International Ballroom lessons in San Francisco

[jerseydancer]

I am stuck with business trip to San Francisco for whole week April 20-25. My partner is going to continue taking private lessons with our teacher and I am looking for a teacher in San Francisco (I will have no car to get out of city) for that week. I would like to take at least 3-4 private lessons that week and, if possible, dance floor time to practice. We are dancing in open level and getting ready to compete in Championship level.

[DancerForLife]

Which part of SF are you going to be in?

There are several great instructors in the area - Charlotte Jorgensen, Tomas Atkocevicius and Aira Bubnelyte Ikaika Dowsett and Katya Afanasyeva, Andrea Faraci and Iveta Paurvite, Ava Brennen, Glenn Weiss, Stephen Cullip - just to name a few who come to mind.

[SDsalsaguy]

As DFL notes, there are any number of strong instructors in the area.

If possible, you may want to try and take form an instructor in the same "family" (or at least a compatible "school") as your current teacher, especially as you will be taking these lessons seperate from your partner.

[jerseydancer]

I will be staying near The Moscone Center (http://www.moscone.com/site/do/index) 747 Howard Street, San Francisco.

Do you know, if they have availability in the evening, and does any of them give lessons to individuals, versus couples. I have contacted few teachers (not the ones from your list), but they only teach couples.

[jerseydancer]

As DFL notes, there are any number of strong instructors in the area.

If possible, you may want to try and take form an instructor in the same "family" (or at least a compatible "school") as your current teacher, especially as you will be taking these lessons seperate from your partner.

Very good point! DFrs always have very good suggestions. My teachers are the students of Luca and Lorraine Barrichi

[Laura]

"Stuck" in San Francisco? Bite your tongue! I live there, and in fact can walk from where I live to where you will be "stuck."

Since you have no car, you best bet is to get in contact with Cheryl Burke Dance (formerly known as the Metronome Ballroom) and tell them you are trying to reach Tomas Atkovecius, Aira Bublynete, or Anton Koukareko for lessons. I doubt you will be able to get as many lessons as you want, but some is better than none. It is a less than $10 cab ride to Cheryl Burke Dance from Moscone.

And if you are who I think you are, we might be able to swing something where you & I drive down to Campbell (where I take lessons) for something with Ikaika Dowsett or Katya Afanasyeva. I can provide you with their contact info via private message. I see them both about three times a week, but like Tomas, Aira, and Anton, they are all *heavily* booked.

Anton, Ikaika, and Katya all definitely teach single students. Not sure about Tomas and Aira, although I'm pretty sure Tomas stopped a few years ago. Charlotte is actually based in Las Vegas and just visits the Bay Area to teach.

[jerseydancer]

"Stuck" in San Francisco? Bite your tongue! I live there, and in fact can walk from where I live to where you will be "stuck."

Since you have no car, you best bet is to get in contact with Cheryl Burke Dance (formerly known as the Metronome Ballroom) and tell them you are trying to reach Tomas Atkovecius, Aira Bublynete, or Anton Koukareko for lessons. I doubt you will be able to get as many lessons as you want, but some is better than none. It is a less than $10 cab ride to Cheryl Burke Dance from Moscone.

And if you are who I think you are, we might be able to swing something where you & I drive down to Campbell (where I take lessons) for something with Ikaika Dowsett or Katya Afanasyeva. I can provide you with their contact info via private message. I see them both about three times a week, but like Tomas, Aira, and Anton, they are all *heavily* booked.

Anton, Ikaika, and Katya all definitely teach single students. Not sure about Tomas and Aira, although I'm pretty sure Tomas stopped a few years ago. Charlotte is actually based in Las Vegas and just visits the Bay Area to teach.

Sorry Laura,:oops: I did not mean to offend SF, been there many times . It the greatest city in the world, and I would love to come again for pleasure, not for business. RSA trade show such a bore, I would have to be there until 6PM every day, so I am starting to get very little hope to get any lessons that week. I have heard that because Emerald Ball is the week after, many teachers are overbooked for the week of april 20.

BTW: I am the one who celebrated too much the first place in pre-champ; lost many items including tickets for Sunday night (I actually found them on Monday in my purse :doh:

[TAK]

I think I have seen Aira teach single students.

Tomas will be returning from abroad that week so they may be especially busy. Still abundantly worth trying to book a lesson with.

[Standard Dancer]

Also, FYI -- Victor and Anna are performing at the Stanford comp that weekend (April 25th -- see info in the events section) and I believe they are offering lessons as well. Though you'd have to find a way to get there ...

[jerseydancer]

Also, FYI -- Victor and Anna are performing at the Stanford comp that weekend (April 25th -- see info in the events section) and I believe they are offering lessons as well. Though you'd have to find a way to get there ...

Are they going to be there the week before? I am going home on 24th:(

[Terpsichorean Clod]

The #10 bus runs from two blocks from the Moscone Center to the doorstep of Cheryl Burke Dance. Fare is $1.50 (the single fare may cover your return trip). Travel time is about 15 minutes. The bus is supposed (:razz: ) to run every 10-15 minutes.

Aira and Tomas usually teach singles only if that student is part of a couple whom they have taught before.

I think Stephen Cullip teaches a lot of lessons out of Allegro (www.allegroballroom.net (http://www.allegroballroom.net)) in Emeryville. It's somewhat accessible by public transportation: BART from SF to MacArthur station, free shuttle from station to right in front of Allegro. Total travel time is about 30 minutes.
I am going home on 24th:(
Couldn't you extend your stay by just a day or two? :)

[TAK]

Actually, OP, due to a change in travel plans Victor and Anna will be giving lessons on the 24th. I don't know when you leave town and whether you could make it down to Palo Alto and back in time to catch a plane, but the lessons start at 1:30pm. PM me and I can give you contact info to schedule a lesson.

[jerseydancer]

Thank you all for your advice and guidance finding the right teachers in SF. I had great lessons with Aira and Tomas. Highly recommend them both.