Pivot Ballroom on the Main Line
Contact for price
Preferred dance style
Desired wedding dance
Responds within a day
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About
We have been teaching people how to ballroom dance om the Main Line since 2013. We teach everyone from complete beginners, wedding couples, social dancers, and competitors. We have a fantastic group of teachers who love to teach people how to dance.
Overview
Hired 11 times
Serves Ardmore, PA
Background checked
4 employees
12 years in business
Business hours
Sun1:00 pm - 10:00 pmMon1:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Payment methods
This pro accepts payments via Apple Pay, Cash, Check, Credit card, and Square cash app.
Top Pro status
Top Pros are among the highest-rated, most popular professionals on Thumbtack.
2018
Services offered
Level of experience
Desired wedding dance
Preferred dance style
Waltz
Slow dance
Swing dance
Foxtrot
Projects and media
19 photos
Projects and media
19 photos
Reviews
Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, work quality, and responsiveness.
Exceptional 5.0
26 reviews
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Read reviews that mention:
Denis M.
Jun 23, 2025
My biggest fear during wedding planning wasn’t the vows or the guest list—it was the first dance. Sure, I could have gotten away with a minute and a half of the awkward 8th-grade shuffle, but there were two problems:
1. My (now) wife did ballroom dancing throughout college.
2. I am a very competitive man.
So, if we were going to have a first dance (which was non-negotiable), it had to be epic.
We tried a few intro lessons at other dance studios, but most focused on flashy moves for the bride while the groom just stood there like a prop. Then we found John Larson at Pivot Ballroom, and everything changed. From the beginning, John was committed to teaching both of us how to truly dance together.
Before working with John, my only experience with coordinated movement was drill and ceremony in US Army basic training—15 years ago. I had always told myself that I didn’t dance, didn’t know how to dance, and didn’t care to learn. But through John’s guidance, I didn’t just learn dance steps—I learned how to move in sync with a partner, to lead and trust, to connect. The closest comparison I could make was clearing rooms with my fireteam: fully trusting and fully trusted. Dancing scratched an itch that had been there for so long, I didn’t even realize it was still there.
John’s patience and encouragement made every step easy to follow – even for an old army grunt like me. He took a real interest in us—not just as students, but as people. He even stopped by the venue the day before our wedding to check in while we were setting up.
After 8 lessons (which we both looked forward to), my wife and I performed a first dance that genuinely stole the show. And for the first time in my life, I had the confidence to hit the dance floor on my own throughout the night.
It’s been two days since the wedding, and I’ve already lost count of how many people have asked about our dance and where I learned to move like that. The answer is simple: John Larson. His wisdom, patience, and skill made our first dance a moment we’ll never forget.
Peter H.
Jul 29, 2024
My daughter got married at Merion Cricket Club in June and John was intrumental in making the Big Day a huge success. One of my friends suggested seeking out John as he and his daughter had received dance lessons from John before their wedding.
We went to see John twice - once a month or so before the wedding and the second time a few days before the wedding. John is the consummate professional treating us with so much respect and energy even though we were complete neophytes when it came to formal dancing. All three of us attended (my daughter, my future son-in-law and me) and the experience not only calmed our nerves at the prospect of dancing in front of a room of people but inspired a lot of confidence and happiness in us on the actual day.
I cannot recommend John highly enough - his enthusiasm, his professionalism, his thoughfulness and his imagination are all worth their weight in gold. As my son-in-law said on more than one occasion: "I have never enjoyed something more than I thought that I was completely terrified by!"
If I could give John ten stars, I would!
* * * * * * * * * *
Liz N.
Jul 15, 2024
Incredibly responsive and friendly business and owner. Once we made our first wedding dance lesson appointment, Marissa really took our first song and ran with it, and we could not have been happier. We had so much fun every time we came, and Marissa was just a pumped as we were. She coached us through everything of course, but also always had a backup plan if something wasn’t gelling well. She made us a spreadsheet to help us practice at home and she recorded us at the end of each lesson. She really spoke our language in terms of how our brains absorbed and remembered the information. By the time our big day came, we NAILED it and the crowd went wild.
Kelsey D.
Sep 6, 2021
Hired on Thumbtack
We completed five dance lessons at Pivot Ballroom with Monika prior to our wedding. The studio was quick to respond to our request for lessons and scheduled a time that fit both our busy schedules. My wife and I had a blast working with Monika. Each lesson was fun and engaging. She is very knowledgable about multiple styles of dance and was able to tailor the choreography to our skill level. On the wedding day our first dance was a better received than we could have hoped. We had so much fun through this process that we decided to continue our dance instruction with Monika. If you are a couple considering a choreographed first wedding dance, we give Monika and Pivot Ballroom our highest recommendation.
Details: Two (ex. me and my partner) • First dance • What my teacher recommends • No experience • At the pro’s location
Wedding Dance Lessons
Courtney M.
May 29, 2018
Hired on Thumbtack
My fiance and I took dance lessons with Sandra Dee leading up to the our wedding. And can I tell you it was worth every penny. Sandra was patient with us (DANCE IS HARDER THAN IT LOOKS!) and she had fun with us! We not only gained some amazing dance moves but gained a friend in Sandra. I seriously can't recommend doing this enough.
Details: Two (e.g., myself and my husband) • First dance • What my teacher recommends • No experience • As recommended by professional • 45 minutes • Saturday • Friday • Sunday • Morning (9am - noon) • Late afternoon (3 - 6pm) • Early afternoon (noon - 3pm) • Evening (after 6pm) • I travel to the wedding dance instructor
Wedding Dance Lessons
Credentials
Background Check
John Larson