My first opera ever. Salome--gruesome story about a beautiful and majorly entitled princess. Men…read moreswooned and one was stupid enough to kill himself over her. Then she wanted to kiss a prisoner prophet who turned her down. So she had him killed and served his head on a platter. Ultimately they had her killed which was a good idea. Excellent voices and set. I was told this might have been a difficult first time opera but I'll definitely go again.

We are SF Opera subscribers but we drive down to Palo Alto once every season to catch an opera by…read moreWest Bay Opera. They are usually high quality and it's really fun to see an opera in such a small house. The Samson and Delilah we just saw didn't live up to previous operas we've been there but it was pleasant. They are creative with sets and it was a good production. The chorus needs a lot of improvement but the leads were good . There is a lovely outdoor courtyard for intermission. Ticket prices are much less than SF Opera and I admire their goal of making opera available for all.

Oh my gosh, this place! The historic cinema, the movies they show, the organist! And the exhibit of…read morefilm memorabilia - get here early to check out the changing exhibit of old movie posters and other historic cinema artifacts! Visit this May for the Hitchcock Festival (all month, Thursdays - Sundays).

A classy venue for some wholesome weekend fun without burning a hole in your pocket - this place is…read moretruly a Bay area gem. The place has a single movie hall, but an extremely gorgeous and well maintained one, and a pianist plays before every screening. You can check out the schedule on the website - the place is open only on Fridays and the weekends and plays Hollywood classics as well as some lesser known black and white movies from the yesteryears. Prices are unbeatable too - $7 only for an adult ticket and $3 for a bucket of popcorn. There are a number of public parking lots in Downtown Palo Alto where this theatre is situated, so parking is also free and ample.

This is always such a great venue to come and see a show. It has an underground free parking…read moregarage. It's easily accessible if you have any mobility issues. The theater itself is very intimate and allows you a good seat no matter where you are. The staff is friendly and helpful. All shows from my experience, have been reasonably priced. Before the show grab something to eat, a cup of coffee, or even a glass of wine at the Bean Scene Cafe which is linked to the theater.

Excellent location on Castro Street in downtown Mountain View. I come here for specific…read moreperformances each year. Spacious theater with plenty of spots to practice or do rehearsals before showtime. Staffs are great communicators and are always helpful. This place has been around forever and City Hall is a great place to gather or use public restrooms as well. Cafe is easily accessible next door. If you come here in December during the annual Christmas Tree Lighting event, you won't be disappointed. Colorful Christmas vibes everywhere. There's a good sized local park behind it and you can easily park on the streets which are all walking distance. Besides ballerinas and dancers, you get to watch singers, group choirs, and many more colorful entertainments on the outdoor stage area. Inside stage is usually reserved for larger popular shows. Yes, dressing room and areas for practicing before performance time is well set and they're usually on time moving groups in and out as scheduled. Love the backstage area and scenes. Good feeling inside and outside.

I started taking singing lessons with Mete as my dad was in hospice in my home in 2016. I had…read morealways wanted to learn to sing! It was so helpful to have this to look forward to during a such a sad time. Mete had been recommended by a neighbor, whose children study with him. I can't believe how well I've progressed - I even sang for my dad at his memorial celebration, in front of 50 people. I love my voice now, and I have so much fun singing! Mete is just the best teacher for me, so inspiring and supportive! I think most of his students are young people and children, but he's great with adults as well! He also teaches piano, and sings at events - he's just a sweetheart, and with an amazing voice and kindness!

Highly recommended!…read more Mete has been my vocal instructor for the past two months. I hadn't taken serious vocal lessons in the past so my voice was as untrained as it could get. :) He has been great at identifying where my strengths and weakness were and he could design the lessons in such a way that I made a lot of progress in such a short time. I am now able to produce operatic sounds that I didn't think I have in me! All this preparation is for my upcoming first album and Mete is critical to my singing quality both in technique and interpretation aspects.

My daughter has taken ballet with Vicky for several years now, and she has just started on pointe…read more Vicky has been a wonderful teacher for her -- supportive and disciplined. We do both regular classes during the school year, and intensive camps during the summer. The performances are lovely! I highly recommend.

I've been in Vicky's adult ballet class for almost 2 months. Vicky is very knowledgeable, patient…read moreand welcoming. I'd definitely recommend Vicky to anymore who wants to learn ballet.

Kathy is a fantastic teacher. She prepared me for many…read moreauditions, and most importantly, the one for entering the Master of Music in Vocal Performance, where I am now finishing my master's. She will guide and teach you to have a healthy technique and a complete connection with your body and emphasize the approach to the text that is so important for a singer. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced singer, she will be great for you.

My association with Kathy is almost a decade long! She first taught my daughter when she was in…read morehigh School and then my son through his high school years. She is thorough and methodical in her approach and able to harness an individual's talent and interest and channel it into something quite extraordinary. Kathy cares about her students and her knowledge and passion for music is apparent from the first time you connect with her. She took the time to understand the goals and aspirations of both my children and always coached and provided thoughtful and actionable feedback to help them improve their vocal range, tone, control and technique. She is an inspiring teacher who genuinely cares about her students and goes the extra mile to support and encourage her students. During the four years under her training for classical vocals and musical theater, my son matured from a young child to a bass-baritone, performing regularly at school and external events. He's now a sophomore in college and is continuing to take voice lessons there and is also a part of the University choir. More recently, my daughter, now 24 years old - who took lessons from her as a high student (and is now graduated from college and an adult) - began taking voice lessons from Kathy again for the past year and it's been a pure joy to know that she is in good hands. My daughter is currently in Berlin, Germany, but Kathy has made the time to help her with her lessons at a time that is convenient and effective for both to have meaningful lessons even though they are separated by thousands of miles and nine hours apart! I am sure when my daughter decides to go back for her Masters, she will continue her vocal journey and be a vibrant participant in the music community of whichever University she joins. The greatest gift she has given to my children is the love for music and performance for which I am most grateful. I highly recommend Kathy Ludowise to anyone who is seeking a vocal coach - no matter what level of previous experience. Her talent, passion and knowledge makes Kathy a wonderful vocal instructor who truly cares about her students and their goals. You'll be in good hands with her.

I'm so lucky to have found Deborah! She's so knowledgeable and diligent about training the voice,…read moreof course, but what sets her apart from other teachers is that she is also exceedingly warm and kind. In just a couple classes, she helped me transform my fear of singing into an absolute joy. Now I sing all the time with my partner, or by myself just walking down the street, and it's brought so much happiness into my life. Thank you, Deborah!

I've been meaning to write this review for a while now. Words cannot express how excellent of a…read moresinging/vocal coach Deborah is. In my mind, my experience with my voice is very palpable under her guidance. She knows I struggle to use my voice, so here it goes bec I finally dare to share my gratitude. Deborah is a kind and compassionate coach who understood my reluctance to sing and speak in public due to my subconscious fears now realized. She found a way to meet my voice where it was and gently yet patiently allowed me to explore it in a safe environment. I no longer believe my voice is a separate part of my body; instead, I feel it through my whole body, mind, AND spirit. And I don't think that my lessons with her are work - only fun. And as an adult, it seems I have lost my sense of play. However, my lessons with Deborah always remind me that it's time to play!

My daughter has been attending Osipova Ballet Academy for several years, and we couldn't be happier…read morewith her experience and growth. Under the expert guidance of Ms. Marina, Ms. Tatiana and the entire dedicated staff, she has progressed tremendously--not just in her technical abilities, but also in her discipline, confidence, and love for ballet. The instruction is rigorous, supportive, and rooted in deep knowledge of classical Vaganova technique. Every teacher truly cares about the students and brings out the best in them. The academy fosters a warm and inspiring environment where dancers are encouraged to work hard and take pride in their progress. If you're looking for a place where your child will be challenged, supported, and trained with excellence, Osipova Ballet Academy is truly one of the best.

Osipova Ballet Academy has been a transformative experience for my daughter. The level of…read moreprofessionalism, care, and dedication the instructors show is truly remarkable. They offer a rigorous Vaganova-based training that builds not only strong technique, but also artistry and discipline in their students. The faculty are passionate and experienced. The environment is supportive, focused, and inspiring. We've seen such improvement in our daughter--not only in her strength, turnout, and pointe work, but also in her confidence and stage presence. If you're looking for serious ballet training in a positive and structured setting, we highly recommend Osipova Ballet Academy.

Love concert series as well as the Studio (caberet) downstairs…read more As a musician who has performed there many times with full orchestra, I especially appreciate their willingness to correct the accoustics because in the beginning we could not hear our fellow musicians let alone ourselves. Ditto as an audience member. Couldn't live without Bing!

This concert venue is gorgeous, acoustically stunning, and designed so there isn't a bad seat in…read morethe house. Make sure you buy your tickets directly at the Box Office to avoid additional fees!

Maya is a FANTASTIC voice coach, perfect for both new AND experienced singers. I have been…read moreprofessionally singing and performing in the Bay Area, but have had limited vocal training. When I saw Maya was offering lessons, I signed up right away! When I've worked with Maya in the past, I always noticed how graceful and poised she was. She was always ready to learn something new to improve her craft, especially new techniques to improve her vocals. In the lessons we've had, I've always had a great time and felt comfortable and able to express myself. She truly has a "no judgement" zone. She was quick to identify places I was weak in and provide quality feedback! I've really enjoyed every lesson with her, and I already noticed an improvement in my voice. Book her before she becomes super busy again!

I have been singing for over 25 years and teaching voice for over 10.... I am always on the lookout…read morefor more tools for myself and to share with my students. Maya and I have sung together several times, and I have always been very impressed with the quality of her singing and her performing presence. Tracking her progress, I observed that she was one of the few who was actually "making it" in this biz before COVID hit and everything came to a screeching halt. When I saw she was offering lessons, I signed up right away. I had a great time and felt in very good hands during our lesson. She was quickly able to identify where I was deficient in my singing and offer targeted advice to help me connect more fully with my body. This is no easy feat. I, like most others, can be very nervous in a first lesson, and it can be hard to get any meaningful work done until trust is established. Maya created a very safe and supportive space, while offering quality technical feedback. As an accomplished singer and teacher in my own right, I cannot recommend her highly enough for both novice singers just starting out on their journey and more experienced singers needing guidance to break through technical limitations.