Me and my daughter fell in love with this company three years ago. We both love to dance fokloroko…read more We will see what the future holds

I was a part of DanzArts' adult company Sabor Mexico for three years, and while I came in hopeful…read moreand excited to dance, what I experienced was a toxic environment fueled by manipulation, favoritism, and complete lack of professionalism from the director, Patricia Astorga. Patricia is the opposite of what a leader should be. The moment she senses loyalty from you, she will use you to your breaking point assigning every task possible just to avoid lifting a finger herself. Dancers are expected to travel long distances for performances (many of them physically demanding) and not only don't get paid we're also expected to pay out of pocket for gas and other expenses. Zero compensation, zero appreciation. The company's board? Just her inner circle of close friends who are completely biased and will twist your words to defend Patricia, no matter how valid your concerns are. When you finally see her true colors, you realize this is not a healthy dance community it's a dictatorship masked as a cultural organization. Patricia has spoken badly about her own dancers behind their backs including her co-director and has actively stirred drama to turn people against each other. She even body shamed me when a 13year old dress ripped as I put it on ( I'm not overweight). Instead of offering help or support, she made it a moment of shame. Financially, the lack of transparency is disturbing. She collects donations and won't even tell her board where the money goes. Meanwhile, we've seen her use the company credit card for personal expenses like hair appointments. During a trip to Campeche in 2023, each dancer was required to pay over $300 "for food" to this day, no one knows where that money went. This review only covers the adult side of DanzArts. When it comes to the children's academy, Patricia is rarely present at all. It was Kristina Cunningham, a now former leader who left due to similar issues, who raised funds and ran the program. Patricia allegedly took the kids' fundraising money too, and again no explanation was ever given. If you're looking for a loyal, respectful, and inspiring dance community, THIS IS NOT IT. I wish someone had warned me sooner so I'm warning you now.

My husband found Creative Dance Theatre 3 years ago when we were looking to move to another studio…read moreafter aging out of the current school. I messaged with the owner and office manager and my child was able to attend a class to see if it was good fit. It was. First year they took tap/ballet and a yoga class. Year 2 was tap/ballet and cheer/pop, year 3 is ballet/contemporary and Acro. They have a wide variety of classes, with varying age groups, offered daily at various times, making it easy to find a class to fit your child's age and schedule. Because it is a small studio, it is a more personalized experience. Class sizes are a reasonable amount, the same teachers teach year to year, the owner and office manager are very responsive to emails (my primary way of communication). The school dance "year" follows SDUSD schedule. Starting in August and finishing in May. The yearly recital is held in May and is optional. If your dancer wants to participate they can, but if they prefer not to do they do not have to and their dance "year" ends at the end of the current payment cycle (end of February). In addition to dance classes during the year, they have added dance camps. They host birthday parties and have a summer session if kids want to dance during the summer. Since the summer classes are a shorter length of time it is a great time to try a type of dance that your dancer may not be as sure of. With that said if your child is at an age where they can do 2 different classes with an age range for example ballet/tap 4-6 years old or ballet/tap 6-9 years old if you start in one class and feel like your child would be a better fit in another you can swap. I think it is dependent upon the teacher agreeing. I feel like when we switched to this studio my child did the younger and older class and the teacher is like "they would be fine in either" so we selected the older aged class. The teachers do a great job of teaching a group of kids with varying experiences. They are patient and explain the dance steps and make recommendations or modifications based on the child. The classes are a stretch, warm up, dance and then dismissal. Since this is a non competitive school each child is met where they are and allowed to learn and grow at their own pace. The other thing, I have enjoyed as well as my child is that while there is an "adult" teacher there is also a "student" teacher. These are usually students who are in high school who also dance at the studio. Many of these student teachers have been dancing at CDT since they were the age of my child! Billing switched last year from monthly to 3 payments spread out at enrollment, November and February. If doing the block payments is an issue if you reach out to the owner and office manager they are very reasonable with finding payment terms that work with your family and budget. If you take multiple classes there is a 10% discount. The dress code is dance wear but they are very flexible in what the kids can wear. No pressure to buy from them or a certain studio. For ballet ( my child is not en pointe) I have ordered leotards and ballet shoes on Amazon. I also ordered tap shoes on Amazon, as at this age the size changes quickly. The studio even keeps a supply of shoes at the studio (usually previous dancers shoes in good condition) so if your child forgets them or maybe in between sizes you can "try before you buy." All of the information about the studio, pricing, classes, attire is found on their website. It is easy to communicate with the owner and office manager. If there was a downside I would say that it is not being able to communicate directly with your child's teacher if they might be absent (due to illness). I typically just email the office manager and owner and ask them to pass along the message but there have been some hiccups this year with some information being communicated and needing a response in one class but nothing was communicated in the other class. It was easily resolved by an email to the owner and office manager, and I understand they are busy managing a lot of teachers, kids, parents etc but it is truly the only compliant I can think of. If you live in the area, have a child in the area I highly recommend checking them out!

This studio is a great spot to help kids of all levels become comfortable with dancing! All of the…read morestaff are so welcoming, while providing the students a discipline of learning new skills. Rosie loves going to dance at this studio for the last five years!!!

30 something former dancer here. While it's been over a decade and a half since I've danced…read morecompetitively, every once in a while, I still get the urge to get back into the studio! I love that my brain still thinks I can whip out fouettes, when in reality, I'm far from even 50% as flexible as I once was. But finding the right studio is about getting to have fun and dance. I attended a Jazz Funk class at Play Studio and it was so fun! I appreciated that the class was a challenge. This studio is suited for people with dance experience. While there are likely people here training to dance professionally, there are also people who are just here for fun. But, I like that the classes are at a level that create a challenge and keep your brain moving as you move through the choreo. I hate a boring class and this wasn't the least bit boring at all. The class moved quickly! The vibe was good and it feels like there's a nice community here. I love the variety of options they have and I'm excited to try a pom class next. The studio is located on the second floor of the building. Parking in the area is tough. Although the studio has a parking lot, there are very few spots. There are paid spots across the street, but it's tough to find a free spot, so leave yourself some time.

The facility was great and the owner was really kind and accommodating during my rental. The…read moreclasses and staff are also great. I liked the unique lighting and Marley flooring. The parking lot was also very convenient.

We are part of the ID community and my autistic son takes piano and drum lessons here. They are so…read morewelcoming, kind, passionate, and patient. They go out of their way to make sure all of their students feel seen and part of the community they cultivate. I really appreciate being able to come here. The Rubio family and all the staff are amazing.

We do mini ballet/tap dance classes for our toddler. Love the instructor. Very friendly staff and…read morenice facility. Support local studio!

Seems a great company and collection of events on paper and print, I am unimpressed by the creative…read moredirectors view of young women, telling them they are fat when they are waif like,...when will we understand that a woman (not a girl) is rarely a size zero without a disorder or medical condition. Objectification at it's finest..

Came in for a drop-in class ($20) and did not have cash on me. The lady at the desk still let me…read moretake the class and told me I could pay next time I come around since I take class upstairs at Malashock. I thought that was nice! This place is cash or check only so be prepared for that! I came and took an adult beginning ballet class and it was fine. I think it is slightly expensive and the member fee is high. I paid for a membership with Malashock and was under the impression that it covered all 3 resident companies at San Diego Dance Place. However, the Malashock membership apparently does not crossover to San Diego School of Ballet. I will probably come again after I try other different ballet studios in the area.

My daughter Raelyn attended here and we simply loved it! Ms Simone was as actually really nice and…read moremade sure my child felt seen and pushed her to her limits and beyond! being a military family going into this school my daughter had to make new friends and although she does well the staff did a great job making her transition smooth! Ms Simone holds the kids to a high standard as well as the parents and as long as your following policy and being prompt you will really enjoy this studio. The performances are beautiful and truly a work of art!

Our daughter Ariana attended San Diego Academy of Ballet from the time she was four until about…read morefive and a half, and her experience there was truly wonderful. Her teacher, Kelsey, was patient, kind, and incredibly attentive, creating a calm and encouraging environment where young children could learn and grow with confidence. Ariana loved her classes and often talked about them at home, practicing movements and expressing genuine excitement about ballet. The teaching style struck a beautiful balance between structure and warmth, helping her build coordination, musicality, and a love for the art without pressure. We had to pause due to welcoming a newborn and a particularly busy season for our family, but we absolutely plan to return once things settle down. San Diego Academy of Ballet left a very positive impression on us, and we would happily recommend it to families looking for thoughtful, high-quality ballet instruction.

I highly recommend Silke! She is a fantastic dance teacher. She is patient and makes dance lessons…read morefun and comfortable. My boyfriend and I took merengue and bachata lessons. He did not expect to be good at it but Silke instilled confidence in him and he did great. Now he loves dancing merengue with me! Go see Silke!

Wow! If you want to learn to dance..... if you want to learn how to do isolated moves…read more... And oh yeah!!! Have fun....call Silke. This teacher knows how to dance and most importantly teach you how to dance. A+ what a treasure !!!

Love this hula school! Wonderful people who appreciate the hula culture. Love seeing everyone…read moreperform from the very little kids all the way to the retired. A great place full of Aloha!

I've been with Makani Kai for over a year now, and I just want to say that Makani Kai isn't just…read moredance school, it's family now. I have previously danced with other halaus throughout NorCal/SoCal and let me tell you that Auntie Laka is the NICEST kumu ever! My previous kumus were so focused on winning and it made dancing horrible! Auntie Laka is all about LOVE LOVE LOVE. If you're looking for a place to belong, it's here. Other halaus that I've danced with I quit super soon just because they made it all about winning competitions and it never became fun anymore. Makani Kai is all about the love of the dance. I'm so shocked at how close I've become with some of the hula sisters in the time that I've been here. I'm usually extremely introverted and I was at first when I joined, but honestly I've never felt more at home away from my real family than here at Makani Kai! Everyone is SO FRIENDLY! You'll find yourself spending time with the hula girls outside of class! I wish I joined Makani Kai earlier! I LOVE YOU OHANA!