Ma Zhang Li who treated her students bias. Especially you are not in a rich family , This studio got too many students, 15 to 20 students in the room how the instructor knows who were right or wrong in positions。 Indeed Zhang Li hired other people to teach your child, keep changing instructors. If you want to send your children to this studio unless you are high income family, I found a better studio for my daughter. And other issues is how Zhang Li allow all students put their bags on the chairs. This is stupid, chairs let you sit not supposed to put your stuff on it. I stand for 4 hours without sitting because of stupid ppl do dumb thing read more

A modest dance studio run by Li Zhang, a former principal dancer of the Shanghai Ballet and winner of several international prima ballerina competitions. The studio is bare and built by Zhang's husband. True, it lacks many amenities that any larger, "professional" studio would offer, but don't let the appearance or size fool you. Its been 6 years or more since I've danced at Li's, but ballet training here will galvanize you into all aspects of dance. Li is strict, but over the years it seems as though she's loosened her grip. She teaches in broken English and is a native Mandarin speaker, but if you are serious about buildling a solid foundation in ballet, don't let the language barrier put you off. I took private lessons as well as group lessons. She had rather unorthodox ways of doing flexibility exercises. Questionable tactics, really, and I wonder if she uses them today. Students begin on ballet shoes and progress to pointe. Many students compete in shows such as Showstopper and all students perform in at least one annual recital. Probably the most famous alum is Jia H., from Kaba Modern, seen in MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew." read more

Several Chinese friends said something positive about this studio, for its strict educational style that focus on basic skills. Sounds great! Then I called, and encountered the rudest greeting I have ever got, "We are very busy now! No time for talking! No phone call now! " then she hanged up before I could speak a word! I can't believe my ears. Well I am looking for a place that is strict with its students, but absolutely not a place abusing people like this. By the way, a ballet studio is the place where you are looking for grace & grit! Maybe this studio is famous for being technically advanced(?), but I would never send my children to somewhere disrespect the basic manner. read more

I would like to start off by saying Li's Dance Studio is the studio for anyone wanting to build a good foundation for all kinds of dance. Li's Dance Studio students enjoy enrolling in competitions to see the level they are at. Most students who go to competition only dance 2-3 times a week, yet, they qualify for nationals and always place in top ten. Not only have they placed every single time they have gone to Showstopper, a student from Li's has gotten first overall every single time. Compared to students who dance everyday, I'd say that is a pretty good accomplishment. Yes, Showstopper does sell trophies, but those trophies are merely for group dances who win a certain ranking and wish to have a trophy for all the participants in the dance. Li's has had students go to all kinds of summer intensives and won other competitions too. Not to mention their success this year at ADA and YAGP. Their teens placed in the top five this year at ADA and students have gone onto the semi-finals for YAGP. We have another winner for dancer of the year at ADA yet again this year. The support group at Li's is also amazing. The students here make lifelong friends and are all supportive of each other. Mr. and Mrs. Li put all of their love and effort into every single student they teach. They try to make every student the best they can be. Li's has welcomed anyone into their studio and will continue to. They have had students come from other studios who have done better at Li's than they have anywhere else. Yes, a few students may have left Li's, and have gone to competition with their new studio. Still, the Li's students beat the students who have left because the studio they have gone to just isn't as good as Li's Dance Studio. I was looking around at the other reviews for ballet studios near Li's and I have to say, all the Li's students have seen the Elite students at competitions too. If they say they are the best to be at then why aren't they winning all the competitions they go to? Almost all the Li's students who have gone to ADA this year have gotten a gold or ultimate gold. Most of the Elite students didn't even get a gold, not to mention an ultimate gold. None of their students placed in the top five at ADA this year either. Li's on the other hand did place this year, and the year before that; and so on. Talking about professionalism, at least Li's students do not go around bashing other studios with false information rating them with one star. It is all false information and unprofessional. I'm surprised some people would go through this kind of trouble for attention. Needless to say, Li's is the place to be. And yes! Be sure to check out their new studio. It is an amazing facility and certainly a place anyone would want to start or even continue their dance career in. read more

This studio offers adult ballet classes that come nowhere near to ballet. It took a few tries to actually make it into a class since strangely there was no one present at their morning ballet classes for a couple of weeks, no signs posted, just no one to be found. Once I finally made it into a class which was taught by an older lady that clearly had no training in ballet. It quickly went downhill with strange folk-like dancing and 15 minutes of barre before moving to center and jumping/ prancing like wild ponies .. I was embarrassed for everyone that had to participate. I would not recommend this studio to anyone. I hear of many young students that come here and are put on pointe far before their feet can handle the stress. Many parents do not have the knowledge to understand that a child's feet need to completely harden and form, usually by 10-12 years of age and can only be 100% confirmed with an X-ray! Sadly these kids will have a hard time pursuing their dreams with deformed feet. Only the teachers who care more about profit than the health and safety of their students should be to blame. I highly encourage parents to really do their research and chose what's best for your kids. This will not be a place I send my kids to. read more

One of the best schools ever. I have not taken classes here but based on what I see from their productions and recital, their dance quality is the best. The ticket prices are good too and it's definitely worth it. I will come back to see more performances. read more

This studio is undoubtedly the most unconventional yet brilliant dance school you will ever come across. Ms. Li and her husband started in this industry teaching at students' houses ... today they are one of, if not THE, most successful dance studios in the SGV area, with a number alumni students who have gone on to become professional dancers. Unlike other ballet-based studios, Li's Dance Studio is a faster-paced environment that allows its students to advance quickly in their technique. Most of these students there are able to master a number of intricate movements at a young age and are thus given the chance to perform and compete with higher level students. Their semi-annual performances give each dancer the opportunity to display their passion for dance, in which the parents are often appreciative of. Aside from ballet, this studio also introduces its students to the various forms of dance that stem in ballet technique. These other dance styles include jazz, lyrical, folk dance, and ballroom dance, taught by teachers from China, Cuba, Poland, and the U.S. If you're serious about dance, and not just looking for a studio to hate on (!!), this studio will give you the instruction and exposure you'll need to become a confident and versatile dancer. At least that's what it did for me... ;) *** Check out their new location on Las Tunas! They recently moved to an AMAZING, extremely professional new studio. Very bummed i never got to dance there...that kind of facility is usually only available to professional ballet companies. 9119 Las Tunas Dr. Temple City, CA 91780 read more

From a parent's point of view, I would have to say that Zhang Li treats her students with bias. Students that are in the private classes receive preferential treatment, and as an observer in the upper classes, the distinction is clear in the abilities of the dancers. Her cold and distant personality makes it impossible for many students to like her, but worse is her attitude toward parents too. I rather spend more money at another ballet studio that will treat their customers with respect. read more

I don't think they want business. I called twice and she tell me to call back a different time. Very rude on the phone!

I spent 9 years at Li's Dance Studio. I have read most of the reviews here, and here is my opinion: This place is not one I would recommend if you plan to send your child/children to take real or professional ballet lessons. However, if you want your child or children to try dancing, this is an okay place. Unless your child or children really loves dancing, I don't recommend staying at Li's Dance Studio until high school graduation (that's when one "graduates" from Li's). Zhang Li does not teach classical ballet. She does focus on flexibility, at times. She plays favorites and is nicer to those with wealth. (Talk to anyone who isn't from a wealthy family, and they'll mostly agree and are usually the students who eventually dropped out before "graduating" from the studio.) Zhang Li does make exceptions to those who dance better and cleaner but don't come from a wealthy family. Those who have a rich background and dance "okay" are usually persuaded into getting private lessons and get sent to competitions, like Showstopper. Another thing to know is that there are usually two classes for each age section: one class that contains terrible dancers and another class that contains better dancers. After both classes don't have many students, Zhang Li merges the two classes. Additionally, I believe Zhang Li takes students to China every year or every few years for a several weeks to train and have fun with other ballet groups. I have never gone on any of those trips, so I cannot give an opinion about them. Those who don't go on those trips go to class as usual for lessons. The studio does have teachers other than Zhang Li, but they are unable to focus on every student due to the large number of students in each class. Those teachers do try to teach the correct way of classical ballet but teaching the children to change is difficult. Since Zhang Li is the principal of the studio, her words are the end of the conversation, no arguments. She is "strict" in that way. Or she use to be strict. Also, yes, students do scream and yell to cheer for their friends when they are at the balcony during the annual performances. I agree that it is annoying, upsetting, and irritating. This never happened in past annual performances. I would say this "scream and cheer for friends" thing started a year before I left Li's in 2009. I don't know what Zhang Li has done to help improve these situations, if she has done anything at all. Many of her better students take dance (or join pep squad) in high school and college. I have observed that each year's graduating class is not as good as the previous graduating class, however. Li's Dance Studio has survived for so many years, thanks to the "room mothers" who volunteer to take charge of organizing classes and getting family members and friends to attend the annual performances. read more

Li's is an amazing dance studio. Mrs. Li treats every student like her own daughter and cares for everyone. They teach professionally and with good technique, and you really learn to love dance. Other then ballet, classes include lyrical, jazz, hiphop, folk, ballroom, and salsa. You'll definitely love this studio and everything that comes with it . i know i can't imagine my life without dance at this studio. read more

Just competed against this studio and they are by far the rudest people I've ever had to deal with. Parents and the dancers stood in front of people while dancers were on stage, the parents videotaped which is not permitted, and the dancers walked all over the place with their giant pancake tutu's bumping into people, blocking the view of people trying to watch, and walking in front of everyone watching. Learn some manners! Horrible! read more

As a dancer here for twelve years, I know that I will walk away with more than just a collection of trophies and titles. However, I would still like to list some of my personal accomplishments as evidence of the quality of training Mr. and Mrs. Li can offer. I originally started ballet at the age of 3 with a different studio but found myself wanting to be challenged with something a little more rigorous. I moved to Li's Ballet. At 5 years old, I will admit there was nothing too rigorous; dance was daycare and a great way to get me out of the house. However, by 7 it became serious. I really loved it, and Mrs. Li gave me opportunity after opportunity to nurture my passion. That year, at the Showstopper National Dance Championships, I placed 2nd Overall 8 and Under Mini Solos. In the years to come, I would challenge ADA (American Dance Awards), YAGP, as well as Starpower. At the age of 12, I was named Junior Dancer of the Year at the ADA regionals in SoCal and later traveled to the nationals in Boston where I placed top 7 in the final Dance Off 12& Under. I know that many young dancers hit a stump or burnout around there teen years, and I felt that coming, but Mrs. Li always encouraged me and let me go at my own pace. Besides just competing, she gave me a platform to showcase my love for performing and entertaining- annual performances. I have danced principal roles in Coppelia, Giselle, Swan Lake, and soon to come Don Quixote. I am not saying that Mrs. Li pushes all her students to be champions and do this and do that, but what I am trying to prove is that she has the resources for those to CHOOSE and WANT to get far in dance. At the age of 17, I hold 4 regional and 5 national Overall Champion Titles with Showstopper and two Dancer of the Year titles of ADA. Last year, I was also invited by the International Dance Organization to be on the US Team to represent USA at the World Dance Week in Poland. Bill Fowler, the American Representative of the organization personally told me "Mrs. Li has given you unparalleled training, please thank her for me" . Accomplishments aside, Li's Ballet is what you make of it. If you're looking to find a hobby and leisure activity, come. If you're looking to one day be on your high school dance company, come. (alumni from Li's Ballet have been the head choreographers and or dance captains of most of the high schools in the SGV). If you're looking for professional training that will set the foundation for a job in a company, come. (a student last year was accepted into the Rock School in Philadelphia and this year placed 3rd at YAGP). You're given so many chances to find exactly what you want with dance, and some students also find out here that they love dance, maybe just not classical ballet. Again, Mrs. Li has a solution for those students as well. In a nutshell, the myriad of possibilities the studio has to offer is simply too good to turn down. From the facilities to the faculty, I find it hard to encounter dissatisfied students. Most importantly, I think Mrs. Li's care for her job as well as her students breed an amazing learning atmosphere. She's really 120% at work. I remember distinctly one year before my national competition, she came to rehearse my solos early in the morning with a broken voice and runny nose. That, is the heart of a champion. She is a great role model of dedication, perseverence, and drive. To be around a teacher of that mentality is a great way to inspire younger students not only for dance but also for life. Lastly but not least, dance is a PERFROMING art, and regardless of what people have to say about her training, (if it was not top notch, I wouldn't be where I am today) she nurtures artists. No, not just perfect robots who can do triple pirouettes, but perfect dancers who can nail the technique as well truly dance. read more

it 's really unprofessional ! I saw several girls did wrong position after 3 month's practicing . No one tell them that's wrong . That's not ballet at all ! Some girls have been there for 5-6 years, they 're still doing incorrect position. It's horrible. If your children are looking for a place for fun, that's not a good place,too. I saw Zhang Li ,she is willing to talk to those rich parents; For the children who are not rich ,zhang li is lazy to answer their greeting. She treat my girl good , but i have to say she is a very rude person. Ballet is an art, so do not choose the wrong place. I hope i can give this place a zero star. There are a lot of place ,their more than professional than Li's ballet. Just spend time to compare, you will find it . read more