We have been part of the SMDC family since 2018 when my daughter was 6 and it's been a 2nd home…read more Being a woman (and mom!) owned and ran business, everyone there really focuses on helping our children grow up into good people, not just great dancers. The studio recently won the Sportsmanship award at a recent competition and that really showcases the values of the studio. Not only that, they focus on my daughter's growth. When all the pressure of being a teenager hits, I can meet with the studio owner and get help working through it...whether it be taking a break from dance classes for a week, or great mom advice. It's also a great dance school.

We've been part of SMDC for almost 10 years, and it has truly been an incredible experience for our…read morefamily. My daughter has trained in a wide range of styles--jazz, lyrical, tap, and ballet--and the quality of instruction across the board has been outstanding. The teachers and staff are not only highly knowledgeable, but also genuinely warm and supportive. They create an environment where dancers feel encouraged, challenged, and valued. Being part of the competitive dance team has been especially meaningful. It's helped my daughter grow tremendously--not just as a dancer, but as a person. She's gained confidence, discipline, and lasting friendships. One of her absolute favorite experiences each year is performing in The Nutcracker. It's such a special opportunity, and SMDC makes it feel magical while still maintaining a nurturing, positive atmosphere. We're so grateful to be part of such a loving and dedicated dance community. I highly recommend SMDC to anyone looking for a studio that combines excellent training with heart.

Great classes from beginning to grooves to heels and kpop…read more Good for all ages Little ones for day weekend and adults for weeknights Feels warm and safe here... Family vibes

Out of all the instructors in this studio. Siqi is the sweetest and most passionate with her class…read more I enjoy her class the most!! She help me build up my confidence and make sure I don't feel left out since I don't speak Chinese. The studio is very cute, has variety of genres as Hiphop, Kpop, breaking, popping,.. and more! They also have private class which you can choose the song you'd like to dance with. Highly reccommend this studio if you love dancing even if you're shy or not good, no one judges or bring you down for it. They are supportive like a family so come for experience at least LOVE

5,6,7,8...that's all I hear after taking a class here. Mix in some salsa music, and you've got a…read morekick-ass salsa class! This ballroom studio is such a fantastic place to learn salsa and/or bachata for all levels! We recently joined this ballroom studio and bought an 8-class pass. We're currently on our fourth session, and although the moves are a bit challenging, the instructors here really do try to get to every individual and see what each student's challenges are. What's great is that you will never find yourself with the same partner when you are here, which helps I feel helps you learn better as well. The place is definitely well kept, neat, and they have mirrors all around the facility! The prices are very affordable in comparison to some of the other studios we've seen in the past. Thank you to our awesome instructors! We can't wait to keep coming back!

Amazing!!! Brandon and Laura are the best!…read more Nice place to dance and shine our steps. They treated us like family. Best dancing school ever!!!!

We booked an intro lesson + 5 lesson wedding package with Sho Harvey, and we had an incredible…read moreexperience! He made us feel very comfortable and was great at giving us feedback on areas of improvement. We really appreciated that he individually danced with both of us for more personalized instruction. He also cut our song for us, which meant one less thing for us to worry about! We weren't sure we would be able to learn a first dance in only 5 lessons, but he made what felt impossible become a reality! Thank you for everything!

Worth Every Mile of the Drive - Hands Down the Best Latin Dance Coach!…read more I live in Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs area), and I happily drive 2 full hours each way for private lessons with Nikolay -- and I'd do it again in a heartbeat! Nikolay is an absolute gem: incredibly patient, highly skilled, and masterful at teaching complex Latin techniques in a way that finally makes sense to my body and brain. He breaks everything down clearly, uses perfect analogies and cues and even writes it down tailored to how I learn, and never rushes or makes me feel frustrated -- even when I need something repeated multiple times. What makes it even better is Maria, who guides me beautifully on the ladies part all those subtle details I need to polish elevated my dancing to a whole new level The studio itself is fantastic: spacious and perfectly conducive to learning, with plenty of room to move freely and focus without feeling cramped. The staff /Dance instructors ( Lenny Sho Rebekah )are so welcoming and friendly -- they make every visit feel warm and supportive from the moment you walk in. Best of all, this place truly has dance for everybody at all levels -- whether you're a complete beginner, intermediate, advanced, or even a professional looking to deepen your skills. They also cater to people with disabilities, making the experience inclusive and accessible for everyone. It's rare to find a studio this welcoming and adaptable

They have kids and adult classes. Teachers are pretty passionate and experienced with their dancing…read moreand footwork. We appreciate the teachers attention to kids and details at this facility.

A great studio with fun classes! Linda was great, kind, and very enthusiastic! I haven't taken a…read moredance class in over years and she made it so simple and fun! Can't wait to take more classes'

I signed up for a zumba class with Dee through ClassPass, it took my credit, I went to the studio,…read moreit was locked. No one was there. But even their own ad on door says that's zumba class at that time of the week. wth. Called them, no one picked up.

This studio is a great place to be around friendly people and get a great workout dancing Zumba!!!…read moreThe owner Dee is a very nice person and a professional dancer. My mom and I usually attend the Zumba class on Monday's led by instructor Mario. He has great music which makes the hour seem like it went by so fast! We always leave happy and drenched. Great studio with great people, you won't regret coming here.

On July 25, 2025, I brought my 4-year-old daughter to her 4:00 PM gymnastics class. We arrived at…read more3:59 PM and, as directed by the front desk, walked through the ballet room to get there. The ballet class was already past its scheduled end time, so we waited until the students finished before passing through. Halfway across the room, the ballet teacher suddenly began yelling at us aggressively. My daughter was terrified. I calmly asked her to lower her voice, but she continued screaming--following us into the gymnastics room in front of dozens of children. I have a heart condition and began feeling unwell from the stress, yet she would not stop. No staff intervened. I assumed the school would handle it properly, but I was wrong. Later, the owner defended the teacher, accused me of being a "criminal," and took zero responsibility. The real victims were my daughter and the many children who witnessed this unprovoked outburst. Parents should be aware of three serious concerns: 1. Poor safety - No security, unattended front desk, and children can easily wander outside to the street. I personally saw a 6-year-old disappear for 20 minutes. 2. Emotionally unstable ballet teacher - Multiple online reviews mention her history of yelling at kids when parents aren't present. 3. Unprofessional management - Canceled classes without notice, no accountability, and intimidation tactics from the owner, Serge. I regret not calling the police that day. If I had, maybe fewer children would be subjected to this behavior. Parents, please protect your children. A school should be a safe, nurturing place--not one where kids are traumatized and parents are threatened.

My 7 yo daughter has been here for just over a year now and we've really enjoyed our time here. She…read morehas learned so much at the grand academy already and has absolutely loved every second of it. The instructors are great with the kids - firm but kind. My daughter has had classes with Marina, Yelena, and Taylor and they're all wonderful. I've also taken some adult beginner classes with Marina and Yelena that I really enjoyed. The owner, Serge, is easily accessible and always willing to listen to any feedback or concerns I have. Operationally, there's some room for improvement but overall we've been really happy here and have seen a lot of progress over the last year.

My daughter has been dancing for about 8 years and has left all other dance styles to peruse ballet…read moreexclusively. After leaving a couple places that she outgrew or weren't a good fit (and doing trial classes at many other studios in the area), we are SO grateful to have found this place. It took us awhile to discover since "ballet" isn't in the name, but we have been here over a year and my daughter's abilities have progressed wonderfully. The director, Miss Ashleigh, is kind, well organized, and she cares about then integrity of the school and the safety of the students. I cannot say enough good things about PDT!

Public Review Statements - Yelp/Google and Peer Hostility Context…read moreDate: August 05, 2025 Public Review for Yelp/Google: I attended private and group ballet sessions at Pasadena Dance Theatre (PDT) from October 2024 to April 2025. I am an educator and professional dancer with decades of experience, and I came seeking quality training. Unfortunately, what I encountered was a deeply troubling environment. The instructor I worked with, Julia Ortega, repeatedly failed to provide structured, technical ballet instruction during private sessions. Instead, she used the time I paid for, more than $6,500 total, to gossip about colleagues and other dancers. She also made repeated racially charged remarks, including derogatory comments about Black women such as Michelle Obama and me. One of the most dangerous incidents occurred when I was deliberately locked inside PDT's alarmed building. My shoes were moved to an office to make it appear I had left. This act placed me at physical risk, and when reported to the Pasadena Police Department, a report was taken without an arrest. I believe this reflects the broader racial bias and institutional neglect that occurred at PDT. I later learned internal staff dismissed my formal complaint with the note: 'Snooze and ignore.' Pattern of Peer Hostility and Complicity: There was a consistent atmosphere of peer hostility during classes. A woman named Kathy frequently belittled me, even announcing in front of others that fishnet tights are 'slutty', an apparent attempt to shame and humiliate. This behavior spanned years, including previous experiences at the Pasadena Conservatory of Dance. Despite my visible technical progress, regularly acknowledged by others, this hostility persisted and was ignored by instructors. Instructor Julia Ortega, instead of maintaining professional standards, appeared to absorb the toxic energy of the group. Her behavior toward me deteriorated, even though I was paying her for private sessions and supported her personally with gifts and supplements. She treated me with contempt and ultimately placed me in physical danger without remorse. PDT's leadership, including Ashleigh Doede, did not address any part of this misconduct, even when directly notified. Pasadena Dance Theatre may appear to offer professional training, but the experience I received was unsafe, unethical, and racially hostile. I do not recommend this school to anyone seeking legitimate ballet instruction or respectful treatment. The organization lacks the artistic integrity and human decency necessary to represent ballet as a fine art.