By Your Side Dance Studio Marina Del Rey

By Your Side Dance Studio teaches ballroom, Latin, swing and tap dance to adults in the Los Angeles area. The studio specializes in partner dances including Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Cha Cha, Rumba, Mambo, Quickstep, Samba, Argentine Tango, Bachata, Salsa, West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Merengue and Hustle. They also offer Tap Dance, Adult Ballet, Cardio Dance Fitness, and Mat Pilates for dancers. Classes run from beginner through advanced levels.

The studio has built a track record in competitive dance. Their Salsa team won 1st place at the Desert Classic DanceSport Dance Competition, held annually in July in Palm Desert, California. Ballroom dance teachers Shay and Guillermo achieved 1st and/or 2nd place finishes at the Emerald Ball Dance Competition. By Your Side Dance Studio was rated among the best Dance Schools in Los Angeles for the second time in a row by ThreeBestRated.com.

A wide range of class packages are available. Four-week series in Salsa, Bachata and West Coast Swing are offered at $60 for the full series. Monthly memberships start at $120 for unlimited access to all Level 1 classes, $175 for unlimited Salsa and Bachata at all levels, $250 for 10 group classes (Silver), $275 for unlimited classes in both studios (Gold), $300 for unlimited classes plus workshops and social events (Platinum), and $375 for full access including one private lesson per month (Diamond). Twenty-minute focus sessions cost $85. Private lessons are offered, with a 45% discount for new students.

Wedding dance lessons are a speciality. The studio helps couples create a personalized first dance, assists with song selection, and provides guidance on dress, shoes and other details. One review describes a couple starting with no moves or confidence who, after four sessions, were "tearing up the floor and having the time our lives."

The studio runs social events and showcases. A "Passport to Dance" showcase was scheduled for October 10th. Monthly workshops on "Timing & Musicality" take place on the 4th Monday of each month at 6pm, with dance styles rotating monthly. Any Body Can Dance (ABCD), a nonprofit initiative of the studio, offers free senior dance classes on a pay-what-you-can model ($5–$10 suggested donation) and autism-friendly beginner line dancing and tap dancing classes for neurodiverse teens and adults. These include Senior Chair Exercises, Senior Beginner Ballroom, Beginner Line Dancing (neurodiverse), and Beginner Tap (neurodiverse).

The founder's personal story is published on the website: as a shy and often sad child, she found comfort in music through her musician family. When she started dancing, something changed — she didn't need words to express herself and the movement lifted her spirits. Dance became her therapy, her confidence, and her connection to others, which is why she named the studio "By Your Side," because "dance, like love, is always there for you."

Classes are beginner-friendly with no partner or prior experience necessary. The studio teaches simple, basic elements and moves slowly through more complex patterns so you become confident and relaxed on the dance floor. You can attend group classes to meet people and practice with different partners in a relaxed, friendly and supportive environment.

Instructors include Deborah (Salsa, Bachata), Laura (Salsa, wedding choreography), Paul (Bachata), Juliane (Tap Dance), Lindsay (Argentine Tango), Shay and Guillermo (Ballroom, competitive coaching). All instructors are certified with many years of dance experience in both teaching and competitive dancing.

No partner or prior dance experience necessary; the studio teaches simple, basic elements and moves slowly through more complex patterns.