I have spent a long time debating whether to write this review because Starlight was once a place…read moremy child genuinely loved. Unfortunately, many of the issues that ultimately led us to leave were not isolated incidents, they were patterns that existed for years and appeared to worsen as the owner took on more stress. Constructive criticism is not an attack. Honest feedback is not disloyalty. The common denominator throughout the concerns many families raised was leadership. Communication problems were present long before the recent turmoil, but they became significantly more noticeable as the program grew. Important information was often delayed, incomplete, changed without explanation, or communicated differently to different groups of people. Parents frequently found themselves piecing together information from rumors, social media, group texts, and other families rather than receiving clear and consistent communication directly from leadership. The situation surrounding the temporary location (without heat/AC and wall) and construction delays was particularly frustrating. Families were repeatedly given timelines and explanations that changed over time, creating confusion and eroding trust. We were told at one point that construction was halted due to human remains being found, this was false. As a parent of a neurodivergent child, I was also disappointed by decisions that appeared to overlook the needs of many students in the program. Despite the owner stating that Starlight is "inclusive and welcoming to all". The owner even going as far as stating "LGBTQ and neurodivergent kids are my specialty". One example was the creation of a teen group chat used for communication while excluding parents from those conversations. Most of the students involved were freshman, many of whom are neurodivergent and rely on adult support to manage schedules, stay organized, and process information. Removing parents from those communications created unnecessary barriers and left families struggling to ensure their children had accurate information. I was further troubled by comments made about students and families. Hearing a neurodivergent child who was struggling emotionally described as "throwing a hissy fit" demonstrated a lack of understanding and compassion that I would expect from a youth program serving diverse learners. I watched as students were guilted into taking on more responsibilities/roles than they wanted despite their feelings being clearly communicated. Likewise, hearing concerned parents characterized as "entitled" was disheartening. Parents were not asking for special treatment,they were asking for transparency, consistency, and accountability after investing significant time, money, and trust into the organization. The saddest part is that the students were often caught in the middle of adult decisions and conflicts. The children showed up to learn, perform, build friendships, and pursue something they loved. They deserved stability, professionalism, and leadership that modeled healthy communication and accountability. The students deserve nothing less. One of the most frustrating aspects of this experience is that many of the concerns raised by families over the years have never seemed to be genuinely acknowledged. Instead, there appears to be a pattern where criticism is immediately dismissed, explained away, or attributed to misunderstandings rather than treated as an opportunity for reflection and growth. Even when families take the time to leave thoughtful feedback or reviews, the response often seems focused on defending decisions, challenging the person's account, or explaining why their experience wasn't valid rather than recognizing that multiple families may be raising similar concerns. When every concern is attributed to a misunderstanding, a disgruntled parent, or someone who simply doesn't know the full story, it becomes difficult to believe that meaningful accountability is taking place. At some point, when the same themes continue to emerge from multiple families over multiple years communication issues, lack of transparency, shifting narratives, exclusion of parents, and dismissive responses to concerns. It is worth considering whether those concerns deserve genuine reflection rather than another explanation for why they aren't true. Again, constructive criticism is not an attack. Honest feedback is not disloyalty. Families who speak up are often doing so because they care deeply about the students and want the organization to succeed. Unfortunately, too often it felt like those voices were viewed as a threat rather than an opportunity to improve.

My girls both worked with Chelsea in her theater and dance studio for years! Our experience was…read morephenomenal. She always provided a space for them to feel accepted, celebrated and supported! I can't imagine their teen years without her.

Let me start with this: I need to eat my humble pie…read more I chanced upon this school years ago (old location, pre pandemic) - took some classes and was underwhelemed because it was a bit different from what I was used to. Then, I enrolled my child here. I watched their improvement and growth in dance. Guidance and corrections sprinkled with love and kindness. I watched advanced students perform and showcase their OWN work and was blown away by their talent. Suffice to say, comparision is the thief of joy and clearsighted-ness. You need to understand the environment before even making a comment or judgement. Also, and this is VERY important - - I LOVE and APPRECIATE that their advanced students dont have a homogenous "look". They come in all heights, shapes and sizes. One of my biggest fears about classical ballet schools/non competition dance schools is that you will see a clear "standard look" once you go past a certain level. I cant imagine how jarring that might be for an impressionable child who is growing into their body. I feel that seeing that GOOD dancers can come in all shapes and sizes is a testament on its own and a quiet, but powerful positive message that gets relayed to the younger students. Thankful to be part of this community! Thank you to the admin and staff for making this community welcoming and safe on top having a wonderful space to learn and grow as a dancer/performer!

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.

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!

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!

This is a wonderful studio. The team is very responsive and attentive to our needs and requests,…read moreand I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a dance studio for their child in the Walnut Creek area.

Went to see Rick's show in Rossmoor last weekend! It was an amazing show! The storytelling was…read morefantastic, the acting amazing, the dancers awesome and their costumes were absolutely stunning !! I was so impressed! Mahalo!!!! Can't wait for your next show

A little bit of Hawaii and Aloha spirit right here in Concord, Ca. The kids and adults have a…read moregreat time exploring Hawaiian and Tahitian dancing along with exploring a deeper spiritual connection with the culture at this local Halau. Super reasonably priced, with multiple shows each year to test your Hula skills.

BRAVO, BRAVO, BRAVO. This dance academy is not only professional and well organized, they also plan…read morethe BEST Ballet Recitals ever. First year with this academy and first of many more. Our daughter loves Ms. Andrea and she's learned a lot over this year. We can't wait for next ballet season!

If zero stars were an option, I would choose it…read more We enrolled our 3-year-old in an introductory dance class expecting a supportive and age-appropriate environment. What we experienced was the opposite. During the 4:30pm "Intro to Dance" class on 1/30/26, our child was separated from the group for ~ 15 minutes after a minor balance-related accident during a circle activity. From direct observation through the classroom window, she appeared shocked and not crying at first, but her distress began only after being pulled aside and instructed to sit alone. She remained isolated for the rest of the session, including routine end-of-class activities. When we attempted to discuss the situation afterward, the teacher characterized the incident as "intentional" without providing any factual explanation. Later written communication from studio owner denied that any isolation or disciplinary action had occurred, and also denied that the teacher had described the incident as "intentional." which directly conflicted with what we personally witnessed. We understand that toddlers lose balance and accidents happen. What is concerning is not the accident itself, but the lack of transparency, inconsistent accounts, and absence of clear behavioral management standards for very young children. We withdrew immediately. If you are looking for an environment that treats young children with dignity and values honest communication with parents, I suggest looking elsewhere.

I have twin daughters who are almost nine, and we're now wrapping up our third season at Dance…read moreConnection--and our first year on company. When we were choosing a studio, I was intentional about finding a place that offered strong technique across all styles, fostered a healthy environment, and pushed my girls to grow. Dance Connection continues to deliver on all of these. We commute to the studio, and it has been worth every mile. Our dance family has grown so much, and the positivity in this community has been incredible for my kids. After trying multiple studios, I can confidently say that Dance Connection's ballet program is genuinely fun, the tap instruction is unmatched, and the way the older dancers support the younger ones is truly uplifting. My daughters have gained so much confidence performing, and they absolutely love being in class. The studio manager, Camille, also deserves special recognition. With my husband gone frequently for work, I'm often juggling the girls' dance schedules with my youngest in tow. Camille is responsive, highly organized, and always willing to step in when help is needed. Her support makes a meaningful difference for families like mine, and I'm truly grateful for all she does.

Watching all the performances, you definitely see all the efforts and emphasis that the instructors…read moreput into the class. The discipline, and training provided is worth all the money. My granddaughter started at 4 years old. She started with Miss Camille. I can't say enough of Miss Camille. She set the bar high for the young girls. My granddaughter is now 8 years old. Up to now the enthusiasm and discipline Miss Camille instilled in these students are evident in the way the students perform in the class with other instructors.

This is our daughter's second year at Dreamspace Dance and Performing Arts. I can't say enough good…read morethings about the experience our daughter has had, especially being part of the competition team. The growth we've seen in her, both as a dancer and as a person, has been absolutely incredible. The staff at Dreamspace is truly wonderful. They're welcoming, always smiling, and you can tell they genuinely care about each and every dancer. They are not only kind and supportive, but they push the dancers in all the right ways to help them reach their potential. On top of that, the spring and winter shows are absolutely amazing. You can see how much thought, creativity, and heart go into every detail- from the choreography and music to the costumes and overall production. My family and I always look forward to seeing what they'll come up with next, and we're blown away every single time. We've found more than just a dance studio. We've found a community that inspires, challenges, and truly cares. Watching our daughter's confidence grow, her technique improve, and her passion for dance deepen has been such a gift. We're so thankful to be part of this amazing dance family! Thank you Dreamspace!!

I took my 3 year old son here for classes, and he was very uncomfortable. The instructors were not…read moreaccommodating to his needs. We tried requesting a refund for the classes he did not attend, but were denied. They only offered make-up classes, which is obviously useless if we're not coming back.