This review is long overdue, given that I have been taking dance lessons from Leo for over 5 years…read more Before I started dance lessons, I thought I was a complete dance klutz with uncooperative feet. But taking lessons with a professional and patient instructor like Leo who also makes my lessons fun and entertaining has given me the confidence to actually compete in ballroom dance competitions and perform in dance showcases. I will miss my "happy place" when I move out of the area in a few weeks. I HIGHLY recommend Pacific Grove Dance studio. Dancing is fun!!!

I don't know what's been happening to me lately…read more When I have quiet time for myself, I find myself reviewing Argentine Tango moves and steps in my mind. While at the gym pumping iron, I find myself walking tango steps between sets trying to master the moves. I don't even care what the guys think anymore. I've been thinking of traveling to Buenos Aires to spend late night evenings out at milongas doing tango till the sun comes up... I'm even thinking of buying some colorful tango sneakers from Buenos Aires through the internet. Ok, they're purple and lavender...I'm comfortable enough with my manhood to admit it...! Oh Man, I've got the tango bug. I can't believe it...whatsup with me...? What is it about the dance that makes you want more? I don't know. But, when you are dancing with a woman in closed embrace and you feel her close to you, cheek-to-cheek, and you are moving in unison to the music the world slips away. All you feel is the movement of two bodies as one swaying though the dance floor oblivious to the world around you. There is no world: only the music and the movement and the embrace of your partner. You move forward to start a crusada and feel the floor glide beneath you, you come to the cross and hesitate, and release to forward or backwards ochos, and then close-out with closed tango...and then you walk, walk, walk..... In closed embrace you cannot see your partner's eyes, but you feel the wisps of her hair grazing your face; your legs, your pelvis, your chest, your face are all fused together with your partner's body. Nothing needs to be said, tango is a dance of close connection, of feeling, of passion, of intimacy... Shall We Dance in Pacific Grove offers tango classes on Wednesday nights. They are about $10.00 a class. And, yes, they are worth it...!

I have had two daughters dance here for many years, and with my youngest now graduating, I wanted…read moreto share our experience. After starting in recreational classes, both of my daughters chose the competitive path, which has been an incredible journey. Not only have they grown tremendously in their technique, but they have also learned valuable life skills such as teamwork, discipline, commitment, and perseverance. What stands out most is that this studio continues to get better every year. It has been exciting to watch its growth and evolution. The coaches are talented, supportive, and genuinely invested in their dancers. My daughters loved spending their time here, and it became so much more than just a dance studio. They built lifelong friendships, created wonderful memories, and gained coaches who continue to cheer them on both inside and outside the studio. Another thing I appreciate is that there truly is something for everyone. Whether your child is looking for recreational classes or wants to pursue dance at a highly competitive level, there are opportunities to fit their goals and interests. This studio has always prioritized quality over quantity, and that commitment shows. We are incredibly grateful for the years, experiences, and relationships that have come from being part of this dance family.

My daughter danced with the Dance Center for 6 years and it was the most wonderful experience. She…read moremade an incredible friend group and had great instructors. Highly recommend.

The Salinas School of Dance has been an amazing part of my daughter's life. She has been dancing…read morethere since she was 3 years old and is now 12. The poise, grace and confidence that my daughter is partially due to her experiences here. The staff has always been more than helpful and the owner is a wonderful instructor, director and roll model for all that have the pleasure of meeting her. I have never seen or heard of any incidents of "laying hands", as reported by another yelper, in all of the years my daughter has been studying there. The owner and her staff go above and beyond to keep the children safe while in their care for classes. If anything the owner and staff have the patience of saints when dealing with occationally fussy children and more often than not difficult parents.

My daughter is 4 yrs old and has been attending Salinas School of Dance for a year now. We love it,…read moreshe loves it. For the younger ages, parents are not allowed to be in the room to avoid distraction. Once in a while they will let the parents in to observe the last 15 minutes of class. The first time I was able to observe, my daughter was very distracted with all the parents watching. Makes sense why parents should not be present. The second time I was able to observe, my daughter was more used to the routine and did a whole lot better. For Mother's Day, they allowed the moms to take the class with the students. That was super cute Both owners have been super nice. You can tell they love what they do. I email Them when I have questions and they respond right away. I wouldn't take my daughter anywhere else.

This place is amazing and truly feels like family. From the warm welcome to the caring teachers,…read moreJeanne Robinson Dance Studio creates a positive and encouraging environment. My three-year-old daughter absolutely loves her class and talks about it all week. She gets excited knowing she'll see her teachers and friends every Saturday. The instructors are patient, kind, and great with young children, making learning fun and confidence-building. Watching my daughter grow, smile, and feel comfortable here means everything to us. We're grateful to be part of such a wonderful studio community.

I just enrolled both my daughters ( 4yrs & 16yrs old) and they are both beginners! The staff is so…read morenice and very welcoming. So far my 4 year old loves the class. My 16yr old will start later this week in the teen class. We observed Mrs. Heather in the adult class and even though my daughter really wanted to stay and join her class she wants to be involved with recitals and the adult class doesn't participate in recitals so she will have to join the teen class. Hopefully she likes it because she is very quiet and shy . I was recommended by family and friends and so far so good!

I am a 50+ year-old adult woman absolutely loving the Wednesday at 10 am tap dance class at…read moreRockStar. We are a small group of local woman in beginner to advanced beginner stages. The gals are nice and non-judgemental. Teacher Stevie has the patience of Job and smile, kindness, to match. Come join us. I understand 1st lesson is free to see if you like it.

My 5 year old has been attending classes at RockStar for a few months now. She loves going to…read moreclass every Saturday and is all she talks about all week. Miss Nicole is awesome and we love her. She is an amazing dance instructor. Miss Stevie has led the class as well and she is awesome too. Their love for dance has instilled a love for dance in my daughter and I look forward for that love to grow.

I've been taking the contemporary dance class with Cambell at this studio for about half a year…read morenow. The atmosphere is so fun and creatively charged -- it's the kind of space where you immediately feel free to express yourself and explore movement without judgment. I didn't have any dancing experience prior to this class and Cambell has been such an amazingly supportive and inspiring instructor! She choreographes beautiful moves which are both elegant and intentional. Some of them challenging but that's also what I like about this class -- I get to learn and push my dancing boundaries. She's very supportive and takes time to explain and answer all our questions. We always start with a thoughtful warm-up and stretching session to prep our bodies and prevent injuries, which I really appreciate. It sets a grounded, focused tone for the rest of the class. The group vibe is super positive too -- everyone is supportive and uplifting, and there's a real sense of community.

I trained a martial arts program called Limalama at Synergy Dance Fitness in Aptos starting early…read more2018 until the class shut down in November 2025. While I can say the program started out well the first couple years but after instructors and ownership eventually changed just about everything went downhill from there on. Here's the problems I faced that destroyed the quality of the program: Class went from training 3 times a week to 2 times a week but still charged $100 per month Scheduled class time would randomly change At one point they tried to charge students for belt tests even though we were previously told that would never happen Belts were rewarded as a way to keep students hush and cover the low quality of the program No organization for class structure or training material The program never had sufficient equipment Half of class material was training that could be done at home without help I was charged as a student for several classes that I taught when the instructor was absent. When I asked they basically said the class doesn't bring in enough money and tried to deny that I taught enough classes. Instructor was constantly absent Instructor would arrive late and leave class early Instructor would occasionally cancel class and claim there would be a makeup class but would never follow through Instructor had very little motivation and no concern for teaching material Instructor did not have enough training experience to lead a program Instructor would reject any idea to help make the program better Instructor would complain about formality of students while not respecting formality himself

My daughter (9 years old) just completed 2 different summer dance camps here. The camps were each a…read moreweek, with different themes. My daughter had a lot of fun at the camps offered. She also learned a lot of wonderful, diverse dance moves. The instructors (probably late teens/college students) and are very sweet and outgoing. The camp offered healthy snacks and crafts related to the theme/or era of the dance. My daughter now wants to take regular classes here, so we'll be signing up. We live in the mountains, so it's a bit of a drive, but it's worth it.

Our two daughters just took several dance classes at this small-but-bustling studio and were so…read morehappy there. The teachers are nurturing and supportive and the whole environment is really fun. This studio has been around forever....long enough to be considered a Santa Cruz County institution. They moved about a year ago from their longtime location on 41st Avenue and now are in (IMO) a MUCH easier and better location on Bay Ave across the street from Nob Hill. (They are in the same center with Dairy Queen.) My girls are preschool and elementary age but if you look at their website you'll see that this studio offers many classes for all ages including adults. We live out of town (were in town for summer classes) otherwise I would definitely take yoga and bellydance at Dancenter. I believe this studio offers the widest variety of bellydance classes in a single location in the county. I also really appreciate that the studio does a lot of community-involved work such as supporting National Dance Week, performing at local events like the Art & Wine Festival, and classes for kids & adults with special needs. Prices are comparable to other area studios.

Great classes for my son. He does the hip-hop dance. Teachers are sweet and great at what they do…read more My son loves coming here and I definitely appreciate the non-competitive environment.

My favorite dance studio in Santa Cruz County!read more

The best dance studio in the county! My daughter has been dancing there for the past 9 years and it…read moreis her JOY in her life! They accept everyone here. It feels like a family here! They honor the seniors who graduate every year with a luncheon and speeches about who these dancers turn out to be. Please come be apart of this special place and the family.

Elaine's dance studio provides a very warm, friendly, yet a professional place to bring your…read morechild/teen of any age! I danced with EDS from ages 7-15 1/2yrs. this was where I learned discipline, rhythm, creativeness and of course enjoyed many fun forms of dance! Elaine teaches a variety or dance classes: jazz, tap, ballet, acrobats and hip hop! She has a wonderful staff and a large/sound proof studio in a very convenient location! We love Elaine and will always remember her positive impact on our childhood! You will never forget some of those dance moves either! ;)

The TWDCC is a wonderful, inclusive place for any kid who enjoys dancing. We have been there for 3…read moreyears and my child has taken many classes and enjoys the instructors, the culture, and the skills she learns. Thanks so much to all the special people that help make this a great place!

DId I say I LOVE TWDCC? I LOVE TWDCC! It is the one dance community that truly hosts a diverse set…read moreof people who love movement, dance and music. Cat (Boss Lady) and her Crew have created a space where everyone feels welcome, regardless of income level, or any other status. The programs for dancers are tailored so that each individual dancer feels seen and honored for her/his skills. The 'companies' take the dancers to another level, where they can jump off when ready and move into the worldwide dance community with confidence in knowing they have developed themselves for more than just awesome dancers. They create leadership skills, faith in community, and a feeling of knowing they can do what they want with their lives.