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Piel Canela Dance Company
Categories: Education Specialty Schools Dance Schools Active Life Fitness & Instruction Dance Studios Dance Schools, Dance Studios [Edit]
Pearl Studios500 8th Ave
12 Fl
New York, NY 10001
Neighborhood: Midtown West
(212) 924-6160
- Nearest Transit:
-
34 St - Penn Station (A, C, E)
34 St - Penn Station (1, 2, 3)
Times Sq - 42 St (7, 7X)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
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13 reviews for Piel Canela Dance Company
13 reviews in English
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Review from Wendy G.
12/18/2011
If I had all the free time that I want but stuck in Manhattan, I would spend 50% of them dancing salsa in Piel Canela!
Fine, that might be a bit of stretch, but their dance classes schedule is just amazing. I was so obsessed going to multiple salsa classes every day. Given how many classes they offer at Piel Canela, you are able to progress extremely fast.
There are a couple teachers I really really adore. The chacha class's instructor and lady's styling teacher Beyonca used to be my favorites. -
Review from Joe S.
11/16/2011
While I really think its a little pricey, I had such a great experience here. If you have time to dedicate, the instructors are Talented, friendly and will challenge you to really improve in dance. I wouldn't go anywhere else.
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Review from Stacey K.
Brooklyn, NY
7/9/2011
I've been going to PC for almost a year now. I had been at another school for a year prior. PC has the most affordable and best dance class offerings in the city.
The school is in a convenient location near Penn Station. This accomodates eager dance students from all over the city and Jersey too.
What I especially love about them is that they offer different levels of bachata classes. Most places over one class. PC has bachata lessons at least four times a week at all levels from beginners to bachata fiends.
The teachers are experts that "dance the talk." And take time to show you the steps and tell you about the history and the passion behind the dance.
I just started taking Rueda anddidn't think I could love anything as much as I do bachata.
One thing to keep in mind is that PC rents their studios from Pearl Studios, so they don't know ahead of time which classroom they'll be holding class until about 10 minutesbefore the class. They have gotten much better about it but sometimes if someone with the schedule is running late, the whole schedule runs late. Just be patient though, it's worth it. -
Review from Ivy C.
Corona, NY
6/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
There's no better place than Piel Canela to perfect the dance floor whore's dance latin moves.
At $150 a month for unlimited classes, it's a steal!
All the instructors are super helpful, friendly and just simply awesome!
What makes Piel Canela different from any other dance studio is that they have a dance socials just for beginners! Which is a great thing when almost every studio's party usually has all types of levels which can be pretty intimidating for beginners.
Also, if you get the $150 a month membership, your kids can take lessons for free!
Ivy aka dance floor whore gives Piel Canela a 4 thumbs up :) -
Review from Michelle R.
Brooklyn, NY
8/4/2011
Some of the instructors at this studio are good.
I've taken the following classes:
- Salsa with Joe Burgos
- Belly dancing with Sandralis
- Reggaeton with Dawn Papacena
- Hustle with Myrna Caceres
However there are a number of problems with this studio which make the experience unenjoyable. I bought a one month unlimited class card and it was a waste of money. I was signed up by a woman at a table at the back of Joe Burgos's salsa class. She was eating a Subway sandwich and spilling its contents all over the floor where people were dancing. Gross. I mean what kind of weirdo does not notice they are doing that?
Aside from the class schedule, there is limited information on the Piel Canela website about how things work. There is no dressing room. You have to bring all your belongings with you into the studio. You have to come dressed for class. This is a problem for people coming directly from work.
The company rents some studios at 500 Eighth Avenue which is a huge building of dance studios. It's a hectic, chaotic place. You have to wait a long time for the elevators. The stairs are alarmed and you cannot take them. Every night you have to wait for the schedule to be posted to know which studio you're in. It's never posted on time. Last night we were told to go to studio 1209 and then right as we started class we were told to move to the 4th floor. The classes are 60 minutes, but by the time the instructor signs every one in and you are shuttled from studio to studio you are lucky to get 40 minutes of class time.
And someone tell me, what is with the students? The students here overall are just bizarre. Especially the guys. They're flatfooted oafish goons. They're a hodge podge of socially retarded outer borough troglodytes with poor hygiene and an inflated sense of their dancing abilities and they WILL correct you if you have to dance with them. They are too sissy to lead, yet they WILL bark at you for taking over and leading. They will not follow the instructor and they will insist on freestyling. Poorly.
There's no sense of classroom etiquette and the instructors do not control anything. I don't get it. I'm a member of New York Sports. Most people who go there are normal. I would happily dance with any of my fellow gym goers. Piel Canela has somehow managed to scrape the most undesirable A train passengers from the tunnels and corral them all at 500 Eighth Avenue.
Thanks a lot, Piel Canela for extracting all the joy out of dance for me. What a waste of money.Comment from Joe B. of Piel Canela Dance Company 11/15/2011
I have read through your detailed explanation and we… More » -
Review from Danalys N.
Bronx, NY
5/2/2011
My husband and I signed up with lifebooker for $30 of unlimited classes for a month so we went today for our first class of salsa lessons and we were very shocked at how rude we were treated.
When we got there, we were told to enter a room to register for the class. We were handed an application while we waited in the back of the line. ( Registration took place inside the studio while the instructor was teaching a class.)
I guess the instructor became frustrated with the amount of people in the classroom trying to register, that he stopped teaching and started asking for everyone's application. He literally snatched the voucher away from me and said to go to another room. I don't understand why would they tell people to register in there if it bothered him so much. We literally felt like we were just a number.
Anyways, we went to the room for the beginners class and although it was a big room, the class was crowded. There wasn't any space to stand or see the instructor. Their website says that they will determine the level each student belongs in on the first class. I doubt the instructor could notice anyone except the students in the first row.
I am going to wait until June or July to see if the volume of people in the beginner's class decreases, but for now I am staying away from there.
Recommendation:
1. Hire staff that can deal with registration outside of the studio.
2. Allow for people to make reservations ahead of time.
3. Have a capacity limit.
The objective is to learn how to dance salsa, not step on somebody else's feet because there isn't any room to move.Comment from Joe B. of Piel Canela Dance Company 11/15/2011
I have read through your detailed explanation and… More » -
Review from Kate S.
Manhattan, NY
6/5/2011
Very disappointing. I've taken many dance classes all over the city and the owner/primary teacher, Joe Burgos, was objectively BAD. In a recent intermediate salsa class of about 15 -20 people, he didn't give ONE constructive criticism to anyone. I've never seen a class with ZERO personal attention. I had no idea if I was doing anything well because he didn't say anything to me or anyone else.
Joe was also kind of rude. Definitely not a welcoming environment. Not to mention that it started late and ended early!
Hopefully some of the other teachers actually want to teach or spend your money elsewhere. -
Review from Ethan C.
Brooklyn, NY
12/2/2008
Local White Boy From Brooklyn Starts Salsa Lessons Despite
Complete Lack of Knowledge of Anything Pertaining to Dancing
CHELSEA, NEW YORK CITY - In a desperate attempt to impress his girlfriend, Brooklyn resident Ethan C started a 8-week beginner salsa class at Piel Canela Dance Company.
In a wave of determination and revelation last week, Ethan impulsively signed up for the classes on line after being persuaded by friends. The deals were quite reasonable (5 hour-and-a-half long classes for $90, or $20 per class).
"The main reason we talked him into it was because whenever he gets drunk, he always proclaims 'my hips don't lie!' and then starts into some sort of spasm," says friend Rachel Lees. "Last time the bartender almost called 911 because they thought he was having an upright seizure."
Utilizing every bit of his six-foot three inch frame, Ethan managed to actually use his hips and legs in a situation besides while playing Guitar Hero, alone, in his living room.
"My hips hurt really bad today, it was hard to climb the stairs," Ethan said in a statement released Tuesday. "Last time I used those muscles was when I boxed out playing basketball in junior high."
Ethan was offered the chance to "flex his muscles" during a dipping exercise, and excelled in the slow and controlled lowering of the girl. However, when Ethan went to lift the girl back upright, he greatly overcompensated and threw the 95 pound girl head first, into the wall.
In another partner related exercises, Ethan repeatedly stepped on 23 year-old Manhattan resident Elizabeth Lira with his size 15 basketball sneakers, eventually causing her to sustain a severe Metatarsal Fracture in her right foot.
"What a goofy asshole," stated Lira, before being shipped off to surgery and a painful 6-8 week physical therapy recovery period.
"He has the least amount of skills of anyone that I have ever seen," instructor Rebecca Pizzaro said.
The future can only tell if Ethan will last through the 8 classes. If he does, he would be able to move onto the second level of beginner classes. If he doesn't make it through, it will be a waste of money, and yet another display of his complete lack of dedication and perseverance.
"I'm having alot of fun so far," said Ethan. "I feel like Lance Bass on Dancing With the Stars, which is, like, my fav show." -
Review from Dorian W.
Brooklyn, NY
6/15/2011
Great place, great environment. I JUST LOVE LOVE LOVE salsa!!!!! And PCD is the place to go
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Review from Maris S.
New York, NY
7/29/2010
Be warned! I signed up for the $30/30 day promotion where the fine print reads they'll automatically start charging you $150/month after the promotion. I didn't really get a chance to take many classes during the promotion so decided to stay on for July with the membership. I was charged $150 on July 9th, figured it wasn't worth it so called July 19th and left a voicemail. No one got back to me. I was pretty surprised to see Monday, July 26th, my bank account had an overdraft fee because $150 was deducted from my account, under the 30 day period. I called every day until I got a person on Thursday, transferred 3 times before I spoke to a customer service rep who just kept rereading "terms and conditions" instead of actually listening.
I never received a membership card you're supposed to get as well.
The one class I made it to was ok but not worth $380! They make every attempt to keep your bank account running and charge within the month when they feel like it so if you decide to sign up, report your card stolen before they start charging at will!Comment from Joe B. of Piel Canela Dance Company 9/3/2010
I have read through your detailed explanation and thank you… More » -
Review from Annie C.
Jackson Heights, NY
4/22/2010
Don't get me wrong. Piel Canela has some awesome teachers. But just be aware that these awesome teachers rarely, if ever, start their classes on time. Sometimes they start about a half an hour late but usually it's 15 minutes into their scheduled time. So you're getting about 45 minutes of instruction. For $150 a month and unlimited classes, I do believe it's somewhat worth it but I'm a stickler for time. I LOVE the ladies styling classes. Rebecca and Bianca have very feminine moves. I've taken the hip hop class as well and it's a good beginner course but a little too easy for someone who has danced before. The reggaeton class is good for isolations. The bachata classes are fun and I've learned about how intricate and complicated bachata can be. The salsa classes were ok. Again, it's the lateness of classes that bothers me but I'd recommend Piel Canela for beginning students.
Comment from Joe B. of Piel Canela Dance Company 9/3/2010
Thank you for your comments and here's what we're doing to… More » -
Review from lala g.
Albany, CA
4/22/2010
This is a Review for Salsa Beginners with Pearl Studios in Piel Canela Dance. I only took one beginners salsa class and it was a complete waste of money because I didn't learn anything I should have gone to a more advanced class. It was expensive too. $20 I usually fit in perfectly in beginners, I have gone to many other places.
If you have no rythym at all and have never danced take beginners salsa with Pearl Studio . They only went over the basic, crossover and a basic spin in an hour and a half. Even if I was a complete beginner like everyone else, I don't think it would be worth it cause its hard to learn anything when your partner is completely lost. If you dont have the basic step you can't get any better. I think the best thing someone who is that lost at dancing can do is to take a private lesson.Comment from Joe B. of Piel Canela Dance Company 9/3/2010
Thank you for your comments, here is what we have done to… More » -
Review from Lauren M.
Seattle, WA
9/27/2010
BE WARNED!!!!!! Please do not let these people take your money. I signed up for a $1 unlimited month pass last year - not knowing that they would proceed to take $150 at of my account every month from then on without my permission. Their classes are mediocre at best and they will take your money however they can. DO NOT choose Piel Canela.
