The absolute best dance company San Diego has to offer. John malashock, the owner, studied under…read moreTwyla Tharpe and his work is brilliant. If you're interested in experiencing moving art, you're in for a treat. Soulful, deep, beautiful and sensual, this dance company is a true feast for the senses and has been consistently that for decades. Be sure to check out John's Emmy award winning dance films such as "The Soul of Saturday Night" co-produced with world renowned arts and humanities producer John Menier on UCTV, as well. A true love story to San Diego

I normally don't like modern dance, but I went to go see "Shadow of Mercy" last weekend because my…read moregood pals Bernadette and Trystan were performing in it, and they hooked me for 2 for 1 tix for my wife and I. Thanks Friends! I was honestly blown away! Have I just been watching mediocre and "bad" modern dance this entire time? The partnering work of the 2nd and 3rd pieces blew me away...mental note to self: work on upper body strength! The rest of the choreography was smooth, wellconnected, athletic, and beautiful; wheras most modern dances I've seen typically looks as if the dancers just got jacked up on Redbull, E and acid, then tossed on stage to do whatever they feel like. The music was interesting and went well with the pieces and lighting; it was not the typical modern dance crazy tribal or gothic "churchy" music, both of which I can't stand. Unfortunately the last piece was "countryish" music, which did not fit with the rest of the show and seemed very out of place; good choreography wasted on a bad piece of music! Overall, I was very impressed with the entire presentation will definitely be back to see future Malashock shows...maybe even take modern classes after a 9 year haitus...

Beautiful facility and people were truely so welcoming and kind. I went to a Line Dancing class and…read moreit was a bit slow paced but mostly was not covering any of the dances you would do at an official line dance. (The music selected was not country-but my perspective is limited because I went to the one class.) I felt the $10 or $12 fee for a trial probably should have been waived. But if your looking for community and to move your body a bit and it is convenient, you might try it out.

Absolutely you need to see this spot! We rented this space for a party and it went off perfect. I…read morewasn't sure where I could go that would meet my budget and needs and honestly we had a great time!!! Spacious for 30ish people and the show we put on. Funky and artsy. The perfect price and they even sent us off with a seedling to plant. Amazing!

My daughter loves dancing here! Sabrina, Labrie, Haley, Stephanie, and the other teacher's are so…read morewarm and kind. My daughter is new and was immediately welcomed to the dance family. If you're looking for a dance school that is equally concerned with teaching dance fundamentals, fostering a warm and welcoming environment, and values being accepting and kind-- this might be a great fit! They offer dozens of classes every week, a competitive team, private lessons, as well as some fun social things like tick-or-treating, etc. for the kids. There is lyrical, ballet, hip hop, jazz, tap, contemporary etc. etc.!

We love Artists Out! My 3 kids dance there and they have classes to accommodate all levels…read more Experienced teachers who are fun and engaging!

I love this place!! They have created such a safe space for women and women identifying…read moreindividuals! They have the most fun classes that make you feel sexy and sensual. They have all kinds of classes from cardio dance, choreography class, to heels classes. I always feel so empowered leaving these class. All the instructors are so friendly and energetic and the staff that check you in at the beginning of class are always so sweet. I always feel so welcome when I am in this space. They have plenty of parking in the lot and some street parking. They have two very cutely decorated bathroom for attendees. They also have a water refill station! I love this place, I highly recommend trying out a class! You won't regret it!

Tried their twerk and tone class. They have knee pads to borrow for newbies. Loved that there was a…read moreparking lot. Studio waiting area is small so can be crowded in between classes. Class itself was fun, very high energy, lots of cardio. It was cold, but immediately helpful because you'll be sweating up a storm. I'd say, probably invest in your own thicker set of knee pads, mine were a bit sore.

My 2.5 and 4 year old have been taking Erika's Hip Hop Dance class for the past 6 weeks and they…read moreboth absolutely love it! The class is fast paced and fun, Erika does an amazing job connecting with all the kids. My daughter took classes at the YMCA and she didn't want to dance, but here she loves it. Erika makes dance feel like play, and they end up learning moves and all following along. The best part about the classes is parents can sit in and watch and it's both hilarious and adorable at the same time. I highly recommend SD Dance with me if you are thinking about enrolling your kid in a dance class!

My daughter loves dancing here! We are new to the area, and needed a place for a two year old to…read moredance, and this is perfect! I also love how Erica incorporates parachutes, scarves and ribbons along with other fun activities to help her students grow.

Looked all around for some good tap and jazz classes for my daughters. Really liked the feel of…read moreCalifornia Ballet School - their main location is in Kearney Mesa, but this one in Liberty Station is so peaceful - beautiful studio w/ a view, grass lawn, walking distance to everything in Liberty Station. But most of all, they seemed (from observing and talking with other parents and students) to have a good balance of taking dance and technique seriously, but also caring for the students and keeping it fun. New classes start every quarter, and their big end-of-the-year recital is coming up next weekend on July 20.

Loved this studio and miss the teachers my kids had. Such a great program! All of my kids got a lot…read moreout of it and the location was perfect. Studio is clean and inviting which can be hard, but the instructors do a fantastic job.

Me and my daughter fell in love with this company three years ago. We both love to dance fokloroko…read more We will see what the future holds

I was a part of DanzArts' adult company Sabor Mexico for three years, and while I came in hopeful…read moreand excited to dance, what I experienced was a toxic environment fueled by manipulation, favoritism, and complete lack of professionalism from the director, Patricia Astorga. Patricia is the opposite of what a leader should be. The moment she senses loyalty from you, she will use you to your breaking point assigning every task possible just to avoid lifting a finger herself. Dancers are expected to travel long distances for performances (many of them physically demanding) and not only don't get paid we're also expected to pay out of pocket for gas and other expenses. Zero compensation, zero appreciation. The company's board? Just her inner circle of close friends who are completely biased and will twist your words to defend Patricia, no matter how valid your concerns are. When you finally see her true colors, you realize this is not a healthy dance community it's a dictatorship masked as a cultural organization. Patricia has spoken badly about her own dancers behind their backs including her co-director and has actively stirred drama to turn people against each other. She even body shamed me when a 13year old dress ripped as I put it on ( I'm not overweight). Instead of offering help or support, she made it a moment of shame. Financially, the lack of transparency is disturbing. She collects donations and won't even tell her board where the money goes. Meanwhile, we've seen her use the company credit card for personal expenses like hair appointments. During a trip to Campeche in 2023, each dancer was required to pay over $300 "for food" to this day, no one knows where that money went. This review only covers the adult side of DanzArts. When it comes to the children's academy, Patricia is rarely present at all. It was Kristina Cunningham, a now former leader who left due to similar issues, who raised funds and ran the program. Patricia allegedly took the kids' fundraising money too, and again no explanation was ever given. If you're looking for a loyal, respectful, and inspiring dance community, THIS IS NOT IT. I wish someone had warned me sooner so I'm warning you now.

Seems a great company and collection of events on paper and print, I am unimpressed by the creative…read moredirectors view of young women, telling them they are fat when they are waif like,...when will we understand that a woman (not a girl) is rarely a size zero without a disorder or medical condition. Objectification at it's finest..

Came in for a drop-in class ($20) and did not have cash on me. The lady at the desk still let me…read moretake the class and told me I could pay next time I come around since I take class upstairs at Malashock. I thought that was nice! This place is cash or check only so be prepared for that! I came and took an adult beginning ballet class and it was fine. I think it is slightly expensive and the member fee is high. I paid for a membership with Malashock and was under the impression that it covered all 3 resident companies at San Diego Dance Place. However, the Malashock membership apparently does not crossover to San Diego School of Ballet. I will probably come again after I try other different ballet studios in the area.

San Diego is lucky to have a theatre professional like Courtney Corey at the helm of a theatre arts…read moreschool. She has a wealth of experience fo share, and is a kind human being with a nurturing and selfless spirit. If you are looking for the best of the best - look no further...it's all at TAS+SD!

If you want an intimate, child-centered drama program that values creativity and collaboration over…read moreconformity and competition, Theatre Arts School is an outstanding choice. We signed up our teenager for the Production and Performance course. What a delightful surprise! Rather than handing my son a script to memorize, Courtney challenged him to take inspiration from strangers and create his own world for the stage. In one eight-week class, my son learned interviewing skills, developed a character from scratch and wrote a short screenplay. He learned how to use voiceovers and visuals in performance and how to act in solo scenes, as well as collaborate with the group. And the production itself was a pleasure for audience and actors alike. What I liked best was how Courtney respected each child as an individual and offered challenging, fun, achievable goals in a nurturing, low-anxiety environment. She's also extremely well organized and pretty unflappable. After a system failure just hours before the show, she cleverly improvised by running the entire production's tech through a smart phone. No one knew the difference! We came back for the large-cast production of "The Jungle Book" this spring. Courtney adapted the novel to suit the cast that auditioned, ensuring every child had his or her time in the spotlight. She designed elegant costumes, choreographed Bollywood-style dance scenes and commissioned original music. She even organized the kids to do a flash mob of "dancing elephants" at Liberty Station! Nearly 40 actors from age 5 to 18 pulled together as a family and put on a spectacular show. Parents pitched in at every level, and were awed by the quality of the sold-out performances. This is one talented pro and one gem of a school!

As far as belly dancers go...I would say average, but as far as belly dancing teachers are…read moreconcerned.....TERRIBLE!!!!! If you are considering buying one of those great Groupon or Living Social deals so you can learn how to belly dance - SAVE YOUR MONEY!!! It became obvious to me why Sabrina had to invest in those types of deals as a way to advertise - because the most obvious and convincing form of marketing, word of mouth...would only be a detriment to her!! The organization itself is completely unorganized. I called multiple times to clarify how to register and what the exact specifications were for enrolling. I left numerous messages BEGGING for a respons. I needed to know what exactly to bring, if I could go to different studios and whether or not I had been moved from the wait list to the class. I didn't want to drive all the way down there and then find out I didn't make the cut off. But why even have a wait list option, along with submission of a phone number and email address....if not only are they NOT going to use those forms of communication...but they won't even answer the phone when you call or submit emails!! Nobody has any idea what anyone is doing!!! It is so freaking unorganized...it's painful to watch!! But the worst part, is the teaching!!! There was a lot of "Do This" but absolutely no, "let me show you how". When you ask questions, it becomes obvious that Sabrina becomes frustrated and would rather you just didn't talk at all. It's so sad when a class of 20 girls has NO ONE doing any of the steps correctly!!! There are no use of examples or techniques or hints or guidance at all...you're just thrown in and told to do it!! It was clear that Sabrina is a very unhappy young lady and sadly, her negative energy was just exploding like vomit all over her students. It's frustrating and terrible to be stuck in such a waste of time...but I paid for the Groupon....so....hmmmm. I'm not sure what I want back more, my money or my time!!!!

I purchased a KGB deal (like a Groupon) for belly dancing from Sabrina and my experience was as…read moredisappointing as the other 1-star reviews. The website didn't give clear clear instructions that I could figure out about how the classes are set up, but they're set up on a monthly schedule where you learn a dance or a style at th beginning of the month and start a new one at the beginning of the next month. Not knowing this I showed up to a class on the last week of the month. I don't think she recognizes her students because as someone who had never been to a class before she passed around a lined book asking everyone to sign their name for priority registration since the new month would be starting and "all the Groupon users will be signing up." Implying that someone like myself with a coupon will get crap registration and possibly be set back another month against someone paying full price for lessons. Why even sign your business up for deals then? Maybe you get better treatment if you go and just pay the regular price for lessons, I don't know, but I left and won't be going back.