DC Dance Center is truly a gem in the community. The owner beautiful owner Ms.Tiana is always…read moresmiling--you can feel how much she genuinely loves dance, the kids, and the families she serves. The teachers and staff are all so kind and welcoming, and my kids love it. What I appreciate most is that it's a safe, supportive space where kids can really be themselves. It's not just about dance, it's about confidence, expression, and learning to feel good in their bodies. I take my two boys (3 and 5), and I love that this is a space where dance is for everyone. Watching them be silly, expressive, and make friends has been so sweet. You can tell this place is rooted in real community care. I highly recommend it.

Such a great experience for my daughter and watching her grow with DC dance family amazing…read more Thank you Ms Tiana for all you do We appreciate your efforts making them to become a great dancers

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.

They're not closed; they just moved to Lincoln and Grand, still in Alameda. They are now at Lincoln…read moreand Grand. My now 11-yr-old took classes there for a couple of years when she was in preschool/K. Marnell had lots of energy and focused on teaching steps and routines and doing a big performance every June. (Costumes are an extra cost.) She graciously lent out past dancers' tap, jazz, and ballet shoes when my daughter outgrew the ones she started with.

Our 10yo daughter has been playing violin in YPCO since we moved to the area 3 years ago. The…read morerepertoire has been challenging, sometimes extremely so, but the environment is supportive and non-pressured. As a result, her playing has been transformed and continues to improve as she advances through the program. YPCO is a treasured piece of our lives!

Wonderfully led group, from the music director (Rem) to parent volunteers. Very nurturing…read moreenvironment, evidenced by the confidence and participation from the students during rehearsals. This is a strong program, which I view positively - musically, it will bridge any gaps if either: your child does not have a school orchestra during the year or if your child wants to pursue some music education during the summer months. My child is in the summer orchestra, which will help provide continuity for her during the break. She should be able to ease back into her school's orchestra during the regular year.

Mindart Studio is an exceptional art studio for children of all ages. My child has been attending…read moresince 2021, and the growth in their artwork over the years has been truly remarkable. The staff are friendly, talented, and gifted teachers whom kids genuinely love learning from. With flexible scheduling options, it's easy to find days and hours that fit your family's routine. After five-plus years as loyal students, we can say without hesitation that Mindart Studio is an outstanding choice for any child passionate about art. They have various locations so check their website for further details.

My daughter's drawing class has been going on for 8 weeks, and she has completed 8 pieces of…read moreartwork under the careful guidance. Although her lineworks are not very mature and the colors are not very neat, these imperfections add up to a very unique style. Mindart's teachers are very creative in choosing the theme every time. Every time my daughter finishes a piece of artwork, I cannot believe this is something made by her!

My daughter recently joined their Infantil dance group, and is having a great experience. The…read moreMoreno family's care for their school and the dancers shines through, and Carlos Moreno Jr. is a wonderful teacher. Although my daughter was hesitant to join at first, they made it very welcoming for her such that she now enjoys each class. She's looking forward to participating in her first performance soon :)

This group has several show throughout the year as well as Christmas time. 2 hours filled with…read moretraditional Mexican dances from many of their states as well as a Mariachi band and a singer. From old to young, a great presentation. It usued to be first come first serve in seating but, seating Is assigned when you buy tickets only. Prices are usually $25 and up. Food and drink sold outside. At least at the Chabot presentation. Chabot college has good parking as well.

My children love the School of Rock! No matter their mood coming into their lessons / rehearsals,…read morethey always leave beaming, inspired, and excited for their next visit! The staff are friendly, helpful, kind, and on top of everything; the teachers are intelligent and fun and are great at accommodating the needs of all the students no matter their age or level! The concerts the kids put on at the end of each season are fantastic! I'm so thankful for this place, and I can't recommend it high enough!

Allison is a wonderful art teacher and my daughter really enjoyed taking her art classes for the…read morepast year. She is a kind spirited person and really awesome/patient with kids of all ages. Her classes are fun and creative. My daughter always had something beautiful to bring home, and alot of them are hung up in her room at our new place :) Art classes can get expensive but i find Allison's fees to be very reasonable and it is for an hour and a half...Unfortunately we moved out of SL and the classes had to stop, if we were any closer, i would sign my daughter up for her classes in a heart beat! There is a beautiful garden and a play structure right in front of her school, another plus!

Mulford Gardens is a sweet lushly vegetated, pergola blooming playground, outdoor venue, and art…read moreschool tucked off a side street on the industrial section of San Leandro. I saw a sign for a children's art camp and took the opportunity to enrich my little peanut who goes through paper like a bag of Doritos with a little formal instruction. The camp lasted a week, three hours daily, and concluded with a celebratory art show and family friendly picnic. The instructor, Allison, is a talented life long artist from a family of artists, who currently runs the day to day functions of the park along with the school in the rear building. She is amazing with rowdy smocked children running amok flinging actual paint and canvases--not washable fingerpaint, but wear your play garb for a genuine, stain inducing introduction to techniques of fine art. My daughter came home with a bagful of illustrations of every animal known to man, a finished canvas, and a memory of an experience she wants to repeat again. Fortunately, the school offers both after school programs during the year and multiple sessions in the summer. Additionally, there are adult classes--one in the late afternoon and another on Wednesday evenings that I recently decided to dip my 'haven't painted in 20 years palette' into. It's been a fabulous three classes so far. A traditional art curriculum with warm ups, exercises in charcoal still life's, cross hatching, scratch etching, and sustained work on oil canvas. Allison knows when to give guidance and when to let you figure out brush strokes on your own. I'm learning to ride my "artist" bike all over again and enjoying every challenging, creative moment. I highly recommend this obscure little school in San Leandro. I hope it grows like the garden it's situated in.