Controla Dance Academy: A Hub for Latin Dance and Events in Philadelphia, PA

Controla Dance Academy Introduce

Nestled in the heart of South Philadelphia, Controla Dance Academy is a vibrant and welcoming space that has become a cornerstone of the local dance community. This is more than just a dance studio; it is a lively event venue and a professional dance company, all rolled into one. Identifying as both a women-owned and Latino-owned business, Controla brings a unique and authentic perspective to the Latin dance scene in Pennsylvania. It's a place where passion for dance, a deep appreciation for the culture, and a strong sense of community converge.

The philosophy at Controla Dance Academy, led by the celebrated Paola, is centered on creating an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone, regardless of their background or skill level, can learn and thrive. They believe that dance is a universal language, and their mission is to make it accessible and enjoyable for all. The instructors are not only highly skilled in their craft but are also warm, respectful, and committed to their students' growth. Whether you're a complete novice looking to learn a few steps for a wedding or a seasoned dancer aiming to perfect your technique, the academy provides a professional and encouraging setting for your journey.

What truly sets Controla apart is the powerful sense of community that has been cultivated within its walls. The studio is widely known as a welcoming and safe space, being explicitly LGBTQ+ friendly and a transgender safe space. This commitment to inclusivity ensures that all who enter feel comfortable and supported. The community extends beyond classes to include popular social events, like Bachata Social Dancing, which are known for their great energy and friendly atmosphere. The team at Controla, including Paola and Armando, are deeply invested in the growth of each individual dancer, making the studio a truly special place.

Location and Accessibility

Controla Dance Academy is conveniently located at 714 Reed St, Philadelphia, PA 19147, USA. This South Philadelphia address makes it easily accessible for residents of the city and surrounding areas in Pennsylvania. The studio's location is well-served by local transport and is a popular destination for the local dance community.

The academy is also mindful of accessibility and convenience for its patrons. They offer a variety of parking options, which is a significant plus in a city environment. Patrons can find free street parking, as well as on-site parking and a free parking lot, which makes traveling to the studio hassle-free. The provided information also notes that the venue has gender-neutral toilets, which is a thoughtful amenity that adds to the inclusive atmosphere of the space.

Services Offered

Controla Dance Academy provides a comprehensive suite of services, ranging from dance instruction to professional entertainment.

Dance Classes: A variety of classes for all skill levels, including beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
Latin Dance: Specialization in popular Latin styles such as Salsa, Bachata, Mambo, Cha Cha, and Zouk.
Private and Group Lessons: Personalized one-on-one instruction and structured group classes for all ages.
Virtual Classes: Online dance instruction and virtual dance classes for students who prefer to learn from home.
Choreography Classes and Services: Expert choreography for a variety of events and performances, including wedding first dances and corporate events.
Event Entertainment: The dance company offers professional entertainment for parties, corporate events, and other special occasions.
Event Dance Instruction: Instructors can be booked to teach dance at your event, getting all of your guests on the dance floor.
Ladies Styling: Specialized classes focused on the unique techniques and styling for female dancers, which is a noted highlight.

Features / Highlights

Controla Dance Academy stands out in the Philadelphia dance scene due to its key features and unique highlights that enhance the overall experience.

Identifies as Latino-owned and women-owned: This provides an authentic and empowering atmosphere, led by individuals who are passionate about the culture they share.
LGBTQ+ friendly and Transgender safe space: The studio is deeply committed to inclusivity, creating a welcoming environment for all members of the community.
Active Military Discounts: A commendable feature that honors and supports military members and their families.
High-Quality Instruction: The instructors are professional, knowledgeable, and constantly keeping up with their training, ensuring a top-tier learning experience.
Strong Sense of Community: The studio is known for its warm, loving, and inviting family atmosphere, which extends to its popular social events.
Guest Instructors: The academy regularly brings in "some of the best dancers in the world" for guest instruction, providing students with unparalleled learning opportunities.
Gender-Neutral Toilets: A simple yet important amenity that reinforces the studio’s commitment to inclusivity and safety for all.
Accessible Parking: The availability of free and on-site parking options is a major convenience in an urban setting.

Contact Information

For more information about classes, special events, or to book a private lesson, you can contact Controla Dance Academy through the following details.

Address: 714 Reed St, Philadelphia, PA 19147, USA

Phone: (215) 550-1318

What is worth choosing

Choosing a dance studio is a deeply personal decision, and the glowing reviews for Controla Dance Academy highlight exactly why it is a top choice in Philadelphia. One customer, who has been to other studios in the area, emphasizes that they have "never had a bad experience at Controla," praising the owner, Paola, for being "warm, respectful, knowledge, and inviting." This speaks directly to the quality of the studio’s leadership and its foundational values. The reviewer's high recommendation is based on both the quality of instruction and the enjoyable social events, confirming that the studio excels on multiple fronts.

A particularly detailed review from a long-time Latin dancer further solidifies the case for Controla. This individual, who has taken a wide variety of classes at the studio, states "without a doubt that the quality of instruction and professionalism at Controla is on par with larger and more long-established studios." This is a powerful endorsement from a knowledgeable source, highlighting the fact that Controla is a top-tier option. The reviewer also praises the instructors for their continuous training and ability to "give you the skills to learn both fundamentals and how to develop your own style." The guest instructors and the fun learning environment are also mentioned as major highlights. The most compelling point of the review, however, is the emphasis on the community. The reviewer calls it "the most welcoming environment I've experienced in a dance studio here in Philadelphia," and credits Paola for cultivating a strong "sense of community." The personalized attention from the owners and staff, who "make a real attempt to get to know you," is what makes the studio so special. This strong community, combined with professional instruction and a commitment to inclusivity, makes Controla Dance Academy a truly exceptional choice for anyone in Pennsylvania looking to immerse themselves in the joy of Latin dance.

Controla Dance Academy Services

Dance School
Advanced classes
Choreography classes
Private lessons
Bachata Social Dancing
Dance Academy
Dance Classes
Dance Instruction
Home Class
Ladies Styling
Latin Dance
Learning Dance
Virtual Classes
Virtual Dance
Virtual Dance Classes

Dance Company
Event Dance Instruction
Event Entertainment
Group Dance Lessons
Latin Dance Choreographer
Private Dance Lessons

Controla Dance Academy Details

From the business
Identifies as Latino-owned
Identifies as women-owned

Service options
On-site services
Online classes

Highlights
Active military discounts

Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Wheelchair-accessible toilet

Amenities
Gender-neutral toilets

Crowd
LGBTQ+ friendly
Transgender safe space

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards

Children
Good for kids

Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
On-site parking

Controla Dance Academy Photos

Controla Dance Academy Location

Controla Dance Academy

Pennsylvania Philadelphia County Philadelphia South Philadelphia Reed Street

714 Reed St, Philadelphia, PA 19147, USA

Controla Dance Academy Reviews

An average rating of ★4.4 from 19 user reviews.

bachatastudiosconfidenceclasseslatin danceinvestedsocialsrelationshipsmall businessesbehavior

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

I've dealt with Paola directly taking classes at Controla, and attended some Controla Fridays events. I've also attended classes at other studios in the area, and I've never had a bad experince at Controla. On the contrary, Paola has always been warm, respectful, knowledge, and inviting to my wife and myself. Highly recommended this studio to anyone looking to learn to dance, plus the events are always a great time.
March 27 · Enthony Silva
I cannot recommend checking out classes at Controla enough! I have been taking Latin dance classes at various studios here in Philadelphia for over ten years. I have taken classes in many styles at Controla over the last few years: Salsa, Mambo, Bachata, Cha Cha, Zouk and followers styling, including on a team. I can say without a doubt that the quality of instruction and professionalism at Controla is on par with larger and more long-established studios. The instructors at Controla are always keeping up their training and craft and will give you the skills to learn both fundamentals and how to develop your own style as a dancer. They are constantly bringing in some of the best dancers in the world for guest instruction and make learning dance fun and accessible. I always leave class with a smile!But the thing that makes Controla so special is the strong sense of community that Paola has cultivated in the studio and at the socials. It is the most welcoming environment I've experienced in a dance studio here in Philadelphia (although I have love for so many teachers at all studios). Paola, Armando and other teachers and staff are inclusive, make a real attempt to get to know you and are invested in your growth as a dancer- whether it is just to learn a few moves to gain the confidence to get on the floor at a social, or to take your dancing to a higher level- you will find what you are looking for in this studio. Paola herself has incredible style to her dance and choreography and it's exciting as a woman to support one of the few female-led studios in the city. As a follower, it's great to have instruction that focuses on styling and techniques for followers that are often neglected in Latin classes that focus mostly on techniques for leaders.I will just make a small note in response to some of the negative reviews given here. All of the folks who run studios, socials and create space for the Latin dance community to thrive in Philadelphia do it out of love and passion. These are small businesses that barely make a profit, and sometimes operate at a loss. Most dance teachers, including everyone at Controla have day jobs and they give their time to instruction out of love for students and the culture of dance. I'm beyond grateful to have been a recipient of this labor and generosity on behalf of instructors like Paola and others across the city.I've been on teams with several studios and the level of commitment and good behavior that was required of dancers on teams at Controla is no different that that of any other studio. Every team I've been on has required dancers to meet certain standards in order to make it to the stage, has requirements for showing up and representing the studio at events, behaving in a decent manner to teammates and generally representing the studio well. These commitments make you stronger as a dancer, make the team a positive environment for all involved and help to strengthen the studio overall so that you have more opportunities to perform. When you get to the level of joining a team, you are joining a community and are responsible for helping to keep that community strong. It makes me sad that a few folks who weren't able to hold up their end of commitments in this team structure- especially in their treatment of other dancers and teammates- have decided to try to take down this small business that serves as a hub of community and joy for so many other people.For those who are new to Latin dancing I can assure you this is not the norm and you will meet lots of amazing positive people through dance and Controla is a great place to get started with that!!
March 28 · Elizabeth Schlingmann
Controla is a fantastic dance studio and one of the only spots to study traditional Dominican bachata (the best bachata)! Women owned biz in a male dominated field and affirming space for anyone to learn to lead or follow. Plus Paola is hilarious and supportive and sharp. Socials are well attended and tons of fun!
June 04 · Jenny M. Sandler
I've taken classes at Controla and I've attended the social events held every other Friday. I highly recommend both. Firstly, regarding the classes (I was taught by Paola), I was attracted to the way she breaks down the movement slowly and won't let you move on looking like a fool until you have the basics down. (Not that she ever made me feel like a fool; in fact quite the opposite, she boosted my confidence). I love how I learned inadvertently a little history about the dance, the culture etc. I appreciated her expertise in both traditional Dominican bachata footwork but also in introducing me to sensual bachata. Regarding her events...she makes everyone feel so welcome! She learns everyones names immediately and she's always so sweet to give them a shout out. She's so passionate about the dance and exposing us to as much as possible that she takes the extra effort to regularly bring in really awesome guest instructors from other cities and studio; it's really neat to learn from them too. I love the energy, positivity and inclusivity of Controla events.
March 27 · Heather Abebe
Do yourself a favor and find another dance studio. I rarely post negative reviews and always support small businesses but the experience at Controla was bad. Paola and Armando, the owners, have a tumultuous personal and professional relationship and personalities. It seeps into classes badly. You never know which version of them will show up to practice: the rare positive and welcoming version, the you must all be pro dancers and we will spend the hour lecturing you instead of teaching version, or the ADHD distracted and disorganized and unprepared version, the take a lesson from this person we trained for a bit version because we canceled last minute, or the drama of kicking people out of the lesson experience. I took classes, private lessons, and was on the teams. More than once they didn't show up for my private lessons when I drove into Philly. I should have taken the red flag and ran. People dropped out of the classes left and right bc the owners make it a mission to create enemies and burn bridges. And the team experience was full of broken promises, a huge waste of A LOT of $$, and so much drama fueled by the instructors. There are a couple of longstanding Latin Dance studios in the area with award winning dancers, just go there and save yourself a lot of money and drama.Edited: I will edit this review one time and then I will never look back at this review or this business. In the reply from Paola and other reviews and replies, it is made to seem as if I was kicked off the team or banned from the studio, this was never the case. I want to make this clear as they are trying to pain the picture that I was not a fully invested teammate and performer and that I caused trouble in the team so that this review looks like something you can brush by.I have screenshots to prove that I was never banned and my last communications with Paola.I fulfilled my contract for the team, was praised by text and verbally from Paola for my performance, and I left the team after my contract was fulfilled and shortly thereafter the team disbanded. I also never bullied anyone, this is absolutely not in my nature. All of my teammates appreciated my efforts and support. My teammates came to back me up when I was wrongly accused of saying something in a "tone" to another member. I apologized to that teammate and my entire team backed me up that I wasn't using a tone. Paola wasn't even present at the practice in question. If she had been, she would have been there to give the updates that I was relaying to the team from the previous practice Paola, where not everyone was in attendance.This entire experience couldn't have been worse. Maybe one day the business owners will self reflect. Best of luck!
April 22 · Aubrey Reinmiller