Duende Dance Studio 5808B West 36th Street, St. Louis Park, MN 55416

"I love Duende!! I have been taking both group and private lessons for 3+ years and have grown both my salsa and bachata follow capabilities substantially from when I first started. Not only are the instructors knowledgeable, they breakdown the movements so that I understand what I’m doing and not just copying the move they demonstrated. I expected to improve my dance capabilities but wasn’t expecting the wonderful community and friendships that I’ve built. I would recommend the Duende Studio for new dancers as well as more advanced dancers. There are classes available for all levels."

"Great instructors! All of them. A fine and professional setting, friendly atmosphere. A very good way to learn to dance properly while having fun. Confidence building. And, the more you practice the better you get. I enjoyed the social events too! Strongly recommended. I am in Minneapolis only occasionally but I will use every opportunity to go to this studio. Thank you all for your dedication."

"I can’t say enough good things about Duende! All of the instructors are patient and helpful and make a dance newbie feel welcome. Shoutout especially to Melissa for wrangling us cats and for her 1:1 instruction!"

"Super fun instructors and great lessons. I always wanted to try this style of dance but always had an excuse not to try for many years. They welcomed me and I have fallen in love with the dance. So much to learn and grow in dance. If you’ve ever thought about it, try this studio. You will not regret it."

"I love Duende! Byron, Melissa, and all the other instructors I’ve met are fantastic—they are welcoming, knowledgeable, professional, and they really care about their students. Melissa also manages the front desk and somehow remembers EVERYONE’S names. All the instructors are friendly when they see you out at socials around the Twin Cities. The classes and curriculum are structured to provide the most effective lessons for the number and variety of students. I always feel like I get a lot out of the group classes, even on occasions where I’m already familiar with some of the moves. Because the studio is so popular, there can be a lot of door-traffic at the beginning of class. Make sure you register beforehand, arrive as early as possible, and follow all the guidelines on the website. Melissa is awesome and so helpful, but there’s only so much she can do when 80 people are walking in within a 10-minute window. I also highly recommend their monthly social! The music is always great & it’s a comfortable space for new and experienced dancers."