Lake Merritt Dance at Veterans Memorial Building

Address:	200 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610, USA
Site:	lakemerrittdance.com
Rating:	4.4

Location

Photos 9

Reviews 6

Peter

I’ve been going to dance practice at to the 200 Grand Avenue for around 17 years. Up to 4 classes a week. Ball room, Salsa, tango and many others. Over the years I wrote letters twice to the Oakland city council to not close the center. I got letters back thanking me for my input. I mentioned this to the 4 classes I took at the time and the students and teachers thanked me for doing this. On 3/18/17 Saturday I went to another dance practice. I showed up late & the class was over. As I walked out the tall African, large security guard said I was trespassing & needed to leave. It became a 5 minute argumentive discussion as I told him I’m a student here who had taken classes for many years. He said the teachers pay to be here that’s why I don’t need to be there. I told him if it wasn’t for us students paying the teachers he may not have a job. It was 5 minutes before he let me leave. He was not doing his job by telling well dressed people who wrote letters to keep this place open, to leave. Who’s teaching these security? His job is to watch for any fights, panhandling, sleeping on the floor, talking too loud, disturbing the peace and that’s about it. Anything more there’s no point to come here. A security guard in K-Mart once tackled a man returning an item and broke his arm. The man was a surgeon who sued K-Mart and won. I’d like to see this security tell UC Berkeley students to leave that campus and see how long he lasts. Somebody better tell these guards to leave people alone if they are not disturbing the peace or there’s no point in coming here.

Kara B. Potts

My husband and I came here a few times to take dance lessons, and do the social dancing aftewards. The instructor is very good, and repeats the steps for you. If you can, take consecutive weekly classes in a series to build on skills. The price per lesson is extremely cheap, and the clientele is usually the senior citizens from the senior home across the street. But that shouldnt detract from the experience. The seniors are all fantastic dancers, and can teach us all a few moves! There are also younger couples such as ourselves learning to ballroom dance together. I like how laid back everything is, and the ballroom in the VA center is absolutely gorgeous. Definitely worth checking out!

John Heylin

Located in the Veterans Building, I went to an event they had here with Irish Dance lessons. My girlfriend and I ended up loving it so much we hired the dance instructor to help us learn a dance for our wedding.

Jhamu Khilwani

not yet but ihave hrard good so 5 star

ROCCO SANTORI

Best in the area

Eclipse