Virginia Iglesias’ Flamenco Academy of Dance

This review is not about the quality of her classes. This is a review about my unpleasant experience with this studio. I wanted to learn Flamenco for a while and I have signed up for the Alameda classes this year (2015) which as stated on the website were going to start in the beginning of August. I have purchased the class session online well in advance.
August came around and there was no announcement about when the classes will start. Eventually I emailed Virginia and she told me the classes will be starting towards the end of August which was not consistent with my expectations. I thought I would be able to attend, but due to certain circumstance i was not able to attend. I requested a refund through Paypal, however, Virginia REFUSED to refund my 130 $ despite me NEVER attending even 1 class.
Unfortunately Paypal emailed me saying that this claim was not covered under the Paypal service agreement, so I have simply thrown my money away. I intend on continuing to pursue this matter, mostly because at this point I believe it to be very unethical. I would not recommend purchasing her class package. If you don’t attend you will have to fight to get your money back.

Virginia teaches a great class. She is flexible to all types of students and very patient.

Virginia Iglesias is a phenomenal instructor (and dancer in her own right!). Her classes are fun, yet challenging. I came to her class as a complete beginner with no previous flamenco dance experience, just an appreciation for the art form. She has a live flamenco guitarist, musical director Jorge Liceaga, play in several of her classes including the very beginner levels. I highly recommend Virginia’s academy!

The Flamenco Academy is an excellent place to learn flamenco. Virginia Iglesias is a truly gifted teacher and dancer and classes are expertly accompanied by guitarist and musical director Jorge Liceaga. If you are curious about this beautiful, passionate dance form, drop by and check out a class. Don’t be intimidated if you don’t have any previous experience, the beginner classes start with the basics.

I really recommend Virginia’s class to any beginner, I started one year ago and fall in love with flamenco music and dance. Virginia is amazing in teaching the techniques at all levels, Jorge is such a talented flamenco guitarist, I really enjoy the classes with them.

Virginia is an awesome dancer and teacher! It’s a great joy to watch her dance. As a teacher, she can break down complicated steps into small simple steps for us to follow. She is very funny too. During the class, you can also enjoy Jorge’s wonderful guitar music. I have taken Virginia’s classes for about a year now. Although I had never danced before I joined her classes, I was already performing in her 2014 Alma de Candela Performance. A big big surprise for my family and friends. Come join us and get new friends who love dance as you do.

The Flamenco classes that I have been taking from Virginia at the Flamenco Academy of Dance have been amazing. After spending some time in Spain last summer, I was looking for a quality teacher back home. I found that teacher in Virginia. She is knowledgeable, kind, patient and a fabulous dancer.
The classes are also accompanied by live guitar by Jorge Liceaga, who is an incredibly talented musician. He and Virginia work so well together and have fun while teaching which in turn, makes class all the more enjoyable.
I highly recommend the Flamenco Academy of Dance with Virginia and Jorge. Take a class, you’ll be glad you did.

I loved taking lessons with Virginia (and Jorge, the guitarist). I was an absolute beginner (my last dance class was tap dancing as a child). Virginia makes everyone feel welcome and capable. She has a quick smile, professional demeanor, and strong knowledge of flamenco. Students in my class had a wide variety of experiences and skills, and Virginia made the class the right level of challenging for every single person. We learned a number of skills, and every week worked a bit on choreography so that by the end of the «term», we had a finished piece.
I’ve attended classes in both Palo Alto and Alameda, and both are equally enjoyable. Our classmates tend to be quite supportive of each other. Virginia sets a nice tone and I will definitely take more classes in the future!

I began class with Virginia as a complete beginner. She is a terrific, patient teacher and a delight to be around. I’ve progressed so much in the 1 ½ years I’ve been taking class & I crave to dance flamenco more & more. Jorge accompanies with guitar & the 2 of them communicate so well together, that it is delight to be in the class. I’ve been to more then 1 of Virginia’s shows & am so mesmerized by her passion, her dance technique & her knowledge of flamenco. If you are trying to decide who’s flamenco dance class you want to join… join Virginia’s — at any level you are… she’s able to teach at any professional or absolute beginners.

Absolutely without a shadow of a doubt would recommend Virginia’s Flamenco instruction. I have always been interested in getting back to my ‘Spanish’ roots and Flamenco seemed to suit me well. No partner necessary! Flamenco is not an easy dance by whatever means but there’s a sense of accomplishment in practicing something that doesn’t come easily. Especially when you see gradual improvement. Virginia and Jorge are truly pleasures to work with. I didn’t want to write a review because I wanted to keep them to myself but they’re both deserving of praise!

I started Flamenco for the first time eight weeks ago and I have fallen in love with it. Virginia is passionate and very professional, she is patient explaining every movement until you get it. Since the first class Virginia teaches the beginning of a choreography along with a guitarist, Jorge, who plays and sings during the class, so when you go to the next class you practice what you have learned and one step more. At the end of the eight classes you can see yourself dancing flamenco and for sure you will want to learn more and more!

Teaching absolute beginning adults something as complex and subtle as Flamenco dancing takes a very special (and patient) teacher, and Virginia Iglesias has both of these qualities. I came to her class without any background in dance, with only curiosity about this gorgeous art form and its relationship to Flamenco music. Virginia’s technique in teaching centers around showing first, letting us experiment with the movements which she models, then repeats with us until part of it *catches* on. There are no long explanations. Little by little, she will add details about a particular movement or rhythm in a way that feels very organic. The dance is so complex and multi-​layered, certainly, but at first it’s enough to tap out a simple rhythm on the floor. The rest comes with time and practice.
Most importantly, Virginia — as she shows us steps and guides us through choreography– is able to communicate her true joy and pleasure of dancing. Jorge, who accompanies the class with gorgeous guitar playing and singing, turns the whole experience into a concert every week!
I found myself leaving every class with a huge smile and plan on continuing to come every week.
If you are curious about learning Flamenco, I would highly recommend you take Virginia’s class.

I studied modern, ballet, and hip-​hop during my 20s, but had all but abandoned my love of dance until I started taking classes with Virginia. Over three years ago I started in the beginning level class for dancers with no flamenco experience. Now I take three or four classes a week and have made it to the intermediate level. Everything I have learned about flamenco I learned from Virginia!
It is truly rewarding to come to class every week to study alongside the beautiful, fierce women (and men!) who comprise Virginia’s students. Every week I see myself improving and it motivates me further to pursue my love of flamenco.
Virginia’s teaching is precise, with careful attention to technique and musicality. As a flamenco dancer you are not only embodying the music with your dancing, you are also a part of the music, and Virginia often pushes us to educate our ears as well as our bodies. Her teaching style emphasizes doing rather than talking about it; when teaching new choreography, she first shows us how to do it herself, and then we all practice doing it ourselves, asking questions as they arise. Virginia always takes the time to work individually with us when needed, and to answer questions carefully and patiently. Our musical director and guitarist, Jorge, can also be counted on to not only play gorgeous original music during class, but also to answer questions about technique and the structure of flamenco compositions.
I would encourage anyone to try Virginia’s beginning level classes — you may just get hooked like I did!

I have been studying flamenco dance with Virginia Iglesias and the Flamenco Academy of Dance for about 5 years and am very happy with her teaching, class format and style of dance. Virginia mixes the passionate art of flamenco, years of experience and thoughtful teaching skills into a wide range of choreography and technique that makes class challenging and fun. From somber Soleá to challenging exercizes in technique to the beautiful sounds of Jorge’s live guitar, Virgina’s classes have it all. I always feel like I learn something new and more importantly I lose myself in the beautiful rythms and choreography of the dance with a great teacher.

I’ve been dancing with Virginia for about a year and a half now and I absolutely love it. Virginia is an amazing teacher and has opened my eyes and heart to the wonderful world of flamenco. I literally can’t imagine how I ever lived without it! I definitely recommend her classes, no matter what age or level you are.

I start stretching my feet, folding and extending them. I move every single toe and work my way up. My feet still feel sore from last night’s class, but I don’t care, I just want to move.
Drenched in black, dramatic eye makeup, deep red rouge, wet-​styled hair. I secure the straps of my nail-​encrusted soles, suede black shoes tightly. I stretch again. Hands, arms, waist, legs, feet again.
Suddenly, the music starts. I feel it flow in my veins and make its way up from my toes to my head and down through my arms to my fingernails. The melodic tones of Jorge’s guitar and cante and the deep rhythm emerging from the cajón make me feel free.
We start pounding our feet with a golpe, planta, tacón and repeat.
Our arms, hands and hips follow with movement. We are dancers and percussionists at the same time, with our footwork, we play with the sounds.
Flamenco is a dance of passion, of strength and position. Of Spirit, character, and gut; in a word, of duende. The emotions are stormy, however, when you surrender to the music, it becomes an expression of happiness, of angriness, of sorrow.
I forgot my feelings toward flamenco when I abandoned it 9 years ago. Virginia made me remember these emotions, the values, and the work, 10 months ago, when I started having classes with her. I couldn’t be happier.

I had the pleasure of playing for many of Virginia’s classes over a period of four years and can say that it was both highly educational and a lot of fun. She gives her students great material which she brings directly from the top artists in Spain.
I’ve seen complete beginners develop into performers through her instruction. It was no surprise that many of her students stayed with her for years. Be prepared to learn about the incredible art of flamenco, to sweat, to work, and have a blast. A wonderful artist and teacher.

I definitely recommend that you take a flamenco class with Virginia Iglesias! I take her classes in Alameda, but she also offers classes in Palo Alto and San Francisco, I believe. At the end of a long, hard week, foot-​stomping golpes with DRAMA are exactly what’s called for. Virginia is great at providing students with individual attention and feedback. If you are just starting out, I recommend that you take an entire series or wait for the next series to start, as the classes build on each other as Virginia teaches an entire choreography. Coming in midway through a series, you might feel a little lost.
A major plus: oftentimes, flamenco guitarist AND singer Jorge joins the class to play for us live. It is amazing, like a concert and class in one.