I've gone to Ariel Dance Productions for a number of months now, and I've performed at their Dancing in the Museum show in June of 2023. I've had an extremely positive experience with this studio, and I am grateful to be a part of its community for the following reasons:
1. This studio teaches a large variety of dance styles, from jazz, ballet, kpop, hip hop, lyrical, singing, etc.. I was looking to try out different styles of dance, so I was so happy to find this studio. I got the unlimited classes package as well, and I went to so, so many classes! It was great exposure.
2. Class sizes are small, so they become quite personalized for the students. Often, there are less than 10 people per class. So if you are looking for more attentive, direct teaching, you can get that attention just by going to the normal classes.
3. There is a strong sense of community at Ariel. Within weeks, I knew many other students, the staff, and of course, the teachers, all on a first name basis. I've been to larger dance studios, and it is very easy to get lost in the crowd and feel invisible (to go to classes for months, and not know anyone's names). At Ariel, this is not the case, because dancing at Ariel is more like joining a community than just going to classes.
4.This studio gives the same welcoming environment for students of all backgrounds: including ages (I've seen students from 8 years old to 80), genders (male, female, non-binary, etc.), skill levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced), and intentions! What I mean is that whether you someone serious about becoming an expert dancer, or someone casually taking classes, or someone who's never taken a class before, this studio and its people will warmly welcome you.
Quick story: I remember I tried an intermediate lyrical dance class here once (with french-sounding spinning/jumping dance moves with names I can't remember or pronounce), and I was clearly out of my element. I was immediately paired with a very strong dancer who worked at the studio (I think his name was Charles? or Charlie. He was very nice guy.), and he patiently walked me through the dance, even while the rest of the class continued. No one gets left behind in this studio!
5. The true highlight of this studio is the owner, Oanh. She is extremely humble, invested in this studio and its students, and passionate about sharing her love of dance to the community. In May, I hurt my foot and couldn't dance for over 2 weeks. Without a second thought, Oanh gave me another two weeks of tuition free. Also, I didn't come to Ariel for a little while, but when I came back, Oanh immediately recognized me! It made me feel good to be recognized in this community.
6. Oanh and this studio puts on large in-house shows (I performed in front of ~100 people once! Weeks after joining Ariel. It was an unforgettable experience.), and they also partner with events around the SF Bay Area for students to perform. The experience of performing at this studio's shows and in front of real audiences is unmatched! So at Ariel, you are free to just take classes, but you can also take it to the next level by committing to performing in their shows.
7. The studio space is well kept, clean, and high quality. Compared to other dance studios in the SF Bay Area, it is smaller, but the level of investment made in the facility is high. Particularly, the floors in both rooms (this studio has two rooms) are made specifically for reducing the impact on dancer's feet/knees, which are very expensive to install and maintain. Oanh makes these high quality, expensive investments into this studio so that her students will have the best possible experience with its classes.
8. Finally, this studio is what immediately comes to my mind when I imagine a charming small business in my neighborhood. The staff at Ariel Dance Productions throw all their heart and effort into their work here, and you see directly who your tuition is helping and where your money is being invested. This studio has been around for decades (my older sister actually performed here back in 2013? at the same show I did this year in June 2023), and they've become somewhat of a pillar in the local dance community. So even disregarding the fantastic experience you would get here, it feels good to support a small businesses in the area with passionate owners.
Overall, I highly recommend attending this studio. Cheers!
Stephen Law read more