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New Style Motherlode Studio

4.7 (42 reviews)
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Complimentary ear plugs
Grace C.

On Super Bowl Sunday, decided to try something different from my normal activities (yoga, pilates). I recalled my one "beginner" (adv dancers showed up) hip hop class years ago at Alice Arts Center and thought NSM would be less intense - meaning at Alice Arts- the teacher (though good) made us demo the routine one by one. The first thing I noticed at NSM was a container of ear plugs (awesome!) at the check in window. [Very thoughtful as I have friends my age who have 50% hearing loss due to clubbing, music festivals and annual BM.] The owner, Teela, was friendly and i purchased a 5 class pass with a 3 month expiration date. I took Demone's 2p beginning hip hop then his 3p cardio hip hop. I can honestly say that IF his ENTIRE class would be like the 15 min easy to follow "warm up", I would take his class again & again. The only difference I could discern between the 2p & 3p classes was faster pacing and more people and in 3p class he had ppl move to different rows occasionally. He told us he was making up choreo on the spot and it showed as he occasionally forgot some steps. I spoke to a regular student afterwards and found out that Demone's routine changes every single class but other teachers like Corey & Teela will keep same routine for a month. Demone -- the first thing he did when we all assembled was to introduce himself and shake my hand. Additional things I liked: 1. Amiable, easy going. 2. Able to connect quickly with the group; 3. infectious, positive energy, highly enthusiastic; 4. warm up is easy to follow; 5. music volume not overly loud. My wish list is as follows: 1. break down moves body part by body part. It was up to me to analyze his moves & figure out things like - keep left leg straight while weight in right foot, etc. (This was more thinking that I wanted to do.) 2. Keep students' heart rate up and 100% attention focused on students. In both classes, there were many breaks where Demone told us to drink water, or he was fiddling with music, or chatting with Teela. I took the 2nd class thinking that I would sweat but I did not. 3. For beginner class, try simpler choreo or better yet, teach a continuous 60 min class with no official breaks and make moves easy to follow-like in warm up. 4. Emphasize abs and core strength in commands throughout class and warm up/cool down-- my lower back spasmed in both classes. In talking to a dancer afterwards, I should have kept my abs in throughout- especially in the side to side jerky motions. 5. Balance choreo so that both sides of body get equal attention. I realize hip hop isnt yoga, but I felt more worked on my right side than my left.

Survey B.

Where to start? Great dance program for kids #1 This community offers Incredible teachers with extraordinary skill in dance and humanity. The teachers here are dedicated and compassionate on and off of the dance floor which fosters an environment in which dance students thrive. #2 The students here love being here and are absolutely pushed towards exploring and perfecting their individual skill set wether experienced or beginning. #3. Drop ins are welcome at all levels:) and you can't bet the prices. What's not to love !

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Ask the Community - New Style Motherlode Studio

Review Highlights - New Style Motherlode Studio

I had a great first time experience taking Corey's class, thanks to a friend who invited me...

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Bandaloop Studio - Studio East birch wood floor with ADA-accessible ramp

Bandaloop Studio

5.0(2 reviews)
2.2 miWest Oakland

Project Bandaloop is amazing! If I were good enough, and they would have me, I would drop out of…read moregraduate school right now to dance on walls and cliffs with them. Since that is not the case, I had resigned myself to frequent visits to their website UNTIL I found out that they host beginner and int/ adv workshops! Woohoo! Maybe I will be an amazingly talented beginner and they will beg me to travel the world with them and dance on the Petronas Towers, Chartres Cathedral, maybe even at Petra or the Coliseum. Please. Please. Pick me. I'll do anything. ________________________ Update: Since I have now completed both the beginner and int/adv workshops offered by Project Bandaloop, I feel this review needs an update. The workshop is a lot of fun, although pretty hard on the body. I figured that vertical dancing might have its challenges, but I had no idea how much a rock climbing harness and nerve endings could disagree. However, that did not stop me from going 4 days in a row...doubling up on pants and shirts can make a huge difference. The beginner workshop (5 hours over 2 days, $110) features a warm up, and then a rotation through the climbing wall featuring bouldering/dance, dance from single point suspension ("pods"), the trampoline walls, and the wood wall. The advanced workshop (6 hours over 2 days, $150) has an additional floor station and focuses on play and choreography more than orientation and skills. The workshops were between 15-20 people with 5-7 instructors. The instructors were great! Definitely gave the freedom to play, while also providing constructive pointers and maintaining a safe environment. The founder of Bandaloop, Amelia, was also in and out, watching the advanced performances, answering questions, etc. While she did not offer me a position in her dance troupe, I am definitely addicted, and will be going back for more. Maybe one day I can have my own trampoline wall. The one downer: the warehouse in Oakland seems pretty sketch upon first approach,. It isn't well marked, and looks kind of run down. It also can be tough getting in earlier, etc because all the doors are locked. However, the next workshop is in a new location close by in Oakland, so this may change soon.

truly amazing, innovate aerial artists! google them, and check out some of their performances, or…read morebetter yet, go see them in person!

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Bandaloop Studio - Studio West entrance

Studio West entrance

Bandaloop Studio - Studio West wood floor, trampoline wall, and ADA-accessible ramp

Studio West wood floor, trampoline wall, and ADA-accessible ramp

Bandaloop Studio - Studio East dance floor and dance wall

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Studio East dance floor and dance wall

Kids 'N Dance 'N Theater Arts - Nutty Nut performance

Kids 'N Dance 'N Theater Arts

4.1(51 reviews)
3.3 miLaurel District, Lower Hills

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.

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Kids 'N Dance 'N Theater Arts - Grease musical theater show

Grease musical theater show

Kids 'N Dance 'N Theater Arts - Sleeping Beauty Little Theater age 4-8

Sleeping Beauty Little Theater age 4-8

Kids 'N Dance 'N Theater Arts - Wizard of Oz Musical theater age 6-10

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Wizard of Oz Musical theater age 6-10

Danspace - Children's Division Serendipity Class (for ages 3.5-5.5)

Danspace

5.0(13 reviews)
3.1 miNorth Oakland, Rockridge

Just started taking the adult beginning ballet class here, and I really enjoy it. I've already…read moregotten some new insights about my feet, and as well as some well-earned soreness in the arches. But, oh those calves are getting a workout, and skirt season is here! Conveniently located near Rockridge BART. Not badly priced: $12 drop in, $40 for a 4-class card. And I really like the instructor, Mary Armentrout.

I grew up at Danspace. This is the best ballet studio in the Bay Area, not because of the number…read moreof professionals that come out of it (though there are a few), but because Danspace really takes care of your body. Beth makes the studio feel like family, and you will feel welcome here no matter what your body can do or what it looks like. Great place for adult beginners. Danspace provides excellent foundational technique that will carry through to every class you take from now on. If you're looking for a place to send your kid for dance classes, this is it. Danspace is nurturing, encouraging, and most importantly, they value your kid's health far more than any other studio in the bay area. Your kid will come away from ballet with lasting technique and higher self-esteem, not lower. There is no recital mania at Danspace--the emphasis is on teaching, not performance, so while there are performance opportunities, you will not have to shell out for fifty bazillion sequined leotards and tutus. Take Carly's jazz class if you're an adult/teen with a bit of experience. She's a great teacher and will push you to try things you didn't know you could do.

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Danspace - Class summer 2009 during our two week intensive with Ernesta Corvino.

Class summer 2009 during our two week intensive with Ernesta Corvino.

Danspace - Dance for Parkinson's Disease meets at Danspace on Thursdays from 10:30-12.

Dance for Parkinson's Disease meets at Danspace on Thursdays from 10:30-12.

Danspace - Children's Division
 Nutcracker Rehearsal

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Children's Division Nutcracker Rehearsal

New Style Motherlode Studio - theater - Updated May 2026

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