Bravo Dancing Ballroom Academy
#85 in USA
#36 in Los Angeles
School
- Los Angeles, CA 90005
Company Description
My entire teaching philosophy is based on this notion. Here's how I came to this conclusion: I spent 5 years competing with the USC Ballroom and Latin Dance Team, always progressing just a little more slowly than everyone else. However, I practiced on my own relentlessly.
Review & Rating
Best teacher a person could ask for! She will be kind and patient throughout the whole process, whether your goal is to compete or just to learn a dance for a wedding. Lorena Bravo is the only ballroom instructor you will ever need!
My now-husband and I were recently engaged, and we were debating about how to learn an awesome wedding dance. Luckily for us, we went out one night to the Cicada Club and saw a group of people dancing, and one particular dancer caught my eye. I struck up a conversation with her, and it turns out she was a dance instructor! She was so approachable and just lovely, I knew I had found exactly who I was looking for. Lorena literally "swung" into our lives - and we couldn't believe our luck!! Lorena turned two people with no dance experience into actual dancers!! Our wedding dance turned out to be incredible. The reason why is that she took our strengths and played them up! She would suggest different steps and we would try them. If we didn't feel comfortable or couldn't get them right, she just changed them to meet our level. That's the beauty of working with Lorena - she understands what she need to teach you to make you (as a couple) look your very best. Her entire goal is to make you look like superstars on your big day. She breaks down each piece step by step and makes it easy. Lorena will also video parts of your lesson so you can practice at home. Lorena will not give you a cookie-cutter dance that everyone has seen before. She personalizes every step and you dance a unique piece that will be your forever. In our dance, we transitioned from foxtrot to swing completely seamlessly because of her knowledge of music and which type of dance worked best with the tempo of our song. Working with her is a wonderful experience, and honestly, with all the stress of wedding planning, we looked forward to our practice sessions so much. It gave my husband and I a chance to connect and to be intimate in a whole new way. Best of all, my husband and I still go out dancing. Lorena gave us a life-long gift and we are forever grateful!
I knew zero when I met Lorena. I walked into her class seeking rehabilitation from a freak injury and Lorena had me up and dancing in no time flat. She is clear, precise, and a whole lotta fun!! Thank you Lorena for all you've done to advance my dancing and my health!!
Lorena is a wonderful teacher! She has a wide range of knowledge and is so fun and professional! I didn't know a thing about ballroom dancing before taking her class at USC, and now I'm competing in waltz, foxtrot, and tango! She is so good at teaching newbies and longtime dancers alike—I highly recommend her!
I could write a million-word review and still feel like I haven’t adequately expressed my adoration for Lorena! Her classes—along with those of her dance partner Jonathan—are the highlight of my week and one of the reasons I love going to USC. While I know her as the American Smooth coach for the SC Ballroom and Latin Dance Team, Lorena is an exceptional teacher for all levels; it doesn’t matter if you are an experienced dancesport competitor or a beginner wanting to learn a dance for your wedding. Even with large groups (some of USC’s group lessons have more than fifty participants), Lorena manages to break down dances in a way that is clear to almost everyone. Cramming each style of dance into five 45-minute group lessons is no easy feat, but Lorena has done it for years and never skimps on explaining technique, a valuable foundation for dancers looking to advance/compete. Having Lorena’s undivided attention is even better. I never feel nervous asking Lorena for individual help because she makes it clear that she is always willing to help. As a collegiate-competitor-turned-professional (Lorena is an alumna of the same dance team she coaches), Lorena understands the struggles of her students and goes out of her way to give them opportunities to grow as dancers. She believes in hard work and dedication and often reminds her students that she was once a “terrible” beginner, too (that’s actually very encouraging, considering she recently competed at Blackpool). Although Lorena’s skills as a dancer and teacher are amazing, what I love about her most is her personality: warm, caring and kind. She could make even someone with two left feet feel welcome in her class and takes the time to learn about her students as people. She cares about both our growth on the dance floor and our lives off it. Thank you, Lorena, for being a part of the most rewarding part of my college experience thus far: dancesport and USC BDT
Lorena is a fabulous teacher! Not only does she have a deep comprehension of the underlying mechanisms that fuel movement in dance, she teaches with poise, precision, and grace. She is patient and encouraging, and you can see and feel the difference in your dancing almost immediately. She really knows her stuff and genuinely invests in the development in her students! I studied with her for several years in group classes and then for a year in private lessons with her. She'll make you look great!
Lorena is an excellent dancer who has competes professionally! But she's really an amazing teacher because she can really perfectly tailor her level of instruction to the level that best suits you. I learned most of my dancing from her from scratch. Beyond that, I got a huge benefit from a private lesson with her when I had only 6 months of experience, and I got an equally huge benefit from a private lesson with her when I had 2.5 years of experience. The more experienced dancers I know (5-6 years of experience) also keep coming back to her for her excellent instruction.
Lorena is an incredibly knowledgeable and thoughtful ballroom coach. During my college years, she indoctrinated me into the world of ballroom and taught me everything from the basic bronze movements through to open/gold level competition figures. I highly recommend that anyone who wants to learn ballroom take lessons with Lorena at any level -- whether you are seeking to refine your competition routines, or have never danced and have two left feet. She is effective at breaking down movements into understandable pieces & will even describe the physics of the movements as is helpful to get you moving! Also - if you're new to ballroom and timid/unsure about getting started or can't get to lessons, check out her videos for a head start - very helpful. Enjoy!
5 stars only, but Lorena deserves an infinite amount of stars!! I started ballroom dancing at USC with zero dance experience. Lorena is excellent at teaching ballroom dancing to adults who are just starting to learn dancing and are worried about having two left feet. She knows exactly how you feel because once a upon a time, she too was a beginning dancer as an adult. In the group classes, she breaks down all the steps very clearly and methodically. There has yet to be a question asked in class and in private lesson that she cannot answer. About a year ago, my dance partner and I started to take private lessons with her so we could better hone our dance skills and become serious competitors. We take lessons once a week and they are always the highlight of my week. Lorena is inexplicably patient and honest. She will tailor her teaching specifically to your goals and your needs. There is no cookie cutter plan. You want a wedding dance in 5 weeks, okay, no problem. She has a plan for you. You want an elaborate showcase for your wedding and you have 5 months? She has a plan as well. You want to compete in competitions and move up to higher levels, which is where my partner and I are at? She will make a binder for your and list out the plans and ideas she has for you. My partner and I went from placing 6-8th in bronze american smooth so 1st in almost everything. Lorena is the type of teacher that you can feel comfortable enough with to talk to and share your life stories. She aims to get to know you as a person not just as a pupil. If you need life advice, she has a plethora of knowledge. Honest to god, everything that comes out of this wonderful woman's mouth is gold. Lorena is a gift to the adult dance world and the world of teachers. She won't use wishy washy abstract language, but will break complex topics into tangible, understandable items. I cannot recommend Lorena enough! Whatever your goals are, she will help you reach it. Some dancers are born, but I strongly believe that dancers can also be made. Saying that you have two left feet and that it's impossible to learn dancing is just an excuse. With Lorena as your teacher, you will be doing the Waltz after just 45 minutes!
Congratulations! You've just found your new favorite dance instructor: Lorena Bravo. I have been one of Lorena's students for the past 4 years. Because of her, I've learned not only how to dance but also how to enjoy dancing. I couldn't possibly fit all the reasons she's so great into one review, but I'm certainly going to try. Lorena Bravo is the best dance teacher you'll ever find. She is experienced as both a dancer and a dance instructor; she teaches to your individual needs and skill level; she promotes a positive, dance-friendly environment. If you want to learn how to dance, she's your first and best choice. Lorena has been dancing for over 15 years. That amount of experience is impressive by itself; but unlike many dance instructors, she has dedicated herself to being able to explain her experiential knowledge. This means she can both show and tell you what you need to know using clear, easy-to-understand language. Unlike many teachers who can do things themselves but can't explain how, Lorena's teaching is highly accessible to dancers at all levels. Her degree in education from USC probably doesn't hurt. Being a good teacher means being a good listener, and Lorena is a great listener. She teaches directly to your dance goals, whether they're concrete ("What do I do with my hand?") or abstract ("I just want to learn to dance something"). Then, she'll work with you to set goals for future lessons--and you'll definitely want to come back for more. It doesn't matter whether you're a seasoned dance master or you have two left feet: Lorena wants you to achieve your own dance goals, and she'll work hard to get you there. Perhaps most importantly, Lorena is enjoyable to work with. She's charming, energetic, and easy to talk to. Her positive attitude makes every lesson a treat. Lorena teaches you the skills you need to dance, and in doing so also helps you learn the confidence you need to dance with other people. I couldn't possibly have become the dancer I am today without all of Lorena's help. She is, without a doubt, the best dance instructor a person could hope to find. Take a lesson with her and find out what you've been missing
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