Best dance schools in California: find options near you

My daughter loves it here. She took jazz and hip hop last year and did her first recital. We had so much fun. She signed up for 5 classes this year and wants to join the competition team as well. She loves all her teachers. The staff is very sweet and friendly and great with kids. Looking forward to more fun and dance here.

My daughter just had a trial class with And Dance studio as they recently opened up a musical theater dance class for older kids. She came out of it saying this was exactly what she needed to improve her musical theater skills (and she’s already been doing Musical Theater for over 6 years!) She also let me know her dance teacher was super nice! We signed her up right after the trial class. All staff helping were super supportive!

My 2 girls have been dancing at And Dance for 9+ years, progressing from recreational classes to competiton teams. I truly value the family friendly environment, and the strong sense of community. And Dance does so much more than teach dance, their wonderful director, staff and faculty also fosters qualities in their students such as: independence, confidence, responsibility, accountability, teamwork, and a strong work ethic. I’m grateful to be a part of the And Dance family, it truly does take a village to raise children. They also offer adult classes!

I have a 2 year old toddler about to turn 3, and went in for a free trail and safe to say that we signed her up for the upcoming month ! They were so good with them and she absolutely loved it! I would highly recommend this location if you want to see your toddler happy, real ease energy and learn dance moves. The staff and teachers were super sweet and I love how they interacted with the students . The parents that take their kids there are also super nice and very inclusive! If you’re looking for a nice community, it is here!

I had been looking for a place to enroll my daughter for dancing, and came across «And dance» online, and decided to do the free trial to see how my daughter would feel about it. And she loved it! She won’t stop talking about what she was learning and how now she is saying she’s a bailarina! 🥰 this place is small, but it feels very welcoming and really family oriented, staff are really nice and professional. I would 100% recommend this dance studio for your little one. 😁

My daughter has been in their Boogie Babies class for a few months now and she’s been having the best time! She used to be really shy, but she’s gotten way more comfortable and her confidence has boosted since starting at ECPAC. Her teacher is sweet and is great with the kids. The staff is also very accommodating – there have been instances where my daughter has had to schedule a make-up class, and they’ve always been easy to contact and easy to communicate with. We are so glad that we found ECPAC and can’t wait to see our daughter’s first recital in December!

East County Performing Arts Center has been such a wonderful experience for my daughter. The teachers are kind, patient, and encouraging, and we’ve really seen her confidence grow since starting classes here. The environment is welcoming and positive, and the staff is always so helpful and caring. We’re very happy to be part of this studio and highly recommend it to other families!

We’ve been coming here for about 6 months and have really enjoyed the classes! They have quite a few to offer. My son is 5.5 years old and I’ve really seen his confidence grow since coming here. And he loves the class and his teachers! Thank you ECPAC!

Heard nothing but good things about east county performing arts! I have family members who have had their children enrolled and now my littles are finally old enough to be involved in the activities. My 4 year old just started the preschool program & he absolutely loves it. He was a little shy starting out but he warmed up so quickly thanks to the the teachers & he’s been talking about it all the time & practicing everything he’s learned already from day 1. You can just tell from just his first day so far it’s already made such a positive impact on him. I’m excited to see how far he comes by the end of this new program, I think it was exactly what he needed to really prepare him over this next year until kindergarten. The staff is so kind & the environment is very uplifting & comfortable to be around!!

The staff was friendly and safe. We attended the Kpop Demon Hunters theme summer camp (5 days). There was no dancing or choreography involved. The kids did arts, crafts, freeze dance, and free time in an indoor space.

I am brand new to ballroom dancing. I’ve been wanting to learn something new and step out of my comfort zone. I saw the free private dance lesson and decided to go for it. Right off the bat Olga was great. She was hilarious and kept things light while doing a wonderful job of teaching some basics. I signed up for a dance package right after that first lesson. I have now attended two additional private lessons and my first group lesson + social dance. Everyone was very nice and welcoming. I highly recommend Pacific Grove Dance and look forward to continuing my dance journey with support from their amazing staff and other students.

I absolutely love visiting Pacific Grove Dance Company for their Friday socials and special events! Everyone is incredibly professional, friendly, welcoming, and passionate about dance. The atmosphere is warm, supportive, and fun for dancers of all levels. I truly wish I lived closer so I could train and learn how to dance thoroughly with them on a regular basis. Every time I visit, I leave inspired and happy. Their special events are always beautifully organized and such a joy to attend. I highly recommend Pacific Grove Dance Company to anyone looking for the perfect place to learn, grow, and enjoy dancing in a positive and encouraging environment!

My fiance and I have been working with Olga for our wedding dance choreography, and she has been absolutely amazing throughout the entire process. As someone who had very little dance experience and felt nervous going into this, Olga made me feel comfortable, supported, and genuinely confident every step of the way. She is incredibly patient, hands-on, and attentive, always taking the time to explain movements in a way that feels encouraging rather than intimidating. You can truly tell how much she cares about her students and the experience they’re having. She creates such a welcoming and personal environment that it honestly feels like dancing with family. Our choreography has come together beautifully thanks to her guidance, and I never imagined I would actually feel excited and confident to dance in front of people on my wedding day. I’m so grateful for all of her support and highly recommend Olga and Pacific Grove Dance to anyone looking for an instructor who is talented, kind, and deeply invested in her clients.

We worked with Marcus on our wedding’s «first dance». Marcus has been super from start to finish – understanding our comfort level, helping us select a song, building out the choreography, being respectful when dancing with each of us, giving positive and constructive feedback to keep our confidence up, and patiently progressing us forward along the way. Wedding dance was super fun, everybody was supportive, and Marcus’ preparation made us so much more comfortable and confident to do that! Super duper thankful!

As I write this review, Olga & Leo are on a week of sabbatical after having gotten several dancers of all skill levels through an exciting 2022 Summer Showcase. Though their rest is well-deserved, I’m missing them mightily and am eager for their return. The experience of dancing in their studio is so incredibly positive and uplifting. They’ve attracted a diverse community of young and older (but young-at-heart!) new and experienced dancers focused on enjoying the art, improving their abilities, and supporting each other. In 9mos, I went from not having pair-danced much at all to performing a tango with Olga during Showcase and feeling really good about the outcome. Got two left feet? Bring ‘em both to PG Dance! You’ll learn to be in your body and express yourself in a way that’ll make your heart (and your feet 🙂 happy!

Love Dance Magic! It’s been a great studio for both my girls, especially for my oldest who loves all things dance! Both my girls have been at the studio since they were 3 years old and they are now 12 and 14! Their competitive dance team has been fun for my oldest daughter. She loves being apart of that! They also offer some Master classes from time to time which are awesome! But the teachers there are also really great and pour all their talent into what they do daily! Dance Magic puts together great recitals twice a year for us to go and support our kids and see their personal growth which is also so fun to do as a family! Definitely recommend, if you’re local to the area to give this studio a try!

I Went to see the studio since my 5 year old daughter said she wants to dance. As I approached the front desk i was given a weird look by a lady named lindsey. I didn’t feel welcomed. She didn’t show me around and didn’t give me any information about the free trial I read about. She just handed me 2 pieces of paper and said I was welcomed to look around as if I knew where everything was. I found it unprofessional. Normally someone will show you where everything is and how everything works especially for someone who has never been there before. I had called beforehand and asked if I needed an appointment to look around, so they knew I was coming. As I was looking around with my little girl a mom had to let me know that there was another building next to the one I was in and to go and see that one too . I felt lost and confused. I didn’t understand why anyone that worked there couldn’t help me. Before I left I asked Lindsay for her name and she hesitated as if she didn’t want to give it to me. So unprofessional I give it 0 stars . I don’t know why people find it hard to be kind. Glad I didn’t give them my money.

I had heard many great things from the studio in the past but my girlie was still too little to sign up. A colleague forwarded a post from Dance Magic Studios to me and there was our chance to join! They opened up a preschool class! Of course i signed her up for the Free Trial class! We showed up a few minutes early and enjoyed watching the other dancers & music. My girlie was so pumped and eager for her class to begin. Wow! being able to watch her from behind a glass was so reassuring & magical. She loved it!! I signed her up. Excited to make new friends and for the performances.

My daughter has been attending the studio in Palmdale for 2 years now and we have had nothing but the best experience with her instructors, management, parents and MOST students. This studio takes pride in inclusivity, team work, and supports our girls and boys every step of the way. I highly suggest dance magic for anyone and everyone! -«coyote mom»

My daughter has been at this studio for 4 years and she absolutely loves it. She made team and has developed into a beautiful dancer. Her dance teachers are great leaders that care for their students. My daughter has learned to work hard and work as a team. We are truly grateful and proud to be a part of this studio. It has made a wonderful impact in our family and in the community. «coyote» mom

This was my granddaughter’s 8th year, taking part in VSPA’s Summer Showcase. The whole event was so well organized, and there were a total of five performances. It gave every performer, from the peewees all the way up to the seniors in high school, so many opportunities to perform their various numbers. I was given the opportunity to work backstage on several occasions throughout the weekend, and without question, all of the performers were respectful to the adults, and yet so excited to be part of the Showcase. Frank and Yesenia Valverde have been doing this for 18 years, and it really shows! To say that this is a «well oiled machine» is an understatement. There is a sense of «family» and inclusivity that shines through the entire organization and I will be forever, grateful that we found this studio as a place to nurture grow our granddaughter’s talents.

My daughters have been dancing at VSPA for years and utterly enjoy it! Instructors are the BEST!!! Also had the privilege and the most amazing time traveling with E3 Performing Troupe at Disney-world this past winter!

Our daughters have been with Valverde School of Performing Arts for 9 years now. It has been their 2nd home. They started when they were like 4 years old with one dance, ballet tap. Now, they’re doing 9 classes including voice & choir and also do live musical theater. They also belong to a song & dance troupe called E3, that performs in various events like Lunar New Year, Nascar, LA Kings game at Staples / Crypto, Knott’s Berry Farm Christmas & charity events. Recently, E3 performed in Florida, at Walt Disney World and at Universal Orlando. Our girls had the best time of their lives, being with their friends & family. Big thanks to Mr Frank & Ms Yesenia Valverde who organized the event in Florida. Everything was perfect! Our family are truly thankful & grateful to this couple who have been their teacher & mentor, guiding & teaching our girls to develop their talents & skills in singing, dancing & acting. Everyone else in VSPA, from Kyle who works in the front desk, and all the teachers have been very kind, accommodating & friendly. Truly, we are blessed to be a part of the Valverde School of Performing Arts family.

My children have been taking classes and performing with Valverde School of Performing Arts for 10 years now. It is our home away from home. They have been able to continue to take classes during COVID in a safe, clean and supportive environment. I am very thankful that they have been able to continue to learn and grow as dancers during the pandemic. WE LOVE VSPA!

My daughter has been dancing at Valverde for 11 years and absolutely loves all of the VSPA dance instructors.

TDA is the best studio in the Bay Area. My 7 years old granddaughter has been going to Fremont campus for 3 years, and she absolutely loves it! We highly recommend miss Mariah, she is an outstanding teacher , kids adore her. As a grandmother, I personally like the shows that TDA organise: very professional, great costumes, all students participate! If you’re looking for a dance class for your kid, join TDA – they are simply the best!

We took a trial class for our kid at Tiffany’s in the Warm Springs location after it was highly recommended by a neighbor. The instructor was kind and amazing with the kids. Our kid left the class thrilled and excited for more! The songs, activities and dance are highly age appropriate and will make a child fall in love with dancing.

Haven’t started the class yet but my daughter really seemed to like the trial class and she really loved the mini mermaid dance camp. The process of getting situated and all questions were answered in a timely manner and they are very friendly and willing to make your child’s first experience of dance so easy and welcoming . I know my daughter will gain confidence with each class .

I was thinking of what my daughter will be doing during summer until I came across Tiffany’s dance academy and I thought maybe it would be a good idea to put my daughter in dance class and even my older daughter was thinking about the same thin. So we talked about it and I took my daughter to her first trial class and she actually loved it. So here we are being first time parents of a daughter in dance class.

We couldn’t be more pleased with finding Tiffany’s Dance Academy – Fremont. I was very excited yet a bit nervous about signing my shy, 2 year old up for ballet. However she was in rare form and took to the instructor from the moment she let go of my hand. The instructor was so attentive and patient with the girls. My daughter followed each direction and happily participated! I was shocked! The butterfly came out of her cocoon. The instructor came down to their level to talk and teach and when the children deviated from the instruction she modified and integrated their action smoothly into the instruction. There wasn’t one meltdown and no parent had to intervene. Truly amazing! We registered almost immediately and the customer support was 10/10! We are excited to continue instruction with Tiffany’s and look forward to the progress our daughter makes technically, personally, and looking forward to the life long friends she will create!

The dance studio does an excellent job communicating important information to families. They provide clear details about class schedules, tuition, performances, dress code, and upcoming events, making it easy to stay informed. The staff is also very responsive and willing to answer any questions, which makes the whole experience stress-free. I really appreciate how organized and informative they are.

Very clean, professional establishment. Registration was very seamless. We were referred to this ballet studio from family and friends for their friendly, patient and respectful manners they have for the kids. My daughter is very happy to attend, it’s been her dream to be in ballet and I’m very happy Dance Magic Studios is able to fulfill her dream. Give them a try, they offer many options to fit your needs and they have two locations; Palmdale and Lancaster. Very convenient. Thank you Dance Magic Studios!

We absolutely love this dance studio! My daughter is currently on three competition teams, and the experience has been incredible. The instructors are all amazing—knowledgeable, talented, encouraging, and genuinely invested in each dancer’s growth and success. Not only have they helped my daughter improve her technique and confidence, but they have also created a positive, supportive environment where she feels challenged, motivated, and valued. The dedication and passion of the entire staff are evident in everything they do. We are so grateful to be part of this studio family and highly recommend it to anyone looking for high-quality dance training, strong mentorship, and a welcoming community. Five stars all the way! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We previously had a positive experience with this dance studio, which is why I was disappointed by how our recent request was handled. My daughter participates in dance as part of her socialization goals, and we explored using Regional Center funding to continue her lessons. The studio declined to complete the one-time onboarding process required to become a vendor and did not seem interested in discussing the option further. I understand that businesses have the right to decide what programs they participate in, but I was disappointed by the lack of willingness to support a child with additional needs who had already been part of their studio community. A more compassionate approach and communication would have made a big difference.

Absolutely love this studio! My daughter has danced here for years, and the experience has been phenomenal. The teachers are fantastic, the atmosphere is incredibly positive, and the growth we’ve seen in our daughter is priceless. It’s a wonderful community to be a part of!

An incredible experience at Fred Astaire Dance Studios San Mateo! The owners are top-tier professionals, and the instructors are knowledgeable, patient, and dedicated. My dancing skills has improved, thanks to their expert instruction. The studio is warm and welcoming—five stars all around!

My wife and I worked with Michelle at Fred Astaire Dance Studio in San Mateo to prepare for our wedding dance, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Going into it, we were both a little nervous and had no idea what we were doing. Michelle immediately put us at ease. She was patient, encouraging, and somehow made every lesson something we looked forward to each week. What impressed us most was how well she choreographed a dance that actually felt like us. She took the time to understand our song, our personalities, and our comfort level, then created something that looked great without ever feeling forced or overly complicated. There were plenty of moments when we thought, «There’s no way we’re going to pull this off,» but Michelle always found a way to break things down, keep us laughing, and build our confidence. Michelle is not only a talented choreographer and teacher—she still competes on the national stage! We’re incredibly grateful for all of her help and would recommend her to anyone regardless of age or skill.

Fred Astaire San Mateo ( formerly Dance Vita) is a great dance studio with high quality professional instructors and friendly dancing environment! I started learning international standard dances and other ballroom dances as a total beginner in this studio in 2017. It has been a great experience in learning and dancing here for the past 9 years! I have learned so much by taking group and private lessons that are taught by very capable and patient professional instructors. The front desk administrators are very nice too! Highly recommended!

I joined well structured private lessons as well as group lessons and learned a lot of great techniques. Recommend to anybody who can only dance after work hours for evening sessions. Friendly classmates and staffs. Highly recommend Monday beginner intermediate lessons for both Latin and standard. As well as extremely advanced ans fun classes from Aira on Tuesdays. A lot of people also join competitions and they have achieved very good result.

I leaned a lot after joining this studio recently. They have very good programs for new and advanced students., providing great visiting coaching opportunities. The community is strong and there’s parties, practice rounds , as well as proam practice rounds. A lot of fun here. Recommend anybody who wants to Latin stanfard, socials competitions and wedding dances.

Aira teaches the best advanced ballroom class I have found in the Bay area. Well over a dozen couples showing champion level dancing are an inspiring group just to watch and even more so to try and learn from.

Started at Fred Astaire San Mateo with the free introductory lesson and quickly was hooked and purchased the beginner package of private lessons. The instructors are phenomenal (shout out to Rob for being amazing!) and the sense of community is really special here. Not only do they have private lessons, but they also host social classes, as well as monthly events. The facilities are really nice as well with two large dance floors. Ample parking is a plus. Highly recommend!

The best dance studio north of LA! I used to take industry dance in Los Angeles and Sac Dance Lab is amazing. I was so happy to find a studio of this caliber here! One of my favorite places in town.

My daughter Natali Navi had been going there for about 5 years. She had a really great experience being in Starburst. Lauren Boyd is a great dance teacher & human being all around. She’s impacted Natali’s life in so many positive ways. You can tell she was made to teach kids. Under her guidance, they will feel welcomed, loved & overall understood. If your child is 7-11 have them tryout for Starburst it will help them build confidence and their love for dance. My child is so blessed to have had Lauren as her first dance teacher. 🫶🏼

I’m deeply disappointed with our experience at Sac Dance Lab during Season 16 Starbursts. From the start, the registration process was a complete mess—our information got mixed up, and it took weeks to fix. I also reached out between seasons to request a youth camp for a private team, but the owner was rude and made me feel I was burdening her with such a request. completely disregarded it. To top it off, when my daughter wanted to participate in a simple off-season exhibition, they refused because she couldn’t attend a rehearsal just two days prior, as we had an out-of-town commitment. I expected much more professionalism and care, and sadly, this was a huge letdown.

We just finished the (12-17 ages) 10 week K-pop class. It was amazing! Everything from the instructor, studio and show! Bloom was the best show, I have ever seen! Thank you Sac Dance Lab!

If I could give 0 stars or negative stars, I would because of the customer service from an employee named Brandy. The first time I arrived at this studio I needed to use the restroom. I started walking towards it with my mom when a guy named Brandy told me I couldn’t use the restroom. He didn’t offer any other options for dancers he just said I couldn’t use it. That alone was shocking—I’ve never been to a dance studio that doesn’t allow dancers or parents to use the bathroom. On top of that, the way he spoke to us, with a raised voice, was very rude. Later I learned that there actually was a bathroom area, so I don’t understand why we were told otherwise. After that experience, I didn’t feel comfortable using the studio’s restroom. I continued attending but avoided the bathroom entirely. Things only got worse when the same employee later kicked me out of the waiting area. I’ve seen other dancers wait in that exact same spot many times, but he told me I couldn’t stay there. His explanation was that I was «watching the dancers,» which he claimed was prohibited. In reality, I was simply waiting for my ride and reading a book. It’s also worth noting that this is a large open classroom without walls, so anyone walking in can see the dancers. It’s unrealistic to expect people not to see them at all — you’re going to see them whether you want to or not. When I asked where I was supposed to wait, he told me I could move a few steps away—where I could still see the dancers—or go into another room that was already busy with a photoshoot. I decided to go to the busy room, because I wanted to avoid any more interaction and false accusations. However, he followed me into that room as well. At that point I felt uncomfortable and honestly creeped out, so I ended up waiting outside the studio in the cold. Thankfully, he wasn’t always at the front desk, but by then I felt like I had to avoid him whenever possible. The final straw was when I was in class and Brandy walked out onto the dance floor to ask me my name to make sure I had «checked in.» I had already checked in, and as the receptionist, he could clearly see that. Interrupting a class to single me out like that was unnecessary and made me feel targeted and extremely uncomfortable. Overall, this experience made me feel harassed and unwelcome. Because of this, I will not be returning to this studio.

Elite dance academy is the best dance academy in town! Seriously! My grand daughter has been with Elite and on the dance team for 5 years now and I couldn’t be happier. My youngest started with elite this year too. I love the fact that the owner makes sure the costumes are age appropriate. The teachers are patient and kind and very talented. The boosters for the dance team are constantly helping the students have a successful journey on team. The place is always keep clean and in order. If you are wanting your child and you to have an amazing dance experience, Elite is definitely the place to be.

The owner Devon is extremely rude, unprofessional, and has no customer service etiquette whatsoever. She talks badly about her students, employees, and the parents of students. My daughter absolutely loves going to class, but we will no longer be spending our hard earned money there after being treated like shit. Spend your money elsewhere if you want to have a good experience and want to be treated with respect and politeness.

My daughter attended this dance studio from the summer to winter performance. The summer was well organized. The prices are fairly reasonable. After summer, I decided to sign her up. There was an issue that came up at the studio. I wanted to speak with the owner about it. I kept being told by the receptionist the owner would return my call. I even emailed her, she failed to respond. I was disappointed because as a small business owner you would think it would be easy to communicate with the owner and the they would be willing to listen to your concerns. In addition, the winter performance was another disappointment. She failed to thank the parents at the introduction of the show. Normally you would thank everyone who made the show happen including parents aka your customers. She appears self centered and only cares about making money and making fundraisers to make more and more money. She needs to realize its because of her customers she has a business and needs to focus on that. After that I took my daughter out from the academy. I have seen her at the Visalia Children’s museum Halloween event. She never smiles or help her staff. Shes your typical self centered boss that you don’t want to work for. Being humble and kind goes along way.

My granddaughter is just completing her first year as a part of Elite Dance Academy. We love the welcoming atmosphere, kind teachers and age appropriate classes. Today was her first recital and I was very impressed with the organization, commitment and again the kindness and caring of the entire staff. We are really looking forward to our summer dance camp and then being Season 13.

We have been at the Elite Dance Studio for a couple years now and we could not be happier. Our daughter has blossomed with the support of her teachers and fellow dance friends. The owners dedicate so much time and effort to making sure all the dancers have a great experience. The staff is wonderful and are always there to answer any questions we may have. 100% recommend!

After attending Elite Dance for only one year, my daughter’s confidence has grown tremendously. The teachers and staff have done such a wonderful job in helping her become the dancer she is today. I love how much positivity there is among the staff, it’s really helped my daughter feel comfortable and really enjoy herself while she’s there. I feel blessed to be a part of such a special place.

This review is for the Parent & Me dance class for ages 18 months to 3 years old. I was initially excited to enroll my 2-year-old daughter, who loves to dance. Unfortunately, the class quickly became a disappointment. The instructor, Janelle, offered minimal instruction and mostly ran through routines without engaging the children—only occasionally praising the same few students while ignoring the others. While I understand parents are there to support their child, other Parent & Me classes we’ve attended had instructors who were far more hands-on and encouraging. My daughter was also going through a phase of learning boundaries and keeping hands to herself. Instead of addressing the concerns with me directly, the teacher reported the issue to the front desk, and I received a text stating that my daughter’s behavior was a problem. I offered to withdraw her from class as I didn’t want her to be a problem or distraction for others, but was told I would not receive a refund for the class or recital. The receptionist Ms. Sophie said she would speak to the teacher, but essentially offered no real solution or options on how we could work together to address the issue. Recital picture day was also poorly organized. Multiple groups were assigned the same time slot, and everyone was crowded into a hot classroom with limited seating. Our group—despite having the youngest and most restless children—was scheduled second to last. As I was heavily pregnant, I alternated between sitting on the floor and standing for over an hour. When I went to the lobby to look for a seat, Ms. Sophie, immediately told us to return to the classroom. I calmly explained I was pregnant and needed a seat, but she showed no concern or professionalism and rudely dismissed me (she was generally always rude and curt with me for whatever reason, and it seemed like she seized this opportunity to be even more rude). She escalated tensions by raising her voice at my husband. Eventually, another teacher who was present reluctantly found me a chair. My daughter then came running out of the picture room (parents were not allowed in) stating that she was scared and that her teacher had yelled at her. Overall, the staff came across as young, unprofessional, and lacking in basic customer service. The teachers do not seem prepared or have the experience to run a classroom with toddlers. The only positive thing I could say was that my daughter was allowed to perform on recital day despite having a rough morning which caused her to arrive late and upset. Aside from that, our experience was overwhelmingly negative. I would not recommend this studio for Parent & Me classes; you’re better off with city-run tot classes that offer a better value without the stress or high cost, and more importantly, treat families with more care and respect.