My daughter has been dancing and performing on stage a total of 7yrs and at EDC for 3+yrs...she…read morestarted on the recreational dance team, and now dances on the competitive company team. EDC is a great environment for those who are passionate about dance at any age! Its not about being the most technical, having the perfect look, or the most money - it IS about love of dance, being able to take instruction, show respect, and want to work and grow! EDC has found such a great mix of being a warm/welcoming studio for all levels AND providing top notch instruction and opportunities for the most ambitious/experienced ones! We have been with 4 total studios in North County and all have been wonderful (except for one - which I will not name, but we stayed less than 1 year, as we did not feel welcomed at all - after almost a full year of attending classes every week twice a week, the same check in lady had no clue who my daughter was). If I could give myself advice when starting this dance journey...find and stick with the studio that supports the vision/future you and your dancer are working towards...my daughter and I are pretty grounded when it comes to our expectations from all of this, but everyone is in it for different reasons and because of that one of the challenges as a parent is managing feelings of inequality/jealousy, or being left out/left behind - its helped me grow as a mom! It starts at home - work can be done on teaching your child to be an attentive student, set attainable goals, but dream big, and to compare themselves not to one another but to their last performance. Lastly, the EDC staff is involved in the industry professionally and is well connected for unique opportunities! They are bringing in top notch master instructors and choreographers, they attend a great mix of competitions and conventions - building confidence while keeping them humble!

My daughter loves to dance and will choose this studio as her dance family every day all day! She…read moreloves that she gets to compete on a team, all styles of dance, and even perform the nutcracker every Christmas! She has big dreams and feels everyone around is as invested in her success as her family is! It makes us so happy knowing she loves going to dance and she gets to really manage and drive her own little journey with the EDC team!

My daughter loves this dance school. They have a friendly and caring team there. Had nothing but…read moregreat experiences with A Step Above.

We absolutely love this studio! Both of my daughters have been dancing here since they were 18…read moremonths old--now they're 7 and 5--and it's been such a positive experience every step of the way. The classes are always age-appropriate, with just the right balance of fun and challenge as they've progressed. The recital costumes are adorable and thoughtfully chosen for each age group. We've had the chance to work with many of the teachers over the years, and every one of them has been wonderful. The office staff is also incredibly supportive and welcoming. This studio has truly nurtured and grown my girls' love for dance!

I really wanted to love this for my 15 month old but it just was not the place for an active…read moretoddler. THIS IS BY NO MEANS ON THE INSTRUCTORS I think they are all so sweet just not familiar with the mind of an active toddler who just learned how to walk and run. There was not much interaction with music, they spent half the time on technical moves and structure. Maybe this is on me but I thought it would be more fun loving and carefree. We also were doing this for socialization and there are not other kids. One thing that did irritate me was at the end of the class that we were the only ones signed up for she suggested we come to a class at a different location to see how class is with "more well behaved kids". Well the class she suggested has a 7 and 10 month old. My daughter would have done great at 7 and 10 months too because she wasn't running at that point. My suggestion is if you don't know toddlers maybe don't offer classes for them or get instructors who have worked with or have toddlers and understand their attention span. Also. It was very hot it in studio my daughter downed her water we asked if they had a place to fill up and she told us to go to the subway next door. So just bring a lot of water on the summer days

My daughters have been talking ballet at Tutu School Carlsbad for 2 and 1/2 years now, and we love…read morethis studio! It's small, clean, and so cute, with pink and purple walls, framed tutus on display, and high-quality dance wear and accessories for sale. There are seats so parents can watch and be the "audience." It's so much fun to watch the classes, and my girls love the encouragement. The teachers are amazing! We've been in Ms. Ava's Primary Ballet class for the past year and a half, and we absolutely love her. She keeps every class fresh by including engaging games and fun stretches into every class. She is so kind, patient, and encouraging, and does a great job of teaching all the dance moves and building students' confidence. She also spends a lot of time practicing the Bravo Bash dances, and my girls always feel super prepared for their recitals. A few words on the recitals: The Bravo Bashes are so much fun. They're the perfect, low-stress way for kids to build their confidence dancing in front of an audience without a lot of added pressure. All the rehearsals are done during class time, and students can sit with their parents in the audience until it's their time to perform. The performance fee is super reasonable compared to other studios, and students get to keep their adorable, high- quality costumes. All in all, Tutu School is a win!!

I felt so lucky when I found this studio for my daughter who is age seven. She had been to many…read moreother studios in North County SD taking ballet over the passed few years, and at all the rest of the studios - it felt like she was just a number, and like the classes were more recreational than real instruction. The classes everywhere are so over sized with 12- 13 kids because most businesses are focused on maximizing their profit. So, her progress was very slow being in those over sized classes of kids where the teachers are so outnumbered that they don't have the time to notice little things that need improvement. It just felt like a waste of time and money everywhere. And most studio's have recitals that are so cheesy too which I didn't like, presenting the dancers like they are in a pageant show with excessive make-up and cheap looking outfits. But then, we found this little gem hidden in Carlsbad. Mr. Valeri who is the owner and sole teacher there, was a world famous Russian ballet performer traveling through Europe and other parts of the world starring in famous ballets. He has trained side by side with some of the most well known ballet famous dancers in the world. He is in late 60's and has over 30 years of experience teaching Vaganova ballet which is one of the oldest, purest, and most beautiful forms of ballet. He teaches ages 3 and up, and truly loves his students. He is fun and sweet with the kids, but still making sure they are doing everything correctly and safely, and you can tell he has real faith in his students. His classes are small and personalized, and he keeps the dance floor and ballet barre very clean which I think is also rare. He's extremely knowledgeable and passes on his expertise to all his students with a lot of care and attention. And one of the best parts of taking classes there, is that he puts on gorgeous recital performances with his students twice a year, and they wear high quality beautiful costumes, and soft tasteful make up. The sets are also high quality from the back drops to the props which really showcases the dancers hard work in a special way. And he even give's the very young dancers important roles. There are many photos here to see what Im talking about. If you are looking for a studio where you or your kids will be taught very well, and actually make noticeable progress in less time, then this is the place for you. And it's nice that it's close to the 5 freeway so it's easy to get to. It's a very small operation so to get set up trying a class, you email the point of contact on their site, and do it that way. If you end up wanting to go there, sometimes it can take a couple weeks to get your account going so I just kept track of the days you go until then. But then when it all gets set up, there no problem and it's SO worth it. Anyways, we feel so lucky to be able to have both of our daughters ages 5 and 7 be taught by Mr. Valeri, and if you are someone who really wants to learn classical ballet, this is the best place in San Diego to do it. Some parents drive 45 minutes to come to his studio, it's THAT worth it. : )

My four-year-old daughter has been to about 5 dance classes here and I am so happy that we decided…read moreto go with this ballet school! It is a rare and wonderful thing to see kids this age be given structure in a dance class, while still being able to enjoy themselves. I appreciate that they are learning an art and not just how to shake it. The parents are allowed to leave during class, which is the only way I could do it because I have a 2 year old which terrorizes the small waiting space and is constantly trying to bother the curtain that separates the waiting area from the studio. The quality of the classes are worth this minor inconvenience. Also to note: parents are not supposed to watch the classes as it distracts to the kids, but there's no window or camera set up, so you actually never really see the classes unless it's your first class or a special family day. Also, as other reviewers have mentioned, the communication between the studio and the parents is not very good. Again, to me, it is still very much worth it, regardless of this small inconvenience.

Super nice instructors !!! We learn something new every class and have a great time learning!read more

I may not be the typical student for this studio but I couldn't help but take a moment to rave…read moreabout my experiences so far. I live in Nashville and take my lessons at a studio there. But I come here for work and in the weeks I spend in the area I WANT to dance. So last year (2023) I just dropped by and asked to join a group class. They were more than welcoming and made me feel comfortable in the class at my current level. Well tonight I came back after some time away and the lady at the front greeted me (remembering me!) and the instructors were amazing just like last time. I can say I highly recommend! If I lived here full time, I'd be a full time student without any doubt. Thanks!

I've had 3 daughters take ballet, tap, and more classes with this studio. My first two daughters…read moretook classes for 7 years, 18 years ago. My now 10 year old just started ballet a few months ago and will be able to dance in the magnificent Nutcracker that the studio puts on every year. This production is beautiful and professional. All three of my girls have not only personally benefited from the discipline of dance, but they absolutely loved this studio. Very grateful that my girls have had the opportunity to dance here.

My daughter started dancing here about 6 years ago. It's one of the largest performing arts…read morestudios around. They don't focus on "flash", but more so on the quality of the basics. The faculty that has been assembled here are all highly sought after. Many of them are asked to teach seminars across the country and even overseas. They offer a variety of dance disciplines including classical ballet, hip hop, jazz, tap and contemporary. Every winter, the studio presents one of the finest "Nutcracker" ballet's performed by students. The time and energy that the staff and owners put into this performance is astounding. It allows the students to experience the big stage with all the lights and effects that are mostly reserved for professional artists. Finally, you know your child will be getting a strong performing arts experience here when they audition for national summer intensive programs such as the American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey and the School of American Ballet, to name just a few, and are accepted time and time again. My daughter auditioned for the first time last year. We didn't expect anything going into this process being our first try. However, the acceptances came rolling in one after the other. The process continues this year with similar results. I couldn't be happier to have chosen this studio for my daughter. She has gained physical strength, agility and grace through the various classes she has taken. More importantly It has increased her self esteem and confidence to a whole new level. My daughter has found a passion for dance that she will carry forever. I have since enrolled my younger daughter and son for classes. They too have gained much since enrolling. If any of the previous posts have turned you off to this studio, I suggest you take a personal look for yourself. You'll be glad you did.

We found Ariel's mommy and me dance class and immediately knew it was something I wanted to try…read morewith my 18 month old- when I called to sign up I was able to also receive a free trial class to see if it was a fit for us. We have been attending dance class for a year now and it's been amazing to see the growth in my daughter's personality, I largely thank dance for her following directions, trying new things, somersaults, and learning to clean up! It took some time in the beginning maybe a month or two for her to want to jump in so don't give up right away especially if your babe is younger. There's class during the summer still and lot's of fun themed classes, dress up days and songs. I love supporting this dance studio in particular because Miss Ariel is an big advocate in giving back to the community. We had our first recital and we also got to perform the dance at a local nursing home for the folks there. She offers all types of dance classes including adaptive and since we all performed at the recital we got to meet all of these awesome special needs adults (who are excellent actors, singers and dancers!) and who are so often forgot about in extracurricular activities.

My son has been going here for years now and he absolutely loves Dance with Mrs. Ariel ! He loves…read morethe adaptive class that lets him try new things and be himself. So much fun !

This a fun, supportive, confidence building, woman owned business. I have been taking class with…read morethe owner, Jess, for years. Classes are challenging but make students grow. There is always a different style to class: sexy, ratchet, sensual, old school. You name it, we've done it. Sometimes there are even live musicians playing along to the choreo. The people that come to class (even if they are new) are welcoming and we hype each other up. To say that classes at BPA are "a vibe" is a complete understatement. BPA is a "whole ass mood."

I have always enjoyed dancing, and stopped for many years. Later found this dance company, that…read morereinspired me to get back into dance. It's a place I can feel myself and express myself. I look forward to coming here week after week. I need it now in my life. Jess is so inspiring and honestly has helped me through some sad times.

My daughter has been attending for several years now and she absolutely loves it! Great…read moreinstruction. Great atmosphere. Great people and families. I've seen a lot of girls grow into fantastic dancers!

I've danced at To The Pointe for many, many years, and expect to continue dancing there for many…read moremore years to come. Erin Duclos provides a level of ballet training that is unparalleled by any school in San Diego. Her understanding of ballet technique exceeds her own personal experience as a dancer for many years. She has also studied in depth the best way to train fundamental alignment and technique so as to allow dancers to fully express themselves artistically. She uses physics and analogies of every day activities to make understanding ballet accessible, for beginners and advanced dancers alike. Her methods are tried and true, as many of her students have gone on to become professional dancers. Whenever I have traveled and taken classes at other studios, teachers approach me after class to ask where I trained. Her students' dancing speak volumes to her abilities as an instructor. Her knowledge is extensive in many aspects of ballet; including correct verbiage (rather than Americanized ballet slang), costuming (she can make tutus!), choreography (both original and staging other works), and a general understanding of the ballet world - which is useful in many contexts, for example, when looking for advice for auditions. Perhaps what I love most about To The Pointe is the warm and welcoming atmosphere Mrs. Duclos has fostered. It is a studio of support, friends, and fun, and mean spirits are not tolerated. I have never felt unwelcome dancing there. For this reason, more than any other, I keep coming back!

As an adult dancer, I'm so happy I found this place! Teachers and staff are kind, experienced,…read moreinclusive, and knowledgeable. There are adult classes 7 days a week and a robust adult studio company with performance opportunities for all ages. Hidden gem if you ask me!

Welcoming, wonderful space for all dancers. The instructors are fantastic and there are so many…read moreopportunities to learn, grow, and shine for all ages. So happy to have found PAW!