My main complaint about this studio is that they don't have air conditioning, so taking class during the summer when Boston temperatures are in the 80s and 90s can be extremely unpleasant and tower fans are just not sufficient. It can be uncomfortable just to be standing in that kind of weather, let alone doing cardio for an hour plus. Honestly, this seems irresponsible to me, and I'm confused by the fact that they don't seem to be concerned about heat stroke. There are definitely days when the only reason I don't go to class is because there's no AC. I also wish they had contemporary classes (they have one "contemporary modern" once a week, which is not the same as contemporary). read more

Five floors in the absolutely huge Odd Fellows building for lessons in just about any kind of dance. Central Square, Cambridge. Adults and children. Love this place read more

Three-floored community with a variety of dance classes. Came here on a Saturday for an impromptu Samba dance class at 1:30pm. It's just one stop away on the red line from Harvard, so it's a convenient option for students. It's $15 for the samba class, but they'll take cash and credit card. There's a Santander right across the street if you need an ATM, since some of the classes are cash only. Note for Bank of America cardholders, there is a $3 ATM fee. There is a gender neutral bathroom available The 1:30-3pm Samba class was super fun. It was my first time doing Samba, but the teacher was super energetic and there are plenty of other beginners so you don't have to feel awkward. You can put your stuff on the right hand side along the wall, and there's plenty of mirror space so you can watch yourself shake it. There were people of all ages and it was good vibes all around. It started with a warm up and then payment, and then the actual Samba class. There was even a live band that played while we danced. At the end, there was a dance circle and everyone left sweaty but happy. The dance center overall is a cool spot and you can try out a number of different dance styles and classes no matter what age you are. I noticed on the bulletin board they have kid classes as well. read more

The Dance Complex - Performing Arts Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Up a deep and very narrow stairway ... what a hidden gem! My daughter has taken classes here before but she needed to record a pre-screen for a college application and our yoga place was booked. Lo and behold, they rent out spaces hourly and at a very decent rate. This space was so much better than our yoga studio because it was not slippery and so spacious. I fell in love instantly - I wish I was young again. read more

Come here and dance away all your stress and worries. A great place to dance for fun or more serious endeavors. Welcoming to beginners to experts of all shapes, sizes, and identities. Don't be shy. Come join the fun. read more

Been here a few times now for different dance classes. The location is really convenient, right off the Central T stop. The building is quite old but has that classic dance studio feel. Be warned, no AC in the summer can be brutal and the studios can get extremely hot. The classes can be hit or miss: Bolly-X: Did not enjoy this class at all, the instructor looked extremely awkward doing the moves and it barely felt like a work out (they market it as a fitness dance class). Would not recommend this class to anyone with any tangible dance experience, and especially would not recommend to anyone with South Asian dance experience. Intro to House Dance: The instructor Sean was really nice and explained things very thoroughly. The class was also pretty long, 1.5 hours. I don't have any house dance experience but thought the class was very slow paced; we didn't have much time to practice the fun choreo at the end. My friend with no dance experience at all had a really good time and was able to keep up well. Sassy Hip Hop with Chris: An incredible class!!! Would give it over 5 stars if I could. Chris is insanely talented and I loved the choreography he put together. The only downside was that this class was PACKED, we got there on time and had to stand all the way at the back. This class was really fast paced but doable if you stay focused the whole time. Would recommend for people with some dance experience looking to have a really fun, positive time and improve their confidence. read more

preface: I do not often write reviews, especially not negative reviews. However, I left my class with such a horrific impression that I believe warning other students would be helpful. The Dance Complex has an impressive range of classes and options for all levels of dancers. Today, I took an Elementary/Intermediate Ballet class for adults with Liz Lapuh and I left feeling humiliated, denigrated, and unwelcome. I am in my early 20s and have been doing ballet for about a decade now. I was briefly on a professional track, but I still have so much to learn. I wrote Liz an email before class telling her my experience with ballet and stating that I was squarely a beginner. During barre, Liz explained the moves quickly using French terminology and then demonstrated them once through. The pianist played at a quick speed. It seemed that around 60-70% of the class could not follow along and at a certain point the repertoire became too complex without much explanation or help. Liz spent most/all of her pedagogy on two seemingly advanced and balletic students and disregarded the rest. This class was by no means for beginners. In most adult ballet studios (in New York, Hong Kong, Seoul, London), I am at an intermediate level, but I was utterly lost in this one. Liz did not accommodate despite her picking up on students having difficulties. I can not see myself technically improving if I were to keep attending Liz's class. The reason why I write this review is because of Liz's behavior that I believe was inappropriate. Whilst telling the class what the next steps were, she made a few directed and disparaging comments at me such as "don't do whatever" and pointed at me. She also made a comment about my attire to rouse laughter from the class. After barre, I decided to leave the class before center work. As I informed Liz of this, she said, "I hope my comments did not scare you off." I can understand if Liz is trying to creating a jovial atmosphere in the classroom but an unaccommodating and imprecise teaching method coupled with humor that singles students out, I question how many students are leaving her class having learned something. read more

I'm a capoeirista and am visiting for the week so I decided to check out the capoeira. They train at the dance complex on Saturdays only. The group is large. A mixture of advanced and beginner. The warmup is really good. Very well rounded, however I was a bit frustrated because of the constant waterbreaks. I don't know though. I come from a school where the only time you hydrate is after the roda. They play a lot of sao bento pequeno a fast game. Pretty fun. Nice group. read more

The Dance Complex - I hope you like stairs.. - Performing Arts Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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God bless this place. Needless to say, there are so many dance classes available in unbelievably various genre. There are some martial arts classes as well(Teakwondo and cardio kickboxing). And huge plus is that you can rent a room. My martial arts training partner and I used to book a room for very cheap rate. I think it was like $7.50 an hour or something. Depends on time frame of the day or which day it is. (For the record, I think we were the only two who used to come out of the room with bruise on our eyes and bloody nose. They must have been thinking "WTF....?") Another huge plus is that locker room is equipped with a few showers!! Having worked at an athletic facility without shower room, I find this very, very blessing! (I know how expensive to install and maintain, etc...) read more

The Dance Complex is truly a hidden gem in Central Square. I didn't know this place existed until a free BollyX class was offered here a little under a year ago. The entrance is quite elaborate with a ginormous marble staircase. It's very old school on the interior with a lot of artwork and about 7-8 dance studios. Front desk staff are extremely helpful and they ask that you fill out a waiver if it was your first time taking classes there. BollyX is offered here twice a week, and my main reason for coming. I definitely want to try different classes that are offered here because the music and energy coming from the various studios make me feel like getting up and dancing. Come to BollyX! BollyX.com - new clients get to take advantage of the 3 class pack (3/$24). Yay for dancing :) read more

I tried out this studio through class pass and really liked it. BollyX is similar to Zumba but the dance moves are obviously set to Bollywood songs. I also think BollyX is a bit more high impact than Zumba - there's more jumping around. The other difference is that each class ends with a short choreographed performance (half of the class performs for the other half) The facilities here might not be as nice as at some other studios (no lockers) but the instructors who teach her are fantastic. Also one of the co founders of Bolly X teaches here (and is REALLY good). The location is also really convenient if you live in/around central. The evening classes are late enough that it's easy to make them after work/school. If you're new to BollyX or have never tried it, I'd recommend trying a class here. Don't forget to bring a nice big bottle of water to stay hydrated. You'll need it. read more

You have probably read review after review about why the Dance Complex has fun classes. My personal experience with them was actually attending their Haunted Halloween party this year, and it was a surprisingly fun time. It was actually really poorly attended. There were probably twenty people in the whole room while the DJ spun Halloween themed music. There were performances in tap, belly dance, and voguing as well as a waltz lesson. They are definitely not lacking in dancers to entertain us, but I was still wondering why I had such a good time at such a small party. It came to me the next day while telling a friend about it. He said, "OK, if it's twenty normal people then that's probably a boring party. But if it's twenty dancers that party is going to be lit." Dude, he is not wrong, and that is why you should always pay attention when dance studios hold dance parties. We got the whole room doing the Cupid shuffle. We did a conga line. We muddled through the entire Single Ladies choreography. It was definitely a blast, and I encourage any one else to check out their dance parties in the future. read more

I've attended a bunch of lessons here and overall I've really liked it! It's in a super convenient location, which is one of the main reasons I come here. It's also nice that there are studios of various sizes to accommodate the needs of different groups, and the floors are usually pretty good (although sometimes a bit sticky). Drawbacks are that it can get muggy in the summer without AC, and lack of sound isolation can be a major challenge. Classes I've taken here include: Casino with Or Gadish. Awesome class - great instruction with a good mix of technique and expanding dance vocabulary, good pacing, good about switching partners regularly, and good about gender inclusivity. Balboa with Stan and July. Also really great instruction, with a focus on technique and many opportunities for direct instructor feedback. A fun, welcoming, and inclusive environment. Salsa y Control. Meh, I wouldn't recommend them. The instruction was so-so, and a male friend of mine dancing follow encountered a lot of weirdness and homophobia from male leads, which the instructors didn't sufficiently address even after they were made aware of it. read more

I went to a hooping class here recently. the space is gorgeous, the staff is helpful, the class was great, however my husband's wallet got stolen from the back of the room where the coat rack and bench were. when talking to the staff and police it turns out this is a common occurrence, especially on sundays. so word to the wise, keep your valuables either in one of the lockers downstairs (bring your own locks) OR keep your valuables on the side of the room furthest away from the doors. read more

I like to lead.. what can I say? Most of my dancing partners haven't had good technique. Of course if a manly man would like to step up to the plate, I would gladly relinquish twirling and dipping myself (for the most part). ;) Anyway.. where was I? Oh yes. Dance Complex. :) I'm a gigundo fan of Dance Complex. I think the first time I went here was about 6 years ago? I love the feel of the building.. like an old worn in schoolhouse.. and at any minute we'll get in trouble for not leaving enough room for the Holy Spirit. hah! The staff is incredibly nice. I've asked to drop in and watch a class that I was unsure about and they were totally cool about it. And during the great Tutu Search of '08, one of the staff members allowed me to talk to one of the instructors to help me find some dance gear (specifically my Yelp prom tutu). The classes are incredibly affordable and like I said, a lot of teachers will let you drop in for a look see before shelling out the Washingtons. There's really something for everyone.. for those looking to get fit/disciplined (capoeira/kickboxing/taekwando).. those looking to get back to their leotard days (ballet, tap).. those looking to freak out (hip hop/jazz funk/African dance..I lurv that you can hear the African drumming from the street).. those looking to sexyify their dance skillz (tango/samba/salsa/flamenco).. and much much more.. 7 flippin days a week! They've also got awesome workshops (who doesn't love some live music while they dance) and classes for the kids. My only suggestion for those of you new dancers.. is if a class is labeled as CCAE (Cambridge Center for Adult Education).. try to find out when the cycle started. Often times, those classes build upon each other.. so if you attend a class midway, you might get lost if you're not used to picking up choreography. But for the most part.. no need to feel intimidated! People from all levels attend these classes.. and sure sure.. it seems like people know each other.. but once you get hooked, you'll start recognizing people yourself! For those college kids and those really interested in dance but low on the dough.. they are sometimes looking for "workstudies". For every hour you work.. you get one free class! Those who open or close earn 3 "hours". Those can be redeemed for classes OR studio time. How rad is that? What an incredibly awesome place.. what an amazing part of the Cambridge community. :) read more

Is there such a thing as the term "vintage dance complex?" Hmm... well, that's what this place feels like to me. This is the original shizz, the old skool dance school, where I expect everyone to have 80s hair and to be rocking legwarmers and unitards... it just kinda has that vibe. I love the endless stairways that lead you to floor after floor after floor of studios, each with old hardwood floors and mirrors along the walls... reminds me of my old dance studio when I was just a wee babe... a dancer's paradise. Come come come! Dance!!! Dancing is great for your body, and even better for your soul. There is no competition here-- well, maybe there is a little in the more advanced classes (I wouldn't know, ha), but any schmo can walk in off the street, pay their $8-14 for a class of their choice, and just groove down. This is for you, man. Refreshingly, it also seems (for most, anyway) to be more about the dance itself than the exercise. As a veteran gym rat, I am no stranger to the "Jazzercise Squad," the girls who think bouncing endlessly on a aerobics step counting "1-2-3-4" qualifies them as dancing superstars. NO. Dance is about movement, discovering your body and how it can bend and stretch and flow, feeling the music, getting stronger, finding your rhythm, and having fun. I genuinely have fun at the Dance Complex, unlike at a gym class, where I intuitively concentrate more on how many calories I may or may not be burning. There's a whole slew of choices, but the general gist is that they have everything from the predictable hip hop/ ballet/ jazz/ African/ tango/ salsa/ tap genres to the more difficult-to-find capoeira/ Irish dance/ flamenco/ belly dance, with even some Tae Kwon Do thrown into the mix. So many choices!! My only complaint would be that it's too expensive per class for me to take more than a couple a month and still afford to eat. But I can guarantee that if you come here and splurge on a class or two, you will have so much fun, you will let loose, and you will smile more than you have all day. Letting the body be free is truly priceless. read more

I take Chris' Sassy Hip Hop class on Wednesdays here and I love it! His class is so fun and he's just a great person. It can be a little intimidating at first if you don't have dance experience, but the class always claps for the first-timers in the beginning of each class. I just wanna give a personal shout-out to Chris because before I even enrolled in his class, I followed his page on Instagram and he followed me back, which I thought, okay, must be standard. I DMed him a couple questions about what to expect for my first class and he answered them in a timely manner. After my first class, I posted a story to IG and he DMed me asking how I liked the class. I never even formally introduced myself by my 3rd class and he was already calling me out by name when I nailed a move. I just love the personal touch! Chris is a great human with an infectious personality, and he's the reason I keep coming to class even with no dance experience. read more

Classes at Dance Complex are so much fun! I've taken Samba and Hip Hop here. Samba (with Deraldo) is by far, one of the best workouts I've gotten from dancing. Ok, it was a little fast paced, and as a beginner, I found myself lost and confused sometimes, but it's still fun nonetheless. The one problem I found with the teachers that I've had is that it's a bit difficult for them to break it down into very step-by-step instructions, since it comes so naturally to them. My learning style pretty much needs step-by-step instructions, but I think eventually it's just good to let go and do it, even if you're not doing the routine perfectly. I'd love to say I would do Carl's hip hop class again, but it was a little bit too scattered and last-minute change of dance combos for me--I guess I just like structure a little bit more. I think his teaching style suits certain people, but I just prefer some of the other classes taught here. Deraldo's Samba class has him and another instructor (the class is usually a bit on the larger side), so he can take a few minutes to help the people who are struggling, which I think is great. I love Samba classes here! read more

This is a great, welcoming studio with a wide variety of classes. The intro and intermediate ballet classes were FAR more advanced than what I would consider "standard" for many studios. If you're not sure where you belong, I would go a level down, as you can still be challenged. Students in my beginning class ranged from a dancer at Boston Conservatory who wanted to work on technique with our truly incredible instructor, to a few true beginners. There are so many different kinds of dance offered here, and the teachers are amazing people who are well known in their fields. It's great to get to dance with them. read more

This is a very unique place and if you have never graced the grand staircase of this old fellows hall please do soon! I am a work study which means I volunteer and exchange for my time I earn free classes. It's the best things could ever do in my adult life for myself. There is such a organically positive energy here that it's only felt if you visit. There are a plethora of classes to take no matter your experience in the genre of dance and there's the possibility of renting space to do your thing as long as it's art related! There's no other community like it. If there were a dance complex in very city the world would be a happier place. Favorite classes to take in no particular order ballet with Anna Myer, Stretch with Lisa, Afro Contemporary with Marianne, kickboxing with Dennis & Ethno Haitian with Jean, BollyX and west African dance with Seydou. The last two mentioned I don't go to religiously but the rest keep me sane and are like my therapy. If I could spend all my time here I would. This place has really been great and you get to meet some really awesome people! read more

I have taken only a handful of classes/workshops here, but one of the most notable is Carl Alleyne's beginner hip-hop class on Saturday mornings. Carl consistently finds new, fun ways to bring out the best in and challenge his students, and even though I've been dancing Hip Hop for 10 years, Carl will always find several combinations that make me put on my thinking cap. The fact that the class always is 20-30 students deep also speaks to his widespread appeal. Very welcoming and energetic atmosphere - I highly recommend this. read more

Iconic of the best of Central Square. This is a dance cooperative - that is to say that it is operated by dancers! So classes are pretty cheap ($10-14/class, pay per class so no commitments required). They have a great selection and new things are always being added. They try to have live musicians when applicable which makes it impossible not to get your didactic groove on. It's also very easy to get to, right on Mass Ave just feet from the Redline. Check out their website for a list of current classes... http://www.dancecomplex.org/. read more

I'll start at the beginning. I'm not a dancer. My mom pulled me out when the teacher left in first grade. So, I'm not particularly graceful or coordinated. I went facing peer pressure from Arestia R. We took hip-hop on Monday night and we were (almost) the oldest people in the room. It took me a minute to get used to, but i found I had fun in spite of myself. Awkward highschool boys? Check. Eccentric dance teacher? Check. 12 dollars to embarrass yourself for an hour? Check and check. I would gladly go back. Take an extra pair of shoes, 12 bucks and a good attitude and I promise you'll have a good time. read more

I wanted to give a shout out to this amazing dance coop! The Dance Complex offers ALL kinds of dance classes from ballet to belly dancing to hip hop. I believe the teachers rent studio time and make up their own prices. Some classes are a specific amount for 10 classes and other classes you can pay per time. I found classes to be reasonably priced- about $5-7 per class. My friends and I have been to "drop-in dance hip hop" and it is SO fun! I have absolutely no rhythm mind you and I was still able to follow the steps and have a great time. Other friends of mine have really enjoyed the ballet and yoga classes. Right on the redline in Central Sq.- a great place to get your groove on! read more

This place is my latest awesome discovery in the city... My husband and I took an Iranian dance class here a couple weeks ago and will definitely be back again! Very neat you can pay by class, too, so it's kind of a drop-in basis (which works great for people w/ changing schedules). We paid $13 each for the class.. Not sure what the usual going-rate is, but that sounds alright to me. What I like best about this place (aside from it being totally amateur-friendly) is the variety of dance styles they offer. I mean really, Iranian dance? That is just too random and cool to pass up (hubby's 1/2 Iranian, so that's cool). read more

Thanks to all of the Yelpers who convinced me to try this place. I started out with the Saturday Haitian dance class and it was such a hoot. Hot, sweaty, sexy fun. I'm sure I looked like a dork but it was ok--the room was packed and it's a huge room with a diverse mix of all ages and ethnicities. The dance studio is like the archetypal dance studio---what a great energy this building has. I will happily come here 3 times a week to try all of the classes. I love that so many of the classes are drop in. Expect to not know what is going on your first class. You'll figure it out, and like somebody else said, nobody else is paying attention to you. I can't wait to go again. read more

Years go by and still I think of youuuuuu.... Yoga, Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Classical Indian dance classes - I took them all here. I have been away from the dance world for a few years now, but every time I feel the itch - this is my go to place. It's easy to get to, there are SO MANY options for classes. They have work/study programs, and you can also rent space here! What could be better than that in a massive building dead in the center of Central Square. New (2010) renovation means: better lighting in changing rooms, handicap bathroom on the main floor, and a BRAND new office and men's changing room too. Brilliant. I was really VERY glad to see these updates made. read more

Really cool old building with music and the sound of dancers emanating from every crevasse! The environment here is very unique - you will meet a millions types of people here who come because they love dance and movement. If there was a utopia, this might be it. My pieces of advice to newcomers: being new here is a bit intimidating. But don't worry: be brave, ask questions and be humble! Some of the teachers move fairly quickly with their teaching and you may not get all the steps, but no one is judging! Also, parking is a pain so walk or take the T. And you will be paying the teacher in cash (exact change is appreciated) half-way through the class during a quick break. Don't feel that you need to be decked out in the latest "dance gear" - an inexpensive pair of relevant dance shoes and your reg. workout gear is a-okay! read more

Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic. LOVE this place! I've popped in for intro bellydancing classes, some ballet classes to remind me what my feet are supposed to do after a 15+ year haitus, and I'm dying to get back there someday to try my hand (er, feet) at other styles as well. Maybe a little hip hop so I don't look like that awfully uncoordinated white chick at the club, or maybe salsa to spice things up a little? Who knows, anything is possible! The space is great, the people friendly and the options endless! read more

This is such an inexpensive gem in Central Square. The classes are cheap ($13 for an hour and half lesson). Dont have money to spend? WorkStudy! For every hour you volunteer at the front desk or opening and closing the studio, you get a free lesson! I have taken ballet, flamenco, ethno-haitian, afro-cuban, west-arican and tango. All the instructors I have had are very passionate about dance. The ethno-haitian class is run as progression and it is truly unlike anything I have ever experience (dance, exercises and community). The building itself is beautiful and every studio is comfortable and bright. read more

This is a huge, super active, multi-studioed building. I go for House with Sean Bjerke. He's great, the place is great!

I've taken a couple classes here and I'm a big fan! Not only is there an extensive variety of classes to choose from, but they are relatively inexpensive compared to others in the area. The pay-by-the-class format is great for those who want to be able to dabble without the committment. I've done Carl's Hip Hop class on Saturday mornings which was fun and totally non-intimidating for any non-dancers out there. I've also taken Jean Appolon's Modern Technique class on Sunday mornings. The class was good, and consisted of an extensive warm-up in the center of the floor, then exercises going across the room, but not really anything in terms of choreography or combinations (which is what I was looking for). Don't know if I just hit it on an odd day... read more

This place is awesome! I only tried Hip-hop classes and so far so good. There are a couple of floors holding different classes and their schedule is extensive. The studio is spacious so you don't have to worry about bumping the person beside you and it's easier to move. They have locker rooms for you to change in. What else, bring water since I didn't see a vending machine anywhere inside. Good : Space. Good teacher. No registration, no membership fees, no hassle, no financial commitment. You go, you pay and basically that's it. read more

I've been on an extended hiatus of dance for many, many years but I love it so much! I always wanted to be a professional dancer of sorts, but never really got the opportunity to fulfill that dream but alas, hope remains! This studio is great for all levels of dancers and the classes I've been taking (sassy hip hop and modern jazz blues) offer such a refreshing challenge. Although I still am a bit rusty in my moves, I love watching how great everyone around me can dance and that pushes me to want to be better. I recommend this studio to anyone interested in picking up dance recreationally or more seriously as a way to develop their craft! read more

Worst Hip Hop Class I have EVER been to in my life- And I have been EVERYWHERE. I like to try different places in and around Boston. I currently go to Phunk Phenomenon, director Reia, who are amazing! Okay, it was so bad that when I first walked in I thought I walked into the wrong class and ran back downstairs to double check! Then, hesitantly walking in, the first 40 minutes of an hour "Hip Hop" class was doing sit ups and jumping jacks. No offense, but I didnt pay 12$ to do jumping jacks. Couldve stayed home for free and done that. Basically almost 3/4 of this class was an aerobics class and I just didnt sign up for that. I understand you must warm up and stretch out to prevent injury but when it's 70% of the class thats going over board and not leaving much time to actually dance. She also stretched BEFORE warming up. Then Finally, we start dancing, if thats even what you want to call it! She turns on a TECHNO song in a HIP HOP class and starts doing ballet steps (which by the way I'm not knocking ballet I do ballet) with a little "umph" and called it hip hop! She was faking popping her chest and not laying down any foundation. It seemed as if she was a ballet teacher trying to "sub" for a real hip hop teacher. She seemed CLUELESS. NO breaking, flow, rhythm (yes she was even off beat.) The routine was so unoriginal and commercial. To top everything off our routine must have added up to about 15-20 seconds of dancing! She was very rude and UNPROFESSIONAL!! This "teacher" should be ashamed of herself and not let young, potentially amazing dancers turn themselves away from hip hop dance nor waste thier time and money. If this this was my first hip hop class id ever been to before I would've assumed I didn't like hip hop. Thank goodness I have had amazing, educated, experienced, instructors at Phunk that have now transformed my whole life into this wonderful possibility and inspiration of true hip hop dance. For anyone looking for a REAL hip hop teacher and studio that includes a fun, comfortable, hip hop culture atmosphere- come to the phunk phenomenon studio especially for Zay's open hip hop classes! read more

I took a class here and now I am hooked. I was looking to get back into taking class and knew Dance Complex was going to be the winner when I saw their schedule online. They have every kind of dance, every kind of level and no need to commit. Come and take a class whenever you want and pay 10-12 bucks on the spot. When I walked in, I knew I was hooked. Climbing the stairs, I felt like I was in the high school of performing arts from FAME! I could hear the African Jazz Funk music and wished I could do that, too! I took Jazz and my instructor Lisa was so great and everyone in the class was so nice (it's been a while since I took a dance class and I am out of shape for this kind of movement). I just had the best time and am so happy to be dancing again! Don't feel intimidated. Everyone is welcoming and there to have a great time. Check it out! read more

Great place for an ECLECTIC group of classes. They are not a studio in that they have their own faculty, although they do have a bunch of independent teachers that rent out space.. so when you come for classes you pay the teacher. I've done Jazz, Hiphop, Capoeira, Salsa and Ballet here. I have also workstudied here, 2 workstudy coordinators ago. Space is difficult to rent here - it's usually booked. read more

I've been a "work-study" here for three years. 1 class (regardless of cost) or 1 hour of rehearsal space in exchange for every hour at the front desk. It's been a blast. There is nowhere else in Boston that you will find such a cheerful mix of liberal arts college graduate and first-generation immigrants. I've been exposed to styles of dance I didn't know existed. But all good things must come to an end. 1) I work full-time, and putting in time after work was never feasible. To my 3 hours every Saturday, I want you back. 2) I'm a detail-oriented person*. Being a work-study is really fun in that receptionist, multi-tasking, busywork kind of way. But the place is run by part-time staffers, and everyone else is volunteer. Peace of mind, I want you back. 3) I take graduate classes in the evening. With homework, a boyfriend, and half of every Saturday gone, who has time for anything else? I have enough free classes for the rest of the decade now. Ironically, dance classes, I want you back. * Honestly, do you know how shitty a name "work-study" is? It makes it sound like we're starving college students (no offense, I used to be one not so long ago). But there's nothing academic, and no financial compensation. No study, no work, just a really convoluted explanation every time someone asks about how to get "that awesome free classes deal." read more

Carl Alleyne is fantastic! I just had his Sat morning hip hop class (both sessions) and I have to say that I've never had a more energizing and fun workout. Apart from being an incredible dancer, Carl is a great teacher as well - he goes through the moves, answers questions and is super nice. What energy and what smile! I think the whole class has a little "dance crush" on him - I certainly do! My only regret is that I discovered the Dance Center just before moving out of Boston. The faciities are spacious and super convenient to the T-stop (Central Square). The staff on the front desk is friendly and welcoming. read more

The Dance Complex is a great resource in Central Square for people interested in exploring different types of dance at different levels of ability. It suits my lifestyle because unlike a gym membership or other places where you sign up for a 10wk class you can drop in and pay as you go. So, I go to whatever class I'm in the mood for on whatever night I want, and only when I want to spend my money. I can especially recommend Astou's African dance classes on Tuesday nights and Sunday afternoons. For a little more complicated rhythms try Seydou's class on Wednesday nights. Both feature live drumming. I always come away feeling revived. The full schedule is at http://www.dancecomplex.org/class_schedule.html read more