I have tried the Thursday Beginner Ballet and Strength and Stretch classes here. Both are taught by…read moreMacKenzie and she is incredibly patient, kind, and sweet! I do think the Beginner Ballet sessions are on the short side (they are only 45 mins) and as a result are better suited for people looking to refine their technique than complete beginners who need to build foundations. Strength and Stretch is also probably best suited to experienced dancers, as the class has students doing crunches for consecutive minutes with no breaks and going into straddles, side splits, and advanced yoga poses with very little preparation and no modifications (this class is also only 45 mins, so warm up and cool down are quite brief). I would rate my experience as a novice to dance as 3 stars, but more experienced dancers may get more benefit from these particular classes, and it seems the ballroom classes are much more popular and well reviewed. This is a convenient location right off Foothill Expressway with ample parking in the back. There are classes in other dance styles (especially ballroom) almost every day of the week, so I may try those another time.

About 8 months ago, I resumed ballroom dancing after a long hiatus and started taking group classes…read moreat Arete Dance Center. This place is great! Not only are the teachers very good, but they also create a very welcoming environment. Most of the group classes are small enough that students can get some individual attention. At the outset, I had no intention of taking private lessons, but one thing led to another and now I'm also taking a weekly private lesson.

This is a review for their preballet class for 4-5 year olds. Overall it's a great class. Teachers…read moretake the training seriously but it's still fun. Tried other places which felt more like just play time, whereas here it feels like kids are actually learning ballet. Teachers are also kind, communicate, organized, and professional. Highly recommend.

Great ballet school with caring teachers and thoughtful logistics. Both of my kids have been…read morestudying ballet there for years and have progressed a ton. Awesome annual performance as well with high production value

Bhangra Empire is the only company that offers purely bhangra classes so unfortunately this is the…read moreonly place to go for the best bhangra classes in the Bay Area. My child has taken classes here 3 times (beginner and intermediate levels), here are our thoughts after our experience. The GOOD: - Both beginner and intermediate classes for kids and adults - Pricing is good - Good class content and well-trained instructors - All enjoy participating in the final show The BAD: - Dance studios used are not clean, lack ventilation and there is no seating for waiting parents - Website not always easy to navigate - Dance videos not always loaded on time and sometimes do not function (recommendation: would be great to be able to slow down the videos so folks can learn steps at their own speed) - Emails not always clear with respect to class updates - Class locations and times are inconvenient for many - Class size and age groupings need to be revisited (example: a class may have kids from ages 5-15 not a good way to accommodate different learning levels and there may be 21 kids in the class). - Regular water breaks are necessary especially when there are younger kids in the class. - Instructors generally well trained and enjoy teaching however they lack class management skills especially in the kids' classes (rowdy or disrespectful kids or chatty parents) - Final show is in Castro Valley: nice venue but no access ahead of show and everyone ends up in parking lot to practice, get ready and regroup. No food options at venue: there are many kids in the show and unfortunately the show happens at prime dinner time (5-8pm) = hungry adults and kids, clearly not ideal. It could be as easy as having a couple of food trucks show up at the intermission/break time. Location is far for many. - Costumes for show: there are a couple ladies who offer outfits for the show however there is no one at Bhangra Empire to lead, support and organize this effort as costumes are a vital part of the final show. Parents who care about this end up organizing costumes and timelines to support this and this makes it burdensome experience for parents. - Judges are not introduced at the final show so no one knows who is judging the competition. There seems to be no rhyme or reason why some teams win. - The show is not MC'd well: Consistently the show is delayed at the beginning and the scripting is not practiced or organized - much of it is made up on the spot which leads to a hap hazard presentation and delays. Final words: Bhangra Empire has an opportunity to make their business fly (if that is their ultimate goal) and clearly they have gained some notoriety through the publicity they have gained BUT to have a successful business you will need to be more organized, planned and thoughtful about it. Good luck.

Writing few words about our great teacher Shilpa is not sufficient!! You should visit to our dance…read moreacademy to see how wonderful it is. I am really new to classical dance I m in adult batch classes , the way how she teaches and encourage us is really awesome! I feel so happy that I m in this school , she is so passionate about us also in teaching and the patience that Shilpa ji has amazing.. My best Guru!! Thanks a lot Shilpa ji

If you're looking for an informative yet fun learning environment with a teacher you feel lucky to…read morehave, this dance school is for you! I love the way Shilpa Aunty teaches, and all her choreo is elegant and enjoyable. She is extremely creative and will do anything for the happiness of her students :) I look forward to class every week, and am extremely thankful to have such an amazing teacher and am proud to be part of this dance school!

Offers a wide variety of classes plus serves as rehearsal space for multiple dance group. I have…read morebeen rehearsing here since 2017. Performances take place next door at Zohar or at Cubberley Theater. Sprung floor was covered with fresh marley a couple years ago. Both the studio and attached yoga studio are available for rent. Has heater, fans, and opening windows.

Groovitude (Lisa Navarro and Mandy Bell) run their hiphop, tap and lyrical jazz classes out of…read moreDancevisions, and they're currently having an AMAZING promotion--try one month of unlimited classes for only $60!!! I jumped at this chance, and am not regretting it. The classes are definitely a bit challenging for someone without any dance background, but the atmosphere is very welcoming: When I was struggling with the choreo, my fellow classmates were very quick to help out and answer questions. The choreos tend to carry over multiple classes, so going consistently is definitely ideal if you're a slower learner. Classes start with a nice warmup, guaranteed to get your blood pumping! There's some emphasis on technique but nothing too crazy or intimidating. I'd strongly recommend these classes as a way to get in shape, whether you're easing back into dance or just beginning. From what I've seen in the daytime classes, the students do tend to be somewhat older (no teens or young adults for the most part, as it's during school/work hours), but there's zero judgment or pressure--I saw a wide range of dance ability in every class and everyone seems to enjoy themselves.

I absolutely love Mirit's classes! She has an incredible range of techniques and styles to share…read moreand genuinely enjoys teaching them, while also encouraging everyone to discover their own style. Her dancing is beautiful and full of joy, and that joyful energy is contagious. Every class I've taken with her has felt like a mini party, and I always look forward to the next one!

Mirit is a great dancer because she simply cannot live without dancing. You can easily see it from…read moreher dancing. And her personality is popping out through it. Mirit is an elegant dancer starting from her costuming, the music she is picking up fro her choreographies, and her moves. Her style is appropriate to any audience. Mirit easily can engage people from all the cultures, any ages to be involved into the show in order to enjoy the show. As the instructor Mirit is very empathetic person can understand her student's strengths and limitations in order to emphasize first and overcome second ones.

As an adult who started ballet at an advanced age, I try when I travel to take a drop-in class…read morewherever I go. I was visiting from the East Coast, and Victoria's adult class was fabulous. The open level class had students of various skill and experience levels, and I fit right in. Victoria knows how to communicate movement concepts and did not hesitate to jump right in with hands-on corrections, which I appreciated and certainly needed! I wish I had the opportunity to study with her more consistently. The only issue is that the drop-in trial class was about twice the cost of ballet classes I have encountered at home or elsewhere (including NY, Paris, and Hawaii), but on a one-time basis, it was well worth it.

My 7 year old daughter has been learning from Victoria since she was just 4. I still remember her…read more1st class where she refused to do anything. Victoria simply let her sit there and observe. 3 years later, my daughter got her skills as well as her confidence from Victoria's ballet. She practices 3-4 times a week but never complains. In fact, inspired by her I started taking the adult class from Victoria this year and so far really enjoy it. I love the fact that she deeply cares about her students, kids or adults, and she wants to let everyone truly understand and appreciate the beauty of ballet. Her classes focus a lot on the fundamentals which I think is absolutely critical for kids at younger age. Thank you Victoria!

You cannot find a better dance studio. We drive 90mins round trip each week. My 4 year old loves…read moredance and tried out other dance studios near our home but kept asking for Ms Karen. After 6 months, I committed to the commute and we joined the studio. Even though classes are broken down by age range, Ms Karen will gauge the energy and skill levels of class and teach to the group. Ms Karen teaches dance technique and makes sure the class is fun. Last spring, the kids were preparing for their swan lake performance. For one class, the kids were laser focused and spent almost the entire class session working on the routine. During another class, the kids were more restless so the kids played games and just moved freely to music. Ms Karen meets every child where she/he is and she sets firm expectations in the classroom around kindness and respect for each other. This summer, we participated in our first dance camp (5 half days) and it was fantastic. At the end of the week, the kids performed a 30min routine and I was so impressed by all that they learned. For a decade, I ran afterschool activities and summer camps at International Schools in Asia. I was truly impressed with all the flow of each day and the progression through the week. In the morning at drop-off, there is a nice slow start. For the early birds, the kids have arts and crafts stations. For the stragglers (like us), we had a buffer and would still have time for a potty run before the warm-up. In addition to working on dance routines, the kids participate in ice breakers, snack time, free play, and arts and crafts related to the camp's theme. By the end of the week, none of the kids wanted to leave camp on time. We are excited to continue in the fall! Thank you Ms Karen!!

Long overdue review for Ms Karen and Dance Magic! My daughter has been going to her classes for…read morethree years now (from 18m to 4.5, and continuing!), and she absolutely loves it. She has been gaining so much confidence from the time she's spent there. Karen is fantastic with kids and knows the name of every child in the class! As a parent, I've observed the classes and enjoy how she blends dance skills in with what feels like play and good music. This past year we did our first dance show and I loved how inclusive it was of the little ones. I recommend it.