I have two daughters who have many treasured memories from taking gymnastics, aerial arts, dance,…read moreand musical theater at Kids N Dance since they were little. They both developed innumerable skills and grew emotionally in countless ways under the supportive guidance and encouragement from all of the staff there, and especially from the owners. One of my daughters joined the Cirque Masquerade troupe (Expression Arts) in 2023, when she was 16. As in previous years, she has only positive things to say about Esme, Kris, and Marielle during her time in Cirque Masquerade. Like everywhere else in life, we have found at Kids N Dance that while things may not always be perfect, the staff there are all highly skilled at what they do, are compassionate and sincere, and very open to communication. As in other situations in life, rather than avoiding communication, it is always better to reach out with an open mind towards understanding the other's perspective instead of lashing out with negative reviews. Esme is brilliant, caring, and highly skilled, and like all of us, also human and not yet perfect. In our experience, it should be and is possible for mature adults to hold concerns about a perceived problem, and at the same time still recognize and show appreciation for the incredibly hard work that Esme, Kris, and Marielle have all done in order for our kids to be able to put on these magnificent shows. And let us remind ourselves that in situations where we demand curiosity from others, we should hold ourselves to the same standard and demonstrate the same curiosity towards them.

It is unfortunate that I must write this review, but we do so for the benefit of future families…read morethat may be considering Kids n Dance or Expression Arts as an outlet for their children. A little about our experience. Our daughter has taken many classes at Kids n Dance (owned and managed by the same persons who own and manage Expression Arts). As she grew older and developed a passion and skill for circus, she joined Expression Arts and was part of their circus troupe for 3 seasons. For a time, circus was a haven for our child. She built a community with the peer troupers and truly enjoyed the challenge and art of circus. Over the past two seasons, we have increasingly heard of concerns by our daughter about the environment at Expression Arts. While we were receptive to her concerns, we initially tried to ask our daughter to trust the program, embrace the challenges as opportunities to learn, and to believe in the positive intent of Esme, Kris, and Marielle. But over the past season the concerns and experiences have escalated. Numerous troupe members have come forward to raise awareness of troubling experiences endured over the course of years. Some of the concerns raised by troupe members and our daughter directly: Unsafe Physical Environment-Troupe members raised concerns of inadequate warm-up, inadequate breaks, extended time upside-down, and a persistent culture of pushing through pain and injury. During the lead up to performances, the children are often at practice for 6+ hours. Practice increases in frequency until the final few weeks preceding shows, where practice is nearly every day. During the two weeks of performances, troupers were initially asked to do 1 show on Friday, 2 shows on Saturday, and 3 shows on Sunday. Each show is ~2.25 hours. It was only after there were serious concerns raised in a parent conference with Kris and Marielle, that the 3rd performance on Sunday was cancelled. The standards, rigorous schedule, and high-risk performance are a dangerous recipe for the safety of the troupe members. Emotional Manipulation and Inappropriate Behavior- Esme often drifts between friend and coach with the troupe members. This relationship is confusing for the troupe members, with Esme using this bond to instill her values on the children and also playing favorites. Multiple troupe members have noted that Esme can be erratic in her behavior, switching between positive behavior and disparaging and belittling language. In one incident, Esme told our daughter that she must have "ADD" after our daughter offered to help with transitions. In another incident, Esme commented on the body figure of a trouper. And in another incident, she told a group of troupe members that their act was "stupid". In isolation these incidents may be explainable (and Kris and Marielle have attempted to rationalize all of the incidents), but what can't be explained or rationalized is how widespread and consistent the experiences are amongst the troupe members. After a senior troupe member sent a note to the troupe parents about her own traumatic experiences with Expression Arts, numerous troupe members came forward and shared consistent and repeated experiences. What is most concerning about our experience with Expression Arts is not the negligence of Esme, Kris, and Marielle, it is the complete lack of accountability and curiosity to do something about the numerous concerns raised by the troupe members and families. It is our belief that Esme, Kris, and Marielle have the best of intent. We believe they want to provide a safe place for children and to cultivate a thriving community built around circus. We also believe they are wholly incompetent and untrained in how to create this place. The incompetence can be addressed, there are programs like SafeSport which, coupled with Esme's passion for the art, could transform the space. But Esme, Kris, and Marielle first need to face the root of the issue and take the concerns seriously. After the senior troupe member raised concerns about her own experiences, she was abruptly removed from the troupe and essentially called a liar. The parents of the troupe then demanded a conference with Esme, Kris, and Marielle. Esme did not attend, but Kris and Marielle spent the bulk of 90 minutes deflecting and taking no ownership or corrective measures. Despite her initial love and passion for circus arts, our daughter has decided to close this chapter of her life and move on. Despite everything we note above, our sincerest hope is that Expression Arts and Kids n Dance thrives and can be a safe place for our youth to grow and express themselves. For this to happen, two things are needed: 1) Esme, Kris, and Marielle need to be curious, vulnerable, and accountable for the harm they are causing to the children. No more deflection. 2) Esme, Kris, and Marielle need to pursue the ongoing training to equip themselves to appropriately and safely engage with children and young adults.

This review is for their After School program (on your kid's school campus):…read more My daughter has participated in 2 productions this year and has loved every minute of it. The class takes place after school, on the school's campus, for just over an hour every Tuesday. Kids from 1st-5th grade can participate, and is comprised solely of kids from the school. This really helps bond the cast from the start, and it's a great way to make friends with kids you don't yet know from the school. Because the class meets once a week over a period of a few months, there is a lot of time for the kids to get their parts memorized and perfected. Makes for a really fun show (ultimately performed on Sunday, which is the only weekend commitment the family needs to make). Would love it if the cast could also do one after school show on campus. Kris was our director for this latest show and she is gold; she does exactly what you want your child's director to do: she motivates, she's positive, she gives good encouraging feedback for the cast members, and she casts the kids really well. Ultimately I want my kid to walk away feeling confident and that she's learned a few new skills. If Kris continues with the school program, we will too.

I have two daughters who have many treasured memories from taking gymnastics, aerial arts, dance,…read moreand musical theater at Kids N Dance since they were little. They both developed innumerable skills and grew emotionally in countless ways under the supportive guidance and encouragement from all of the staff there, and especially from the owners. One of my daughters joined the Cirque Masquerade troupe (Expression Arts) in 2023, when she was 16. As in previous years, she has only positive things to say about Esme, Kris, and Marielle during her time in Cirque Masquerade. Like everywhere else in life, we have found at Kids N Dance that while things may not always be perfect, the staff there are all highly skilled at what they do, are compassionate and sincere, and very open to communication. As in other situations in life, rather than avoiding communication, it is always better to reach out with an open mind towards understanding the other's perspective instead of lashing out with negative reviews. Esme is brilliant, caring, and highly skilled, and like all of us, also human and not yet perfect. In our experience, it should be and is possible for mature adults to hold concerns about a perceived problem, and at the same time still recognize and show appreciation for the incredibly hard work that Esme, Kris, and Marielle have all done in order for our kids to be able to put on these magnificent shows. And let us remind ourselves that in situations where we demand curiosity from others, we should hold ourselves to the same standard and demonstrate the same curiosity towards them.

I booked a lesson with Berkeley Driving School after doing very little research, which somehow…read moreworked out for me. Signing up was easy and all online, and the website actually explains things clearly. I worked with Donald and he was the best. I'm an anxious almost 40 year old who had never had a license, and he never made me feel weird about that. He was always on time, very calm, and just a genuinely kind person. I had a few lessons with him and it was 100% worth it. I have a lot of driving anxiety and test anxiety, and he gave feedback in a way that didn't make me feel worse. Driving started to feel doable, which I did not expect tbh! I hadn't taken a driving test in over 20 years, but I did it! I passed! I have a driver's license now!! I spent years renewing my permit and trying to build confidence but it wasn't happening. Especially because practicing with a spouse or family member is... difficult (iykyk). But this was completely different. My driving was better than I thought, and I actually got comfortable behind the wheel. I really can't thank Donald enough. This genuinely changed my life, which feels dramatic but is also true.

Amber Rose is awesome! My daughter has had several sessions with her and each time my daughter's…read moredriving skills have progressed and improved. Daughter passed her behind-the-wheel test, in large part due to the tips and pointers provided by Amber Rose. Thank you! Also, kudos to Berkeley Driving School as the sign-up and appointment experience were pretty straightforward, and also, belated thank you for helping my son pass his behind-the-wheel test a few years ago.

I think that the new principle has definitely changed things for the better. I'm excited to see…read morewhat else he comes up with that is new and creative. The parents and community have been really reacting well to him....very good thing. I went here, my middle sister went here, my best friends went here, my youngest sister goes here, my younger cousin as well. Its just a really good place to raise your kids. Not just because of the school, but the community around as well. Laurel district ROCKS

We sent our 5 year old to Laurel for kinder mainly just because it was the local school, but it has…read moreturned out to be a great experience. The teachers and staff and principal all seem to genuinely care and be good at their jobs, and it shows in the happiness of the kids. As an example, my kid for some reason we may never know was scared to go into the lunch line at the cafeteria, and therefor wasn't eating lunch. I mentioned this to the principal who happened to be outside before school and he took us right at that moment to go meet the lunch lady and practice going through the line, and then when we got to class I told the teacher why we were a couple minutes late the teacher said he would walk with my son into the lunch line that day. He's been eating school lunch every day since. He plays better with other kids than he ever did in preschool. Oh, he also reads at a 2nd grade level (but I get part of the credit for that!). They have a pretty awesome brand new playground, a garden, fieldtrips, music class, (optional) parent meetings and volunteer opportunities, and a pretty good budget for a public school. We'll be sending our second kid here in a few years once she's old enough

You know what? I found Raphi through Yelp - thanks Yelp!…read more My daughter has been studying guitar with him since late 2015 and we are extremely happy across the board. His sessions with her are professional and productive, while simultaneously being fun, open and creative. Having experienced multiple types of extra-curricular classes, I recognize that this is a difficult balance for teachers and I appreciate him for being able to juggle it. I'm thankful that he's also game to learn the variety of pieces her dad and I ask him to teach her as well as how open he is to incorporate our goals for her musical education into his weekly lessons. Some highlights for me were: when he dissected and taught her a fairly complicated John Fahey composition, when he spent a month teaching her to be able to do spontaneous jamming, and when he slogs through teaching her to read music even though she's resistant :). He's shepherded her through a variety of music and techniques, many of them challenging for her skill-level and I'm always pleased with both the learning process and the final product. His spring showcases are always fun to attend and I love, love, love seeing the progression of his students, many of whom have been with him for years and years. At this next one, I'm excited to see a duet with my daughter and her dad, who also started taking lessons with Raphi last year. He's got a great teaching space with instruments for students to use, with plenty of parking in a great neighborhood (Laurel) to while away the time during lessons. Highly recommend him - 5 stars!

I started taking drum lessons as an adult and Raphi is the best! I tried a few instructors before I…read morefound him, and he is patient, reliable, and makes learning fun. If you are looking for a fun music instructor, I highly recommend Raphi!

Daniel taught my son for many years, starting in 2nd grade. He gave him a firm understanding of…read moretechnique, and also is great at keeping students motivated over time. He listens and tries to understand all of his students as individuals. I also studied with him for a year, and I loved his choice of material-lovely music at my level.

Daniel has been teaching piano for 50 years! He's not just good at teaching kids the basics, and…read morehelping experienced players increase their knowledge and understanding of the incredible instrument. Anytime you can catch him in concert he provides deep and interesting insight into the music and lives of the composers. (Invite him to do a house concert!) He's a great teacher because he's a lifelong learner. And by now, a classy and eccentric institution!

Brent is a good teacher. I've been trying to learn how to pick a guitar for awhile now and after a…read morefew lessons with Brent I'm finally getting somewhere. He's not only a good teacher but a good guy too. Also, super affordable and his school is in a pretty nice area of Oakland.

So many vendors with good food, merch, and community support. Not to be missed next timeread more

We went to the Laurel Street festival last weekend. This is a free festival in Oakland's Laurel…read moreneighborhood. This was the 3rd of 4th time I've been. If you want an alcoholic beverage you need to purchase a glass and tickets for wine or beer. There was a line for drinks, but it seemed to move pretty quickly. We are fresh baked chocolate chip cookies from Crumble & Whisk, French fries and a corn dog. It's a family friendly event with lots of vendors, food and live music. We saw various live arts and culture performances and enjoyed the music, food and sunshine! Parking was a bit tricky, but we found a spot in the neighborhood and walked into the festival. Until next year!

I cannot speak more highly of my family's experience here. Our little attended La Plazita II for…read moretwo years. Every single instructor was kind, loving and thoughtful in their care of our child. The school creates such an amazing community and hosts celebrations on campus often. The education and activities are excellent, we all learned more about different cultures and holidays. The communication was perfect, they sent messages regarding concerns or issues and post pictures in their app often. They strike a great balance of letting the kids interact manage themselves and guiding their behavior. I truly appreciate each and every teacher. This is such a special place.

This review is for the 35th location. We absolutely adore La Plazita. I sent my kids from 2 on. My…read moreoldest just graduated from their "TK" look alike program. Not only are the maestras absolutely wonderful and loving, my kids learned Spanish! We are not a Spanish speaking household and my son passed his a Spanish proficiency test with OUSD. The Admin staff are fantastic and also really care about our kid! We also really enjoy the parent community. We will be leaving the area and are devastated to leave this school!

Tl;dr: Come to Camp It Up! You won't regret it…read more Longer wordy version: I have watched what seems like generations go through Camp It Up! as a Bay Area Queer. I always longed to be a mama and have that experience myself, but it did not seem like it would happen as I was not a mama. Eventually I moved to Gainesville, Florida with my Butch Beau and in 2019 we became parents to the most magical, quirky, silly, nature obsessed and playful little girl. Its fair to say I have a dreamboat family. A neurospicy family. A committed and resilient family. That little kiddo is now freshly 7 years old and we came all the way to Camp It Up! from Gainesville, Florida, with no idea what we would be in for. But Joey, an internet friend at the time, really kept me in the loop and encouraged us to come. It was a long trek--I won't lie about that. Harrowing in some ways. But we made it. And the validation that we were in the best place for us became apparent upon driving into camp. OFRC staff Arwynn welcomed us, and then we went to the registration and were met by a lovely woman with a shiny gem on her tooth (like me!) and its like angels were singing. Vivian welcomed us so warmly, I thought our faces were going to crack from smiling so hard. Because we travelled so far, OFRC lent us bedding for our cabin, and CIU boss Joey hooked us up with high weight capacity rainbow camping chairs and a mirror--she looks out for her people! OFRC and CIU! go out of their way to make the space welcoming, genuinely inclusive, and largely accessible. From beginning to end, even in the hard parts, we were held by a loving community--my kid made a beautiful and unlikely connection with an older kid that was wonderful to witness. The sense of belonging she felt was so apparent. The food was great and there were options for folks with specific nutritional needs. Water was abundant--and it was hot! Showering was lovely while overlooking the creek. The toilets were always clean and the bathroom was in great shape. There was always a puzzle in progress to join in on and meet new people. We ate, we laughed, we cried, we floated, and we connected. Our kid performed in the talent show, something we would never have expected from her. Which tells me she felt held, wholly. Coming from the South, a place where movements such as the ones that would even make space for something like CIU to happen all the way in California, but is still viewed as a place Queers should not live---well, I have to say we came with a bit of a chip on our shoulder, because people historically say terrible things about the South when they learn we live there, and subsequently tell us to leave. Which is complicated. And nuanced. We are so thrilled that we got none of that from any of the lovely people we met. They were more curious about our life and what it looked like at home. And wondered if we have a solid community--of which I was happy to report yes and talk about the socioeconomic, racial, geographic, and natural nuances of being Queers of Color living in the cultural South. Wow. Camping with people who get this nuance? Sign me up for 2027! We needed this and we will need it again and again. Oh, also, there are Camperships (scholarships)! Our last night at CIU! we walked to our cabin with our kiddo and her new friend, and howled at the moon. It was a perfect last night. I really hope to recruit some folks from this side of the country to make the trek next year. It can only make it an even more rich experience.

This was our first year and we'll definitely make it a family tradition! We're already planning our…read morereturn and recruiting friends to join. It was extremely well-run, affirming, and all-around a bunch of diverse humans enjoying some wholesome summer fun without taking themselves too seriously. I'm a solo parent and I will say if you're on your own with your kid this is an actual vacation because the camp is your co-parent. They feed and entertain your child so you can have some chill adult time. Worth every penny!