FAQ’s

About Our Studio / Explore Your Visit

  • Our studio offers private lessons for anyone seeking to learn social dance, any type of partnered dance, as well as wedding dance. We teach bachelorette group classes, flash mobs for weddings, and corporate team bonding group events. We also offer dance experiences for groups ranging from two to 15 people. Popular events include date nights, bachelorette parties, and special occasions.

Our business is open by appointment only from 3 PM until 10 PM every day except Wednesdays. We are closed on Wednesdays. We take phone calls during non-business hours too, so feel free to give us a call, and we will do our best to answer.

No, our studio is appointment-only. However, we do take same-day bookings. Same-day availability won’t show up on our booking platform, but just give us a call, text, or email for same-day bookings.

Yes, we can travel to your private location or studio within 10 miles of our studio. This option has some restrictions and different fees compared to regular lesson packages. We also have the option to teach at a location in Redwood City. Additionally, we offer online video lessons via Zoom and other platforms. Please contact us if you wish to explore these off-site options.

Yes! We do offer Zoom lessons. Simply use our booking platform to book a time slot as if it were a regular in-studio lesson, and contact us to request it be converted into a Zoom class.

We use Vagaro as our booking and payment partner. You can book all services, including private lessons, by following this link or via any of the “Book Now” buttons on our website. Please feel free to contact us if you require further assistance or would like to speak with us directly. We would be happy to help with any questions or booking a service.

Our private lessons are for up to two (2) people, and additional party members can be added for a fee of $50 per additional person. For groups larger than five, we offer group experiences, as a private lesson appointment will not be sufficient to accommodate your group.

Standard lesson length is 60 minutes. We do not offer shorter appointments; however, longer appointments are an option.

Yes, you can book 60-minute lessons back to back on the same day—in tandem. This will result in a two-hour or even three-hour session. Some of our couples have also booked a 60-minute class, then taken an hour break, and returned for another 60- or 120-minute session.

  • Parking garage: Around $20
  • Metered parking: About $2/hour (coin, tap-to-pay, and card available). Free after 6 PM and on Sundays.
  • Non-metered street parking: Free but has a two-hour limit.

We are in a mixed-use area (residential and business units share the same street), meaning we have ample free street parking available. We also have metered parking and a parking garage right by the entrance. We recommend allowing 5-7 minutes to park after 6 PM and up to 10-15 minutes if arriving before 6 PM. As in the rest of San Francisco—DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES in your car. Break-ins happen, and Groove Room SF takes no responsibility for such occurrences.

We welcome pets, so please feel free to bring your furry friends to hang with you during class. The owner takes responsibility for any damages caused by pets and agrees to cover any property damage if such occurs.

No, unfortunately, the studio, teacher, and appointment time are reserved for you exclusively, and appointments are scheduled back-to-back. We are unable to extend your appointment time to reflect a late start. We ask that you be understanding of this policy to respect your teacher’s time and that of the next couple scheduled after you.

Parking Info

  • Parking garage: Around $20
  • Metered parking: About $2/hour (coin, tap-to-pay, and card available). Free after 6 PM and on Sundays.
  • Non-metered street parking: Free but has a two-hour limit.

We are in a mixed-use area (residential and business units share the same street), meaning we have ample free street parking available. We also have metered parking and a parking garage right by the entrance. We recommend allowing 5-7 minutes to park after 6 PM and up to 10-15 minutes if arriving before 6 PM. As in the rest of San Francisco—DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES in your car. Break-ins happen, and Groove Room SF takes no responsibility for such occurrences.

We welcome pets, so please feel free to bring your furry friends to hang with you during class. The owner takes responsibility for any damages caused by pets and agrees to cover any property damage if such occurs.

No, unfortunately, the studio, teacher, and appointment time are reserved for you exclusively, and appointments are scheduled back-to-back. We are unable to extend your appointment time to reflect a late start. We ask that you be understanding of this policy to respect your teacher’s time and that of the next couple scheduled after you.

Payment Plans / Gift Cards

Yes! Our payment provider, Vagaro, offers payment plans. You will be able to choose a payment plan option upon booking, or we can set one up at the time of your service. Please contact us for assistance if needed.

Yes! You can purchase a gift card or book a surprise service/party via our booking platform. You can also contact us for assistance with purchasing a gift card over email, phone, or text. We can process it remotely! Please reach out if you require further assistance or have questions.

Please book the desired service via our booking platform (Vagaro). You will be required to put a credit card on file to book, but your card will not be charged. We will process your gift card as payment upon your arrival for your appointment.

Yes, gift cards expire after two years (730 days). Store credit issued for future use expires after one year (365 days).

Cancellations / Refunds / Expiration Dates

Yes, all services and products purchased with us have an expiration date:

  • All services purchased expire in one calendar year (365 days).
  • Any store/studio credit issued for future use expires one year (365 days) from the issue date.
  • Gift cards expire in two years (730 days).

No, we have a strict no-refund policy. Due to the policies of our payment system provider (Vagaro) and to keep our business sustainable, we cannot process refunds, including for accidental charges or mistaken purchases. However, the value of the service purchased may be used by the buyer or re-gifted in the form of a gift card (subject to a one-year store credit expiration policy).

  • Private Lessons: Cancellations or rescheduling must be made at least 48 hours in advance. Lessons canceled or rescheduled within 48 hours are non-refundable and subject to a full charge.
  • Group Classes: Group classes are scheduled events and cannot be rescheduled or refunded.
  • Parties/Experiences: Experiences for up to two people follow the private lesson cancellation policy. Larger parties must be canceled or rescheduled at least seven days in advance. Events within seven days are non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled

Unfortunately this policy is in place due to prior experiences we had with students. We hope to never have to explain this to our clients, however we put this policy in place for clarity and transparency.

 We reserve the right to refuse service to any student who shows up, or informs us of their intent to show up, sick to the lesson. This is against the SF health guidelines, as well as not safe for our teachers, other students, as well as you. We reserve the right to send the student or the entire party home. Your appointment will be subject to a $50 sick charge, as a courtesy in lieu of full lesson charges that are typical of any no-show, late-cancel appointments. Any exceptions to our 48-hour cancellation policy that we choose to grant due to illness will be subject to a $50 sick charge. We reserve the right to decide on such exceptions on a case-by-case basis and reserve this policy for health emergencies only. Please be kind and do not abuse this policy – we have it in place to give courtesy to those suffering serious emergencies, not for those looking for a loophole. Honesty is always the best policy on everyone’s part. Please let us know if you are sick – any healthy party members can still show up for their lesson, even if preparing for wedding dance. We will always find things to work on in our lesson even if your partner is sick.

Emergencies/severe illness or injury policy

Unfortunately this policy is in place due to prior experiences we had with students. We hope to never have to explain this to our clients, however we put this policy in place for clarity and transparency.

 We reserve the right to refuse service to any student who shows up, or informs us of their intent to show up, sick to the lesson. This is against the SF health guidelines, as well as not safe for our teachers, other students, as well as you. We reserve the right to send the student or the entire party home. Your appointment will be subject to a $50 sick charge, as a courtesy in lieu of full lesson charges that are typical of any no-show, late-cancel appointments. Any exceptions to our 48-hour cancellation policy that we choose to grant due to illness will be subject to a $50 sick charge. We reserve the right to decide on such exceptions on a case-by-case basis and reserve this policy for health emergencies only. Please be kind and do not abuse this policy – we have it in place to give courtesy to those suffering serious emergencies, not for those looking for a loophole. Honesty is always the best policy on everyone’s part. Please let us know if you are sick – any healthy party members can still show up for their lesson, even if preparing for wedding dance. We will always find things to work on in our lesson even if your partner is sick.

Wedding Students

The best time to start is now! Some couples begin as early as one year in advance. Take the stress and mystery out of the process by allowing yourself ample time to plan and pace your lessons freely, without worrying about a time crunch. That said, we understand that sometimes life happens, and you may need to start later than ideal. That’s okay—we offer different packages to accommodate those starting closer to their big day. If your wedding is 3-4 months away, we can still create a beautiful dance for you and your loved one. We are happy to work with anyone, regardless of how close their wedding is, and we will make the best of the time we have. However, the ideal approach is to give yourself ample time to prepare and start early.

This answer varies from couple to couple, depending on your goals. Perhaps a better way to look at it is: “What can I achieve in X amount of lessons?” Our package options provide detailed descriptions of what you can accomplish with each package. In short:

  • With 20 hours of lessons, you will achieve the wedding dance of your dreams, complete with a music edit and custom choreography. Our teacher will guide you every step of the way, and no extra work will be required outside of lessons. From choreography to learning and final touches, everything will be polished and refined—just like the other details of your wedding.
  • With 10 hours, the level of detail will be slightly reduced, but it is still a great choice for those starting closer to the wedding date (2-3 months prior).
  • With 5 hours, we can still complete a first dance choreography, but ample home practice will be necessary to ensure both of you remember the steps. We may not have time to focus on finer details, such as arm styling and finishing touches.
  • Fewer than 5 lessons is generally not enough for a cohesive choreography, though we will make sure you leave with a few nice moves—perhaps even a dip.

Come dressed comfortably and confidently. For shoes, wear comfortable sneakers, socks, or any footwear that fits securely and does not restrict movement. High heels can also be a good choice if you want to test how they feel on the wedding day. We will help determine which moves to avoid based on how your heels affect your ability to walk, spin, and move. We encourage students to bring their wedding shoes to break them in—although not necessary, it is highly recommended.

No, you do not need to have a song chosen for your first lesson. Every couple is different, and it is our job to take you from where you are to where you need to be. Often, this means helping couples choose their first dance song.

We have blog posts on our website with tips on choosing the perfect first dance song, as well as recommendations for popular choices. Whether you come in with a chosen song, a list of options, or no idea at all, your instructor will be prepared to help.

Yes! We partner with a sound engineer to handle music edits. This service is included in some of our larger packages and is available as an add-on for $65 with smaller packages. Each package description specifies if a music edit is included; if not, it is an optional add-on.

Yes! Our teachers are trained to teach lifts and dips safely, regardless of height, size, ability level, or gender. If you dream of incorporating a dip or lift into your first dance, we encourage you to try it in class, even if you feel unsure at first.

Yes! You can send us the video in advance or bring it to your lesson. We have experience handling such requests and will adjust or substitute any moves as needed. Our teachers do not learn the dance in its entirety beforehand but will review the video before class to ensure familiarity.

No, you can choose a loosely structured routine or even improvise your first dance. We would be happy to teach you how to dance naturally and confidently.

Yes! If you want extra practice or if your fiancé(e) is unavailable, we are happy to help.

Our private lessons accommodate up to two (2) people. Additional participants can be added for $50 per person (up to a total of four people). If you have a larger group, we can book a private group class.

We can create instructional videos, partner with an instructor in your parent’s hometown, or schedule Zoom lessons. If they visit before the wedding, we can also schedule back-to-back sessions.

Lessons expire one year after purchase, but unused lessons can be converted into date night or weekend dance activities.

Call us ASAP! Even with just one or two lessons, we can help you prepare a few moves, a nice entrance, and possibly even a dip or lift. Let’s ensure your first dance is memorable!

Social Students

No, you are welcome to come solo. Our teachers will guide you through the lesson, acting as your dance partner as needed.

No! All our teachers are trained in both leader and follower roles. Some students like to work with different teachers for varied perspectives.

See our full list of dances [here].

At this time, we do not offer drop-in weekly group classes.

Book your first lesson, and we’ll take it from there! If you’re hesitant, we’d be happy to chat on the phone before your appointment.

Wear comfortable clothing that allows free movement. We have a changing room if needed.

No! Beginners can wear comfy sneakers, socks, or other secure footwear. Talk to your instructor about when to invest in dance shoes.

If unsure, we recommend bachata, salsa, cha-cha, East Coast swing, waltz, or foxtrot.

Absolutely! Our teachers have strong competitive and social dance backgrounds and can tailor lessons to advanced students.

Experiences & Date Nights

We offer experiences for 2, 4-6, and up to 15 people.

We offer wine, margaritas, champagne, and light non-alcoholic beverages, along with charcuterie boards and snacks. You are welcome to bring additional food or cake.

Changes must be made at least 7 days in advance. Events within 7 days cannot be rescheduled or canceled. All sales are final.

For Bachelorette Parties, Flash Mobs, Private Groups, Studio Rentals, and Corporate Events, please contact us for details.

You can book through our [online booking platform] or by clicking any “Book Now” button on our website.

For special requests Email us at richard.tais.dance@gmail.com