Let me start with this: I need to eat my humble pie…read more I chanced upon this school years ago (old location, pre pandemic) - took some classes and was underwhelemed because it was a bit different from what I was used to. Then, I enrolled my child here. I watched their improvement and growth in dance. Guidance and corrections sprinkled with love and kindness. I watched advanced students perform and showcase their OWN work and was blown away by their talent. Suffice to say, comparision is the thief of joy and clearsighted-ness. You need to understand the environment before even making a comment or judgement. Also, and this is VERY important - - I LOVE and APPRECIATE that their advanced students dont have a homogenous "look". They come in all heights, shapes and sizes. One of my biggest fears about classical ballet schools/non competition dance schools is that you will see a clear "standard look" once you go past a certain level. I cant imagine how jarring that might be for an impressionable child who is growing into their body. I feel that seeing that GOOD dancers can come in all shapes and sizes is a testament on its own and a quiet, but powerful positive message that gets relayed to the younger students. Thankful to be part of this community! Thank you to the admin and staff for making this community welcoming and safe on top having a wonderful space to learn and grow as a dancer/performer!

We came to this dance school by word of mouth. And we are so glad that we had!…read more We took a 30-min private lesson ($35) to access which class would fit her best and tried the creative dance class! At Dance Connection Performing Arts Center in Concord, our 3.5 yo daughter was escorted a number of times out of her intro to ballet and tap class for 2.5 to 4 yo for "not listening." So we ditched that studio and tried this one! (But we did try a kinder teacher at DCPAC before leaving.) The Creative Dance class (single drop-in for $25, 10-class pack for $185) at The Ballet School is perfect for her, especially since she has a slow-to-warm-up temperament and is sensitive to loud sounds (ie. music, flushing toilets, leaf blowers, etc.). The value for these drop-in creative dance classes is excellent because we are willing to pay a few dollars more for our little one to have a positive experience with dance. Drop-in means that they are understanding that some days the littles aren't having a good enough day to join class and/or sick. (Btw, $45 one-time registration fee) Regarding the rest of the school, I can tell that there is a huge selection of classes including music. As a music teacher working at a music academy, I can't access the quality. However, I know there is a department near the entrance way. If you haven't tried this school, just know it supports Healthy Dance, and are a part of Dance Awareness: No Child Exploited. This was a huge factor of why we chose this school for our daughter.

My daughter has been a CAPA dancer for over 8 years. Not only has she made long lasting…read morefriendships but she has learned the beauty in art. CAPA has a staff that is not only professional but also very talented. I would recommend this dance studio to any family that wants to be part of a greater family!

This dance academy is so organized, it is nothing short of impressive. Lynn replies to all…read morequestions and all emails. And that what we call a good manager. Teachers teach well consequently it works like clock work. It is located in a pleasant plaza with ample parking , the different studios are kept clean, tidy. So far my ballet one student is delighted. It has taught her a thing or two about posture , movement, breathing and music. All this in a supportive and committed way which I appreciate. The cost of the full hour class is very reasonable and the Lyme ta are managed well. Could not be happier.

This is a wonderful studio of caring and supportive teachers and dancers! Thank you to Ace Dance…read moreAcademy for fostering my daughter's love for dance!

This is a wonderful studio. The team is very responsive and attentive to our needs and requests,…read moreand I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a dance studio for their child in the Walnut Creek area.

My daughter absolutely loves Jackie! Jackie is absolutely amazing with all her students, you can…read morereally see she takes the time for each one! Hip hop class is remarkable my daughter can't stop won't stop dancing and practicing all her new and old moves! This is the first time my daughter has ever been super excited to go to dance and super pumped after she leaves wanted more! Highly recommended this studio! Thank you Jackie!

The older dancers lead by bad example, not respectful.read more

I have spent a long time debating whether to write this review because Starlight was once a place…read moremy child genuinely loved. Unfortunately, many of the issues that ultimately led us to leave were not isolated incidents, they were patterns that existed for years and appeared to worsen as the owner took on more stress. Constructive criticism is not an attack. Honest feedback is not disloyalty. The common denominator throughout the concerns many families raised was leadership. Communication problems were present long before the recent turmoil, but they became significantly more noticeable as the program grew. Important information was often delayed, incomplete, changed without explanation, or communicated differently to different groups of people. Parents frequently found themselves piecing together information from rumors, social media, group texts, and other families rather than receiving clear and consistent communication directly from leadership. The situation surrounding the temporary location (without heat/AC and wall) and construction delays was particularly frustrating. Families were repeatedly given timelines and explanations that changed over time, creating confusion and eroding trust. We were told at one point that construction was halted due to human remains being found, this was false. As a parent of a neurodivergent child, I was also disappointed by decisions that appeared to overlook the needs of many students in the program. Despite the owner stating that Starlight is "inclusive and welcoming to all". The owner even going as far as stating "LGBTQ and neurodivergent kids are my specialty". One example was the creation of a teen group chat used for communication while excluding parents from those conversations. Most of the students involved were freshman, many of whom are neurodivergent and rely on adult support to manage schedules, stay organized, and process information. Removing parents from those communications created unnecessary barriers and left families struggling to ensure their children had accurate information. I was further troubled by comments made about students and families. Hearing a neurodivergent child who was struggling emotionally described as "throwing a hissy fit" demonstrated a lack of understanding and compassion that I would expect from a youth program serving diverse learners. I watched as students were guilted into taking on more responsibilities/roles than they wanted despite their feelings being clearly communicated. Likewise, hearing concerned parents characterized as "entitled" was disheartening. Parents were not asking for special treatment,they were asking for transparency, consistency, and accountability after investing significant time, money, and trust into the organization. The saddest part is that the students were often caught in the middle of adult decisions and conflicts. The children showed up to learn, perform, build friendships, and pursue something they loved. They deserved stability, professionalism, and leadership that modeled healthy communication and accountability. The students deserve nothing less. One of the most frustrating aspects of this experience is that many of the concerns raised by families over the years have never seemed to be genuinely acknowledged. Instead, there appears to be a pattern where criticism is immediately dismissed, explained away, or attributed to misunderstandings rather than treated as an opportunity for reflection and growth. Even when families take the time to leave thoughtful feedback or reviews, the response often seems focused on defending decisions, challenging the person's account, or explaining why their experience wasn't valid rather than recognizing that multiple families may be raising similar concerns. When every concern is attributed to a misunderstanding, a disgruntled parent, or someone who simply doesn't know the full story, it becomes difficult to believe that meaningful accountability is taking place. At some point, when the same themes continue to emerge from multiple families over multiple years communication issues, lack of transparency, shifting narratives, exclusion of parents, and dismissive responses to concerns. It is worth considering whether those concerns deserve genuine reflection rather than another explanation for why they aren't true. Again, constructive criticism is not an attack. Honest feedback is not disloyalty. Families who speak up are often doing so because they care deeply about the students and want the organization to succeed. Unfortunately, too often it felt like those voices were viewed as a threat rather than an opportunity to improve.

My daughter is absolutely thriving at Starlight Performing Arts. She does both competitive dance…read moreand theatre. Both are wonderful programs. Under the direction of the new dance director, Miss Gemma, she has been growing leaps and bounds. There have been some recent changes made, and we feel that things have really improved in the way of organization, communication, and professionalism. With the change in dance program director, communication is excellent. Everything we need to know, we know well ahead of schedule. We are now a well-oiled machine! We love all of the staff at Starlight. They are are professional and beyond welcoming and loving. Most importantly, the children in the program are thriving. This is my daughter's second year with the team, and to see her now is just incredible. We are so happy with the dance program and the theatre program. Another thing worth mentioning is that Starlight shows are incredibly well put on. You will not find a more beautiful show than ones performed by Starlight. The sets, the costumes, the music, the acting, the singing. Just wow!!! I've never seen anything like it. When I go to their Jr Broadway shows, I feel like I've stepped into another world. The passion behind this performing arts company is incredible!! Chelsea and her team are wildly talented, and they know how to pull the best from every performer. We feel incredibly blessed to be a part of the Starlight family.

I LOVED the Beginning and Back to Basics Ballet classes with Hiroko! I've been searching for adult…read morebeginner ballet classes in the area, but it was hard to find one truly tailored for adult beginners--where I could learn proper positions and fundamental techniques. I'm so glad I found Hiroko's classes. She genuinely cares about each student's form and takes the time to correct our poses and steps. I really appreciate her patience and understanding. I only wish they can add more Back to Basics class options on weekends or in the evenings so I could attend after work. Thank you, Hiroko, for reigniting my passion for ballet!

I was enrolled in an adult ballet class taught by Hiroko Shabuya. Though she seemed nice, it was a…read morewaste of money. She selected a few of the best ballet dancers in the class to act as lead dancers for a production we were to perform as a class. The rest of us were relegated to be background dancers. This meant most of us waited around for her attention or practiced simple movements, while Hiroko focused on teaching the main dancers their roles. I felt like my money was wasted since her focus was on a few of the best dancers and teaching them their intricate choreography, while the rest of us did not get much individual attention.

Studio A has been home to my dancer since she was three years old. The teachers and director foster…read morea family environment where you feel you belong. Whether it's just taking rec classes or you are a veteran company dancer, people are treated the same. We have been very happy with our Studio A family.

This is my first season here at Studio A, my daughter has been dancing for 12 seasons and this is…read moreby far the BEST season she's had! It's been so great, my younger daughter also wanted to start taking classes as well! All of the kids and parents are warm and welcoming. You can really tell that Aggie loves and cares for the kids and families who come here! The kids have fun here in addition to their great training and choreography. My daughter's confidence has soared this season! This is exactly the type of environment we were looking for when we signed up for dance!! Not to mention they offer adult dance class as well that I am a part of. We've had a blast this season and can't wait for next season to start!

My daughter has been attending here for over 2-2.5 years. Over the course, she had multiple…read moreteachers. It was a rough start as the teacher was impatient and scolded her in front of everyone for not keeping her personal space (she was only 4 and it was only her second class) She started feeling very anxious and refused to go to ballet despite loving to dance. Luckily, we sticked with our gut feeling and removed her from that class immediately. We tried another class with a different teacher ( i think it was Ms Dominique) Although she was young, she was very patient and gentle. It had a huge impact and my daughter become feeling more comfortable and enjoyed ballet at Tutu school. She was moved to Ms Leah's class, who was also amazing. She's now in Ms Hannah's class. We love Ms Hannah as her teacher because she's balanced between patient, supportive, but also not afraid to challenge the girls and reinforce structure in the class. That has pushed my daughter to become a better dancer (as we know older ballet classes are very strict). My daughter has become more confident and skillful and always looks forward to come to ballet at Tutu school.

My daughter has been attending Tutu School Walnut Creek for nearly half a year now--and she…read moreabsolutely loves it! She's becoming more skillful, more confident, and genuinely looks forward to each class with so much joy. What truly makes the experience so special are the instructors, especially Ms. Tina. I can't thank her enough for her patience, expertise, and dedication. She is incredibly thorough in her instruction and deeply attentive to each child. Her calm, gentle demeanor works like magic--the children stay focused and engaged, even when there are occasional distractions, whether from other students or a parent on the phone. Thanks to teachers like Ms. Tina, my daughter will continue her ballet journey here. Not only is Ms. Tina a fantastic instructor for the kids, but she's also a wonderful mentor to the newly hired teachers--no wonder the entire team is so exceptional. Thank you, Ms. Tina, for everything you do. My daughter and all the little ballerinas are so lucky to learn from you!