It just breaks my heart how the Art Programs have always been in danger of being cut. I can't…read moreimagine a world without Elmo and Super Grover 2.0! And if Daniel Tiger went away, who's gonna teach my threenager "to try new food cuz it might taste good"?!?! It would be dull without music, without the singing and dancing, or painting, drawing, and all the other art forms that make the world a beautiful... and a sane... place to live. If Game of Thrones is going to be affected by these proposed budget cuts, I'll be really pissed! The high school students at CVHS are fortunate to have their Arts Program, and an exceptional one, I might add. I've seen a couple of musicals since my nephew has been in them, and recently my fambam watched Disney's Mary Poppins on a Sunday afternoon. I'm a fan of Broadway musicals and I thought the high school students were indubitably as good as those professionals. I tried to watch the original movie twice, but I fell asleep both times as I did not find it exciting. These high school kids killed each song and dance, and I mean K I L L L L L E D it (and that's a good thing)! The costumes were bright and colorful, each set was simple and cute, the choreographic sequences were fun, the songs played by the hs band were lively, and the performances were SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS! The cast deserved a standing ovation. Hopefully, these high school students will continue to explore their creativity while expanding their imaginations. And I wish other children will have the opportunity. Save the Arts. As Mary Poppins would say, "Anything can happen if you let it."

First, this review is long overdue…read more My daughter began her journey with CVPA approximately one year ago. She has been dancing ballet since the age of 3, which she has continued to grow in. Two of the things she has been training in are jazz (3rd year now) and hip hop (2nd year now). Prior to this last year before joining CVPA, she was not taught proper technique, vocabulary or even how to count correctly with music. The studio she danced at before joining CVPA never corrected or communicated any concerns. Janet (CVPA owner) took my daughter in and has personally spent time retraining her and reversing the poor and bad habits that were never corrected where she danced prior to CVPA. I have witnessed her do this for all her new students. I cannot say enough good things about the teachers, owner, and students in Castro Valley Performing Arts. My daughter has been on an emotional journey this past year, and CVPA has given her the tools and communication to help get her in the right direction. The teachers and Owner are wonderful communicators, and they truly take the time to instill correct form, alignment, technique, dance vocabulary, good attitude, amazing choreography, and so much more. Specifically, Ms. Janet, Ms. Gia, Ms. Kim, Ms. Kristina, Ms. Hannah, Ms. Michelle, Ms. Karisa, and Ms. Jenelle have all greatly influenced my daughter through this transition. Thank you all for believing in my daughter and welcoming our family to your studio. Ms. Cassidy, who recently began teaching at CVPA is also amazing. She has instructed my daughter in the past for ballet, and I feel was the only reason my daughter maintained good ballet training during our time prior to CVPA. Ms. Amanda is also absolutely amazing. While my daughter did have a hard time learning Latin Jazz, as it was something I'm not sure she was able to comfortably embrace, it is clear as day that Ms. Amanda is a wonderful instructor. I am so incredibly happy that she is working with such a strong team of teachers. If you are looking for a studio that teaches proper technique, etiquette, dance vocabulary, amazing choreography, and how to properly train their dancers, then this is the place to be. I would like to add that I drive all the way from Livermore for my daughter to attend this studio. I never imagined commuting my children for a sport. Worth every moment!

We've been to three different dance studios. When she was little we were with a studio that ended…read moreup closing. So we moved to bedazzled dancers. All the teachers were great there, but I always felt that my daughter was not getting enough corrections. We ended up switching to Castro Valley performing arts and we've only been there for a month and I already see a huge difference in her dancing. They give really good corrections. Stay on top of the kids. Stern but friendly. My daughter is not doing competitions and at the other school if you were not doing the competitions, you just learned dances and that was it. But here they're giving everybody corrections and everybody looks so in unison. I absolutely love it and she does too. And she tells me she can see the difference as well.

This studio has been life changing for my daughter. I cannot recommend CVPA highly enough. My…read moredaughter Madeline attended a different local studio from the age of 2-10. My biggest regret is not moving her to CVPA sooner. As she got older, there were very few corrections being given by teachers there and she was not being challenged. They were very focused on competition rehearsals and did not offer enough technique classes to help her grow as a dancer. CVPA is the exact opposite of her old studio. They are technique focused and raise well rounded dancers competent in all styles of dances. They offer a great competition program, but make sure their dancers have access to lots of technique classes to not just memorize choreography but improve all their skills simultaneously. We changed studios during the beginning of the pandemic when classes were on Zoom. She did a week of free trial classes before we signed up. During the week trial my daughter received more corrections by teachers on Zoom than she received in person in a year at her old studio. I also had more contact with the CVPA owner in the first week than I did in 8 years of dance at the old studio. My daughter had literally made up her mind after the first class that CVPA was the studio for her. The teachers here put their heart and soul into every class and care deeply about all of the dancers. The difference in my daughter's dancing is like night and day. The caring dance family that has been created here is like no other. If you are looking for a well rounded, technique- focused studio with amazing teachers to take your child to the next level, look no further than CVPA.

My daughter loves dancing with this studio.She has been dancing with this studio for 7 years…read more Highly recommend

Our daughter loves this group. With all the highly experienced, caring, professional instructors,…read moreit is no surprise to see the high quality team performance and host of championships they bring in. They are also so active in the community with events, CVUSD, and more. I highly recommend this studio for their wide array from ballet to high energy dance!

This theater is my favorite theater and #1 go-to in the Bay Area! You can't find many theaters…read morelike The Chabot Theater anymore, and I'll tell you why! The Chabot Theater has been around for 75 years. With only 1 movie screen, it has been visited by long-time residents and newcomers who share a passion for film and reasonable pricing. They may not have reserved seating or the best state of the art surround sound systems, but that's what makes it unique and what a 1990-2000s movie theater used to be like. Also, they feature local commercials, bands/music, and upcoming events before the movie starts, which is great to see the support for the community! One of the best things about this theater is that you can purchase tickets for 1/2 the price every Tuesday! As of August 2025, 1/2 priced tickets will be $6/each (Regular: $12), which is a steal these days and especially when you can watch some of the biggest blockbuster films! Keep in mind, if you are a child or senior, regular pricing is $10 (still a bargain!), but Tuesday pricing will remain $6/each. You can purchase both tickets and concessions together in the lobby, which makes the process simple and smooth. Parking is relatively easy - no dedicated parking lot, just the street so adhere to the posted signage. Most street parking is 2 hour limit, but if you're okay taking a short walk, find some side or cross streets to extend the limit especially if you're catching a film that's longer than 2 hours. If you're looking for a place to host an event, watch party, or birthday, they do that here (pricing on website). If you're looking for something fun to do during the week nights, they host trivia nights (free for everyone), family movie nights (tickets required), and karaoke nights (free for everyone) too! This theater is truly a gem, one that I hope remains a staple within the CV community, providing a safe and enjoyable place for everyone.

My hometown theater! I love going to catch a movie at the…read morechabot! It feels like home! Once you walk in you're greeted by the concession stand and where you buy your ticket. There is always someone who is nice and happy you're there working and it makes you really feel like you're back to where you grew up. I always buy food/drink to help support. The ticket prices are the cheapest around (especially on half off tuesdays) and they even give free popcorn after the last showing lets out if they have any left! The seats in the lower half are probably the original seats (which makes it more nostalgic for me) and probably aren't the most comfortable but the upper half has been renovated with tables and chairs so if you want to eat actual food you can do so comfortably! They also host an array of events so there is always something going on!

LJ definitely changed the way I sing for the better. He's incredibly encouraging and he believes in…read morehis students! I'm more confident in my ability to sing and understand my range a lot better. As a pianist LJ has an incredibly sharp sense for notes and it is super helpful to learn a bit of piano for anyone singing. Highly recommend!

I am so glad I found Lamont! I've had the pleasure of taking piano lessons with Lamont for the past…read more6 months, and I can honestly say the experience has been outstanding. He is a highly skilled musician with a deep understanding of both technique and musicality, and he has a real talent for tailoring his teaching style to fit each student's needs. Lessons are always structured, engaging, and encouraging, making progress both achievable and enjoyable. What sets Lamont apart is not only the quality of his instruction, but also the incredible value he provides. His rates are very reasonable for the level of expertise he offers, and every lesson feels like time and money well invested. I've already had success playing pop songs on my own and am looking forward to moving in to singing as well!

All I can say is the staff are immature and have been caught throwing parties and providing…read moreprofanity to TEENS, you school is really dirty, the technology is incredibly behind, the kids are incredibly behind making it hard for teamwork to even be imagined, the teachers are overworked because of the fact they're underpaid, and we just barely got a little diversity in our curriculum thanks to the teachers efforts. The school itself operates quite literally like a business which is so pathetic considering you're being funded by the people. If you wanna gamble your education and wellbeing I recommend CVHS!

This school has not been good. Many math teachers here aren't very good at teaching. Other subjects…read moreare relatively average. The curriculum is pretty bad and not well organized. There are many teachers that are great, but many that are bad. My friend nearly failed Integrated 1 in the first semester because of some unhygienic teacher who apparently wore the same exact clothes each day. He also would give you a 0 on a test if you didn't do it his way. I'm so glad I didn't have him. The extracurricular programs are okay. I am in marching band and it was not the best. They didn't let me march one year because they apparently "didn't have any spots left." Which is probably the most dumbest excuse ever because people who were A LOT worse than me got to march, but I didn't. If you don't end up marching, you still need to show up, I have no problem with that, but they treat you like a worthless slave during competitions and you don't feel like you're in the band. Lunch isn't until 1:00pm and there are no short days. If you do 0 period, you are there for 8 hours a day with no early days. Apparently, someone was sexually assaulted in a serious way and the school only suspended the person. They were literally arrested and the school didn't bother to expel them. They don't even bother fixing the bathrooms in 700 hall, which really need to be fixed. There is some things that aren't even our fault. For example, the sinks rarely have running water. Most the school danced are boring and they don't let you leave. Most the school is outdated and has trash all over the place. There are NO FIELD TRIPS besides senior stuff, which is dumb because they lie and say there are plenty more. That is my brutally honest review.

Miss. Leticia has been the most beautiful introduction to dance teacher for my cousin. My little…read morecousin loves her so much & has progressed in her technique, confidence, and strength! Miss Leticia is not only very passionate about her job but she shows genuine care for her dancers. She is a ONE of a kind teacher that will leave a huge impact on the dance world. Thank you Miss. Leticia!

Review on the toddler princess class: If you have an…read moreexuberant child like mine, this is not the class or dance center for your child. My child attended this class in January, for 2 classes and did a trial class last year. The class provides 1 teacher and 1-2 teenage assistants, one of which is the main instructor, Monica. Parents are required to watch outside, behind a window and are not allowed inside during class. In the beginning of the first class, my child was following directions and after sometime, they became distracted and also filled with excitement to run around and play with other children. Although somewhat frustrating as a mom, with the inability to correct them (as I'm outside of the class, watching from the window) I was provided reassurance from fellow moms outside, saying my kid is just excited, so outgoing and it's okay, it's their first day. At the end of my child's first class, the kids were receiving measurements, in preparation for an upcoming recital. After my child was measured, Monica had some feedback for me. There were other parents around me with their children, when she expressed her concerns. Initially, I was surprised and ultimately, embarrassed, especially because she didn't pull me aside. Monica said that my daughter needs to work on listening and to prep her prior to class. She added, although they're taking measurements for recital, that it might not be the class for her and we can reevaluate her at the second class, to see if she may be more appropriate for the younger class (but this is the youngest class), also implying that she wouldn't be fit for the recital performance. Caught off guard, I managed to suppress my true feelings. I responded by saying, oh trust me I do (teach her to listen). I then asked if I could send her an email, to discuss in a private matter opposed to publicly conversing in front of others. Following that night, I was reconsidering attending the class. I was apprehensive about pulling my child out, as it was just their first day and they still enjoyed it. As a parent, we grow to understand that consistency is key to see them progress. It's not only a learning experience for them, but also a social experience. Also, we had a friend that was in that class, so I wanted to ensure that they can attend an ongoing fun activity together. I then decided that we'd give it another shot for the next class and see how it goes, and see if Monica had anything further to say. The next and final class, I was filled with anxiety. The entire week I was worried how my child would perform in their ballet class. I shouldn't have felt that way, but that was the pressure I felt from Monica. Within the last 15 minutes of class, my child in addition to another child (one who has been going for some months) were removed. Throughout the entire class, you can see the frustration on Monica's face because of the students. It wasn't just my kid, it was all of the children (a small group of 5-6, ages 3-5) that were being inattentive. I could hear Monica saying, "I'm sorry I can't." She then escorted my child and another child outside to be with their parents. My child, embarrassed and crying, put their hands to their face and said, "mommy I'm sad, I want to dance." The other child was hysterical to their mother. This was absolutely unacceptable and heartbreaking. We're required to enroll and pay for 2 months worth of classes in advance and be required to sign up for automatic pay. Yet, my child gets pulled out in the middle of class? How can you traumatize a child's first experience by having them removed? They're 3! I spoke with Monica, to get a better understanding of what the expectations are and how this could be handled in the future. Initially, it wasn't my intent to drop the class, however that was her first and only solution. I told her that I've been prepping my child all week and doing practices where I'm teacher and they're the student. Her response, "yeah, she's still not listening." I then asked, well what are the expectations for the following classes? Are you going to keep removing her from class if they get distracted? Her response was to provide me a refund. It was clear that she didn't want my child in her class or deal with them. That was her solution. I want to add that this was not my child's first group class. They've been involved in basketball for a season, gymnastics and soccer. All of which we've had a pleasant experience with the coaches and teachers. Teachers who displayed patience, understanding, compassion and understood the age of the children being taught. When something like this occurs during the phase of when our children are learning, we as parents must understand that this is a delicate time that can potentially affect their outlook on similar experiences that they're introduced to. I was simply appalled at the way Monica handled this entire situation and the way she treated my child.

Julie came to our house as Ariel. My daughter was so excited. She painted faces, sang, read…read morebooks, did a parade, and gave "princess training" to the boys and girls. They loved it. She was great at taking her cues from the kids and really knew how to keep their attention. As a parent, I could sit and relax, watching all of the fun.

From the owner: We are kid people! Oh yes...we are also performers. We speialize in singing, dancing, face…read morepainting, bubbles, parades, princess training and FUN.

My family members have been enrolled for the last year in choir , piano, and drums. All outstanding…read moreexperiences for children and adults. The train up to recitals and concerts is a great program that helps build up students' confidence. The current Holiday choir is another example of them programming into the community and bringing families closer together through music. Definitely recommend also for adults who lost their way on an instrument , great place to learn and pick it back up!

The best school in the area! My daughter has taken singing lessons here for quite a while, and…read moreshe's had the opportunity to perform at several festivals with the rock band... what an amazing way to grow in music!

I enjoyed my time working with Ayumi the past 2.5 years. Ayumi is extremely talented and has helped…read moreme improve with voice lessons. Marina and Fabio are extremely responsive and supportive as well. I appreciate the consistency, professionalism and responsiveness of all staff at Better Music.

Wow! I was pleasantly surprised how effective voice lessons online could be! This music school has…read moreskilled instructors who work hard to figure out what singers need and create a program to help them achieve their vocal goals. Becca made voice lessons, fun and informative. She is that rare combination of very knowledgeable and very funny.