The people here are the real deal, good people. My son is a ballet dancer. We lived in Simi Valley for many years and my son danced with a studio that was a competition studio. They have all genres of dance, but it always felt they prioritized the competition dance team, which isn't our thing. As a result, when we moved to the San Fernando Valley, we decided to stick with a more traditional Ballet school academy environment. No competition team type places. We ended up in downtown LA. But during covid, we really had some challenges and my son wasn't able to get back in a studio for many many months. I found California Dance Academy on social media and saw that they were doing Nutcracker outside. I emailed them and ask if my son could take class with them for a while until our school opens again. They were dancing outside and following all covid precautions until case numbers came down and county restrictions allowed indoor classes again. They followed everything to a T and kept dancers safe. No cases were spread within the studio. Everyone we met here was fantastic. No drama. And truly solid classical ballet instruction. I'd have previously written this place off because we were looking to get away from competition environment, but California Dance Academy treats both classical ballet and competition as equally valuable. They develop strong dancers and train kids up in the area the kid wants to go. Their focus is art and solid instruction. My son's school downtown reopened and he was genuinely sad to leave California Dance Academy. But I have to write this review and just say that whether it is classic ballet or more commercial style dance you are looking for, this is a great school with great people. They are helpful, transparent, kind, and honest people. read more

Our teacher, Becky, is awesome and is the main reason why my daughter has studied at CDA for more than a year. My daughter dances for fitness and as a hobby but this studio trains serious dancers, little ones who come for their first dance class, and everything in between. The studio has ample parking. Nice people run the studio and we are happy that we found it! read more

I have a daughter in the 3-4 year old ballet/tap class and we just love Ms. Brandy. Ms. Brandy is very patient, creative in her methods, and makes the class fun for this young age. My daughter is growing a love for dance because of CDA and the program they have created. They truly understand the value of starting young and building the foundational skills needed to thrive in dance and beyond. read more

California Dance Academy - Performing Arts Near Me - Chatsworth, California

Best ballet and dance studio in Los Angeles. I have 2 daughters who had very different interests in dance, but CDA was a great fit for both. I have one daughter who fell in love with ballet and is on the path to becoming a professional ballet dancer. She is told by professional companies that she received excellent training at CDA. My other daughter danced a few years for fun and also loved her time at the studio. I can't say enough great things about CDA. They helped my girls in ways that will last my family a lifetime. read more

My daughters have been coming to California Dance Academy for the past 4 years! And have learned so much and adore their dance teachers! They look forward every year for Nutcracker and their spring recital! The staff is so attentive to the kids needs! Vera in the front desk is amazing with both the parents needs and kids needs. For my children it is there second home and have made amazing friends that are like family to them! read more

My daughter attended California Dance Academy for a summer intensive program after she broke her hip at her regular studio. The staff was incredibly patient with her and worked with her to regain her pointe and her confidence. If it wasn't for CDA my daughter probably would have quit dance entirely. We will be eternally grateful to Jen and the rest of the staff for the help and encouragement my daughter received that summer. read more

California Dance Academy - Performing Arts Near Me - Chatsworth, California

My daughter has been in ballet since she was 3 and at the same studio for 11 years so it was hard when it came time to picking a new studio to further her ballet instruction we were referred to a couple studios and after her trial class at California Dance Academy she knew that's where she needed to be. It's been a year now and she has progressed so well and loves her teachers and her new ballet family. I would recommend California Dance Academy to anyone looking for that next level in your training. Christina Myers read more

After an exhaustive search of dance schools in the San Fernando and Simi Valleys, we finally found ourselves at CDA for our 4 year old daughter. I believe it was our fourth studio to actually enroll in, in addition to the several 'trial classes,' we visited. What we wanted: Tap and Classical Ballet training, brought to the little ones in a fun way without degrading into pop or hip-hop dance/music, bubbles and disco balls. CDA had this fantastically. Teacher Lori worked very well with the class of little ones. As I told her, sometimes it was like hearding bumble bees in there, and she was patient and thoughtful with them. I cannot remember the other teacher's name, but if Lori was out the substitute was also wonderful (a problem I'd had with other studios). Additionally, at CDA really seemed to "get" that young children do not want to stand on a stage in front of 200 people sitting in a huge audience in the dark at nap/bed time. This was the ONLY studio I found that held a separate, small 'recital' in the studio for the youngest children in front of their immediate families. Our daughter's first Ballet performance was completely positive for her, and all the other children. No one stood frozen in the middle of a performance or left in tears like I saw year after year when I was in dance recitals. The one and only negative I can come up with was the 'parent viewing area.' It was one row of chairs, across a hallway that people would constantly traverse to get to the other studio, or stop right in front of you to get ready. It could be hard to see at times. Given all else, it's certainly not enough to ding them a star...you just might want to bring a book for those times you can't watch. Additionally, they had a drawing and a toy area to help keep younger siblings occupied during classes. It was with huge regret that we left the studio only due to a family relocation. We'd finally found Preschool Ballet Nirvana only to leave prematurely. I encourage others to try out a class - we were very happy there. read more

My daughter has been dancing her whole life, but started formal training when she was 2 years old. She has a love so deep in her soul for dancing that she has not met a style she doea not try at least once, if not deeply needs to continue training in. I knew it was past time to get serious about her training when she turned 10. We went to one studio, but that did not work out. We talked with friends and some trusted teachers and decided to try California Dance Academy. Needless ro say, we both knew we wwere home from the first class. This studio is upfront that ballet is the focus. Thankfully, they believe it is a disservice even to the moat diehard ballet dancer, not to encourage other styles. They support them in Jazz, Tap, Lyrucal, Contemporary, Hip Hop, and more! My daughter was privileged to join the growing Competition Teams, and unlike most typical studios, they keep the girls dressed more age appropriate and limit the number of competitions so they can keep up with other activities. For this studio that includes an AMAZING PROFESSIONAL version of The Nutcracker every December, as well as excerpts from famous ballets for Spring Showcase. I cannot say enough good things about the great learning going on here. The studio building is now only 2 years old after moving from old locations. Come check it out for yourself! Parents are friendly - no scary dance moms here! read more

My friend recommended this place to me and I'm super grateful ! Couldn't even dream of a better place for my daughter, she's totally in love ! She's doing 8 classes a week and would do more , but the classes are full :) read more

Although we are still new to California Dance Academy, I already love the structure and form of the classes. My daughter is only 3 but they teach actual ballet and not just free play and bubbles like the last place we were at. read more

To be honest I haven't stepped foot in here in years, but the great experiences and teachers helped mold me into a Vegas headliner and international performer. They introduced me to my love, the stage. If it is still run with the same love and hard work, I highly recommend this academy! read more

My twin daughters have been coming to CDA for almost 5 years. They love the teachers. Every year the Nutcracker and the Spring Showcase, are what they like the most. Costumes and production are amazing! The owners Jen and Robin are always involved and know every girl in the studio. read more

First time back into the dance studio in about a year since Covid. I must say it's great to be back. All CDC regulations in tact. My oldest started here when when she was 3.5 she's now 8 and loves it here. Every dance instructor has had a professional career in dance or is continuing their career while teaching. It definitely reflects in the student's achievement's. They truly care about their students progress and are friendly and personable with the parents as well as the students. My daughter has learned so much here, and has made so many friends through the years. The studios are always clean, the studio manager is very meticulous about rules, sanitation, and procedures. The staff and families are so welcoming to new students, it really feels like a family here. We just signed up my youngest as she can't wait to dance like her big sister. I just thought I'd share our experience here. :) read more

From the minute we walked into the studio we knew it was going to be a great fit for our daughter. The classrooms provide ample space for the dancers to move around in. The teachers are outstanding, they all bring such experience and passion to their classes. Their studio environment encourages and challenges all the dancers to develop a strong technical foundation in dance at a pace dependent on individual growth and determination. Students have the opportunity to participate in a full production of the Nutcracker every December and a Spring Showcase in June that includes pieces from an annually selected ballet. Not to mention, I love the friends we have made at CDA. Our daughter has grown so much since she started four years ago; she loves dancing at CDA and will cherish the memories she is making here for years to come. read more

This is my daughter's 7th year at CDA. She began her dance education at the age of 3 at a different studio, but as she grew I felt that we needed to find a studio that provided a more refined dance program. Since she began at CDA, I can see that CDA is not just a business for the purpose of entertaining children and parents, but a true dance institution dedicated to inspiring dancers through a didactic focus that transcends through all of the aspects of the dancer's life. The combination of technique and discipline that my daughter has experienced at CDA has been essential in shaping her character and drive, which is is reflective in her ability to focus, courageously take on big challenges, and to dream big! I recommend CDA fully confident in and grateful of its dance rigor, as its level of quality continues to grow year after year. read more

This is a cool little dance studio! Just came back from a Tahitian Class for adults. The main studio is pretty big, and the the 2nd studio isn't too bad in size either. The schools seems to focus mainly on children's classes, but any place that also offers adult classes is cool in my book. I'll certainly come back for the hula/Tahitian combo class in Sundays! read more

Our daughter has been training at CDA for 2 years and has excelled. The teachers are fantastic and the recitals keep the kids focused on manageable goals. We now have seen two NutCracker ballets performed by CDA and with all honesty can say it equals the production of the LA Ballet. The costumes and choreography are modern and the energy and skill from the dancers is amazing especially when you consider their age. Thank you Robin and Jen for creating this environment!!!!! read more

I was very upset to see my 3 year old excitement this morning go down to being sad. I spoke to Robin about two weeks ago to set a free trial for today at 9am. I spoke to Jen yesterday to confirm our free trial for today at 9am. I was even told to show up early to fill out paperwork.....showed up to the location and place was closed. I called the number several times and it went to voicemail, I even left a message. There's was another lady waiting with her twin girls, she was also disappointed....Robin & Jen both got my contact information when I spoke with them to confirmed. They should've at least had the decency to call me ...bad business! read more

My daughter began at CDA at the age of 12. She worked so hard and did a summer intensive program that she began point in 6 months. The owners Jen and Robin are amazing. CDA is like a huge family. My daughter loved her many parts in the nutcracker and her solos were incredible. The spring show case shows off everyone's talent. read more

Here is our belated review. My daughter has been attending this studio since 2010 and has loved every second of it! In the past 9 years, there has not been a SINGLE day when she did not want to go to class. She was thrilled to go to class every. single. day! The directors and teachers deeply care about the students' overall well-being and joy for dance. One example is that for competitions and performances, they ensure that the costumes and dance routines are charming in an age-appropriate way, and not too risqué. They also carefully consider each dancer's physical, emotional and technical maturity when deciding to put them en pointe, rather than rushing them for short term gains and excitement. They know each student very well, and provide feedback that is personalized, encouraging, and motivating. If you are looking for a studio with high quality training, reasonable prices, caring teachers minus the hype and drama, this studio is for you. read more

My daughter has been attending CDA for 7 years now. They provide quality instruction and my daughter loves it.

California Dance Academy is the right place for anyone looking for long term training, especially in ballet. We have been at this studio for several years. I am aware of some of the negative things that were mentioned in other reviews, and hope those issues will be resolved ASAP so that the studio can continue to flourish. After recently checking out several other studios in the area, I have concluded that this is the right place for us. First, it's not one of those places where the children are portrayed in a sexual way, and this is VERY important to me and my husband. Second, it's a very multicultural place, and everyone feels included: this, too, is VERY important to me and my husband. Third, there is a room where people can eat and do homework, and this really helps when you have to wait with other children or when your dancer has a break between classes. There is also a refrigerator. There are two restrooms. PLENTY OF PARKING. All the studios have large glass areas on their sides for viewing. They have four beautiful dance studios (rooms) there. And both Ms. Vera and the owners are open to you if you feel something has gone wrong and you need to talk to them. Also, the parents of the older students who may be on competition teams are nice to each other and to the others in the studio. People, in general, are friendly here. There is no perfect studio. There's a lot going on and things can go wrong here and there. And if they do, you shouldn't walk away: just talk to them, because it is a relationship and relationships sometimes need fixing. If you live in the valley and plan on having your child dance in the classical dances for many years, I recommend CDA not because it's perfect, but because it's probably the best place in the area for dance. Many dancers from this studio go straight into professional companies. So, if that's an option you want to have available for your child/children in the future, you should give this studio a try. The dancers here seem happy and are nice to each other. read more

Turn your air conditioner on!!! The teachers are great but it's always way too hot in here.

I love this place. I did my research before enrolling my daughter at CDA and I am so glad I finally found CDA. I don't think many dance schools out there come close to the dance education CDA offers. In the departments of dance and performances, CDA is excellent. The shows are as professional as they get. CDA moved to the bigger studio in the summer of 2014 and it is awesome! The owners, professional dancers, and teachers know what to teach, how to teach, and certainly know what they're doing. One big downfall, the administrative assistant at the front desk. She's never been the most polite person, but recently she's gotten worse! She is rude to the dancers and, very often, to the parents, too. I hope this changes quickly. Bad customers service is never a good thing. read more

My daughter just finished her first year at CDA. She is 8 and has been dancing at another studio since she was 4. She wanted to start focusing more on ballet so that is the reason she switched studios. This year, due to CDA's focus on ballet and their classes and teachers- she has grown amazingly! Not only grown in skills but in poise, confidence and grace. I've seen a big difference between our last studio and CDA. Our teachers have been kind and loving, but also demand respect and hard work. My daughter loves both Miss Sarah and Miss Veronica. I believe CDA communicates adequately with parents. They have a two wonderful shows at Christmas and their spring recital and the venues and shows for both have been professional. Parents and students here are friendly. Miss Vera can be a little serious and direct, but she has never been rude. The facility is clean. It gets very hot during the hot months in the facility, but the rooms for the dancers are cool. The older girls are very good and they have an aspiring ballerina program in case your little one gets more serious about her future in ballet. I also like that they are doing everything to support male dancers. Overall, I'm sure every dance studio has a fault, but I am very happy with CDA and if you are considering it as a school you definitely need to try at least a trial class! read more

Great! When my daughter decided to transition from gymnastics to dance she was terrified of being stuck in a beginner's class with kids half her age -- CDA was able to provide age approrpiate classes and gave her the attention and training she needed to rapidly advance to an intermediate level in record time. The other kids were very supportive and welcoming and made my daughter immediately feel right at home. Her teachers were and are encouraging and attentive. The owners are involved on a daily basis and know every kid by name. I really could not ask for more and my daughter, who is LOVING dance, could not be happier. Oh - and an added bonus is the Triple Talent acting, singing and dancing camps now at CDA (formerly in Woodland Hills) that are offerred by the day or by the week over holiday breaks and during the summer. Fun! As the old commercial says, "try it... you'll like it!" :) read more

My daughter loves the classes here! The class sizes are perfect and the teachers are all wonderful. She loved the classes so much, she begged me to attend the summer camp/intensives. This gave her an opportunity to try other styles of dance too. They put on two amazing shows every year, The Nutcracker and a spring showcase. She's danced in all of them since she started. The Nutcracker isn't just a school show, it's a huge production! The owners and office staff are the best! I can't say enough positive things about this place! We love it. read more

My 9 year old daughter just finished her first year of ballet and jazz here. The instructors and staff are all fabulous. She learned so much during the year and has grown tremendously as a dancer. It was a delight to see all the dancers year end show.... from the littlest to the oldest you could see how much growth there is. We are so glad to have found CDA. read more

I strongly recommend California Dance Academy as a studio with excellent teaching of dance technique, vocabulary, and overall performance. My daughter has been dancing there for nearly 10 years, ever since she was 4. She loves it there! She has taken ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, and jazz funk at the studio and has loved all of them. She has progressed so far in ballet that it is noticed when she has visited other out of town studios and taken their "pre-professional" classes. Jen and Robbin do a fantastic job with the challenges of running a studio with multiple levels of dancers with multiple abilities, and I have trusted them and the teachers to provide the best of training for my daughter. It has paid off with acceptances to multiple summer intensives sponsored by major ballet companies...and she is only 13. Come to CDA and see how much they can inspire and encourage your dancer! read more

Worst dance studio in the valley !!! The owners of this business is a husband and wife with their three daughters. At first they were friendly, but if your a middle class family you do not fit in this dance studio. They cast your child based on how many classes your child is enrolled. The "owner" Jen made my daughter cry because she couldn't perform the steps to the choreography. Glad my kids are in a better studio where they aren't treated poorly because they don't come from tons of money. PS wait until you meet Jen's husband not friendly at all !!! Everytime my husband would pick up my daughter never did he greet him. Maybe he simply doesn't like latinos. read more

My 2 girls have discovered their love of dancing with California Dance Academy. Living in the LA area, there are numerous dance studios to choose from and we make this 20 minute drive almost every day to CDA. Though it's growing in size, it's still the perfect size to give the feeling of intimacy and friendliness, and the personal attention you get here is just what my girls needed. Miss Tania, Miss Tammy, and Miss Jen the owner are excellent and inspirational. I can't praise more! read more

Where do I begin? I have a 13 year old daughter that has been dancing since she was 3. She is currently in intermediate Ballet, advanced Jazz and HipHop and will be starting Pointe this Fall. We have been to several studios through her 10 year career so far. This studio is by far the best one! Jen and Robbin foster such a nurturing environment for these dancers. My daughter can't wait to get to the studio and she absolutely adores all of her teachers. Her technique has improved dramatically in the last year at this studio. This is a family oriented studio, there is no drama here, which is so refreshing. I'm so glad this gem of a studio is right in my backyard! read more

Our Daughter loves going to dance, the teachers are good and the atmosphere has always been pleasant. The new location is a big improvement even though it's a work in progress. A little more organization and more air conditioning would make it a 5 star review! read more