Lake Shore Dance Academy Reviews | Ballroom Dance Studio

"You will learn, you will enjoy, you will DANCE!!! You will have the time of your life!"

I would encourage anyone, that has even the slightest desire to dance, sign up for classes with Anna "The Venus of Ballroom Dance" as I affectionately call her.

It has been some time since this guy with "two left feet" has been on the dance floor, but Anna's patience and utmost professionalism put me at ease and I realized I had two feet! It has been a joy to work with her and I look forward to every lesson. You will learn, you will enjoy, you will DANCE!!! You will have the time of your life with Anna as your guide.

Tony A.

"She made us feel so comfortable and improved our dancing skills immensely!"

Anna is amazing. My fiance and I had no prior dance experience, and Anna taught us four styles of ballroom dancing: Rumba, Hustle, Swing, and Salsa. When it came time to choreograph our first dance, we had a lot of material to choose from! Anna effortlessly sequenced the steps and the timing; she was very precise and knew just what would fit within the framework of the songs we had chosen. She made us feel so comfortable and improved our dancing skills immensely--we really looked forward to the lesson every week. We can't wait to show off our dance on the big day!

Kristen S.

"We had a blast! We received so many compliments on our first dance"

My husband and I just got married and we were taking lessons with Anna for a year and a half to prepare for our wedding dance so we weren't just swaying back and forth for our first dance. About the last month to two months of our lessons we focused on our first dance. She asked us how comfortable we were...and how unique/fun we wanted to go with our dance and we allowed her full reign to make it a very fun dance. We had a blast! We received so many compliments on our first dance...while we realized when we made mistakes, the audience couldnt, and i definitely credit that to Anna helping us be as comfortable as we could with our dancing abilities. We had fun with it, and let go. It was an amazing first dance, and we greatly enjoyed our experience with Anna.

Anna D.

Beautiful dance studio and space for private events!

Beautiful dance studio and space for private events! Decor is modern, glam and inviting, dance floor - just perfect! The owner Anna Strojek is such a gracious host! I really enjoy Salsa Fix events with DJ Carlos Guate on Saturdays and will be back for more events in the future. I highly recommend Lake Shore Dance Academy to anyone who loves to dance or is looking for a nice venue to host their special event!

Julita S.

"She was so patient with us, and made us believe in ourselves"

Ever since my son and daughter-in-law to be announced their engagement it’s been my dream to do a special, fun and memorable mother/son dance. His work schedule made it very difficult to get together for any lessons. When he got a different job with better hours I thought “here’s my chance”!! We came to Anna with zero experience and very little time. I gave her the songs we wanted to use and she choreographed a fantastic routine. She was so patient with us, and made us believe in ourselves. I can honestly say this was one of the best experiences of my life. Now my son and I, and the surprised wedding guests, have something unforgettable. Thank you, Anna, so much!!

Diann A.

The classes themselves are memories we will treasure forever!

We had a wonderful experience working with Anna! I did 6 lessons each with both my dad and my fiancee. We were able to schedule the lessons back to back on Mondays. Anna gave great instructions and feedback and helped us choreograph dances we were super excited about! While we practiced, we all wore masks the whole time and felt very safe. We had a lot of changes to our wedding day due to covid so was especially fun to surprise our small group of guests with these special dances. Even more important, the classes themselves are memories we will treasure forever! I would highly recommend!

Bridget B.

"She choreographed a beautiful routine for my husband and I to dance"

My now-husband and I took dance lessons with Anna for the first dance at our wedding. She is amazing! She is incredibly knowledgeable and very good at making beginners feel at ease. She choreographed a beautiful routine for my husband and I to dance, and worked tirlessly with us to learn the steps and put it all together. She is so much fun, and you can tell she genuinely cares about her dancers! I would recommend her in a heartbeat!! Thank you Anna!

Hannah G.

"My husband and I do not know dance, she break down each steps for us!"

Best best best dance teacher!!! Love her so much! We actually want to meet her everyday instead of one day! My husband and I do not know dance, she break down each steps for us! Plus, she is a funny lady and always make us laughing when we practice! You do not ever ever ever want to miss her! Thank you sooooo much! I will keep in touch with you!

Sara W.

"This has been the most fun date night idea ever"

On a whim, my husband scheduled a Swing dance lesson with Anna as a novel idea for one of our date nights. We were nervous, anxious and regretting our choice, until we met Anna and had our lesson. It was so much fun! Anna is an absolute delight!!! We learned the steps to four different dances. We decided right then to buy a package of private dance lessons as a scheduled date night every two weeks. I honestly cannot believe how quickly the time went! We just finished our first round of beginner lessons, and we're currently in the midst of "intermediate" lessons. Not only is Anna super fun, gorgeous and funny, but she is the BEST instructor! We laugh our way through lessons and we're really learning to dance! Our favorites are rumba, the hustle, swing, and tango. I finally feel like we can almost keep up with our friends at weddings (and they've been dancing as a couple for 35years)! I'm so excited to see our progress at the end of these lessons! This has been the most fun date night idea ever, and I'm thrilled to actually be able to hear the music and know the dances! If you have any doubts, please don't. Anna is fantastic!!! Go for one lesson and you will be hooked like we are!

Lindsay H.

"Every lesson is personal and loads of fun"

My fiancee and I are having so much fun learning how to dance from Anna. We started as two people with zero experience in ballroom dance, and now we are learning all the steps and gaining the confidence to dance at our wedding! Every lesson is personal and loads of fun.

Eric G.

"She is very profesional and very playful...makes dancing fun"

Had lots of fun with Anna shes an excelent dance teacher..she very profesional and very playful...makes dancing fun, i highly recomender her!!

David S.

"Not only are the lessons incredible, but they are one of the few things that have helped me push through"

I am a new dancer with 0 experience. I had recently been through some traumatic events in my life and so I decided to do something for myself and take up dancing. Anna has been so great, not only are the lessons incredible, but they are one of the few things that have helped me push through. I highly recommend anyone who is wanting to learn how to dance, trying to become better at dancing or just wanting to have fun, to try this place out.

Michael M.

"Her gentle yet firm nature allowed me to truly enjoy the wonders of dancing.."

So, I have always been nervous about dancing and my instructor made me feel comfortable. Her gentle yet firm nature allowed me to truly enjoy the wonders of dancing..

Leonard C.

My fiance and I use our practice time before our weekly classes as little date nights!

My fiance and I started dancing with Anna so that we would have a little more flair on the dance floor during our first dance at our wedding. Let me tell you in no uncertain terms that Anna was born to teach! Even though she is already a very accomplished professional dancer, she has not forgotten how it feels to be stepping out on the dance floor for the very first time, which is the quality that truly makes for a stellar instructor.

My fiance and I use our practice time before our weekly classes as little date nights! We have a glass of wine, practice, and exercise our minds as we look forward to our wedding. To get the most out of Anna in your lessons, I do recommend you practice.

What's more is Anna will incorporate moves that will show off both partners' outfits. If applicable, she will ask the bride what their wedding dress looks like, so it can be both properly maneuvered in and shown off!

I cannot recommend Anna enough. She is driven, talented, and she GENUINELY cares about all of her students.

Hannah H.

"She makes lessons really enjoyable; always energetic and cheerful"

Anna is the best! My boyfriend and I really love taking lessons with her. An excellent teacher, she is great at putting nervous new dancers at ease and breaking down new steps into easy components. She makes lessons really enjoyable; always energetic and cheerful. It's always a pleasure to learn from someone like Anna who is not only very good at what she does, but clearly really enjoys it.

Kate Ch.

"And best of all-we always have a great time with her!"

My husband and I have been taking ballroom dance lessons off and on for about 25 years. In that time, we’ve had many teachers. We’ve enjoyed something about all those experiences. But, Anna is the whole package! She’s a beautiful dancer, she’s an excellent teacher, she is patient, creative, and very professional. One of the things we really appreciate about her is how flexible and spontaneous she can be. Sometimes I come in with an idea of something I want to work on, without knowing the name of it or even being able to show her what it looks like. However she always knows what I’m talking about and will figure it out for me. And best of all-we always have a great time with her!

Kathi M.

"She has a great sense of humor that makes the lessons fly by"

Anna is an amazing instructor on any level of dance. My boyfriend and I have had the pleasure of learning from her several times. She is professional and has a great sense of humor that makes the lessons fly by, while taking the time to review anything you need to improve your knowledge and skill. She truly is a gem.

Pauline P.

"This assisted in me building my confidence as a dancer"

Anna helps break down steps for beginners like myself. This assisted in me building my confidence as a dancer and made me want to learn more and more! Anna's adorable sense of humor makes you feel relaxed in her hands too.

Anneliese G.

"We are having a blast"

My fiance and I are currently taking lessons for our first dance. We are having a blast with Anna! We are beginners, and she is a great teacher. She is choreographing a rumba for us, and she has also taught us other dances like the salsa, foxtrot, and waltz.

Hilary P.

"We love dancing and can't wait to take more classes with Anna!!"

Anna was so amazing teaching my husband and I our first dance. Not only did she choreograph our dance perfectly, she made sure we had a solid foundation for us to learn and have fun. We love dancing and can't wait to take more classes with Anna!!

Tamara Al-H.

"She is the most friendly dancer that I have ever met"

As an introvert type person that never tried dancing before, Anna was able to work with me and was able to make me a decent dancer. She teach me salsa, waltz, rumba and a little bit of tango. She is the most friendly dancer that I have ever met.

Edgar S.

"She is talented, patient and caring instructor"

My dance Experience with Anna has been exceptional. She is talented, patient and caring instructor. She takes great pride in teaching, always offering encouragement. I highly recommend her.

Paul K.

"She made both of us feel comfortable at the first lesson"

I came across Lake Shore Dance Academy and Anna after looking for a gift for my fiance, as well as a spot for us to learn some moves for our first dance at our wedding. It was clear that Anna was such a professional that it was an easy choice to have her as an instructor. It's clear from the start that she has an incredible amount of knowledge of dancing - but more importantly - she is an excellent TEACHER! She made both of us feel comfortable at the first lesson and is very energetic & passionate about the lesson no matter the time. She adapts to how you learn and will find the right way to to explain things so that they 'click' for you. Overall, Anna is a great dancer, teacher, and so fun to work with.

Jason M.

"The result was most heart touching"

As the father of the bride- to -be, I wanted to look good and dance with confidence at my daughter’s wedding. Our father/ daughter dance was going to mean a lot to my daughter and me, and I wanted to do my part to get it right. My daughter really did not want an over-the-top father /daughter dance, but wanted our dance to reflect her style. Anna Strojek of the Lake Shore Dance Academy found the perfect balance of music and dance steps that far exceeded our expectations. She worked with us from the selection of music through the teaching of those dance steps and combinations that worked best for us. Anna was always professional, patient, and easy to work with. She is so creative, made many excellent suggestions, and was lots of fun!! But Anna really shined when it came to choreographing a surprise parents’ dance for me and my wheelchair bound wife. The result was most heart touching and a memory that the bride and groom, My wife and I, and many guests will never forget. If there is a wedding in your future or you have an important role in one, I highly recommend Anna Strojek of the Lake Shore Dance Academy! You will enjoy your dance lessons with Anna and may even decide to immerse yourself even further in the world of ballroom dancing!!!

Michael D.

"Anna goes above and beyond"

Anna is the absolute best! My fiancé and I had been talking about taking dance lessons for a while, and after calling around, Lake Shore Dance stood out because of Anna's enthusiasm and flexibility. We are new to ballroom dance but Anna makes every class enjoyable- she is a great teacher, and is encouraging, energetic, and charismatic. Not only are we getting a choreographed first dance for our wedding (mash-up with rumba and swing), but we are developing a real love for ballroom dance! Anna goes above and beyond. She has a great Spotify playlist of songs you can practice to, and helps you keep track of dance moves in ways that make sense to YOU (for us, she videotapes us doing some of the harder steps so we can practice). If you are considering dance lessons for your wedding or just in general, don't think twice, Anna is the way to go!!

Susanna B.

"She knows how to make each student shine"

When it comes to teaching dance and technique, Anna is a savvy teacher and wonderful role model. She knows how to make each student shine based on his/her own personality and strengths. Anna watched me dance and quickly came up with an organized "game plan" for emphasizing my personal style and improving my weaknesses. Most important of all, she is truly kind, patient and understanding, and she makes a dance lesson fun as she helps me transform my dancing.

Elizabeth M.

"That was one of the best days of my life"

I’ve been dancing with Anna since i started more than 3 years ago. She’s a perfectionist. All the details from the routine down to the costume should be perfect. Feels like it’s just yesterday when we won at the 2015 WSDC. That was one of the best days of my life. It was really a pleasure having her as my dance partner. She’s a great teacher...And a good friend as well.

Orlando L.

"You'll learn more about your self, how you can push through the limits"

I recently restarted ballroom classes after a several year hiatus. I was excited yet very nervous about restarting lessons. I lost, in my opinion, so much of my movement ability from the years without dancing and a recent Achilles tendon issue. Anna was able to get me moving...and not be as frustrated with my perfectionist self as I have been known to be. I have a goal of performing a dance later this year, and, in just a few lessons, that goal is becoming more of a reality... I highly recommend lessons with Anna...even if you are filled with self criticality...try... step outside your boundaries ...you'll learn more about your self, how you can push through the limits you may or may not have realized you have, and learn the grace, poise, and elegance that all of us can use as we go through this journey of life!

Erika R.

"She understands what’s like to be a beginner"

Anna is the best!! She’s an experienced dancer but she understands what’s like to be a beginner and makes me feel comfortable. Her teaching is very precise and I never get confused. And more than anything, her dancing is beautiful and she’s my number one role model!!

Kumiko H.

"In the short time I have progressed exponentially"

I have been taking dance lessons for over 5 years and just recently started taking lessons from Anna and have found her to be an AMAZING teacher! In the short time that I have been taking lessons from her I have progressed exponentially. Not only is she an incredible dancer herself, but she is able to explain the steps so that I can carry out the movement correctly. Anna is very patient and takes the time to teach me about dance beyond just the steps so I have a broader understanding of the dance I am learning. I highly recommend taking dance lessons from Anna as they are always fun and you will learn a lot!

Miriam C.

"Always smiling and positive and never makes me feel silly for making the same flippin' mistake"

Anna is THE BEST!!!! I knew I wanted to learn a few social dancing basics, but wasn't sure what type of lesson I wanted. Anna was incredibly responsive to my inquiry, patient with my lack of knowledge and so very helpful in finding a great fit for me. In fact, my initial intention was to take a few group classes like I had several years ago, but I've been enjoying it so much that I just signed up for several private lessons to learn a few 'more advanced moves.' She is such a good teacher (even I can learn from her!), always smiling and positive and never makes me feel silly for making the same flippin' mistake 12 times in a row. She's also in high demand but consistently works with my crazy schedule to find a good time to meet. If you're even remotely looking into taking a lesson or 2 and want to learn more, you owe it to yourself to reach out to Anna. You'll be so happy you did!

Troy R.

"Ana is such an amazing teacher"

Where can I begin. Ana is such an amazing teacher. She is so funny and she has taught me a lot. If you are looking for a fun amazing and talented teacher than dance with Ana.

Sophia W.

"I had no idea I could ever learn -- or even enjoy -- dancing"

I highly recommend Anna at Lake Shore Dance Academy. Anna is a great teacher. She's incredibly patient and kind, and has a real knack for getting through to her students, successfully teaching even those of us with two left feet. I had no idea I could ever learn -- or even enjoy -- dancing. I have such a good time at my lessons and it's been great to be able to enjoy dancing at weddings and special events. Do it!

Jill K.

"Anna understands that dancing can change lives and is more than just teaching dance steps."

Lake Shore Dance Academy is operated by professional ballroom dance instructor Anna Strojek. Anna is one of the best ballroom dance instructors in the Chicagoland area! Her ballroom dancing expertise and professionalism, together with her charming personality, patience, and sense of humor, make her an ideal dancing instructor at any level from beginner to advanced student. When I started lessons with Anna, I knew little about ballroom dancing. But in just a few months, Anna taught me how to dance with confidence to the dance styles I was most interested in learning! And we had so much fun doing it! Anna understands that dancing can change lives and is more than just teaching dance steps. She tailors her lessons to the needs and desires of each of her students. Whether you are beginner or an advanced dancer, or are getting ready for a wedding or special event, you will really enjoy your lessons with Anna!!

Michael D.

"I always leave feeling so much more confident in my dancing!"

Absolutely LOVE working with Ania! She is a fantastic instructor, very passionate about teaching. I'm the kind of person who needs footwork broken down in a very detailed manner, and Ania always does a great job explaining everything. Under her guidance, I had some huge breakthroughs in my technique with various styles of Latin, I always leave feeling so much more confident in my dancing! Definitely an instructor I will be coming back to.

Sierra M.

"Her enthusiasm for dancing is contagious and inspiring."

Anna is an amazing teacher. She challenges and pushes you to do better all while having fun at the same time. Her enthusiasm for dancing is contagious and inspiring. What seems like an impossible dance move becomes fluid and almost second nature with her instruction. I'm always looking forward to our next class together. I highly recommend her.

Anthony L.

"Anna listens to understand your dancing goals, and guides you to exceeding even your own expectations"

Anna is a great dance teacher, coach and mentor. She was my first dance teacher and I have had the privilege of learning from her and dancing with her for years. She has transformed my dancing! Anna listens to understand your dancing goals, accurately evaluates your skill level, and guides you to exceeding even your own expectations. Also, she makes the experience fun as well as fulfilling! Anna has great insight and brings her special magic that helps any dancer of any age become more confident and accomplished. I highly recommend her!

Jeremy M.

"It was such a great experience, that I will continue"

Anna is a talented, effective and lovely dance instructor, with a cheerful and engaging personality. It has been my pleasure to learn dancing from her over only a few weeks. I signed up to learn one routine dance for my Birthday, but it was such a great experience, that I will continue. I highly recommend Anna.

Peter S.

"We took one dance class with Anna and we were instantly hooked!"

My husband and I were looking for a fun dance class to try something different. We had only intended to try one salsa lesson. We took one dance class with Anna and we were instantly hooked! She was INCREDIBLE! Not only was she an extremely talented dancer, but she was an outstanding teacher. She was patient, kind, funny, and had excellent energy. We truly look forward to seeing her every week. We highly recommend Anna... you won't regret it!

Mathis A.

"I have gained so much confidence and learned so much that I absolutely love to dance"

AMAZING!! Start dancing now!! I never danced before in my life and I walked in not knowing anything. Just within a couple lesson I have gained so much confidence and learned so much that I absolutely love to dance. Anna is such a great teacher and instructor, full of energy and excitement that makes you want to keep learning and while having fun at the same time. I am looking forward to many more lessons.

Peter P.

"So nice & personable"

Anna is a fantastic dance teacher! So nice & personable. She’s very effective at teaching new steps/dances and challenging us while making it fun!

Joyce M.

"She inspired me to continue my dreams"

Anna was an awesome dance instructor!

Warm caring and gentle, I was new with no dance skills whatsoever, after I met Anna, she inspired me to continue my dreams.

Edward L.

"We have had a ton of fun with our lessons and feel much more comfortable on the dance floor"

My fiancée and I had the intention of starting dance lessons many months before our wedding. Unfortunately, due to my work schedule, we didn't wind up having the time to do so until 3 weeks before the event. Not only did Anna make taking lessons extremely convenient for us by coming to our house for the lessons (which were done in our garage, nonetheless) but she also squeezed us into basically every open time slot that she had so that we could cram as many lessons as possible into the short timeframe that we had. Throughout the lessons, she remained patient, positive, and extremely instructive. We have had a ton of fun with our lessons and feel much more comfortable on the dance floor. I would highly recommend Anna to anyone looking for a dance instructor!

Nick N.

"Her attention to detail is impeccable"

I am a competitive ballroom dancer and spent several years dancing with Anna in both group and private lessons and found her to be positively delightful to work with. Her attention to detail is impeccable, as is her knowledge of all aspects of ballroom dancing. She has studied under and worked with some of the most renowned names in the business. I've observed Anna teach a wide variety of students from young children to wedding couples to advanced competitive dancers and have had the pleasure of watching her compete professionally. She is an absolute joy to watch on the dance floor whether competing with her professional partner or amateur student. Her friendly demeanor helps even the most novice dancer feel welcome and comfortable from their very first lesson. I would highly recommend Anna for all levels of ballroom instruction -- her love of dance is completely infectious.

Mary K.

"She handcrafted our dancing abilities, while still giving us space to be unique as a couple"

We love Anna!!! My boyfriend and I had never danced before and are both ridiculously awkward and perfectionistic, but Anna's bubbly personality and firm teaching style saved the day! She is great about talking through everyone's expectations and catering to what works best for you, as well as giving you all the basic tools for a variety of ballroom dances. She handcrafted our dancing abilities, while still giving us space to be unique as a couple. We can't get enough!! Thank you Anna!

Kaylin W.

"She is very encouraging"

This instructor is so talented and helpful! She is very encouraging and gives great attention to detail and technique!!!

Shawnee V-D.

"She's incredibly patient and kind"

Anna is a great teacher. She's incredibly patient and kind, and has a real knack for getting through to her students, successfully teaching even those of us with two left feet. I have such a good time at my lessons.