellent teacher and made it fun for those of us who had never tried the foxtrot before. Thank you all! Blessings in the New Year! read more

What a friendly, fun place! Went here with my husband to try something new, (neither of us have any dance experience) and we had a blast. The instructors were very helpful and made sure everybody was having as much fun as possible. The value is incredible too. The group lesson was only $10 per person, and they let us stay after for their "dance party". The instructors were out there on the floor showing off their stuff, and even stopped to give us more tips as we were practicing our moves! read more

I came here for the first time on a Tuesday night to learn the East Cost Swing. I was filled with trepidation. I found it hard to imagine how one could learn an entire dance in thirty minute's time, and then be expected to swing around the dance floor with swing savvy partners. There are two types of people in the dancing world: those that can and those that can't. When you possess a natural rhythm, you can always improvise if you know what an eight count is. If you have no rhythm, no amount of improvisation will make you or your partner look good. FatCat is one of those places where novice and expert come together for a swingin' good time. Among the many other styles of dance classes offered here, ranging from 5-7 dollars a night, Tuesday night is Swing dancing night. My partner and I arrived at 7:30PM. The ballroom was filled with about 150 people. A male and female instructor came out in the middle of our circle and began the instruction with the simple art of bouncing from one foot to the other, stepping back, triple stepping to the left and right. Once we had the steps down, turns were implemented, then came the twirls, and I marveled at how easy it was. As we were encouraged to practice with a partner, the large circle of swinging hopefuls rotated after each new step learned. This increased the anxiety level for me, as I had to get to know a new dance partner every minute. However, the upside of this is that each new partner taught me something new, and I learned for the first time how to let somebody lead. Gentle hint for the men out there: The pressure is on you. You have to know how to lead the woman. If she doesn't know what she's doing, like I did, you need to know how to guide and coach her through the steps. (Which worked wonders for me) There was such an eclectic mix of people there. Young and old, as well as varying cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Within a half hour, the instructor felt we were ready to embrace the dance floor. The invitation was open to seek out a new partner, or find our old one amidst the sweating bodies. The music makes you feel like you are on the set of "Swing Kids," the jazz is two and three-step, which gives you no other choice than to wear yourself out. In the crowd you will spy guys and gals dressed in jazzy clothes, swinging around the dance floor. It is great entertainment, great exercise, and such a fun date! read more

I'm going to have to knock Factcat down a notch because they have been slipping lately. Everything I said in the previous review still applies, but: * They are giving an increasing number of showcase dances during primetime dancing. Most of these shows feature mediocre talent that nobody but a captive audience would want to watch. Most people come there to dance -- not to watch novice students practicing basic dance routines. * Group lessons are often atrocious. Too much time is spent telling jokes and acting like jesters. In the meantime very little learning takes place. Many people are starting to suspect the lessons are there to advertise to the public how little they know so that they will take expensive private lessons. * Rotations during group lessons aren't consistent, and increasing numbers of couples who won't rotate get in the way of those who do. * Beginners are allowed to take the intermediate class. This might be OK except that the majority of the class are beginners, so the more experienced dancers end having to practice routines with people who can't follow the lesson. * So much emphasis is put on the male lead that the women don't learn their part. It's just assumed that women are like a sack of potatoes that don't have to know how to dance as long as the men know how to lead them. Ladies: sorry to bust your Fatcat bubble but you do have to learn how to do your part for each dance genre. * The dance patterns are complicated, and often too difficult for the skill levels of the dancers at the group lessons. So, men don't learn how to throw their sack of potatoes around (see previous bullet), and everyone has a TRAIN WRECK. * There is a lot of gossip about the qualifications of the instructors. They need to work on credibility. Fatcat is a wonderful studio that is more of a community than the chain dance studios can provide. Please don't let my criticisms deter you from checking it out -- especially Saturday night because the ballroom party is excellent. That said, Fatcat survives because of a lack of serious competition. If a well run large studio ever opens up in that part of town Fatcat could become RoadKill. read more

I have to start by saying I hate exercise and have my entire life. So the fact that I can now say I LOVE it is solely due to the Zumba class led by Clara at Fatcat Ballroom. I am there 4-5 days a week and miss it when I'm not there. I never thought I would say that about any exercise ever! Fatcat as a facility has a lot to do with how much I enjoy this class. The studio is huge and the floor is fantastic. No matter how many people show up for class, there's always plenty of room. Everyone working there is kind and helpful, especially Clara. She leads in a way that is amazingly fun, highly energetic and at the same time relaxed. She's been doing it for decades and clearly knows what she's doing. From the music she chooses to the many different routines she teaches us, she manages to keep it super fresh and new. Twice a week she does a Zumba/Yoga hybrid class that's especially challenging and effective. I've never been in better shape, and I owe it to this class and Clara. The best part is each class is only $5! Crazy. It's even cheaper if you pay for a month at a time. I can't recommend this studio and Clara's Zumba class highly enough. Please do yourself a favor and pop in to check it out! read more

So far it has been my favorite dance studio in Phoenix. I've been to other popular places but didn't feel welcomed didn't learn much there, all they cared for was to sell you private lessons, if you don't they'll just ignore you. I've been coming to Fatcats for almost three years now, the more I visit, the more I learn to dance. Sunday's are my favorite salsa dancing days. Miguel the Latin dance instructor is the best; young, energetic, highly qualified and devoted, pays attention to each and every move you make and corrects or credits it. He makes sure everyone in the dance group wether 10 or 30 people, each one gets the chance to practice, improve and have confidence to dance salsa, bachata, cha cha, rumba and meringue. Every month there's is a different focus dance. This month May 2016 is Casino Rueda at 6:00 pm that I enjoy mostly. For $10 for 3-4 hours of dancing you cannot go wrong: you'll have fun dancing, learning new moves, meeting good friends, no commitments, yes maybe few older people go there to move their joints but rest assured all are friendly and decent family people, there's no risk whatsoever of harassment or troubles as there's no alcohol, it's not like dancing at a bar! It's a roomy dance studio, mirrors all round, private seating tables and seating banks if you just want to watch or take a break after an hour or two dancing in cool air conditioned nice ambiance. There are water coolers and the restrooms are clean. I hate going to the gym, this place is a sacred haven for a great workout check it out especially Sunday's Miguel's Latin dance classes. I've been once or twice to ballroom tango and waltz, it was crowded, I haven't tried any of the morning activities yet. No one pushes you to take any, the front desk is welcoming and has detailed leaflets of different classes if you're interested in any. Thanks Fatcats read more

Fatcat Ballroom - Salsa class with Miguel - Dance Studios Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I love this dance studio! My girlfriend and I recently got back into dancing and we are so lucky we found this place! Saturday night ballroom is amazing, and such an incredible value. Terry is hysterical and an excellent teacher. I love how they break up beginners and intermediate about half way through so that newcomers can work on their steps and intermediates can always learn something new! We've also met teachers at the after lesson dance that we intend to take lessons from. A lot of studios really push you to rotate partners. While there's def a lot of opportunity to meet new people and do that, they are really great about making it comfortable to stay with your special someone throughout the class if you'd like to. This week we tried Tuesday night swing as well, and we will be back. Great beginner lesson, and awesome Dance afterwards. The floor is very well kept. No complaints on the facility at all. Staff is always very welcoming and everything is always clean. My only suggestion to management would be to maybe mix up / update the music a little bit at the after lesson Dance. I know when I was dancing at ASU the dance club purchased a Spotify account which had tons of ballroom resources on it and kept the music fresh each week. Keep up the great work Fat Cats! We love you! read more

Fatcat has a nice open floor and a lot of classes going on. There is something every night of the week. Decent place to go for open dancing if you're past group lesson level. Ample seating for spectators as well. On that note, I do have to agree with other reviewers in that group lessons are just awful. We come for open dancing and will sometimes arrive early and watch the lessons, and I cringe every time. The teachers are apparently students from their "academy", people who are really not qualified to teach... often they look like college kids who have barely progressed out of basics themselves. There are plenty of other studios that have great instructors with competition wins teaching the group classes, so if you need to learn basics, I'd research any of the other studios around. The music has been really terrible recently as well, boring and sounds like it came off a generic ballroom compilation CD. They will often change songs right in the middle. Apparently they don't have a playlist ready to go and are trying to hand run every single song. read more

I went to a Saturday morning Zumba class at Fat Cat this past weekend. My favorite instructor was subbing at this location. Big dance floor, mirrored and really nice people. I asked about the schedule and the lady at the desk gave me a copy. Lots of Zumba with plenty of options. read more

5 stars is simply not enough stars for this dance studio because they deserve 10! I went to Fatcat Ballroom Dance about 6-8 weeks ago to try a new dance as it been awhile for an adult learner. I found out about this place by reading a news article from a while ago. I wanted to learn how to West Coast Swing. I was greeted by a awesome hostess who gave me a calendar for the month and explained all the various dances that they teach including the classes they taught during the day for little ones or exercise classes if that was my sort of thing too.. they had a whole variety of dances and options.. now to the experience! Soo.. I had this incredible instructor, she was hands down awesome! She was patient and kind, firm and determined to ensure that everyone was able to learn and have a wonderful time while dancing! The people who attend are sooo happy and the energy is amazing! It's just an upbeat awesome environment ! I found out that I was not the only one who traveled 25 miles to this Fatcat Dance studio ! I drive quite far and it turns out that so does the majority of the crowd! It was definitely worth the $10 for a few hours in lessons and to drive through some traffic because I learned some new moves and was around positive vibes and great people! Who doesn't want that!??! Right!! ?? Soo of course I went back again and again on different nights.. they have a dance party on Friday nights and that's truly a fantastic experience. I even had the pleasure to step outside my comfort zone and try ballroom dancing for the first time in my life.. which they offer FREE LESSONS on Sunday afternoon and guess what?! I loved it! The instructor was phenomenal and made the class an incredible experience with laughter and happiness and honesty was the best part of my weekend! I think this Fatcat Dance studio is a hidden treasure and I just cannot say enough positive things about this place. The people here are sooo awesome and accommodating and accepting of others .. I just really appreciated the positive vibes from this atmosphere and the people! With gratitude read more

I used to teach ballroom dance for a franchised ballroom studio 12 years ago. I competed with my students, pro partner, taught private lessons and group classes. Working and dancing at a franchised studio put a bad taste in my mouth for dancing and yet for raising my own children. At this point my husband and I do not teach or dance anymore for a living. As a prior professional dancer, I most defiantly would recommend this dance studio. I feel very safe and enjoy the atmosphere. You will feel very comfortable at Fat Cat! Terry and his staff are all wonderful people. This is not a franchised studio. This is a mom and pop shop. This means you feel at home and there is only one Fat Cat Ballroom. There is a variety of classes even if you do not like partner dancing and you just like to exercise and get off your bottom and or make new friends. Check out the calendar on their website and enjoy. read more

Fat Cat has such great diverse dance classes and all at fantastic prices. Tues east coast swing is one the best and biggest in the valley featuring dance teacher Steve Conrad. Go get your dance on! read more

Friendly staff, drop-ins welcome to many of the activities. I travel and have not found such a welcoming fun environment short of a county bar. Assuming you are not already a regular, just check the calendar on the website and pick what works best for you. Before the open dancing they have classes that are basic enough for anyone to participate and have fun. The open dancing is a little tough on newbies if you don't have a partner, you will want a wing-man with some experience or talk to a staffer and they will be happy to help. read more

I take Salsa, Bachata and Tango classes here ever Sunday night. I love this place. All classes are $5 dollars and we have a blast. They have a schedule on their website. They offer so many classes that everyone can find something they like here. Terry is the owner and he teaches some classes. Our instructor Miguel teaches the Salsa and Bachata. Get your dancing shoes on. It's addicting. read more

I have spent the last 5 years of my life going to Fatcat and I am happy to say it's one of the best in the valley. Other ballroom studios make you feel like you have to be wealthy or already know how to dance but Fatcat makes you feel warm and welcome and reminds you that you don't have to be a dancer to come there. All you need is a desire to learn! Thanks for changing my life :) read more

Terrible teachers except Mona. Haven't tried their latin night which people are raving about

30 minutes to learn Salsa? My husband and I sure did. The owner was teaching, and he did a fabulous job! The energy is great here and the owner would even come around and grab people and show them the steps. He handled a room full of people very well! For $5 try it out. No sign up fee's or anything! A+ read more

My husband and I love the welcoming environment here. It's for people of all ages that want to have a good time and learn or sharpen their dance skills. Whether you are single or in a relationship, if you do not have a partner there are plenty of people there to dance with. They also make sure that everyone finds someone to partner up with too. Everyone is learning here, and there are very nice teachers that are ready to help if needed to show you how to do it. My husband never thought he would Ever dance and now he wants to come back next week and as often as we can on Saturdays. I also like it when they turn off the normal lights at the end of teaching and practicing with us, because they'll then turn the disco ball and blue lights on. They then play popular line dancing songs and also play music that everyone can dance to! So much fun! read more

To take a Salsa Class was on my goal list... and I must say I did an awesome job picking this place... I underestimated what this class was gonna be able to teach and even with that I was still made to feel comfortable... I also loved how welcoming everyone was... and how the instructor made sure everyone had down what he was teaching before moving on to the next part... I will definitely be back for another lesson. read more

I got to check out this studio for a zumba event and loved the studio. Looks small from the outside but it's really big inside. The floors are amazing and fun to dance on. Highly recommend Fat Cat for dance classes read more

I LOVE this place. It is so fun. You can go with someone, or just by yourself, and have dance lessons nearly every night if you want for $5 to $7. The dance instructors are fun and easy to follow. They have everyone switch partners, except for those that request not to of course, so it can also be a great way to meet new people. They also teach new dances and new dance steps every time, so you never get tired of it, nor do you have to worry about "playing catch up" if you've never been there before. I think the term "magical" is the best way to describe Fatcats. :) read more

Went here last Saturday, June 30 for the "party." Dance of the night was the Viennese Waltz, something I had not learned yet. I liked the challenge, but they expect you to know five moves in 90 minutes. Some people need more time than this. No separation of groups who had not done this dance before. Upon having to rotate partners, two decided to correct my hold without asking or saying anything. Through the course of the night, you find out that the "teachers" are students who go through different levels of instruction which culminate in a teaching position. Never again will I go here. read more

Truly a family of supportive, kind, and close-knit people who really care. This is not the typical "franchise" mentality where lessons are expensive and the main focus is on sales. Far from it at FatCat. The owner and instructors are dedicated to giving the students their best, at a very reasonable price, and in a nurturing environment. If you want to learn to dance, this place provides the kind of fun, relaxed vibe that will keep you on your twinkle toes - and coming back for more. More important, you will make great friends and develop wonderful relationships with the really nice folks who come here. read more

I love this ballroom company! The instructors are great--Terry, the owner and main instructor, is hilarious during classes. Everyone helps to make you feel comfortable, caters to learning at your own pace, and makes for a wonderful experience. I especially love how there is NO pressure whatsoever to buy private classes; I've been attending for almost two months and never once have I been pressured. There is a resource table full of info and I'm sure the entire staff would be willing to discuss your needs at any time, but I LOVE not feeling that pressure. Terry and his entire team are mainly concerned with YOUR enjoyment, however it may be achieved. The dances are easy to follow, music is great, and I've learned swing, tango, salsa, and more in just a few weeks. I will say that as a young woman, the crowd is skewed older--don't expect a ton of twenty-five-year-old guys. BUT! That's okay! Because everyone who is there and who you dance with (if you rotate) is incredibly polite, friendly, fun--and it's almost easier to learn to dance when your partner is someone who could be your dad/grandpa. Just wanted to mention that, as I know my fellow young women friends have asked. I love Fatcat Ballroom! Attend their classes, lessons, and FREE dance lessons on Sunday from 2-4! You won't be sorry. read more

Salsa on 1 with Miguel is fantastic. That's the perfect way to learn salsa. It's natural like dancing back home...

Fatcat just started a MixFit class with Javier. I was very skeptical, but OH MY GOSH! What a great class! Fun, high energy, incredible workout. You seriously need to try this class. You will not be disappointed!!! Do it! read more

The stars rating are for the dance floor, they are maintain well and clean., the rest are all sucks. Just like Clubber Z says all of them are beginners and amateurs teaching lessons. Cheap prices, cheap lessons. I don't mind their showcase in the middle of my dancing, but i don't think they understood on what they are doing.. Showcase is where you see the techniques, the level of difficulty, entertainment, music, not this amateurs dress up, dancing on beginners patterns. Looks like the musics are 3 years old and are all the same every friday and saturday, the same waltz, the same foxtrot, the same tango, music that should be slow is fast and music that should be fast are slow. Looks like the owner don't understand what was going on because, he thinks he is good.He don't dance during the open dancing and the dancers are the one suffering. He needs to buy new music. I recommend a place to dance at Talking Stick casino 15th Fl- Orange Sky lounge. A band called Pizzazz plays good dance music fr 9 to 1AM,Fridays and Saturdays. But check the schedule. read more

I was passing through Phoenix on a Friday night and decided to check out this studio. I've danced for many years and taken a lot of dance classes and was very disappointed with both the lesson and the dance afterwards. I pretty much agree with everything Clubber Z said about the lessons: bad instruction, beginners in intermediate classes, patterns too difficult for skill level, instructor goofing around, etc. Based on my experience on that night, I would not go back for a lesson. I might check out a dance on a different night and hope that there was a better balance of leads/follows, so follows like me wouldn't spend half the night sitting. read more

I have been going to Fat Cats Ballroom for about 3 years. Everyone there is very nice and I have a good time..... Its reasonably priced....Its really because of fat cats studio I have been able to enjoy dancing.... I started about 3 years ago with NO dance experience and started learning some salsa and cha cha from another studio... I came here and started learning All types of dances to enjoy.... No pressure... you learn to dance what you enjoy... I do enjoy some dances more than others, but its a real asset to be able to dance most dances..... Even if you are not great, just have a good time and Smile.... It almost guarantees you a dance when you make the effort to learn more than a few...I do now have experience dancing at several studios and I can honestly say this studio gets my Number One vote! Its a must to come here from time to time! The floor is nice and big. Most everyone who dances here is very nice, the staff is nice and they do throw some pretty nice, and affordable , parties.... I just enjoyed New years Eve here and it was Excellent and Fun..... And there is Never Any Pressure to Sign up for any lessons....Which is great...And I have done Lessons here and they help to keep them affordable too! They were willing to work with me so I could get some....Which I Really Appreciated!!!! I can not recommend Them Highly Enough... Thank You Fat Cats for giving me the ability to be able to Dance....Ray read more