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!

If you have kiddos that love to dance and you're close to the Oceanside area, look no further! This…read morestudio offers all variety of dance and technique classes. They also offer recreational level classes as well as competitive classes. We have been to a few different studios in the area and have really found that North County Academy of Dance has been the perfect fit for them. The instructors are very motivating and friendly. My dancers have really improved in the last year that we have been here. The atmosphere is very positive and the families that hang out in the lobby are very welcoming. We recommend this studio to anyone that is interested in taking their dancing to the next level!

Attempting to see grandchildren in performance was a hassle, rude people in charge. cue outside in…read moreSun, refusing to let people enter to use a restroom. If I wanted to be treated as such I would have gone to New York City.

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!

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!

This review is for the outstanding performance of The Book Club Play I watched this afternoon…read more Every actor landed their lines. Those lines aren't easy to say. It speaks to their skill in acting. When they broke the fourth wall, it didn't take the audience away from the play, but deeper in it. There's one more performance on April 30th in the evening. Tickets ate reasonably price at $22 per ticket. Well worth the fun you will have with this playwright and cast--thank you!

I just retired last November and decided to take a class to learn Spanish. The class was online for…read morethe summer, and I guess it's like six weeks, very fast paced, but I was OK with that. What I wasn't prepared for is how hard their online is to use. I emailed the professor of the class and told him I was having trouble with it, and he did offer to do a zoom with me the following week. I had doubts about whether or not I was going to be able to finish the class, so I talked to him about dropping and he talked me into staying. However, on the Monday after the first week, I went ahead and withdrew from the class, thinking That if I withdrew within a week, I would get my money back. That was not the case. They told me that you had to drop within the first week. to get any of your money back. That sounds like a rip-off to me. It's not even Pro rated. I wrote to the department that handles that at the college and have received no response at all. I was hoping to take the class in the fall in a regular classroom, however, now that they've ripped off my $200, I'm just going to stay away from this college

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.

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.