Start Dancing Today!
Book Your Free Introductory Lesson Today!
Dance Lesson Options
SINGLES
Ready for fun, friends and nonstop dancing? Join our vibrant, joyful community!
COUPLES
Make date night unforgettable and fall in love again.
WEDDINGS
Dreaming of a unique wedding? Make it unforgettable with a choreographed dance!
COMPETITIVE
Step into the thrilling world of competitive ballroom dancing!
JUNIORS
Build skills, confidence, and have fun in a supportive environment.
GIFT CARD
Give the gift of dance!
Perfect for any occasion.
Reviews
We had an amazing experience at Fred Astaire Dance Studio learning our first dance for our wedding! Max was our instructor for all our lessons, and he was incredible from start to finish. He choreographed the entire routine perfectly to match our style and the two songs we chose, making it feel uniquely “us.” He was patient, fun, and great at breaking everything down, helping us learn lots of fancy dips, lifts, and turns that made our dance truly memorable.
The dance ended up being one of the highlights of the wedding night — we got so many wows from our guests! A quick shout-out to Lydia as well for helping demonstrate a few of the couple moves during our lessons. We couldn’t recommend Max and the Fred Astaire team enough if you’re looking to create something special for your big day!
The dance ended up being one of the highlights of the wedding night — we got so many wows from our guests! A quick shout-out to Lydia as well for helping demonstrate a few of the couple moves during our lessons. We couldn’t recommend Max and the Fred Astaire team enough if you’re looking to create something special for your big day!
Started at Fred Astaire San Mateo with the free introductory lesson and quickly was hooked and purchased the beginner package of private lessons. The instructors are phenomenal (shout out to Rob for being amazing!) and the sense of community is really special here. Not only do they have private lessons, but they also host social classes, as well as monthly events. The facilities are really nice as well with two large dance floors. Ample parking is a plus. Highly recommend!
We have been taking private dance lessons as a couple for two years and are very impressed with the teachers and front desk stuff! Very professional and extremely dedicated owners. Special thanks to Max, our current teacher for being so patient and caring!
We came to Fred Astaire to get ready for our first dance for our wedding, and working with Lydia was the best decision we could have made! From day one, she made us feel comfortable despite us both being total beginners. She broke down everything in a way that was easy to follow and made the practice both productive and fun. Our lessons were the highlight of our days leading up to the wedding!
Lydia has a talent for balancing technique with personality and taught us not just the moves, but how to feel the dance and make it look natural and confident. She was patient when we needed extra time and encouraging when we got it right!
By the time our wedding came around, we felt totally prepared, and our first dance ended up being one of our favorite moments of the night. We got endless compliments about every facet of the dance. We can't thank Lydia enough for her talent, warmth, and guidance! We're planning to keep coming back to make dance a regular rotation in our date nights! If you're looking for a place to turn your nerves into confidence, look no further than Fred Astaire!
Lydia has a talent for balancing technique with personality and taught us not just the moves, but how to feel the dance and make it look natural and confident. She was patient when we needed extra time and encouraging when we got it right!
By the time our wedding came around, we felt totally prepared, and our first dance ended up being one of our favorite moments of the night. We got endless compliments about every facet of the dance. We can't thank Lydia enough for her talent, warmth, and guidance! We're planning to keep coming back to make dance a regular rotation in our date nights! If you're looking for a place to turn your nerves into confidence, look no further than Fred Astaire!
If you want to become the best ballroom dancer possible, there really is no better place than this.
After a 1.5yr hiatus from ballroom dance and a move across the country, I really wasn’t sure what to expect coming back to dance in a completely new studio after what felt like forever.
After first dancing with Olya, I felt at ease and eager to learn again. Since continuing to dance and getting to know her, the other instructors, and the other students, these feelings have only grown stronger. My experience with Olya has been that she's very friendly and encouraging, she explains things clearly and with attention to detail, and she adjusts or corrects your movements in a way that makes you feel both not embarrassed, and that she's really paying attention to make sure you get things right.
From what I’ve seen of other students' lessons, the same can be said about the other coaches as well. Regardless of who your coach is, I’ve known everyone to be very friendly, personable, and happy to help.
There are themed studio dance parties (Hawaiian theme, 4th of July theme, etc.) which are a lot of fun, and that are open to all attendees — not just regular students — where a basic routine is taught (beginner-friendly so nobody feels like a fish trying to climb a tree!), and you get to dance and interact with other students (regular and non-regular) and coaches, which you wouldn’t normally be able to do to such an extent under most day-to-day studio circumstances. There's also a part of each party where you can choose to dance freely to various different pieces of music.
There are also rounds — basically in-studio showcases where students can demonstrate their progress and skill.
And on skill, there’s an incredible level and depth of skill at this studio — quite a significant proportion of both coaches and students are competitive on national and international levels, which is something I hadn’t seen with my previous studio.
So I will reiterate: If you want to become the best ballroom dancer possible and you’re remotely within driving distance, there’s no better studio than Fred Astaire Dance Studios San Mateo. Just jump right in. You won't regret it.
After a 1.5yr hiatus from ballroom dance and a move across the country, I really wasn’t sure what to expect coming back to dance in a completely new studio after what felt like forever.
After first dancing with Olya, I felt at ease and eager to learn again. Since continuing to dance and getting to know her, the other instructors, and the other students, these feelings have only grown stronger. My experience with Olya has been that she's very friendly and encouraging, she explains things clearly and with attention to detail, and she adjusts or corrects your movements in a way that makes you feel both not embarrassed, and that she's really paying attention to make sure you get things right.
From what I’ve seen of other students' lessons, the same can be said about the other coaches as well. Regardless of who your coach is, I’ve known everyone to be very friendly, personable, and happy to help.
There are themed studio dance parties (Hawaiian theme, 4th of July theme, etc.) which are a lot of fun, and that are open to all attendees — not just regular students — where a basic routine is taught (beginner-friendly so nobody feels like a fish trying to climb a tree!), and you get to dance and interact with other students (regular and non-regular) and coaches, which you wouldn’t normally be able to do to such an extent under most day-to-day studio circumstances. There's also a part of each party where you can choose to dance freely to various different pieces of music.
There are also rounds — basically in-studio showcases where students can demonstrate their progress and skill.
And on skill, there’s an incredible level and depth of skill at this studio — quite a significant proportion of both coaches and students are competitive on national and international levels, which is something I hadn’t seen with my previous studio.
So I will reiterate: If you want to become the best ballroom dancer possible and you’re remotely within driving distance, there’s no better studio than Fred Astaire Dance Studios San Mateo. Just jump right in. You won't regret it.
We look forward to our weekly dance lessons at Fred Astaire. We appreciate that we can come in and use the space to practice what we have learned. Lydia and Max are wonderful teachers and make the whole experience fun. Rob does a great job and is always upbeat and positive. Vita is very helpful at the front desk. The owners, Tomas and Aira, are welcoming and encouraging, which makes beginners like us feel comfortable.
A Healthier, Happier You!
Experience the joy of ballroom dance and improve your physical and mental wellbeing at Fred Astaire Dance Studios. Join us today!
Why Fred Astaire Dance Studios?
Discover what our clients tell us they notice from the first time they step inside our El Camino Real road Dance Studio – a friendly energy, and a sense of community that is welcoming, 100% non-judgmental, and truly joyful!
Which Dance Style
Suits You Best?
As a Fred Astaire Dance Studios San Mateo student, you can choose which dance style you’d like to learn first based on what’s most appealing, and your individual dance goals!
Argentine Tango
Although the exact origins of the dance (and the world) are lost to legend, Tango originated in Argentina in the late 1800s
Bolero
Classic Bolero, introduced in Spain in 1780, is truly the “dance of love”, and is performed to music featuring a constant beat of drums.
Cha Cha
A Cuban dance derived from the Mambo and Rumba; its name comes from the rhythm developed by a syncopation of the fourth beat.
East Coast Swing
East Coast Swing evolved from the Lindy Hop in the 1940s, and is perhaps the most famous American folk dance.
Foxtrot
In 1912, Vaudeville dancer Harry Fox was the first to use the “slow step”, danced to an exhilarating new style of music – ragtime.
Hustle
A more modern entry, this disco style was most popular in the nightclub scene from the late 1960s through the 1970s.
Jive
This style evolved from popular American dances of the 1930s such as Jitterbug, Boogie-Woogie, Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, etc.
Mambo
First introduced in Latin America in the 1930s, Mambo attained instantaneous popularity in American film and pop culture.
Merengue
Lore has this dance originating at a royal fiesta honoring a returning war hero, in either Haiti or the Dominican Republic.
Paso Doble
This dance dates back many centuries, and was originally intended for use at bullfights when the matador was victorious in the arena.
Quickstep
The Quickstep has its roots in 1920s New York City Ragtime, and only later became a partner dance.
Rumba
Characterized by a smooth, subtle hip motion and a heavy walking step, Rumba first invaded the U.S. in the early 1930s.
Salsa
Salsa combines passion, energy, sensuous style and joy, and has its origins in the Afro-Cuban dance, Rumba.
Samba
Of Brazilian origin, this festive serenade features a repetitive melody, continually interrupted by the strumming of a guitar.
Tango
The romantic Tango descended from an early Spanish folk dance, and features intriguing asymmetrical and sophisticated dance patterns.
Viennese Waltz
The Viennese Waltz was first danced by European royalty in the 1800s, and was deemed startling due to the close proximity of the dancers.
Waltz
The Waltz dates back to Bavaria 400 years ago, but it was not introduced into “society” until 1812, when it first appeared in English ballrooms.
West Coast Swing
With its sophisticated style and easy adaptation to contemporary rock music, this 1950s style quickly gained popularity in the U.S.