Business Details
18 Years
experience
Professional Ballroom Dance Lessons in Sherman Oaks
Founded in 2008, Bravo Dancing Ballroom Academy has established itself as a premier destination for ballroom dance instruction in Los Angeles. Led by Lorena Bravo, a nationally recognized instructor with a Master of Arts in Teaching from USC, our academy combines pedagogical expertise with championship-level experience to make dance accessible to all skill levels. We specialize in personalized private lessons, structured group classes, and customized wedding dance programs designed to meet individual goals. Our curriculum integrates decades of competitive success, including multiple professional ballroom championship final appearances, with evidence-based teaching methods to accelerate learning.Students receive tailored lesson plans, progress tracking, and access to supplementary resources like video recordings. Whether preparing for competitions, crafting a perfect first dance, or learning for recreation, our clients benefit from Lorena's unique philosophy that emphasizes dedication over innate talent. With affiliations at institutions like Chapman University and USC's Ballroom Dance Team, we maintain strong ties to the broader dance education community while prioritizing individual student growth.
Services
Private Dance Lessons
Wedding Dance Instruction
Group Dance Classes
Competitive Training
Online Dance Tutorials
Details
- Year established: 2008
Highlights and features
- 2008-founded academy led by nationally certified instructor
- Personalized curriculum with measurable progress tracking
- Proven success preparing students for championship competitions
- Flexible options including private lessons and group classes
- Combines master's-level education with professional dance expertise
Associations and certifications
- Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
What people say
Excellent instructor
Patient and knowledgeable
Championship-level expertise
Personalized lesson plans
Perfect wedding dance preparation
Services
Private Dance Lessons
Customized private dance instruction for individuals and couples at all skill levels. Sessions focus on technique development, routine creation, and goal-specific training with personalized feedback. Students receive tailored lesson plans and progress tracking to optimize learning outcomes.
Wedding Dance Instruction
Specialized choreography services for wedding couples creating memorable first dances. Instruction includes music analysis, movement coordination, and performance practice with options for in-person or online guidance through our dedicated Wedding Dance Channel platform.
Competitive Training
Comprehensive training for competition dancers including routine development, technique refinement, and competition strategy. Program incorporates championship-winning expertise with personalized coaching to maximize competitive performance and partnership coordination.
Group Dance Classes
Structured group instruction at university locations across Los Angeles. Classes emphasize social dance skills, partner rotation, and foundational technique development in a supportive environment suitable for recreational learners and aspiring competitors.
Online Dance Tutorials
Digital instructional resources including video demonstrations of fundamental ballroom techniques. Content library features American Foxtrot, Waltz, and Latin styles with new material added regularly for at-home practice and skill reinforcement.
People
Lorena Bravo
Owner & Lead Instructor
Master of Arts in Teaching from USC with 15+ years professional ballroom experience. 2007 Pro-Am National Champion and multiple championship finalist. Specializes in making dance accessible through structured, patient instruction tailored to individual learning styles.
Questions
What dance styles do you teach?
We teach American & International Ballroom, Rhythm & Latin, Swing, Salsa, Merengue, and specialized wedding dance choreography.
Do I need prior dance experience?
No experience needed - our curriculum accommodates complete beginners through advanced competitors with customized instruction.
How do wedding dance lessons work?
We create customized routines matching your song choice and comfort level, with options for private instruction or online guidance through The Wedding Dance Channel.
Are group classes available?
Yes, we offer group lessons at universities across LA including USC and Claremont, focusing on social dance skills in a fun, collaborative environment.
What qualifications do your instructors have?
Lead instructor Lorena Bravo holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from USC and is certified by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing with multiple professional championship final appearances.
Reviews (7)
Mark G.
Sep 23, 2021
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Lorena is absolutely amazing. My partner and I took group lessons from her for four years during my time at USC and a couple of private lessons as well. She is extremely nice and supportive and gives very clear lessons and concise instruction. She was also great at making sure I understood the reasoning behind everything she taught, rather than just telling my partner and me to move in specific ways without explaining why. She taught us everything we know about American smooth dancing. Even though my partner and I had absolutely zero prior dancing experience, Lorena's instruction led us to
Michelle D.
Nov 07, 2019
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We booked Lorena for five lessons for our first dance and we LOVED everything about her! Importantly, she is hands down the best teacher, we met with about five instructors (through initial meetings that most dance instructors offer) prior to meeting Lorena and no one compared to her, after our initial meeting with her we knew she was great match for us. She is the best teacher, she tailors her teaching style to what your end goal is, ours was our first dance for our wedding. Because it was a first dance with limited amount of time she did not waste time on technicalities that our guests would
Jeff Tanedo
Sep 09, 2019
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I have been taking lessons with Lorena Bravo since September 2012. Across those years, she has taken me from a complete novice to a competitive collegiate open level ballroom dancer. The words hereafter are my attempt to capture what a spectacular educator and excellent human being Lorena is. Great teachers can ignite the imagination and rekindle a love of learning. In this regard, history will soon show that Lorena Bravo is one of the greatest dance instructors of our generation. An endlessly curious student herself, Lorena has studied and continues to study dance from every angle imaginable
Jeff T.
Aug 23, 2019
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I have been taking lessons with Lorena Bravo since September 2012. Across those years, she has taken me from a complete novice to a competitive collegiate open level ballroom dancer. The words hereafter are my attempt to capture what a spectacular educator and excellent human being Lorena is. Great teachers can ignite the imagination and rekindle a love of learning. In this regard, history will soon show that Lorena Bravo is one of the greatest dance instructors of our generation. An endlessly curious student herself, Lorena has studied and continues to study dance from every angle imaginable
Jeff H.
Jun 24, 2018
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Started off with a simple wedding plan, but then decided to go for it and get a video done. The photographer stressed that you want variety of action throughout the day; otherwise a sameness will appear in all their work. So with less than 7 weeks to go and now squeezing in dance lessons?!
Lorena reassured us right away that we had enough time and that we could find a dance that suited us. Even after two lessons, I still couldn't visualize this rounding out into a final product; we were just learning steps and drilling it in our muscle memory. In the final two lessons, that's where it
Lorena reassured us right away that we had enough time and that we could find a dance that suited us. Even after two lessons, I still couldn't visualize this rounding out into a final product; we were just learning steps and drilling it in our muscle memory. In the final two lessons, that's where it
Reed Blaylock
Dec 18, 2017
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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
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
Erin Soares
Oct 02, 2017
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Lorena Bravo is an amazing person and an amazing ballroom coach. I have been her student for 3 years now, and have taken both group and private lessons with her. She is all you need in a ballroom instructor and will be endlessly supportive of you throughout your dance journey. Whether you are looking to become a pro-dancer, or just want to show off at a wedding, Lorena Bravo should be your go-to dance instructor. I would recommend her to everyone and anyone.
