This place has amazing communication and very clearly stated rules. I love that it has a rich…read morehistory in ballet and the teacher Ms. Emily is an awesome teacher. I also love that the policy on masks is that they are allowed in class AND allowed in performances as long as they are of an appropriate style. So for the families where this is important, this is a place to go! There is plenty of parking around the studio and lots of different classes and times to choose from. You can watch the students dance from a tv in the waiting lobby. The staff is friendly and they provide you the costumes for each performance. The only thing that kind of bothers me is the very long flight of stairs that you need to walk to get to the studio but it just means I get to actually get some exercise in! lol

I like Miss Emily, as far as I can tell super consistent, great with kids, enthusiastic, and…read morecommunicative. She really sets an exemplary standard for children and I really like the boundaries she sets for parents and the students. This also applies to Miss Diane in front usually handling mostly administrative. If you are going to miss a class make sure to communicate to their office, the school will allow makeups that can be exchanged to any class they offer. Keep in mind the make up needs to be scheduled within 30 days (this does not mean that the scheduled class occurs in 30 days, just that you have set an agreed date in a class with capacity). If you are visiting for the first time keep in mind that the entrance is up the flight of stairs in the mini alley way. It does not face directly out to huntington drive.

I had my first k-pop dance class last Sunday. The instructor, Stanley was friendly and patient. The…read moreentire vibe was a bit dead. None of the students was smiling or cheering. I was the only person cheering after each practice. The teacher and students can all use a bit more energy and fun vibes !

I've been coming to this studio for about three years now for beginner/advanced classes on Sunday…read moreand it has truly become one of my favorite places to dance. The instructor Stanley is not only incredibly talented with his own authentic choreography, but also very supportive and welcoming to dancers of all levels. Whether you're a beginner or have been dancing for years, the classes are always well-structured, challenging, and fun. I've learned so much here and continue to improve every time I come :)

I started my dance training at San Marino Dance Academy. Unfortunately I spent 3 years at this…read morestudio. I learned no proper ballet technique here. I had to go to another studio to undo all of the bad habits and poor training I received at this studio. It took me two years to retrain at a studio that had a faculty that teaches ballet with proper credentials. If you want to participate in jazz and hip hop just for fun this is the place for you. If you want to learn ballet technique run don't walk to another studio.

This is a great place to purchase dance clothing and shoes. It has a very simplistic selection at…read morereasonable prices. If there is something that you want and they dont have, you can place an order. The staff are very professional and have a great deal of experience. The owner is a great teacher. This is a great place for young children to learn dance. Not only do they teach the basics to advance dance techniques, they teach the fundamentals of balance and coordination.

This is the most amazing studio my daughter has been here since she was four and they really pay…read moreattention to what the kids need and they have really fun exercises for the kids to learn from

Really dislike how the teacher spends so much time talking about random things during the class…read moreinstead of focusing her time on teaching. I once timed her, and she spent 48 minutes of class time bragging and glorifying her old-day history! Plus people in the Chinese dance classes are obnoxious, trying to correct your moves on the side while bullying you. They pretty much act like they are the teacher! It's pretty messed up in this learning environment where the teacher doesn't teach and that the students trying to show off their mediocre dance skills I don't think I can tolerate this kind of toxic learning environment much longer. I'm planning to quit after their upcoming performance.

On July 25, 2025, I brought my 4-year-old daughter to her 4:00 PM gymnastics class. We arrived at…read more3:59 PM and, as directed by the front desk, walked through the ballet room to get there. The ballet class was already past its scheduled end time, so we waited until the students finished before passing through. Halfway across the room, the ballet teacher suddenly began yelling at us aggressively. My daughter was terrified. I calmly asked her to lower her voice, but she continued screaming--following us into the gymnastics room in front of dozens of children. I have a heart condition and began feeling unwell from the stress, yet she would not stop. No staff intervened. I assumed the school would handle it properly, but I was wrong. Later, the owner defended the teacher, accused me of being a "criminal," and took zero responsibility. The real victims were my daughter and the many children who witnessed this unprovoked outburst. Parents should be aware of three serious concerns: 1. Poor safety - No security, unattended front desk, and children can easily wander outside to the street. I personally saw a 6-year-old disappear for 20 minutes. 2. Emotionally unstable ballet teacher - Multiple online reviews mention her history of yelling at kids when parents aren't present. 3. Unprofessional management - Canceled classes without notice, no accountability, and intimidation tactics from the owner, Serge. I regret not calling the police that day. If I had, maybe fewer children would be subjected to this behavior. Parents, please protect your children. A school should be a safe, nurturing place--not one where kids are traumatized and parents are threatened.

My 7 yo daughter has been here for just over a year now and we've really enjoyed our time here. She…read morehas learned so much at the grand academy already and has absolutely loved every second of it. The instructors are great with the kids - firm but kind. My daughter has had classes with Marina, Yelena, and Taylor and they're all wonderful. I've also taken some adult beginner classes with Marina and Yelena that I really enjoyed. The owner, Serge, is easily accessible and always willing to listen to any feedback or concerns I have. Operationally, there's some room for improvement but overall we've been really happy here and have seen a lot of progress over the last year.

For a dance studio, they do have a good amount of positives…read more They offer an average price of $18 for a drop-in class (whether it's for adults or youth classes). The instructors try to be inclusive and are consistent (meaning they teach more than one class every week). They all have a wide range of dance experience and you will not be disappointed by their expertise. You will not find difficulty joining or building a community as there are a lot of regulars from the area that are nice. The building itself is spacious and rental prices seem to be good as well (minimum starting price is $20 an hour). The different spaces they have varies between 4 rooms (Warehouse and Studios A/B/C). There is a small lot and if that's full, there is a decent amount of street parking. It's close to the freeway entrance and plenty of food and other attractions around the area. However, with some positives also comes some areas to improve upon. With the limited parking and street parking, I would recommend coming at least 10-15min early to make sure you can arrive on time to class. Their system tends to be slow at times and you may miss the first 3-10 minutes of class trying to look for parking or wait due to slow check in times. The other focus is the variety of dance classes (in terms of competency levels and styles of dance). It seems that this studio focuses more on hip-hop, Salsa, and Contemporary classes being the most accessible (sprinkled with a couple of jazz, heels, and k-pop once a week). They have the same round of teachers and it would be nice to try different dance styles and genres. This studio definitely can continue to upgrade and grow more! Would try this place at least once and see if it's your vibe.

Such a great dance studio with amazing instructors! Beginning to advanced- all levels are included!…read moreTheir instructors really help break down the steps, moves, etc to help you know the basics of each type of dance. You can learn salsa, samba, Lindy hop, jazz, contemporary, to even Bollywood! The pricing is reasonable and parking is available on their lot and on the street. Can't wait to keep learning from some of my favorite instructors!!

They have kids and adult classes. Teachers are pretty passionate and experienced with their dancing…read moreand footwork. We appreciate the teachers attention to kids and details at this facility.

A great studio with fun classes! Linda was great, kind, and very enthusiastic! I haven't taken a…read moredance class in over years and she made it so simple and fun! Can't wait to take more classes'

Great personal- understanding and with care (our teacher Page is amazing)! My daughter likes all…read morethe attebtion on her, and Page has such patence! I love how they do their best with each child to help them succeed in tiny steps!!

Attending Tutu School was my daughter's first extra curriculum activity and she looked forward to…read moreher class every week. Miss Genay's class was always fun and absolutely adorable to watch.

This review is long overdue! We are extremely happy with Tippi Toes, especially with Ms. Juliet…read more Ms. Juliet is very kind and patient with the kids. We love her and how tactful she is with all the kids. She's been our daughter's ballet instructor since she was 3 and just turned 5. They have a dance recital twice a year (spring and winter) and I love how they upload the dance video on YouTube so we can practice at home. Highly recommend! Very family friendly

We took a few Tippi Toes classes over the years that were excellent- super engaging teachers, and…read moremy daughter loved class. However, I think this year they have changed ownership and unfortunately the quality of the class seems to have gone down. We signed up for a class this fall, took one class and the teacher just let the music play and danced quietly along and the girls in class didn't have much instruction. We actually ended up pulling our daughter from the class. Hopefully they're doing something to improve the situation.

My daughter has been dancing for about 8 years and has left all other dance styles to peruse ballet…read moreexclusively. After leaving a couple places that she outgrew or weren't a good fit (and doing trial classes at many other studios in the area), we are SO grateful to have found this place. It took us awhile to discover since "ballet" isn't in the name, but we have been here over a year and my daughter's abilities have progressed wonderfully. The director, Miss Ashleigh, is kind, well organized, and she cares about then integrity of the school and the safety of the students. I cannot say enough good things about PDT!

Public Review Statements - Yelp/Google and Peer Hostility Context…read moreDate: August 05, 2025 Public Review for Yelp/Google: I attended private and group ballet sessions at Pasadena Dance Theatre (PDT) from October 2024 to April 2025. I am an educator and professional dancer with decades of experience, and I came seeking quality training. Unfortunately, what I encountered was a deeply troubling environment. The instructor I worked with, Julia Ortega, repeatedly failed to provide structured, technical ballet instruction during private sessions. Instead, she used the time I paid for, more than $6,500 total, to gossip about colleagues and other dancers. She also made repeated racially charged remarks, including derogatory comments about Black women such as Michelle Obama and me. One of the most dangerous incidents occurred when I was deliberately locked inside PDT's alarmed building. My shoes were moved to an office to make it appear I had left. This act placed me at physical risk, and when reported to the Pasadena Police Department, a report was taken without an arrest. I believe this reflects the broader racial bias and institutional neglect that occurred at PDT. I later learned internal staff dismissed my formal complaint with the note: 'Snooze and ignore.' Pattern of Peer Hostility and Complicity: There was a consistent atmosphere of peer hostility during classes. A woman named Kathy frequently belittled me, even announcing in front of others that fishnet tights are 'slutty', an apparent attempt to shame and humiliate. This behavior spanned years, including previous experiences at the Pasadena Conservatory of Dance. Despite my visible technical progress, regularly acknowledged by others, this hostility persisted and was ignored by instructors. Instructor Julia Ortega, instead of maintaining professional standards, appeared to absorb the toxic energy of the group. Her behavior toward me deteriorated, even though I was paying her for private sessions and supported her personally with gifts and supplements. She treated me with contempt and ultimately placed me in physical danger without remorse. PDT's leadership, including Ashleigh Doede, did not address any part of this misconduct, even when directly notified. Pasadena Dance Theatre may appear to offer professional training, but the experience I received was unsafe, unethical, and racially hostile. I do not recommend this school to anyone seeking legitimate ballet instruction or respectful treatment. The organization lacks the artistic integrity and human decency necessary to represent ballet as a fine art.