I am not at Santa Barbara area at all ever (LA native over here), but I had the chance to take a…read moreclass EvokeMotion Society hosted wtih Emily S. as the instructor not too long ago when I happened to be in the area. I have been meaning to leave a review and when I saw they had a bigger social media presence now, so I figured now's a better time than ever. Here's some of the many positive opinions and thoughts about my time there: - Emily was very knowledgeable about dance and teaching - you can tell off the bat that she has a lot of experience in teaching; she had a way of explaining the steps to someone that was not as experienced with contemporary dance like me. - Very positive dancers taking class, everyone was cheering for each other and it felt like a very welcoming environment overall just purely based on vibes. - The location was very central to cute places in Santa Barbara (just a visitor standpoint here). I know they have since moved, but the new location seems just as suitable for learning and seemingly centrally located still from what I've seen. - The instructor and the leaders took their time to greet everyone after class, even the ones they didn't know very well, and that's a big PLUS in my eyes. Overall, highly recommend taking class here!

This place is amazing!!! If you're looking for safe space to learn how to dance or brush up on your…read moredance skills, this is the place to go!!! Truly the best adult dance classes in Santa Barbara. I used to dance back in high school, and lately i've been itching to move again. I found this place through a friend who highly recommended it. I was a little nervous because it's been so long since I moved. I met the instructor and founder, Emily, who was incredibly warm and kind! She was super patient and attentive to all the dancers and you can tell that she's created a comfortable, welcoming space as most were regulars who came weekly! The atmosphere is so supportive and inclusive, making it the perfect place to just move and have fun! If you're looking for a positive dance community, this is it!

Ruslan is a patient and wonderful dance instructor, I have been working with him for several years…read morenow. He is my valued dance partner, and I have seen my skills, confidence and fitness all much improved by the experience. I highly recommend Maliev Dance

Mailev is an amazing instructor for both group dance and private! He's very helpful in explaining…read morethe dance moves throughly and most importantly he is very passionate for dance!! I highly recommend trying out his classes!!

Bonnie is amazing! My fiance and I decided to take dance lessons before our upcoming wedding (doing…read moreour best not to trip all over each other in front of a wedding full of people) and a coworker of mine recommended her. We are only 2 lessons in (of 5), but we're both super impressed. She is SO warm, friendly and an awesome teacher--and she makes the whole experience really fun. We feel like we've learned a ton already in two classes, and always leave excited to come back. HIGHLY recommend!

Bonnie was such a pleasure to work with! We drove an hour just to take classes from her. She was so…read moreaccommodating and was very very helpful. She put together a wonderful dance for my husband and I for our wedding. We would highly recommend her!!

My daughter started dancing at MDC over a year ago. She immediately fell in love with the…read moreenvironment. As well as the amazing owner Betsy Woyach and the rest of the faculty. She also met some great friends that she had enjoyed dancing with. MDC is an excellent studio that focuses on the quality of their dances and not the quantity of each class. This isn't another overrated but turned out a basic studio. MDC has a unique vibe that is filled with different personalities yet a happy and very healthy dance family. I'm grateful that we found MDC because this has been my daughter's local Disneyland spot, it's her happy place! This is the place to take your child if they love to dance and has a passion for dancing. I also want to mention how heartwarming and friendly all the parents are. The same with each MDC dancer. They're humble and not just great dancers, I mean they can dance (no joke) but they're also very beautiful inside and out as well. Thank you, Betsy, for creating such a wonderful place for our kids. You're the true definition of a great dance teacher! I enjoy watching you rehearse with Yzabelle. Love your dancing with rapping skills. We love you!

So thankful that my daughter has a dance family that is so loving, fun, supportive, and passionate…read more We had no idea when we embarked on this adventure eight years ago, that our daughter would grow into the dancer she is today. She has formed lifelong relationships with dancers that have a similar focus and devoted work ethic. My normally more reserved and shy girl has found a platform where she can really shine and express herself. She loves it and has so much fun! Thank you so much Betsy and the #MDCFamily

Rachel is amazing! After the governor issued the stay at home order, she immediately, and I mean…read moreinstantly, worked out a way to continue her classes online! I participated in the first one this morning and it was great! She put the same enthusiasm into every routine as she does when she has people in the studio! I'm so happy that I can continue the exercise routine at home! Thank you Rachel!

A friend recommended Fitness with Rachel to me because I was having a hard time finding a FUN and…read morelow-impact aerobics class in Goleta. FwR has been perfect! Keep in mind that this is a small one-studio business and NOT a gym. There are (I am assuming quite deliberately) NO mirrors. The interior is very plain...no distractions. The music selection is great and rotated regularly. Rachel is a great dancer and is always smiling. The 9am class is primarily an older group and very welcoming to all ages and body types. The cost of classes is a bit more than a gym membership, but Rachel has a great new client special to try it out before committing.

This review is for the performance offerings that UCSB's Theater and Dance program is providing…read more(free!) during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Department has been doing a great job of continuing to create a season of work despite physical and social distancing requirements. By migrating productions to an online format, the show goes on! Last night I had the pleasure of watching "Under Ordinary Circumstances," the last theater production of the Fall quarter portion of the season. The piece, written by Brian Otaño and directed by Shirley Jo Finney, saw members of an AA group for young people working through their recovery during this year's quarantine. Cast and crew--many of whom are by now well-versed in Zoom theater--did a fantastic job. In addition, this season has so far included a whopping eight other productions. Spanning across Department projects and affiliations from Naked Shakes (a Shakespeare performance company) to Launch Pad (which produces new works), these events have presented diverse storytelling styles and subject matter. Yet to come is the Fall BFA Dance major Capstone show. Winter and Spring promise an exciting menu of stagings. You can find performance information and an event calendar on the Department's website. I've also signed up for the emailing list to get news, and if you want to sign up you can do so here: https://www.theaterdance.ucsb.edu/news/announcement/807 Disclaimer: I am a Department PhD student, so this review may be biased!

First and foremost, this is a UC. Meaning that is of the highest academic standards. I was thrilled…read morethat two of my daughters were able to continue to dance, while at the same time get a world class education. UCSB is not a dance school. It is a highly ranked research university and education comes first. Those wanting a school solely because of its dance program should not go here. Not because it isn't good, but because the focus will be on educating the student to become a future leader in whatever field they choose. Although UCSB is a large school, it acts more like a smaller school with staff and professors that care about each student and their success. I am a UCLA Alumni and I can honestly say that my girls get treated way better here at UCSB than I ever did at UCLA. Anyone would be lucky to be admitted to the dance program here at UCSB and I am blessed that two of my daughters were fortunate enough. Go Gauchos!

What an incredible experience! I came in genuinely terrified--I was nervous just climbing the…read moreladder--but the entire team was so patient, encouraging, and supportive from beginning to end. They made me feel safe while still giving me the confidence to push past my fear. I ended up doing seven jumps, hanging upside down, and even making the catch at the end! I honestly don't think I could have done it without their encouragement. This was part of my 50 Things Before 50 adventure, and it turned into an experience I'll never forget. If you've ever wanted to try trapeze but are scared, this is absolutely the place to do it. Thank you for helping me fly!

Such a fun experience!! My friend and I decided to go randomly, and it ended up being one of the…read moremost fun things we've done. Everyone was so friendly and patient. Chris, Dave, and Ezrah made everything super easy to understand and were so supportive throughout the whole class!! Would definitely recommend - 10/10!!

We have taken Piano and recently Violin with Mimi. She is a very kind, patient and wonderful…read moreteacher. Highly recommend taking any music classes here. The space is so fun, bright, clean and inspiring. Such a gift to have this music education space for kids in this tiny town by the sea. Thank you Alex!

Yellow bird music is truly magical! This was the first mommy and me type class I attended with my…read moredaughter. I was nervous as i am not really the socializing type. It's warm and welcoming. Seeing my daughter learn and beam with happiness every time we go has made it an irreplaceable experience and a lifetime of memories.