Austin Uptown Dance

This is a great place to meet new people, learn how to dance, and generally have a load of fun. The staff is great and if they can turn this two left-footed baseball player into a dancer, they can do anything! Highly recommended !!! more

If you’re reading this, you have probably decided to go to a dance studio for some lessons. Maybe you took free lessons in dance halls or just imitated other dancers like I did for a while, but you have now decided that you want to become noticeably improved. Perhaps you want to lead better or follow better, or know the correct footwork without stepping on your partner’s feet. Maybe you want to know some cool moves or styling that doesn’t look like what everyone else is doing. On further thought, you think it just might be fun! Well, Austin Uptown Dance is the place for you! I have been attending Uptown since mid 2008. Some of my dance friends and I started trying out some of the studios in Austin. I started by buying a class card to attend some classes taught by one of the instructors, Sherry Reynolds, an award winning dancer and masters level dance judge. Sherry is very knowledgeable and has a very unique way of explaining dance that seems to make “sense” to me. If ever I have a question about a specific move or uncertainty from attending an out-of- town dance workshop, Sherry is the one who can make me understand. After taking several of Sherry’s classes and some from the other knowledgeable instructors, I moved up to the unlimited monthly group class program. Trying a lot of the different class offered, from Salsa and Latin to Country and Ballroom, has helped me take my dancing to a higher level and improve my overall ability. Last year I started competing on the County Western Pro/Am circuit as a Newcomer with Kristy Watson. She is a wonderfully personable and cheery teacher who has really improved my Two Step, Triple Two, Waltz, Cha Cha, West Coast and Nightclub dancing through private lessons. Her Group classes are just plain fun with great explanation, technique and useful social patterns. All of the ladies seem to want to mimic her styling. While Kristy and Sherry are the heart and soul of the Uptown, there are many other great instructors, and I cannot mention them all. However I should note some of the male instructors that have made an impact upon me for footwork and styling: Danny Davila for Latin and East Coast, Dennis Generalov for Ballroom, and Carson Watson for his lead and follow in all the dances. And yes, the ladies very much enjoy dancing with them all! If you decide to try the classes at Uptown, be sure to say hi or ask me to dance. more

As an avid dancer of many years, who two years ago sought to improve my dance with studio instruction, I say without qualification: “Uptown Dance is the Best studio in Austin.”\r \r Uptown’s owners: Carson & Kristy Watson, and Sherry & Kevin Reynolds, are also instructors, and in both capacities, they provide a knowledge of dance excellence second to none, and I believe, even more importantly, instruction supported by a daily hands on warm family atmosphere of acceptance, nurturing, and always - light hearted Fun.\r ( This key atmosphere was lacking, from my direct personal experience, at the other large Austin dance studio. )\r \r In addition, Uptown’s pricing is more competitive than other studios, their social dances are definitely more varied, and unlike their competition, Uptown has live bands and fabulous visiting instructors, regularly, in addition to their other staff instructors who compliment the owners’; and, Uptown’s studio “outings into the wild” - to the floors of the club dance scenes, occur most often, of all the studios.\r \r However, it is Uptown’s fabulous 4,200 square foot dance floor, coupled with their song selections during social dances that encourages one to enjoy all of the 20 or so different dance steps which Uptown teaches, that is the singularly unique aspect, that keeps me coming back for more.\r \r Austin Uptown Dance Studio is our town’s premier studio.\r \r Edward Baxter\r May 2011\r \r more

Kristy Watson, proprietor of Austin Uptown Dance, is a dance instructor who makes it fun to learn.\r \r My husband and I began waltz lessons in January of this year and, much to my amazement, we will perform at the semi-annual Performance on June 18.\r Kristy is great!\r \r We also enjoy dancing on the bamboo floor and the studio plays wonderful music.\r \r Other instructors, especially Carson Watson, Sherry Reynolds, and Danny Davila have been very friendly and helpful.\r \r \r more

We stopped by here for social dancing on a Sunday night and had a very good time. Parking was hassle-free, unlike the dance places downtown. We appreciated that the music started fairly early in the evening. We hadn't dance in a while and were rusty in our dance steps, but we never felt out of place. Attendance was thin, with just the staff and a small group of seeming regulars, all of whom were friendly and welcoming but not pushy. There were some excellent dancers who were fun to watch. The dance floor was lovely, and there was a nice mix of music. Fruit drinks and little snacks were sitting out free of charge. We were delighted to find this gem, and will definitely be back for social dancing and maybe try some lessons. Pros: Dance floor more

This is an outstanding place to dance and take lessons. It has one of the best dance floors in the country. There is nothing like a ""Floated Bamboo Floor"" to dance on. Incredibly smooth floor. The classes are attended quite well. The instructors are some of the best in the business. There are social dances four nights a week. Like what else could you ask for? It is also in a very convenient location. Every Wednesday nite is West Coast Swing and it has become the place to be for West Coast Swing on a very regular basis. The staff goes completely out of their way to make you feel at home and there are some great snacks during the social dances\r \r Tim Pros: Incredible Bamboo Floor! There is nothing else like it Cons: Could have a bit better sound system.......... but it is quite adequate more