We are part of the ID community and my autistic son takes piano and drum lessons here. They are so welcoming, kind, passionate, and patient. They go out of their way to make sure all of their students feel seen and part of the community they cultivate. I really appreciate being able to come here. The Rubio family and all the staff are amazing. read more

We do mini ballet/tap dance classes for our toddler. Love the instructor. Very friendly staff and nice facility. Support local studio!

Love this place! So many fun things for the kids to do. Kids of all ages and skill levels can participate. Classes are paid monthly and there are so many options from days of the week to time slots. The instructors are great and make every effort to get to know their students. The office staff are always friendly and even when they are super busy they give away smiles. They also give an excellent military discount...so don't forget to ask. read more

Love AWO! Great positive energy and so much fun! Amazing special needs program. 5 stars!

The only thing that kept me as long as we were here was that my kids loved their instructors. I had to pull them out because I too could not stand the office staff. Yvonne took payment from my twice claiming she never got my check and makes copies of everything.. They need to be more professional and give printed receipts. We're trying out Center Stage now (where Dance Express used to be), and so far so good. Rubios definitely has room for improvement. read more

They DO NEED SOMEONE MORE PROFESSIONAL changing class times at a whim using the tired excuse I emailed you FYI this is the only email I have never received!!! Now they have changed the name to Arts in Motion -BTW the kids will never complain but Grandma will!!!! lol read more

I recently tried to purchase tickets to my nieces dance recital and pay via CC. To my surprise they wanted to charge me an additional fee of $5 for any transaction.Well except a call from the FCC you are not allowed to make patrons pay for CC fees. Best of luck to you and your business model!! read more

This is s nice family oriented place. The instructors are nice and the staff. Sometimes it can be a bit confusing as organization, but I'd recommend this dance studio to my friends and family. Great price too! read more

Recently I attended a performance put on by Rubio Dance Studio and was so impressed. They work with Autisic children which is a wonderful thing to know. (Maybe that's why the comment before me was so upsetting to that poor woman that apparently is not familiar with Special Needs Children. So Sorry) They also work with other Speical Needs Children. A great big 5 star applase for them and all their hard work. Loraine read more

If you're looking for Performing Arts Studio to learn dance or music this is place you went check out here in East County they've got a great crew here and you can watch your kids grow! read more

This place is not what is seems after you get real insight into the staff and general operations.The owner is ridiculously unprofessional, arrogant and rude. The front desk is a disaster and the overall staff incredibly disorganized. Prior to actually having to interact with Chris other than my observations of the front office being chaotic I did not mind this place and often recommended it to parents and care providers of people with disabilities, because in theory it's a great idea. Key word "theory," after having actual contact with Chris, and Nancy I would not recommend this place for a dog. read more

Avoid this studio at all cost!!! Their business practices are shady! The owner makes false claims and the office staff cant keep anything straight! They claim kids are in classes when they aren't and they try to charge you for them. And they will hold things hostage that you paid for if you refuse to pay their bogus charges. You would think that as an organization that claims to help the special needs community they would be more honest but I guess they are not capable of that. It is very offensive the way thst they treat the parents. They really need a qualified person doing their books instead of everything being done in house. Very shady!! They have great teachers but their office staff is the reason I would not recommend this studio. Read other comments and you will see the true working of this "non profit". So sad to see a business take advantage of claiming to help the special needs community. read more

We hired this group for two performances and the entire process was a nightmare. I expressed interest in hiring them online on their website and didn't hear back for weeks, so then I called. When Yvonne picked up, she wasn't very professional or helpful. I will give her credit for accommodating to the shows we needed, but after that, she was unresponsive and non-communicative. I couldn't get a hold of her the week of the scheduled shows. I wanted to see if they needed special access to our location, who my point of contact was going to be, if they needed electricity, mics, etc. and no response. They showed up late, and then asked for all of these things. On top of that, they didn't know I had hired them for a second show so instead of TWO separate 30-minute performances, they did two 15-minute shows, which is NOT what I pre-paid for. We had the Jr. Crew which was great - the kids were great performers. Their leader, Chris Rubio, was not a leader. He led the kids in the first performance and then sat on the sidelines for the second performance. We are really unhappy with our experience with this group as performers. We will not be hiring them again and will not recommend them to anyone. read more

We are VERY HAPPY with the dance instructors, staff, office personnel and classes at Rubio's Performing Arts Dance Studio. My daughter has been a student in their Arms Wide Open program that offers classes for children and young adults with special needs. She LOVES her Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Dance Movement, Jazz and Swing classes that gives her strength, self esteem and the priceless gift of friendship from all involved at this amazing studio. Yvonne and Chris Rubio has opened up their studio to make a difference in the lives of so many children and their families by creating a caring social enviroment for recreation and to learn from some of San Diego's BEST Dance Instructors. Next Spring Arms Wide Open is going to star in the production of The Wizard Of Oz and the students will be given the opportunity to learn all areas of stage performance so that they can SHINE at this amazing production. San Diego is very blessed to have Rubio's Performing Arts Dance Studio open up a non-profit organization dedicated to the students of Arms Wide Open. Chris and his Arms Wide Open team perform at several prominent events throughout the year and the kids help teach the communities throughout San Diego that there are NO LIMITS to what we can do.... anything is possible with Hard Work, Dedication and a firm belief in yourself that you can DO IT. I encourage families to stop by this caring professional studio to find out for yourself why it is a FIVE STAR facility... you will be SO GLAD you did! read more

Do NOT take your kids here. The owner and her family members who run it are both unprofessional and rude. My 7 yr old son took a hip hop class for 7 months. I was never impressed by the owner, the messiness of the waiting room, or how the grandchildren were always running around unruly and unsupervised. However, my son liked his instructor so we continued with his lessons. I didn't complain when the leading male role went to the owner's grandson even though he isn't a great dancer or more importantly, was very misbehaved and agressive during rehearsals. I had to complain to the dance instructor that he needed to be dealt with after he repeatingly pushed my son. I never just dropped off my son for lessons as I felt the need to observe how the grandson behaved. But at his dance performance, my tolerance ended. After spending $17 per seat for tickets, when I went to drop off my son backstage, it was utter chaos. I decided to sit with my son backstage. I found the room where his name was posted and the other 3 boys in his class were waiting. At one point, my son and I were sitting alone as the other boys in his hip hop class were performing in a different routine. As his routine approached, I walked around trying to verify that someone was going to walk my son to the staging area as I'd seen for the other performers and I had no idea where to go. After sitting with him for 2 1/2 hrs, the owner's daughter rushes into the room saying they've been looking all over for him, grabbed his arm and took him to where he needed to be. When he was done with his performance, he returned to me crying. I asked him what was wrong. He said that after the performance as he was exiting the stage that he was left alone. There were no adults to walk him back. He just wondered around until someone showed him the way back to me. When I spoke to the owner and her daughter, they told me that I had been in the wrong room but when I asked them how I would know that they couldn't provide an answer. When asked why there was no adult to walk my son back, they said the person who was supposed to do that, had a performance and couldnt do it. I explained that if I hadn't waited with my son, he would have been left alone for 1/2 hr in a room where any person could walk in. They said, what can we do. We have 300 children...but they were sorry. They didn't seem to understand why I would be so upset. Unbelievable!! read more

I am actually shocked at some of the comments made by others. My son and daughter have been at Rubio's Dance Studio for 6 years and over the years they have taken Hip Hop, Swing, Tap, Drums, Rhythmic Tap, drums, and piano. This is a non-competitive (meaning recreational) dance studio. My kids feel welcomed to try ANY class they want (and there are so many classes to choose from). They also have a choice as to whether or not they perform at the Del Mar Fair and/or the end-of-the -year recital. Yea, our first year at the studio was scary because I didn't know anything about the recital and leaving my kids backstage but I volunteered as a backstage parent and was able to be with my kids during the rehearsal and the recital and see how the "behind the scenes" worked. We all got a feel for what was expected during the recital and what it would be like on stage. After 6 years of being backstage I have to say that, like any show, it's not perfect, but it is pretty close. Rubio's Dance Studio puts on "One Great Show!!". It's 2 1/2 - 3 hours of great entertainment all for $12.00, you can't beat the price compared to other dance studios. Yes, if you wait a month to buy your tickets then the price is $17.00, which is still a good price for the length of the show. And that comment about front row seats...about mid-way back is the best seats, not front row. My kids have been very happy there and their instructors have been great. I would give the dance studio a try and see for yourself if you enjoy it as much as my kids do. There are so many classes to choose from. Oh My Gosh!! I totally forgot to tell you about their NEW studio. It is SOO MUCH BIGGER than the old one. It is AMAZING!! There are THREE dance floors (two are huge!) and THREE music rooms which are upstairs. Yea, they have an upstairs!! So much better than their "one dance floor and one music room" studio they used to have. Rumor has it that they will also have a RECORDING STUDIO!!!! Oh, and they have added SO MANY classes. There is this new guy, David, from LA who is AWESOME . And you won't find anyone like Charleigh, she did some stuff at Julliard. You have GOT to check out this new place. It is in Downtown El Cajon right on the main drag. There are restaurants within walking distance and the Promenade Park is outside their back door. This part of downtown is so cool!! read more

If I could give a negative star I would. This place is filthy and run by Yvonne Rubio who is nasty and rude, I heard her yelling at another parent, which wasn't easy with all the screaming noise in this place. Chris Rubio seems to have a way with kids and seems to genuinely care but the office staff is nasty and a disgrace. The instructors we had were nice, and some of the parents friendly but even they can't stand Yvonne and some have left. Cannot recommend this place to anyone for anything. read more

I have enrolled my kids in this about 5 years ago. They have been very good to our family. It's a great family run operation and it's a great give back to the community with the arms wide open. The teachers are amazing and my kids love it. I will definitely be recommending to my friends. read more

I have no idea why this place is referred by the Regional Center. The owner Yvonne, made me cry on the first day of going to the place. I am the mother of a 7-year old, non-verbal, autistic daughter, who needs assistance with most care, and lacks attention span for most executive functioning. Very common in autism. She is very sweet and loves music, dance, and is quite social. Upon going to any new place she is very excited, and I do not get a break with her at all since she can't leave my sight. Yvonne handed me paperwork to fill out. In the lobby there are advertisements for events, and for her business. These advertisements are in reach for any child, and in a seating area. As I was trying to fill out her forms, and chase my daughter at the same time, Yvonne had called out to my daughter not to touch these paper advertisements, which included the Disney character Ariel. I took notice upon this and called for my daughter to stop. Which she did, but then she ran into a different part of the building. The second time my daughter touched (not destroyed) the advertisements Yvonne rudely yelled at me, "would you mind watching your daughter!". I don't think she comprehended how insensitive and insulting that was. I never take my eye off my child and have never let her nonchalantly destroy anything, ever. I was not able to sit down long enough fill out her 3 pages of waiver due to this very issue. Yvonne offered no other room for us to go into away from distractions. Most autistic parents will without a doubt understand what I'm saying. I had called Yvonne within the next few days to explain to her how much her comment deeply affected me since it took some courage just to take my very active daughter out in the public, and to a new place. She replied that she wasn't really sorry for saying what she did, and that she was the owner of her business, and I obviously needed to respect that. She said that she would of told any parent this. She also condescendingly told me she had a severely autistic 35 year old son herself, (calling him handicapped in 2016), and that my feelings really didn't matter because she'd 'been there, done that'. I have never in my child's life ever been made to feel so badly by any business in regards to my parenting, or child. What if my daughter had a meltdown? Would I be expected to put a stop to that too? Perhaps I needed to sit on my daughter, or just not take her out in public at all. What really needs to happen is Yvonne needs to get her studio bought out. There are so many caring, talented, progressive people out there who really want to help our community in this age of time. She's not one of them. In fact, I wonder if she likes our community or the very people she claims to help at all. read more

I just love this studio. My children have and is currently still training with rubio's. They have been apart of this studio for 4 years and going. I don't know where to begin to express my gratitude for the team. When I first Joined Rubio's my son was 4 and my daughter was 2. I was looking for a drum class for my son and took him in for a trial class the teacher Mr. Chris was amazing and my son loved it. That weekend they were holding auditions for JR. Crew and Mr. Chris asked me to let my son come he was the youngest child on the team. Each of the kids as well as the staff took care of my son as if he was their own. My daughter begin in Ballet and tap she immediately feel in love with her teachers Ms. Charleigh, Ms. Krysta and Ms. Nancy. Ms. Charleigh saw so much in my daughter and encourgaged me to put her in Gymnastics as well. Because of what she saw in My daughter she is now a level 2 gymnast. Ms. Krysta encourgaged me to put her and cheer and my daughter is superceeding in that as well. My daughter love Ms. Nancy and the way she dance she always says when she gets older she wants to dance just like her. The office team is amazing. These women are very infomative if there is any question I have someone is getting the answer. If I'm not there they see to it that I recieve information via email or postal mail. I couldn't ask for a more dedicated team. The teachers and administrators rock. This school is so great I refer it to everyone I know and now they have more students. I think the best thing ever about this school is their Group Arms Wide Open. They teach kids that no matter what color, size, shape or learning disability you have, you can still use the love of art to capture the heart of many. Rubio's Thank you for restoring the Arts to Southern California. read more