We came to this dance school by word of mouth. And we are so glad that we had!…read more We took a 30-min private lesson ($35) to access which class would fit her best and tried the creative dance class! At Dance Connection Performing Arts Center in Concord, our 3.5 yo daughter was escorted a number of times out of her intro to ballet and tap class for 2.5 to 4 yo for "not listening." So we ditched that studio and tried this one! (But we did try a kinder teacher at DCPAC before leaving.) The Creative Dance class (single drop-in for $25, 10-class pack for $185) at The Ballet School is perfect for her, especially since she has a slow-to-warm-up temperament and is sensitive to loud sounds (ie. music, flushing toilets, leaf blowers, etc.). The value for these drop-in creative dance classes is excellent because we are willing to pay a few dollars more for our little one to have a positive experience with dance. Drop-in means that they are understanding that some days the littles aren't having a good enough day to join class and/or sick. (Btw, $45 one-time registration fee) Regarding the rest of the school, I can tell that there is a huge selection of classes including music. As a music teacher working at a music academy, I can't access the quality. However, I know there is a department near the entrance way. If you haven't tried this school, just know it supports Healthy Dance, and are a part of Dance Awareness: No Child Exploited. This was a huge factor of why we chose this school for our daughter.

I have been a parent at the ballet school for 15 years now (with seven more to go). I cannot…read moreoverstate what a wonderful place this place is. We live in an age where many expect Elementary School students to were glitter and makeup, then dress up in costumes. The Ballet School does not go down that road. Instead, it teaches young ladies (and gentlemen) to respect themselves and each other with any performance only coming from that confidence. Just as an example, the younger performers do never "perform" in a "show." Instead, TBS has a yearly "demonstration," which is literally just that...the students wear the regular baller uniform and demonstrate what happens in class every day. I have always thought that that is an incredibly healthy approach . Suffice to say, I strongly suggest that parents check out this school when looking into a school for performing arts.

Most of the positive reviews are from when this place was co-owned…read more It's telling of a human and therefore, their business when the only review to which they respond, and a lengthy response at that, is to a negative one. There's zero accountability in apologizing and then saying something to the effect of, "what a rough year it was and our side of the story..." I know the story. I saw and heard kids get crushed. I can't rewrite history, but I wish I had said things in the moment rather than play nice and just listen. Many of us do this all to often (stay quiet). Speak up when we hear something not right. I wish I had. There was no rhyme or reason to the way they placed kids in different levels. For multiple reasons, one of my kids who loved danced and was only encouraged and pushed at the previous studio, was knocked down repeatedly. By the time we left, the confidence they had once had in dance was gone. With ACE not allowing child 3 to be challenged, their technique suffered. I saw their skills slowly decline until I pulled them from ACE and put them in a studio that once again believed in my kid. My youngest kid, whom I thought was in dance just for fun, left the studio and holy bananas. I had no idea my kid was capable of doing the stuff that kid did. Technique improved exponentially within months of leaving ACE. My youngest thankfully was never crushed by their words or glares. But they did feel proud of their accomplishments after leaving, often saying, "I'd never be able to do that at ACE!" I pulled my kids 2.5 years ago but seeing as they lost a ton more kids this year, I'm guessing they haven't changed. They've lost countless "ensemble" - their version of team members over the past few years. Their pay structure for ensemble is a joke. If you're considering this studio for a team, compare it to others (and other pay structures). That's it for now. I may revise it, but it won't be for the better.

This is a wonderful studio of caring and supportive teachers and dancers! Thank you to Ace Dance…read moreAcademy for fostering my daughter's love for dance!

I LOVED the Beginning and Back to Basics Ballet classes with Hiroko! I've been searching for adult…read morebeginner ballet classes in the area, but it was hard to find one truly tailored for adult beginners--where I could learn proper positions and fundamental techniques. I'm so glad I found Hiroko's classes. She genuinely cares about each student's form and takes the time to correct our poses and steps. I really appreciate her patience and understanding. I only wish they can add more Back to Basics class options on weekends or in the evenings so I could attend after work. Thank you, Hiroko, for reigniting my passion for ballet!

I was enrolled in an adult ballet class taught by Hiroko Shabuya. Though she seemed nice, it was a…read morewaste of money. She selected a few of the best ballet dancers in the class to act as lead dancers for a production we were to perform as a class. The rest of us were relegated to be background dancers. This meant most of us waited around for her attention or practiced simple movements, while Hiroko focused on teaching the main dancers their roles. I felt like my money was wasted since her focus was on a few of the best dancers and teaching them their intricate choreography, while the rest of us did not get much individual attention.

Gift Certificate//…read more Bought a gift certificate over the phone for my mom's 60th birthday. The person who answered the phone was very helpful, happy to help, and guided me in the right direction. Received the gift certificate in a very timely manner and I look forward to hearing about the fun dance lessons from my mom.

Arthur Murray dance studio runs like a car salesmanship. I understand being friendly to your…read morecustomers but the instructors were so over-the-top that it felt completely fake and smarmy, from how they say hi to you to how they sell you a packet of $550 introductory dance lessons -- 4 45 min "lessons" that only cover the bare minimum where they refuse to correct your dance moves (big red flag if you want to learn dance) and they five high you every 5 minutes like you're a toddler or otherwise just retarded... Amongst the intro packet was the 2 group lessons coupled with 2 more subsequent "party" dance sessions where all the students dance w each other but the way it was being lead, it felt more like a cheerleading/glee club. Please actuallt teach us some moves! Im not here to be part of a cheering squad and to be everybody's bff! Josh, a dancer who doubles as their sales guy, was goading me into buying more group packets for an unbelievable amount of money after completing the bare minimum in the equally expensive introductory dance packet -- talking to you as though you affirmed to him that you wanna buy super expensive packets for when I never even implied that! Before then, when I asked about paying for individual lessons...well, I'm going to quote the last reviewer who said it best here when she expressed uncertainty : "he acted all offended and said, 'when someone doesn't want to buy it means that they didn't understand what I was explaining.'" Basically same thing here but also refusing to answer the question in my case. Finally, when I asked for references to other dance studios that dedicate more time to individualized dance lessons (like if you wanna focus on just tango as opposed to all of the ballroom dances), he went on about how "Well, Arthur Murray does it as well! You like our dance studio though, RIGHT, Tiffs?" Yeah I know, that's why I asked -- if you weren't trying so hard to sell yourself like I'm just another product, I wouldn't have asked. I found another class that is worth your buck and teaches you more in one lesson than 10 Arthur Murray lessons combined. In fact, my other peers were also there precisely because of their experience with Arthur Murray as well. And, due to the last reviewer actually affirming my previous experience, I think I'm on point. Do not buy Arthur Murray classes! They are a scam!! Worst dance studio I've ever been in, and I've gone through several myself! Edit: Yelp removed my last review from Arthur Murray, but I didn't break any review rules; I did not slander anyone personally, reinforce stereotypes, or threaten with violence. Part of me suspects that this removal was at the behest of Arthur Murray dance company so that they do not look bad in other people's eyes. Well, I'm back! And I'm not going to stop telling the truth about this company to let honest people decide for themselves if they want to go through the same horrible experience with this dance studio as I did!

My daughter has been attending here for over 2-2.5 years. Over the course, she had multiple…read moreteachers. It was a rough start as the teacher was impatient and scolded her in front of everyone for not keeping her personal space (she was only 4 and it was only her second class) She started feeling very anxious and refused to go to ballet despite loving to dance. Luckily, we sticked with our gut feeling and removed her from that class immediately. We tried another class with a different teacher ( i think it was Ms Dominique) Although she was young, she was very patient and gentle. It had a huge impact and my daughter become feeling more comfortable and enjoyed ballet at Tutu school. She was moved to Ms Leah's class, who was also amazing. She's now in Ms Hannah's class. We love Ms Hannah as her teacher because she's balanced between patient, supportive, but also not afraid to challenge the girls and reinforce structure in the class. That has pushed my daughter to become a better dancer (as we know older ballet classes are very strict). My daughter has become more confident and skillful and always looks forward to come to ballet at Tutu school.

My daughter has been attending Tutu School Walnut Creek for nearly half a year now--and she…read moreabsolutely loves it! She's becoming more skillful, more confident, and genuinely looks forward to each class with so much joy. What truly makes the experience so special are the instructors, especially Ms. Tina. I can't thank her enough for her patience, expertise, and dedication. She is incredibly thorough in her instruction and deeply attentive to each child. Her calm, gentle demeanor works like magic--the children stay focused and engaged, even when there are occasional distractions, whether from other students or a parent on the phone. Thanks to teachers like Ms. Tina, my daughter will continue her ballet journey here. Not only is Ms. Tina a fantastic instructor for the kids, but she's also a wonderful mentor to the newly hired teachers--no wonder the entire team is so exceptional. Thank you, Ms. Tina, for everything you do. My daughter and all the little ballerinas are so lucky to learn from you!

I'm in my second session of Twerk dance class at Funkmode. I found this studio when I moved to…read moreConcord from Oakland quite a few months ago. I was just in a dance recital, and got to dress up. I always feel included and empowered. Love my teacher, Angel. This a very inclusive and accepting environment. They have kids, teens, and adult classes with a variety of themes and teachers. I'm so happy to be a part of the dance crew. I also get to be in their pride performance in June!

Fun as fuck love the twerk class angel is a bad bitch with definitely would recommendread more

My daughter has been in the studio since she was 4, she turned 13 this summer. Ever since she has…read morejoined it's been a place for her to express herself, it's a place of happiness for her, and anything that brings her joy brings me joy. The school is the best experience my daughter has been in. Whenever it's the weekend she asks me, "Mommy when will I have dance again?" Even though she is 13, she is still very enthusiastic about the school.The instructors are very welcoming and open to new students. The instructors teach them in a way for them to understand and have fun at the same time. They are very dedicated to their work and all the students work very hard and it shows the dancers are all very talented thanks to the amazing teachings by Ms. Goldman. I recommend this school to all parents looking for the best ballroom dancing school in the East Bay. Goodnight lovelies

Wonderful dance studio! The owner treats everyone like their own family. The show dances and…read morecompetitions are amazing. Highly recommend for any parent who wants to bring their child to ballroom dance!

We walked in with our relative to see if my boys could watch their performance class, the lady said…read moreNO!! Are you serious. We could be their customer and here my kids got refuse to absorb the place and they don't want to join place like that at all. She said they didn't get notified!!!! She didnt ask any question, any interest to make us feel welcome at all. They are not welcoming new people and they are not friendly!!! My boys are disappointed and upset that, they couldn't be with their cousin !!! If you will walk in to know more about this place you will get kicked out :( I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE TO ANYONE!!!!

Our daughter had her first experience with Lamorinda Theatre Academy this summer for one of their…read moresummer camps. She loved it and she really wants to come back for classes in the fall! It was a 3 week camp, 4 hours a day. In that short time, they produced a kids play...The Jungle Book...from start to finish, complete with singing, dancing, costumes and sets. It was amazing what they were able to accomplish. And the quality of that production was impressive...much higher than any of the other school plays or park district programs we have seen. Each day, the kids took "classes" in acting, singing, and dancing, but with plenty of time for play, games, and camp type activities. Renee, Rena, and Amy are very good with the kids. And the amount of care, creativity, and love that they put into their business really shows. The difference it made in our daughter, after just 3 weeks was amazing. She made new friends that she wants to keep in touch with. She is a little less shy than she used to be. And she sings and dances a lot more, even when she knows people are watching. I think it will be the highlight of her summer. And I think Lamorinda Theatre Academy's program will be a very good influence on her growth, poise, and confidence, and will be a lot of fun for her!

Alice is a wonderful dance teacher. She knows her stuff and is great at communicating what you need…read moreto do. My husband and I took 5 lessons from her to prepare for our first dance for our wedding. Thanks to her lessons we absolutely nailed it and our guests were very impressed. Another great thing about Alice is that she's not afraid to tell you when a move looks different than you may have intended and is flexible on changing up the routine to better suit you. This is important in an instructor! We miss our lessons and after such a fantastic experience, we're planning to find some local dancing spots.

NOW TEACHING IN DUBLIN…read more FOLLOWERS WANTED FOR SALSA TUESDAY'S CLASS: 7:30pm doors open. Lesson starts at 7:45. $20 Don't need a partner. (Lot more leaders than followers) 7220 Regional in Dublin For Class. It's in a dance classroom/school

Last Saturday was my first time here. I've lived in WC for years and never been until now and will…read morebe back. Last Saturday I did one of their art walks. Staff/volunteers explain the art murals in the area. It was very interesting to learn about their artist and history. The sane day I went to see the Aztec stories exhibit. I loved it! Got to talk to the artist and his wife. Great people, very humble. His art is amazing, colorful, creative, and so detailed. His wife explained it takes him about 2 months to finish one. It's beautiful, def recommend visiting if you haven't. Both of the above events were on donations. So worth it!

Came here to leave a review about A Christmas Carol and was surprised, but not surprised, to see…read moreseveral negative reviews for it. It was the worst play I have ever seen in my life! We have been coming to see A Christmas Carol at Lesher Center for the Arts for at least 10 years now. It has always been the exact * same * play, one that was known and loved by many, if not all. This year's new adaptation was so bad that we actually walked out early. I'm going to go ahead and mention the elephant in the room here. There were way too many wheelchairs in this play. There were 3-4 wheelchairs on stage at any given time and we found it really distracting. Tiny Tim was zooming around the stage in his electric wheelchair which doesn't fit into 1800s London. So there was a lack of period accuracy with this adaptation. It might have been acceptable for Tiny Tim to be in a wheelchair (but only him) IF his acting wasn't atrocious. This kid was terrible. He had no acting skills and seemed to have no interest in playing his part. It seems like he was selected for the part only because he was in a wheelchair. Next, the actor playing Ebenezer Scrooge is an old white guy but as he looks back on his life, they have multiple ethnicities playing Scrooge as a little kid, school age boy, and then a young adult. Each version of him was a different ethnicity. There was a serious lack of continuity with his character, which was really confusing if you didn't already know the story and know which part these people were supposed to be playing. They also had the same actors playing multiple parts in the play. For example, the Filipino Scrooge (who played him as a young adult) and his love interest were playing the part of the aunt and uncle later on in the play. Again, if you didn't already KNOW the storyline, this would be really confusing as to why Scrooge was acting the part of the uncle later on. Another example - the ghost of Christmas Past was a beautiful African-American woman who leaves Scrooge at the top of the stage to go to the bottom of the stage and play his sister when he was a kid. Then she walked back up the stairs and played the part of the Ghost of Christmas Past again. Really confusing. My 10-year-old daughter was totally lost and had no idea what was going on with the characters. Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Future USED to be a 20-foot-tall black ghost figure that silently came out on the stage. Now, they rolled out an actor in (you guessed it) a wheelchair with a black sheet over his head. We were like "Really? Is that the best they could do??" They threw a sheet over this guy's head like he was a 5-year-old! And the ghost was so rude and criticizing Scrooge the whole time (he's not supposed to talk). It was so, so bad. That's when we got up and left finally, although I had wanted to leave during intermission but had hoped it might improve some if we stayed. It didn't, it only got worse. It felt like the director was taking a cheap shot at hiring so many actors in wheelchairs, because what critic or reporter is going to watch it and criticize a play with multiple disabled people in it?? They're not going to do that, so it felt like the director used an underhanded method to force positive reviews from critics. Yet we were not the only ones leaving during the middle of the play - multiple people walked out before us. I'm all for diversity in acting, but at least keep the characters consistent. Scrooge didn't need to be played by four different ethnicities. That also seemed like an intentional cheap shot by whoever does the hiring. In years past, when Tiny Tim passed away, my daughter and I were always near tears because we were so engaged with the play and felt sad for him. This year, the actor was so bad that when he "died" we felt nothing, because it all just seemed so fake and bad. Sad to say, we will NOT be returning to this play ever again if it remains in this format. The worst piece of garbage I have ever seen. I wish I could get my $250 back.