My 9-year-old daughter has been taking ballet classes with Ms. Byrne since before she and Mrs. Petty opened this school. Ms. Byrne is an artist and a gifted educator -- she is a wonderful choreographer and always makes sure that the instruction is age-appropriate *and* fun. Not to mention she is kind, caring, and has a very peaceful way about her. The kids LOVE her! This school is great for families who want to give their children an artistic and healthy outlet for their creativity, to learn self-discipline, and to help them develop confidence and self-esteem. The founders have cultivated a supportive, positive atmosphere and you never really feel that it is a "business" per se (as can be the case at other studios in town), but rather, a welcoming place that truly cares about children and instilling the love of dance. If you're looking for an intensive studio that is focused on grooming hyper-competitive dancers for professional careers, this may not be the right place....but that said, there are MANY talented students at the school who wow me at every recital. To the 1-star reviewer below, the venomous rage in the post is puzzling to me. Most art/dance/music schools have unusual hours. It should be obvious that a dance studio is not like your typical storefront (i.e., coffeeshop, grocery store) so it's common sense to call ahead before making the trip over. Angry people suck. read more

Ive tried out several dance centers in the city for my now 6 year old daughter and this one has been the best so far. They are all kind and encouraging here. And the most amazing part is that my daughter goes to class excited and comes out of class just beaming with joy. The price is excellent compared to the other options we've tried as well. read more

Please save yourself the money and time. I recently enrolled my daughter into their summer camp for a week (06/2024) and it was a horrific experience for my daughter. On her first day, she reported to me that the jazz teacher (Isabela) did not allow the students to take bathroom breaks. She was also unnecessarily mean and said to one of the students she didn't care that they were tired. I wrote an e-mail addressing my concerns, and for some odd reason this same teacher was extra rude to my daughter the next day. She made my daughter do extra warm up reps although my daughter said her back was hurting from practice the day prior. At some point during class, she grabbed my daughter's arm very harshly. All the students in that class agreed that this teacher was unfair and unkind. My daughter refused to go back to dance camp and we had 2 days left of paid camp. Management refused to reimburse me and made excuses for this type of abusive/unprofessional behavior for this particular teacher. All other staff members were very nice. I can make a bigger deal about this matter by filing a complaint with the BBB or even take them to civil court. But I've decided to write my first review on Yelp just to forewarn other parents. read more

My daughter has taken ballet, jazz, and now tap dance at GDC, and she's loved every class. We've also done ballet at a school in Sunnyside, and hip hop at a school in the Mission, but we preferred GDC in terms of teaching quality, friendliness, and organization. It just feels like a welcoming, encouraging place to learn to dance. read more

Administration is a little lacking. I went into the office to sign my boys up for hip hop. They had spaces in the classes we wanted at the time so I filled out all the paperwork and started writing a check. The gal at the desk told me that " she couldn't do math today" and that she would take my payment the next week. She calls me halfway through the week to tell me the classes are full now. " Sorry about that". I guess we'll be joining a different studio. Update: owner reached out later when spaces were available, however we had already decided to go elsewhere. Advised that the girl working that day (first day of registration when tons of people are signing up) was new. Don't understand this logic...but there it is. Adding stars bc, well, life is hard and I felt bad leaving it 1 star, but happy with our decision to try another studio. read more

Great introduction to dancing, but if you have a more serious dancer, this won't work for long. Dance class for 2-3 year olds involves a lot of make believe and very little actual dancing. My daughter loved it, but was ready for more structure by the end of the session. Despite an obvious ability to follow instruction and pay attention, instructor (owner?) was unwilling to allow her in next level because of her age. There was no way she'd be happy in the youngest class for another year. She wasn't the only student with abilities that surpassed what was taught and I suspect those parents pulled their students as well. How about an in between class?? My child now dances with a different school and although she is the youngest, she is focused and learning a lot. Pros: great intro to dance for little ones Cons: overcrowded classes, little progression from beginning to end of session read more

What a joke ! I've been here over a DOZEN times - there was no sign on the door of business hours and no phone number. I Always closed. I see now they have their web site updated with class info and prices - it's about time. . I prefer to give my business and attend classes in the neighborhood. but I wouldn't piss this place if it were on fire. I will continue to go to the Mission where people know HOW to run a dance studio and have CONSIDERATION for their students. It is a business after all. Do NOT waste your time here. read more

Our daughters have been going here for classes for several years now, and we've been very happy with it. Both girls started in the pre-kindergarten FUNdamentals class, which is really more of a movement/body awareness class than a true dancing class, and the oldest has since moved up to the ballet class. I'm thoroughly unqualified to rate the efficacy of the dance instruction, but the teachers and staff are all great, and our girls love them. They're also incredibly responsive - every time I've emailed with a question, I've received a response almost immediately. Each semester we ask our kids if they want to continue, and each time we get an enthusiastic "yes!" read more

Danced here for years and I cannot overstate how incredible the teachers and atmosphere is. Mrs. Petty and Ms. Byrne are extremely kind and wonderful teachers, as are the rest of the staff. I highly recommend here for any age! read more

I take the adult ballet classes here, and highly recommend them for the dancer who is serious about technique and looking for small classes with high quality instruction. The level of each class tends to be mixed, but in general Monday night's class is appropriate for beginners, while the Wednesday class tends to move a little faster and is great for people with a little ballet background. What I like about this studio is there's zero attitude, it's welcoming and non-competitive, and the prices are reasonable. The vibe is pretty relaxed for a ballet class, and there is a broad range of ages and body types represented. Since the classes are on the smaller side, you get more personal attention and coaching than is possible when there are 20 people in the room. I've tried many ballet classes at various studios in SF, and I think if you're a beginning or intermediate level adult dancer looking for a small class with individual attention, this is the best! read more

Ms Sonoo is amazing! I take her beginner tap and jazz class and love it! I find it super hard- impossible in finding a tap and jazz teacher (tap especially, omg!) who actually teaches a "Beginner" class. The teachers who do teach beginner tap classes were more like "Adv Beginner" than an actual "Beginner Beginner." Ms Sonoo really breaks the moves down (both for tap and jazz). She really pays close attention and makes sure that you understand the move fully. What I really like about her classes is that she doesn't just show you a move and then never really do it again, but repeats them for future classes. She makes sure that all the moves and combos you learn still stay fresh within your body and not just like, "Okay forget what we learned last week, we are doing something completely different this week!" Upon adding new moves, she also adds in old ones as welI! I think repetition is super important, especially for beginners! She is the nicest woman in the world, and Brooke is super nice as well! I highly recommend this dance studio! read more

My daughter has recently joined Intermediate Ballet and Contemporary classes after enduring difficult experiences at another studio. Geary Dance is the perfect antidote to that and she's reconnected with the joy of dance again. Students are friendly, not competitive. Teachers are encouraging, patient and attentive, and I can see my daughter thriving here. Semester enrollment, and you can sign up for single ballet classes(not the case at many studios, where several classes are required to enroll). Trial classes are available, so you can see if your dancer likes it before committing. Parking can be a bit of a challenge but much easier than the Mission. There is a comfortable waiting area with wifi and surrounding neighborhood filled with restaurants and shopping- very convenient for waiting parents. read more

We dropped in the Geary Dance Center for a few casual questions and were warmly welcomed by Sonoo, co-director and founder. Her enthusiasm, encouragement and energy made our visit a wonderful experience. The positive ambiance of the studio was just what you would expect and want to be a part of. We're going back soon to see Sonoo! Greg C. read more

Wonderful dance studio. My daughter took beginning jazz and beginning tap last semester. Classes started and ended on time. There's a lounge with Wi-fi where parents can hang out while waiting. They have a shoe donation system so you don't have to spend lots of money on new shoes. Teachers were fun, engaging, and professional. My daughter grew a lot in her dance skills through the course of the semester, and couldn't wait to get back to it this semester. read more

We have tried 4 dance studios around the city and this is our favorite. My 4 year old loves the teacher Miss Bryne and comes home and does all the moves all week long. It's much more low key than Shan Yee Poon , the kids actually get to do more dancing in the class (rather than sitting around waiting for everyone else to dance), and more fun, which is what it's supposed to be about at this age. What's more, you don't feel like they are constantly trying to nickel and dime you. Their front desk staff is friendly and helpful as well. The only down side is they don't have advanced ballet classes for adults. But for young kids, it's fantastic. read more

I have been taking adult tap classes here and it has been so much fun! Sonoo (our instructor) has such a fun personality and you can tell she truly loves dance! I have learned a lot so far, starting from the absolute beginner class and now enrolled in advanced beginner. I like all the staff and seeing all the little kids coming to practice is adorable. I would recommend Geary Dance to adults and kids alike! read more

My daughter has been going here for years and she loves it. I feel she will continue with dance because of the great teachers and people who work at Geary Dance Center. The office is small , but this truly is a great small business and community of dancers. I hate when people give reviews on something that has nothing to do with dance and teaching. read more

Brooke Byrne & Sonoo Petty just opened this new dance studio on Geary between 14th & 15th Ave. They're both great teachers - I took adult tap classes from Sonoo at a different studio and her classes are fast but fun (am hoping to find time to take them again!). And now my 2 3/4 year old is taking dance classes from Brooke. So far she's the only kid in the class, but she doesn't seem to mind, she loves jumping around in her leotard following the teacher and doesn't want to leave after the 45 minute class is over. read more

I love this place! It's fresh, new, and has a pleasing decor. The studios are nice. They have classes for adults (which I am) though it's also fun to watch the kids do what I always wished I could do when I was that age. I especially like the staff there. Friendly and helpful. They put my dancing progress first. For me it's a 'go to' dance center. Congratulations! read more

Amazing place. Great teaching, and, in comparison with some other dance studios in SF, this is not just a business but also a labor of love. I am glad that my kids learn more than technique here; the passion with which Ms. Byrne, Ms. Petty, and their staff teach is tangible and contagious. P.S.: About the one-star review below : the website the reviewer mentions lists the phone number, so the lady hating the studio could have just called the place to find out more. No love lost... fortunately many families have figured out what a gem they have here, and the school is thriving. read more

I spent over 7 years dancing here before I, unfortunately, moved away. I absolutely loved and still love this dance center, and it is probably what I miss most about San Francisco. The teacher and staff are incredibly friendly and so sweet and every teacher is amazingly talented. If you're looking for a place to sign up I would definitely​ recommend​ going here! read more

Ms. Byrne is absolutely fantastic with preK kids! I wasn't sure how my shy and sensitive 3 year old was going to do after taking one of her FUNdamentals classes, but thought I would give it a try since she loved to dance at home. She never felt comfortable in any of those baby and toddler music/sing along classes so I was ready to leave the first class if she wasn't ready for it. To my surprise, she loved it! Ms. Byrne has a natural talent of bringing a class of prek kids together (no matter what mood they are in that day) where they can have fun and learn from listening and watching. My daughter is now 4 and is taking her 2nd semester with Ms Byrne. I highly recommend her especially if your child shows some interest in dance and movement and has a hard time leaving a parents lap from time to time. She/he just might open up and enjoy the freedom of dance and movement to music! read more

My 5 year old daughter takes ballet classes here with Miss Brook Bryne. She is patient, humorous, and still no-nonense about teaching little ones at the beginning level. They had a spring performance this weekend and several of the older students were inspirational not only in their talent, but in their attitudes. I observed several lend a helping hand to guide my "polka dot" and her crew through the warm up, stage areas, encore, etc. This is a credit to the studio's philosophy and its hard working and wonderful teachers. Thank you Geary Dance Studio! read more

We highly recommend this dance studio and the teachers. My daughters have been taking jazz from Sonoo Petty for almost 6 years. She is encouraging, patient and fun--but also keeps the kids focused and inspired. I just love her as a person and consider her a family friend. The space and location are great too--and the cost is totally reasonable--and they offer sibling and early-bird discounts. They have a winter showcase that is low-key and a spring show that is more formal, but not too much so. I believe you can try any class without obligation. read more

I came to the Geary Dance Center when my favorite ballet teacher Carolyn Carjaval started teaching there. As an adult ballet student i have tried classes at all the san Francisco studios that offer adult ballet classes and this is by far my favorite. Carolyn provides a lot of individual attention, which is great, the choreography is always fun and interesting, and no two classes are ever exactly the same. Carolyn really cares about her students. The classes are offered om Mondays and Wednesdays, i like to take both if I can, Wednesdays seems to be faster paced but both are great. read more

I take adult jazz classes at Geary Dance Center and highly recommend them. They are challenging but fun, Sonoo Petty is a wonderful person and wonderful teacher, and there's a nice camaraderie among students in the class. The studio is small but the location is convenient. read more

Ms Byrne and Ms Angela are really great with kids. They really get into it and make it so fun plus there is a lots of actual dance time. They have a big recital which give the kids great exposure to rehearsing then performing on stage in front of an audience. Good atmosphere. Good value. read more

difficult administrative experience, poor communication and no follow-ups. hopefully, leadership will follow up on system issues and not worry so much about payment. concerned that they only take cash/checks. unfortunately, we never got to experience the dance class. co-owner did apology for our experience, but full of excuses. read more

We scheduled my daughter's 4th birthday party here after finding the dance center on google. Brooke Byrne gave me a tour about 2 weeks before my daughter's birthday, and I loved the set up, and was really happy about the fact that she would decorate the rooms with tulle and balloons for the party. We had a 2-hour party with 14 little kids. I had a craft for the kids to work on when they arrived, and we served their parents coffee. After about 45 minutes, a dance class was held for the party goers in the dance room. Ms. Byrne kept all of the 3-5 year olds busy and entertained for 45 minutes. The kids were exceptionally well-behaved, too! They were amazing! After the dance class, we had sandwiches and then cupcakes. The 2 hours was the perfect amount of time, and everyone had a great time. Many of parents gave compliments about what a great party this was, and how they were amazed how there were not any meltdowns. Brooke helped us to have a smoothly run, organized, and fun birthday party! Highly recommended!! read more