UPDATE: I was emailed December 2nd and told that I would receive a refund via Venmo. It is now January and I still have not received a refund despite sending a follow up inquiry via email. I am really saddened to post a negative review about a local business. My daughter started ballet at the conservatory about seven months ago when she was still four. In the beginning she loved going and would twirl around the house and dream of being a ballerina. A little after five she moved up to the next class level. The new class was a bit more challenging, and went from 45 minutes to an hour, but she was still enjoying it and learning a lot. Everything went downhill when tryouts for the Nutcracker began. Firstly, we needed to pay $20 for tryouts, which did not seem right to me since tryouts were held during her regular class time that we were paying for. After she was given a role, the classes switched to 1.5 hours. That is a VERY long time for a 5 year old, and they are given only one or two very brief breaks for water during this time. The lighthearted feel of the class disappeared and most of the young girls are visibly exhausted at the end. My daughter started to dread going and admitted to me that it is no longer fun for her. She said she is dreading Christmas because she knows she has to keep practicing for the Nutracker, and she hates the long classes and that she isn't allowed more water breaks. When I emailed the conservatory to tell them we wanted to cancel, I asked about getting a refund for the $100 Nutracker fee. Originally I was told it was for the cost of the costume, which she has not yet been fitted for, so I did not think it would be an issue. However, I was told this cost will not be refunded because it is for "production fee costs." The only thing she has received is grueling 1.5 hour classes that we did not want in the first place. I was also told that I will not receive even a partial fee for the monthly tuition costs despite the fact that she will not be attending any classes this month. I was also informed that they will be making adjustments to classes, and if she comes and finishes out the month they may consider a nutcracker fee refund. At this point my daughter has had ballet ruined for her so it is a bit late for that. Overall I feel the young students are being pushed beyond what is appropriate so that the studio can have their Nutcracker performance. Again, I don't love leaving a negative review for a local business but I think other's need to consider this when enrolling a young child at this studio. read more

I've been taking adult classes at the conservatory for over 6 months now and I love it. I love my teacher Killian, and my skills have improved a lot. They offer child and teen programs too! Check them out! Highly recommend! read more

This is an amazing studio with an incredible instructor. One of the things I love about it is the individual attention that the students get. The students benefit from small class sizes and SO much more instruction than they do at larger programs. The students and teacher are SO kind and make new students feel very welcome. We were looking for a high-quality studio with a kind and nurturing environment, and we found it here. Parents from our other studio started asking me how and why my daughter was improving so much and seemed so confident (we were doubling up at our old studio and CBC). It became clear very quickly that CBC was helping our daughter reach her potential and moving her into a whole new level of technique and high-level pointe work. We discontinued enrollment at our old studio, and we couldn't be more pleased with the results at CBC. (Also, I see a comment about someone not being contacted back immediately and being upset. Let me say this...the ENTIRE amazing program is basically run by one instructor. She teaches all day and all night, and I assume is trying to keep up with email requests, etc. I suggest that Jim S. take the time to investigate the reasons for the delay and realize that perhaps a lapse might be because the one person there is dedicating every minute of her day to her students. Don't jump to conclusions. I guarantee you won't find better training in the area.) read more

We were so excited when we saw this studio was coming to our area before it's grand opening, and so were many of our ballet-loving friends. We were hopeful for a good match of solid, inspiring instructors as well as expert ballet training after a few poor experiences. The owner, Miss Killian, is an amazing ballet instructor. Unfortunately, unless your dancer is willing to endure hostile, aggressive, angry correction, including regularly being demeaned in front of others and even being screamed at in your face, you won't like it here. Even the youngest girls are exposed to this. I refuse to allow my daughters to accept and be silenced under verbal abuse simply for training's sake. Personally don't feel that is setting them up to be healthy, secure, and confident young women who can thrive in the current culture that exists. There are families that are willing to stay under this treatment; they don't deny that it happens, they just say their daughters "don't seem to mind." Mine did, and I did. We really wanted to love it. The training is excellent and we've seen the results of that training for those willing to endure the abuse. The moms there will even warn you about Ms. Killian's harshness when you first come to visit, in whispers so she doesn't hear. The studio owners try to keep this hush-hush, and you are expected to abide by a contract of no discussion of the studio in the community, which isn't necessary at a studio where there is solid correction given in an instructive and appropriate manner. But they've lost so many students due to this fact that it's difficult for them to cover now. It's well-known in the surrounding ballet community. We even went a second time several years after our first experience hearing there had been a little bit of a change, but found that was not true within a pretty short time. When my teen daughter started having such severe anxiety over class the following day, worrying whether or not she would be yelled at that she couldn't sleep, that was the end for us. She's now settled into a less-intense local studio with sweet fellow dancers and professional highly-trained instructors who know how to correct in kind and encouraging ways, and she couldn't be happier. It's really too bad, because if this adult woman could learn to control her temper and her mouth, and instead give the same correction and instruction in a positive, encouraging manner, this studio would be busting at the seams with eager dancers who want to learn from one of the best instructors in the area. read more

We love this place. The instructors are great. There's lots of structure. My daughter has learned a lot on a short amount of time.

Amazing teachers both in preballet and conservatory division. Ms. Killian (Ballet Director) brought an extensive knowledge of Vaganova system along with her unique teaching skills. She is for sure one of the hidden gems of Sacramento area and I am super happy to choose CBC after a long search and a couple unfortunate trials in other ballet studios. I have my daughter in Pre Ballet Division, my sister in semi professional conservatory division and I, myself am taking adult ballet classes as well. Exceptional classical ballet training to young and also adult dancers. read more

I only recently started taking classes at this studio and have already totally fallen in love with it! Killian is amazing. She provides the highest quality instruction in a positive environment. She is patient, extremely knowledgeable and always makes class challenging and fun, providing plenty of individual attention to each student. I can't say enough good things about Killian and the California Ballet Conservatory!! read more

So disappointed to write this review. After 7 months of bringing our daughter to the CBC we were told she would be able to audition for the nutcracker! This was so exciting to all of us but that excitement quickly faded. Firstly the audition was during normal class time. It was also an additional $20 to audition. No matter, we were still excited. After waiting a brief time our daughter was assigned a role, we were excited for class to begin as it was always the highlight of our daughters week, every week. Unfortunately this is where a fun experience quickly turned sour. We were charged an additional $100 for "costume fees" again, it is what it is we paid and were still excited for class. Class length was increased dramatically. 90 minutes of intense instruction that went from a fun learning class to a very strict regimented one, with a very very brief single 2 minute water break inside a room that was already very warm, rarely ever climate controlled. It was obvious this age group was not mature enough to handle these practices with many of the kids flopping on the floor from boredom and exhaustion. Ms. Sara is sweet and talented but she could not keep their attention spans and of the 3 rehearsal classes we attended two were cut short or turned into a free dance by the end. We asked our daughter how she liked class after these rehearsals and it was clear she was no longer enjoying it. She didn't quit but when we were prepping for our 4th class she had a breakdown and said how unhappy she was and how not enjoyable the class had become and how she was dreading Christmas because it meant the play was coming. This was heartbreaking as you can imagine. We decided that she had been doing ballet 7 months and we would allow her to make a choice if she wanted to continue or not. She was so relieved to be done. So flash forward to the 4th, we submitted our intent to unenroll and to refund fees and class tuition. We figured a prorated refund of the month would be coming and since the costume fee of $100 was no longer needed and anticipated that to be refunded as she was never fitted for a customer. Not at all refunded. The entire month is being charged despite the fact we wont attend a single class this month, the costume fee was renamed a non refundable "production fee." however we were told if she returned they would try and refund it? Why would you try and refund it if we return but not if we don't? Overall the last month ruined our view of this establishment. From being tone deaf to the needs and mannerisms of 4 and 5yr old's to the list of fees we had to pay to be considered for nutcracked and now being told its all non refundable "unless we return then they would try." Disappointed to say the least, they took a girl enthusiastic about dance and ruined 7 months of work in less than 30 days. read more