If you're from around the area, you might have noticed a familiar barista at a few independent…read morecoffee shops. His name is Taki Tanaka, and he's a master at crafting any coffee you might desire. He can be currently found at the very unique space combining dance and drinking coffee, Garage Dance Studio & Coffee Lounge. While the dance studio and the coffee lounge share the same space, they don't share the same hours of operation. I was here a few months ago, to find the coffee portion in the dark and the dance floor in full bloom! I came again yesterday afternoon, to find the opposite. This time the coffee lounge was open, and no one was on the dance floor. The inside is set to look like you're in somewhere in Madrid amongst the colorful buildings, where the tables are all adorned with red tablecloths. Of course, the barista working was Taki Tanaka. We chatted briefly and he made me the most delightful Honey Fig Latte. It was creamy, foamy, with a beautiful rose art design he hand poured himself. This was mildly sweet, rich in coffee, utterly satisfying with each sip. I just wish there was dance to see.

My friend introduced me to this spot while we were out for a Yelp event. The coffee shop is owned…read moreby her friend, and he makes everything from scratch. I decided to order a Chai Latte because I had never tried it before. I don't drink coffee, but the Chai Latte was good. For me, it needed to be a little sweeter, but all in all, it was a Chai Latte. There is also a dance studio located inside the coffee shop. They offer dance lessons, and the inside, from the dance clothes to the others hanging from the window, gives off a Latin vibe.

Very professional ballet instructor who provides her dancers with strong ballet technique.read more

My daughter danced at Newington Dance Center for two years. Jane is an excellent ballet teacher and…read moremy daughter improved in her dancing while with Jane. Unfortunately, Jane's emotional abuse and torment caused us to have no other choice but to leave the studio. Jane is a vicious and petty woman that attacks children's emotional well being during every class. Her verbal abuse and passive aggressive behaviors were so hurtful to my daughter. Jane allowed other students to use foul language towards the younger students and meltdowns were a frequent occurrence from students during class. Janes interactions with me were totally inappropriate and unexeceptable but I tolerated it to give my daughter the opportunity for a first rate dance education. I have debated for months about writing a review because we are so happy to be gone from the studio but I want others to know what an ugly person Jane is and protect other young innocent girls from becoming victims of the owner of Newington Dance Center.

CDC is a warm, caring and inclusive atmosphere with amazing teachers, kids and parents. It's our…read morehome away from home and I'm so thankful we there

We love being a part of the CDC community! I couldn't recommend a better place to be. My daughter…read morehas enjoyed ballet, tap and hip hop classes and we look forward to growing with them!

Unprofessional dance school that believes itself of the caliber of a dance company. They don't…read moreinstruct children but rather dictate and control while treating the students harshly and unkind. This is a sad review to write because had Alyce Carella still been involved with the direction of this company this surely would not be occurring.

From the owner: Specializing in: - Dancing Instruction…read more- Dance Companies

New Steps Dance & Fitness center is a wonderful choice for your son or daughter for dance classes!…read moreMy daughter is in her 7th year & loves the ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop & modern classes. The teachers are all wonderful & she looks forward to going every week. I can't speak high enough about all of the teachers at New Steps !

From the owner: New Steps Dance & Fitness Center specializes in dance and fitness classes for ages 2 to adult and…read moreis located in Glastonbury CT

RNS Is the one of the best dance studios in CT and has the best dance instructors! Mr. Tony is an…read moreinspiration to all the dancers. This past weekend I was invited to their annual recital and it was amazing to see so much talent from the 2 year olds to the graduating seniors! RNS offers a variety of dance classes to fit any dancer. They even offer adult classes! If you're looking to take your training to the next level, I'd recommend joining RNS! The kids can thrive because the teachers are so dedicated and they love what they do. I am so happy to be part of the RNS family!

Update: Connie has added weights and made the Barre classes a complete workout. Love this place!…read more I've been taking Barre classes with Connie here off and on for a couple of months now. I love the studio; it is bright and spacious. Not underground or in a basement somewhere like some studios are.There is a regular group that comes to these classes and even though they all know each other, they are warm and inclusive of new people. The only thing holding me back from giving RNS Barre class five stars is that weights aren't used and I don't feel I get much of an upper arm workout. The energy is fabulous and it is definitely a great workout. Update: weights were used in class today. First time I've seen this. I'm waiting to change my rating until I see

recapped and upped to 5 stars!…read more so long short, diva still dances and while her time was split between GDC and another one, well the other one was a strict money grab and ms shari has PROVEN she is a world class individual and GDC is a world class establishment. yea, i know, seems extreme to go that far out, but in the day we are in now, i know we are sending our child to the right place. parking lot is still tricky though ;)

GDC truly is the happiest dance studio! The dance instruction is great with lots of different…read morestyles (jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, musical theater, lyrical, etc.) offered across all ages (primarily kids but also some adult classes) and levels. They focus on technique as well as performance, doing so in a fun, positive way that allows the kids to grow and improve at their own pace. Miss Shari is super organized and keeps dancers and parents well informed so that things flow smoothly. But what we love most of all is the culture at GDC. The teachers genuinely care about the kids as whole people. They are kind, caring, and inclusive with a desire for every kid to shine, work hard, and be their best. Good sportsmanship and positivity are modeled from the top and expected from all. We could not ask for a better dance family. I highly recommend GDC!

We have been students here for many years. The teachers are fantastic and they create a positive…read moreand fun atmosphere. We have become friends with many other students, and there is a real feeling of family. The group lessens and parties are top notch and great fun!

My fiance, now wife, and I started lessons at Fred Astaire Canton to do a first dance at our…read morewedding. When we started, we did not have a clue on any of the steps, but we learned quickly with the help of our instructors. They've been very patient and knowledgeable, which helps with learning to dance for the first time. The lessons were very fun, and we blew away all of our guests with a coordinated dance routine. It took about five to six months to learn the steps and put an amazing routine together, but we cannot say enough about how badass we looked and how impressed all of our guests were. We had not told any of our guests or family that we were taking lessons, so it was a big surprise for all of them to see! Definitely one of the big highlights of the wedding was the first dance! We had such a good time learning to dance and enjoying an activity together that we decided to continue taking more lessons for fun. One year later, we're still going strong and now dancing at regional dance competitions as an amateur couple. If you have a wedding coming up or just want to take lessons for fun, this is the best place to learn different dances and have a good time. I would highly recommend checking Fred Astaire Canton out and taking lessons here. You never know, it might become something that you'll enjoy doing for the rest of your life.

This studious located on top of the Ocean State Job Lot in Canton. The studio is affordable and…read moreoffers a variety of classes including adult hip hop. I attend the adult hip hop class and it is a blast. Really great owner and the teacher is fantastic. I would highly suggest this place for any and all dancing needs. :)

From the owner: Bringing elevated performing arts education.read more

This place was nice! We went for a group outing of seven people. When I called earlier in the week,…read morethe guy said we didn't need a reservation and could just walk in for Saturday. We all planned to meet there at 5 PM, but when we arrived, they told us we actually needed a reservation and had to come back at 6:45. Thankfully, West Hartford has plenty to do, so we walked around, grabbed some food, and returned for our reservation. One thing to know is that you pick the pottery you want to paint it's not a place where you make the pottery yourself. That has pros and cons, depending on your preferences. I'm honestly not that artistic when it comes to freehand painting, so I picked a simple snowflake design (probably the cheapest option at around $14). My friends picked reindeer, cookie trays, and other fun items. Painting was fun, but you have to leave your piece for 2-3 weeks to be glazed, so don't expect to take it home the same day. The space is small, but I liked the intimate setting. The staff was also very nice, and overall, I had a good experience. I would definitely go back.

I have not had a hand in pottery since high school so this was a nice activity to do and spend…read morequality time with friends and family. Claypen is located on Farmington Avenue in West Hartford Center between Walden and Dale streets. Lookout for the sessions posted outside if looking for something specific. I was attracted to the Studio Ghibli theme they were having and immediately made a reservation. I honestly didn't know what to expect until I arrived there. Upon check in, we were shown where we'd be seated and were told that we select any ceramic on the shelf and will be provided the paints and can even replenish it ourselves from the shelf. As well as take as much time as we needed to complete our design. My daughter did her own thing and drew Sanrio on different sides while I wanted to paint Haku and my friend, Totoro. I think it all came out really well!! I looked up an image tried to copy it onto the jar. Originally using a pencil and lightly tracing it onto the surface to not affect the image, although I was told that the pencil burns off during the baking process. We were also instructed to paint more than 1 coat so that the paint will show. The whole process was easy enough. When finished, everything can be brought to the counter for payment. Essentially the painting is free, it's the ceramic that needs to be paid for. I would think that the piece is averagely priced. If wanting to be sure, definitely ask before picking a piece. I'd certainly do this again.