Dance Salsa, LA

Both Nicole Gil and Danny Kalman are sweethearts and provide a fun positive learning environment. They are both excellent dance instructors and dancers. I took their intermediate 3-​month program. What I really enjoyed about their intermediate program is being committed to showing up on a weekly basis with the same people who are learning the same moves. This class structure allows for everyone to be on the same page and progress at the same rate. I also believe that their program produces quicker results than dropping in on random classes with random people every single week.

Nicole and Danny, oh where do I begin?
Instructors: They’re both jokesters and love to laugh and make class a good time.
Nicole is very thorough and patient. I love when teachers notice and correct sloppy movements or give pointers to stylize and she does this… and with the utmost grace, without putting anyone on the spot. Love to watch her dance and add her spontaneous styling and spunky moves to the music.
Danny always brings a high level of energy, which is oft needed at the end of a long day. He’s the class clown-​disciplinarian-​in-​one, and will put the pressure on to commit to practice. And of course, ladies love to dance with the teacher!
Great having two instructors so ladies can emulate Nicole (or try…) and then get to feel how it should be with Danny. Vice versa for guys. (I think getting to dance with a female teacher and get feedback is ESPECIALLY crucial for guys!!)
Class structure: Class is 2 hours, once per week. First hour is warmup isolations and footwork/​shines. Second hour is partner work.
Moves: I was very impressed with the overall selection of moves, both shines and partner-​work. We make our own names for the moves so there’s no point listing them here. (My fav is tummy tuck, but some really useful ones are lazy guy triangle and hips! ya see??)
The 12 week consistency, review and building on previous lessons, as other reviewers said, is really great for your salsa skills, as opposed to learning with random people every week who might be at all different levels.
Highly recommended! Make the commitment and grab a spot when it opens up. You will NOT regret it!

Excellent class, the best mix of fun and learning, very good vibes all the time, you will meet also great people and then meet with them for social dancing.

Nicole is the best salsa dance instructor. I was looking for a private lesson to take my girlfriend for her birthday. I called three different places in the area and Nicole was the only one to get back to me. She is very prompt and professional. When we arrived Nicole and others in the studio were so polite in wishing her a Happy Birthday. During the lesson, Nicole was very encouraging and taught us so much in one hour. By the end of the lesson, we were nailing all the moves she taught us. Plus, her private lessons are very affordable and a great date idea. Guys, if you want to charm your lady, book a private lesson with Nicole!

I’ve taken many salsa classes over the years and they have all been pretty good but this one taught by Danny and Nicole is the best I have ever found. They limit the class size, demand that you don’t miss class, do 2 hour chunks of time which also helps, and really focus on their students and their progress. I took the 3 month intermediate class and I can really feel that I have improved. They also encourage the class to meet up regularly outside of class for social dancing — so that you can practice what you have learned. Really, why take the classes if you aren’t going to take it to the dance floor right away?
I cannot recommend these classes enough but sign up quickly because the limited class size means you might get left out if you take too long to sign up — and that means waiting for the next 3 month series.

Nicole and Danny are awesome! I’m 8 weeks in and feeling very confident, they design the class modularly, so we practice foundation moves that come back again and again. Once we’re very comfortable with those, it makes the more complex moves and combos much easier to master. Highly recommended!

now I’m taking classes with them and I just want to say that, if you want to learn or improve your salsa skills is a good place to do it. Instructors are very patient and mindful that you’re not an expert, they explain as many times needed to get the turns done, as well as they give you many tips about what should and shouldn’t do when dancing. Also, the program they offer is kind of a private class because you stay with the same few people through all the program and of course with a very reasonable price…

After working a 12hr night shift on Saturday, I woke up at about 1pm and thought to myself «I need to kick it up a notch» so I was surfing Unilocal for salsa lessons, and I found Nicole and Danny. I called a number on the site and Nicole answered, she was very nice and kind and encouraged me to check out the class. so I did, I went to the first class, with my new salsa shoes. I’m currently in the beginners class. We’re at about the 5^th class now, and every Sunday is like hanging out with family, Nicole and Danny are amazing dancers!!! They are always smiling, energetic, and ready to dance.
La Piña

I highly recommend taking classes from Danny and Nicole. I have taken classes in a few places, and these are hands down my favorite. There are some world champs out there who spend a lot of time talking– but not these guys– they use every second that they have to teach, review and correct you and above all let you dance, which is what you are there for, right? They also play lots of great music, not the same song over and over. I feel that most people at this point are not out to become professional salsa dancers, so part of the reason for going to class is to learn how to move and enjoy the beautiful music that is salsa. Nicole and Danny set you up for that, they teach you how to move, let you practice a lot and let you review your new skills to music, which is what people want to be doing. (At least I want be doing that! Not getting a lecture…) I also like how serious both of them are about what they do. I’ve learned more from them than anyone else. There is minimal goofing off, they are concentrated, but also have sparkling and funny personalities. One last thing that I really appreciate is that when you are practicing with your partner, both of them will come around and watch, and if you are off, they will dance with you to make sure you get it. Or, if there is one less guy/​girl, they have no problem filling in and dancing with us– they don’t have the teacher/​student high horse thing going on. And dancing with the teacher is the best! LOL.

The 12-​week Intermediate Intensive Salsa class offered by Nicole Gil & Danny Kilman has been quite beneficial to my dancing. I’ve been dancing for over 6 years hitting the club scene, taking lessons from one class to another, yet not one is as meticulous in instruction as this 12-​week program. Nicole & Danny work with a small class of students one-​on-​one to help refine, tweek, & improve students’ techniques. They’re patient & encourage students to ask questions or revisit older material so that they understand the fundamentals of the moves which is the purpose of the class. Both offer a very fun and friendly atmosphere that makes learning more enjoyable. I cannot recommend this class enough. If you want a class that concentrates on improving technique and focus on getting the fundamentals of salsa dancing right, check this class out. It’s the first of it’s kind and definitely the best.

Nicole is intelligent clear focused disciplined and charming. She knows how to dance and she knows how to teach. I have taught for over 20 years and I know a teacher when I see one. She is patient and she makes one feel comfortable .
Once you are comfortable You will then feel inspired and want to see her again And again.
The more you know her the more u will want to know. Nicole is destined for greatness so it’s best to see her now so you can say I knew her when.

Products and services rarely compel me to write positives reviews on Unilocal,and usually reviews are merely a means to vent my frustration or sheer displeasure with a vendor and attempt to achieve some small measure of justice. However, nothing pleases me more than to give a 5-​star rating to Miguel and Nicole. In addition to being fabulous dancers themselves, they are excellent instructors who have the patience and knowledge to help anyone learn the nuances of salsa; teaching both traditional techniques as well as some of the modern techniques more common in clubs around Los Angeles today. They are professional, and attentive but above all, they exhibit a genuine enthusiasm and an earnest desire to see you succeed. In many ways, my sessions with them were a type of therapy. Not only did I have little rhythm and no background, but I was dancing averse. Through their assistance and encouragemnt, I went from someone who looked for the nearest exit once music started to play, to someone who has discovered a deep and abiding love for salsa, and dancing in general. They awakened something within me that I simply did not think was there.

There are many people out there «teaching» people to dance. Very few truly invest time learning every aspect of the art themselves, before they begin teaching. It is important that the instructors find ways to help their students understand the music itself, to really hear it and be able to project the rhythm from the inside out. Principles of connection to the music, the floor, and the partner. Dance etiquette and focusing on having fun rather than looking impressive to others. Bringing up tiny details that help the dance feel effortless. That is what I have learned with Nicole and Miguel. If you learn here, you are learning from people who admire the art of salsa and teaching. They’re are beautiful people!

Miguel and Nicole are fabulous salsa dancers. At the same time, they are very patient, knowledgeable and experienced teachers. They know how to break down every little movement and then how to put everything together in a nice flow.
For us, me and my boyfriend, everything started with a group class we took in Monsoon café, Santa Monica. It was so much fun! The disadvantage of group classes though is limited amount of space for dancing, especially on Saturday night. Then we realized that in order to progress more quickly, we needed private instructions and personal attention. Miguel offered us a great deal and we bought a package of 10 private classes.
We enjoyed every one of them greatly! Each lesson, some new choreography and dancing skills were introduced to us. One hour of dancing would always go by so fast!!! In the end of each lesson, Nicole would take a video of us dancing so that we could have a record of what we’ve learned and later on practice the new sequence on our own. Additionally, Nicole and Miguel were flexible with scheduling and always on time.
After we finished our series, we are feeling so much more confident on the dance floor! We continue learning new moves through intermediate group classes with Miguel and Nicole.
Whether you are an amateur salsa dancer or an advanced practitioner, I highly recommend you to try out their classes and/​or take a private session. It’s worth it!