What a quaint studio, has lots of character that goes with the dance form! The owner Bahaia is a…read moregreat teacher whose teaching style is very technical at the same time very approachable. The rates for the classes is comparable to other belly dance classes in the austin area ($15ish). Have not tried any of the merchandise they sell, but looks like a decent variety.

The desire to shimmy and shake my way across ATX overtook me recently and my search for the right…read moreclass took me to Bahaia's belly dance class. And, right away, it was obvious that I wiggled in the right direction. Bahaia is a great instructor. I almost don't want to put her on Yelp. I feel like the survivor of a plane crash with that one lone bar of chocolate, asking myself if I really want to share. But just like the plane crash survivor, I know it isn't fair to keep everything for myself. So, here goes...I give you...Bahaia. Seriously, these classes are mega-fun. She teaches the techniques of belly dances, interspersed with just the right amount of the history of belly dance to keep it grounded. Plus she adds in the that extra bit of sparkle that keeps it interesting. (Not that a jiggling belly isn't interesting enough.) Bahaia has a history as a performer and still performs here in some ATX clubs on occasion. She has been studying or teaching belly dance throughout her adult life. SO, you know that she is teaching you the real thing. Plus with her history as a performer and belly dance choreographer, she teaches you how you can put all those techniques together into actual dances. Most importantly, she never loses sight of the fun. As for me, well, I'll keep attending because I have a thing for dance classes that are taken barefoot while sultry, rhythmic music plays. Nothing better than that on a Sunday evening. A final word about the particulars: She teaches classes in belly dancing at Arthur Murray Dance Studios and Flamencura. The classes run in 8 week cycles at a cost of $120.00, with discount given for taking more than one class per week. The Arthur Murray studio is a large studio located off of 183, and Flamencura is a smaller, intimate studio located off Burnet Road. I mention studio size because it necessarily imposes limits on class size. The classes held at Flamencura have fewer students in them so they fill up quickly.

I love Mona and her classes at BriteLites Acting Studio. She is professional, highly knowledgeable,…read moreand gives excellent advice and direction. I also love that you can schedule and pay online. It's entertaining too. If you're curious about acting, I would recommend taking her courses! She's the best in the biz!

Mona is a wise, professional working actor who passes along her knowledge and wisdom not only in…read moreacting but life lessons. I've been taking classes for over a year and can't recommend it enough!

For the past nine years, the Austin School of Classical Ballet (ASCB) has been an integral part of…read moremy 14-year-old daughter's life... a second home if you will. As a naturally reserved and serious individual, ASCB has profoundly shaped her, building her confidence, poise, and integrity. Ms. Jennifer, the studio's exceptionally knowledgeable director and teacher, has been a constant guide, witnessing and fostering my daughter's growth every step of the way. From a mother's perspective, I cannot overstate the immense impact that both the studio and Ms. Jennifer have had in shaping not only her dance technique but also her character. ASCB maintains a high standard of technique, which Ms. Jennifer skillfully balances with patience and kindness. And to anyone wondering whether this is the studio for your dancer... I can't emphasize enough that your dancer will find a home here where they will be both challenged and nurtured...where they will grow! Here's a quick list for "WHY ASCB?"... * This is a serious ballet studio. Classical technique is taught with a high standard and with care and kindness. * The classical ballet technique taught at ASCB fosters a strong, flexible, and coordinated body and nurtures discipline, focus, and expressive movement. * Ms. Jennifer is highly knowledgeable and effective. * It's a smaller studio which means more individualized attention, increased guidance, and stronger teacher-student relationship. * Once dancers hit a certain level, the dancers are invited to attend the studio's summer intensive w/guest teachers. * The schedule works nicely around school schedules. * I absolutely love seeing all the dancers perform at the studio's recitals. The work put into them by Ms. Jennifer and the dancers is incredible! * OH! Aaaaand the studio is right by Movin' Easy! Did your dancer forget their tights? No problem, just walk a couple of doors down and boom!

ASCB is the premier ballet studio in the Austin area. The care and dedication Ms. Jennifer gives to…read moreall of her studies is evident in their progress and improvement. If you want your dancer to learn from one of the best, this is the studio for you.

We were at Penfold this weekend for the first time to see Ordinary Days. What a charming…read moreperformance - the cast was wonderful and I loved the musical - it made me cry! It's a small theater and it isn't a big, fancy production, but it had so much heart. We'll definitely be back for their next show!

This review is for their production of A War of the Worlds by Jarrett King that is taking…read moreplace/took place at Ground Floor Theatre in June 2022. I was blown away in the best possible way. From the opening scene the cast shone, with phenomenal vocal range and depth, many doing multiple accents throughout. They worked well together as an ensemble, feeding off each others energy with quick, believable reactions as events unfolded. Jarrett King's rendition of the classic tale brought in modern themes in a way that was delicately done without banging you over the head on the dangers of fake news and racial inequality. I read the spoilers beforehand and was on edge about how it was going to play out, but when things fell apart they happened in a believable and natural way without live gunfire or too much of what we see on the news these days. Introducing the chaos that happens outside the studio during the historic events around Orson Wells' famous production helped showcase that nothing we do exists in a bubble, while enabling greater depth for the characters. It should tell you something that I am considering going back to see it a second time. Would highly recommend checking it out and considering future productions at Penfold Theatre Co!

Stopped by here for my boyfriend's birthday and we had a fun time. It's a smaller claw arcade in a…read morestrip center, but the claws actually work well and the employees were very nice. They even gave him a few extra tokens for his birthday. They have great system to trade up your plushies for a prize. We turned ours in and walked away with two 3D printed dinosaurs. We also kept the smaller keychain prizes. They had some other unique games when you walked in to the right. There's also a Photo Booth in the back. I'm sure we'll be back!

My family and I went to ClawZania when in the area. We parked and went in at opening 1:00 pm on a…read moreWednesday. When we went in to this claw machine arcade there were two friendly employees that greeted us. They explained how it works, we paid, got our basket of coins and we were on our way. This place is really cool. It's bright, full of claw machines, and prizes. You can lose track of time enjoying trying to get the plushie of your choice. On multiple occasions we asked for help from one of the employees with regards to the different games. They kindly helped us every time we asked. When you are done playing if you have a lot of plushies they give you an opportunity to trade them in for the plushie of your choice. Overall it was a cool place to visit. The atmosphere was fun, the service is great, and there are a wide variety of plushies to try to win.

I thought it would be fun. You know bingo is a game. But this event space isn't for fun it's for…read morewinning cash. My bad for misunderstanding. Really it's an outlet for gambling. Seriously hush tones so people can play their 30 plus cards. Crazy money to be won if you're looking to gamble.

No major problems, but the small problems are plentiful:…read more (1) The cashier (where you buy your cards) is in the smoking section. (2) There's no menu at the cashier for card prices. (3) The website lists prices for the computer tablets (which hold 66 cards), but not for paper cards. (When I went, it was $2 for of paper, which had 12 cards for each of the five games in the session.) (4) If you win, they deduct 5% for taxes. That would be fine, except it's not explained anywhere, not on the website, not on the instruction sheets at the tables, not on signage anywhere. (5) There is no vibe. It's certainly not a festive atmosphere, It's pretty dead.

I have been taking belly dance classes with Najla for quite some time now. There are not words to…read moredescribe how wonderful these classes are. From the first class, Najla will teach you not only the moves of belly dancing, but also the history, music, and etiquette of the dance. You'll learn about Middle Eastern culture and dance within the US. The classes can be a real work out! You definitely burn those calories and tone muscles. The environment is very encouraging. I came into classes with Najla very self conscious about my own body image. Over time, she has helped me realize you don't have to be a size 2 to be a beautiful person. In fact, a little extra padding is an asset in belly dancing! This class is wonderful for building self esteem and confidence, along with some great ab muscles. Rest assured - there are all ages and sizes of women in class - you will never feel out of place or uncomfortable. Almost anything in the class can be modified to accommodate your particular physical abilities and comfort level. Najla is great about working with you to find what is best for your body. As a testament to that - I danced in Najla's classes until I was about 8 months pregnant, comfortably adjusting any work outs to fit my abilities at that time. As you grow in your dance, Najla will help you find opportunities to perform, if you are comfortable doing so. But she will never push you to do something that you are not ready to do. The women in the class could not be a more encouraging and fun bunch. Many of us have developed friendships that extend far beyond the Tarrytown studio. I can honestly stay that dancing with Najla has been one of the most rewarding experiences I've had since moving to Austin. The Tarrytown studio is quite nice. It's conveniently located, clean, and fits the needs of the class perfectly.

From the owner: Najla has been belly dancing in Austin since 1997 and has studied extensively with dancers in Texas…read moreand far beyond. She taught belly dance classes through UT's Informal Class program since 2001. Najla incorporates both traditional Middle Eastern dance and contemporary movements in her dance style classes. She currently teaches beginner and intermediate belly dance classes on Sunday evenings at Tarrytown Dance and is also available for private lessons and group workshops. Topics rotate, but the focus of each class is building a strong, dynamic dance foundation. Beginner students are accepted on the first class of each month, and intermediate students can join at any time with instructor's permission. Check her website for updated class information.