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.

My daughter has been going to dance classes for multiple years and this is by far the worst I've…read morebeen to. Terrible at responding. I've send about 4 emails about questions with the classes and I received zero response. I'm so disappointed with the admin and owners. We eventually tried one class and they have the windows covered or tinted SO dark. You can't even see how your child is doing during the class. I understand that they do this so kids aren't distracted, but at least have monitors or some kind of viewing option for parents to see the progress of their child.

both of my kids take dance classes here and they LOVE it! every instructor we've had have been very…read morekind and patient. the monthly tuition are super reasonable and they have a variety of fun dance classes! hip hop, kpop, jazz, ballet, break dancing, etc. highly recommend!

This review is based on our experience in Ms. Alexis' Primary A/B ballet class…read more Firstly, I want to give Ms. Alexis a 5 star rating on how well she works with young girls. She was able to magically sweep my 5-year-old daughter away into a fairytale land where she imagined all of her favorite things and learned proper ballet techniques, strengthened and stretched her body, and had fun dancing with her friends. She loved it so much, we wished it was more than once a week and didn't stop for summer break. Something I would like to see more of is the teaching of short dance routines after all of the typical exercises they do. One thing that many of the parents were dissatisfied with was how often there was a substitute teacher, and the general lack of communication there was regarding class schedules and offerings from the office. I hope this review will help you in deciding which program to put your child in, and will provide the school some insite into our experience. We're looking forward to returning for the upcoming fall session!

This is a premiere dance school run by a talented and inspired dancer. I have seen her work over…read morethe past 20 (30?) years. I know dancers who have learned from her and they all have been very happy and well-trained. Her performances that she creates have been nothing short of brilliant. Erin has a passion for her work. She is caring and involved with her school like no one else that I know. If you or your child is looking for a place to learn dance, I'd recommend this school. You will learn correctly - but on a good gradient - not too fast, not to slow - with the end being a wonderful dancer, to your best ability.

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.

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!!

We have been part of the SMDC family since 2018 when my daughter was 6 and it's been a 2nd home…read more Being a woman (and mom!) owned and ran business, everyone there really focuses on helping our children grow up into good people, not just great dancers. The studio recently won the Sportsmanship award at a recent competition and that really showcases the values of the studio. Not only that, they focus on my daughter's growth. When all the pressure of being a teenager hits, I can meet with the studio owner and get help working through it...whether it be taking a break from dance classes for a week, or great mom advice. It's also a great dance school.

We've been part of SMDC for almost 10 years, and it has truly been an incredible experience for our…read morefamily. My daughter has trained in a wide range of styles--jazz, lyrical, tap, and ballet--and the quality of instruction across the board has been outstanding. The teachers and staff are not only highly knowledgeable, but also genuinely warm and supportive. They create an environment where dancers feel encouraged, challenged, and valued. Being part of the competitive dance team has been especially meaningful. It's helped my daughter grow tremendously--not just as a dancer, but as a person. She's gained confidence, discipline, and lasting friendships. One of her absolute favorite experiences each year is performing in The Nutcracker. It's such a special opportunity, and SMDC makes it feel magical while still maintaining a nurturing, positive atmosphere. We're so grateful to be part of such a loving and dedicated dance community. I highly recommend SMDC to anyone looking for a studio that combines excellent training with heart.

My kid has been coming here for a few weeks and he's having a blast in the hip hop class. The class…read moreis great for his age, 5.5 and the instructor Chris is A+. We had a few substitute teachers and all were wonderful except for one. We had an issue where one of the other students was causing trouble, but the sub didn't care. I didn't mind too much since I knew it was just a one off class that day. For the young class, they do some warm ups, learn some moves and have fun at the end. This is a great intro to performance and all the kids seem to enjoy it.

I came in for a free trial to see if it was the right fit for my son ( definitely wasn't the right…read morefit) all they did was stretch and play hide n seek. (They definitely did play hide and seek I stayed the whole time and watched so don't say I'm making accusations. ) Thank you. I then let them know that I will think about it. I then was harassed and kept getting phone calls DAILY. and voicemails about that class. If someone doesn't answer the phone 2 days in a row stop calling. I literally had to block their number.

They do not reply emails, they do not return phone calls…read more Not sure how they stay in business.

This place never has someone picking up the phone. It is so inconvenient. They have a phone…read morenumber listed however that number never goes through.

We couldn't be more thrilled with our experience at Petite Feet under the guidance of Ms.Liz. My…read moredaughter has been dancing with her for two amazing years, and the transformation has been truly beautiful. The age 3-5 class was such a warm, imaginative introduction to movement, it felt playful, expressive, and anything but rigid. Once she stepped into the age 5-7 classes, Ms.Liz gently incorporated classical ballet elements that deepened our daughter's technique while still honoring her personal rhythm and joy. What truly makes Ms.Liz exceptional is her playful/nurturing presence and socio‑emotional awareness. She creates a safe and encouraging atmosphere where kids feel seen and heard, building both their confidence and their love for dance. Our daughter has blossomed, not only physically, but emotionally--discovering freedom in movement, increased self‑assurance, and a real, wholehearted passion for dance. If you're looking for a teacher who blends artistry with empathy, someone who understands that movement is as much about the heart as it is about technique, Ms.Liz at Petite Feet is a rare gem. Highly recommend!

We absolutely love Ms Liz and Petite Feet Dance! We are in the 2-4 year old class and they are so…read moremuch fun. Classes are so imaginative and educational -- Ms Liz brings in fun props, books, etc. to make each class unique and engaging. It's so much more than a dance class -- we learn about different traditions, holidays, and cultures. She is an incredible teacher; she makes sure every child gets a chance to shine in the class. She is one of the most patient and understanding teachers we've had! My daughter has a lot of energy so we enroll her in a number of activities but Ms Liz is by far her favorite teacher. :) At the end of the spring session, she coordinated a small recital with costumes which was super cute and a wonderful experience. I always recommend Petite Feet Dance to all of our friends and am glad it's now a bit closer to us in Pasadena, although I'd be willing to make the drive to wherever she teaches!

I hosted my father's celebration of life at the Lodge. It was my first time renting a venue and…read moreoverall was great experience. From the initial contact with Stefanie, to the coordination beforehand, and finally the day of the event. All went smoothly and Stefanie was very informative and accommodating. Great price as well. We had almost 80 people show up and this was a great space for it. The building is so beautiful and although old, was in great shape. The chairs and tables were in good shape and the kitchen was nicely renovated. The projector and sound system was easy to figure out as well since everything was well-labeled. The parking lot is tight, but not an issue as there is ample parking in front and near the venue. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a venue that can fit 100 people max (its capacity)!

I booked this venue for my baby shower, and overall, it was a great experience. The price was…read morereasonable and the rental comes with tables and chairs. You are responsible for your own table cloths, or you can rent it from them for an additional price. There's a kitchen that you can use, the bathrooms are clean, and there's plenty of parking inside. The venue can host 100 people, but it will be very tight with that many people. We had about 80 people (including kids) at the event, and though it felt tight, at least the kids were able to hang outside to enjoy the bouncer. I rented the afternoon time frame, so we were given the venue from 2:30-9PM. The only thing that I found weird was that there was absolutely no attendant available at the end of the night. Overall, a decent place to rent a venue if you wanna DIY things yourself.