I have tried the Thursday Beginner Ballet and Strength and Stretch classes here. Both are taught by MacKenzie and she is incredibly patient, kind, and sweet! I do think the Beginner Ballet sessions are on the short side (they are only 45 mins) and as a result are better suited for people looking to refine their technique than complete beginners who need to build foundations. Strength and Stretch is also probably best suited to experienced dancers, as the class has students doing crunches for consecutive minutes with no breaks and going into straddles, side splits, and advanced yoga poses with very little preparation and no modifications (this class is also only 45 mins, so warm up and cool down are quite brief). I would rate my experience as a novice to dance as 3 stars, but more experienced dancers may get more benefit from these particular classes, and it seems the ballroom classes are much more popular and well reviewed. This is a convenient location right off Foothill Expressway with ample parking in the back. There are classes in other dance styles (especially ballroom) almost every day of the week, so I may try those another time. read more

About 8 months ago, I resumed ballroom dancing after a long hiatus and started taking group classes at Arete Dance Center. This place is great! Not only are the teachers very good, but they also create a very welcoming environment. Most of the group classes are small enough that students can get some individual attention. At the outset, I had no intention of taking private lessons, but one thing led to another and now I'm also taking a weekly private lesson. read more

I've really enjoyed my time here. The classes are very well paced, and the teachers are friendly and welcoming. I started taking private lessons with one of the teachers Alejandra and she's super kind and patient. Would highly recommend! read more

I've been dancing here for about two years, and my experience has been amazing throughout. Arete is an excellent studio for all skill levels; I had a total lack of coordination and balance my whole life, but attending this studio has changed that entirely. Introduction classes taught me routines, steps, the basics of ballroom overall, and higher-level courses taught me further nuances with more detailed patterns. I highly recommend private lessons from this studio - I saw immediate results, with massive improvements to my posture, balance, steps, and the subtleties of each kind of dance. The studio has a wonderful sense of community, with a large number of events throughout the year; On Friday nights, the studio teaches a dance workshop accessible to all levels, rotating between several fun routines - this is followed by a dance party in which the floor opens to general dance with a great atmosphere (lights, music, etc). As a plus, at the time of this review, the dance party is free to anyone who attended the workshop just prior, so you get two experiences for the price of one! The studio offers more than just ballroom itself, with classes in technique, fitness, strength, ballet, line dances, and more. Variety is nice! The instructors are knowledgeable and friendly, and the atmosphere is always positive. For anyone who wants to try out ballroom dance, whether experienced or entirely unfamiliar (like I was), I recommend Arete! read more

Arete dance center is a super welcoming place. I've never taken a dance class before and was a little nervous, but it is such a fun, judgment-free space! The intro to ballroom classes have been a great weekly tradition for my partner and I to get out and try something new. The instructors are kind and easy to understand. Also the price is extremely reasonable. Would recommend! read more

Took dance lessons here for almost 2 years with my wife. We learned eight different styles of dance, waltz, tango, foxtrot, jive, cha-cha, rumba, samba, and quick-step. Yuriy and Kris are always improving the beginner classes and really focus on teaching you the basics. They have an incredibly welcoming atmosphere for beginner dancers. After several months I felt comfortable ballroom dancing at social events. Additionally, Yuriy instructed us on how to do our wedding dance, which he also choreographed. The dance turned out fantastic. Keep up the great work! read more

Arete Dance Center - Wedding dance choreographed by ADC. - Dance Schools Near Me - Los Altos, California

This is a lovely space for dance lessons. The floor has bounce so your feet don't get as tired. Parking and entrance is in the back. It took me a couple tries to get on the correct street for the parking lot. read more

Arete Dance Center - Bachata Dance Workshop by Vanessa and Guillermo - Dance Schools Near Me - Los Altos, California

My wife and I loved the intro to ballroom class. Great instructors and relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommend.

We've been taking the club dance classes for a few months now. It's pretty much an anchor step for the week for me personally. Mark and Kris have been amazing (and fun) to learn from, and I haven't yet fallen over or stomped anyone's feet. Classes here are an excellent investment in yourself, even if you never compete or end up on a stage somewhere. read more

I'm taking the ballet basics class with Olivia on Thursday nights. One class in, I've already learned so much! This is a great class for adults interested in getting into ballet with no prior experiences. I'm looking forward to taking more classes! read more

Absolutely amazing studio and community! I have dreamed of learning to dance. I have always been self conscious or did not have the time. 2 years ago I came across this studio by accident when I was searching for adult dance classes and am so thrilled that I found it! The studio owners, instructors, and students are welcoming and friendly. All ages, experiences, body types thrive here and have so much fun! I quickly felt like I was a part of a community. The studio's set up is phenomenal! They have great teaching methods for all learning styles, even for those of you who think you have "two left feet" or no coordination. With their methods you will be dancing and enjoying the craft very quickly. Kris, the studio owner, did an amazing transition of teaching options during COVID pandemic and has been able to maintain a sense of community among those of us wishing to continue, as well as to keep all of us safe. She even added cardio fitness dance class, which we didn't have prior to COVID and lessons have been more than effective via Zoom. I feel like I caught on quite fast, so I decided to challenge myself by taking private dance lessons. I have had the honor of working with Richard, who has learned from some of the best professional dancers in the Bay Area and the country! I have personally danced with-- and gotten to know-- the Arete staff and they are an amazing and all-encompassing community, as well as amazing dancers and dance instructors, who also know how to make you look good! read more

I've been dancing at Arete for three and a half years, and I can only say amazing things about this place and the people I met there. I started going to Arete to dance Zumba, but Kris convinced me to take some Ballroom classes. And what can I say? I fell in love with it! Dancing is now a crucial part of my life, but it was only possible because I found Arete. Kris will make you feel welcome from the beginning; she is passionate about what she does and is a fantastic instructor! She will never make you uncomfortable; you will learn how to dance while having fun which is very important for me (life is already too hard, isn't it?). I've been taking private dance lessons with Richard for three years, and he has helped me trust myself more as a dancer and improve my skills; he pushes me to be better with kindness, humor, and keeping my personal goals in mind. He is a great instructor! I've made good friends in this studio, and I guarantee you won't regret giving yourself the chance to try. Oh, by the way, you don't need a partner to try; plenty of people, including myself, go without their partners. read more

Arete Dance Center - Dance Schools Near Me - Los Altos, California

My fiancé and I have been wanting to take lessons and glad we did here. Kris was so informative, welcoming, energetic and just awesome! Will recommend to everyone that is willing to listen. read more

The beginner dance classes on the Cha Cha and Tango were so fun. The instructor went over the steps many times and the time there just flew by. Very reasonable cost too. read more

My fiance and I came here to have our first wedding dance lesson and we both absolutely loved our experience here. Our instructor is Kris, and she is patient, kind, funny and an excellent teacher. I came into the lesson with little to no dance experience while my fiance had more experience with formal dancing. Kris was able to work with both of our abilities making me feel comfortable and also making my fiance feel like he was getting a lesson that was up to his pace as well. We loved our experience so much that we have booked some more classes to ensure that our wedding dance is extra perfect. I highly recommend this dance studio to couples looking to learn how to dance for their first dance and also to people who are just looking to learn how to dance. A fun fact is that on Friday's they have group lessons and then a "party" afterwards where you can practice and just have fun dancing. It's only $13 for those, so if you are looking for a fun date night activity, problem solved. :) read more

I was searching for an adult beginner ballet class and found Arete Dance Center. I went in for my first class about a year and a half ago and fell in love with everything I discovered! Kris Mola (studio owner) was teaching the ballet classes at the time and has now added Joe LaChance to her team. Kris is a phenomenal dancer and teacher with a huge heart and great knowledge of dance. She worked with my husband and I to help choreograph and teach us our "first dance" for our wedding last year. The routine she put together was beautiful and the amount of time and energy she put into it with such a small window was incredible. It's obvious that she loves what she does as she does it all with passion. Joe is an absolutely incredible teacher and choreographer and talented dancer himself. He has taken over the ballet classes (both intro and intermediate) and what you'll find in his classes is a fun, energetic and positive atmosphere with a sense of focus and discipline. Each class has new choreography which keeps you on your toes! The group of people who dance at the studio (not only just our ballet group) are awesome and great to be around. I've never been to a dance studio with a better vibe. The classes offered are a lot of fun which I would say is due to the combination of great music, extremely knowledgeable and highly motivated teachers and talented individuals sharing the common goal of learning dance. I highly recommend giving them a try. No matter your level of experience or your goals, you will enjoy the experience, learn something new, make a new friend and definitely want to come back! It has surely become an important place in my life and I've come to form great friendships with everyone there. read more

I stopped by 1-2 times and had a great time. Wish they had more Zumba / fitness dance classes, more upbeat and less Latin focused (though latin tunes are nice too, just wish they were 50% or less in a class) the owners are super nice. Highly recommend read more

Loved with Kris at Arete Dance Center! We had a little miscommunication regarding scheduling a time that I wanted to come in and use the studio, but Kris was extremely accommodating and quick to find a solution to make sure we could still make the most of our experience. Their studio spaces are lovely and everyone is extremely helpful! Will definitely come back in the near future. read more

My husband and I have been taking lessons and classes at Arete Dance Center for the last four years. Kris and Yuriy, Mark and Diane, and all the rest of the crew have been nothing if not patient, kind, supportive, encouraging, clear, and lots of fun. Even with several alternating injuries between the two of us "senior citizens," they have managed to help us keep on track and have maintained what we feel is incredible patience when helping us get back together on the floor. Classes start at the beginning of each month and generally cover two of the dances. Friday evenings are a relaxed and enjoyable way to just have fun with the dances and then Saturday afternoon classes focus on technique followed by rounds where you practice just doing all of the dances one after the other. Both sessions provide a different way of "practicing" the dances that help with the learning. I don't know what happened with the reviewer who was not happy with his treatment or who he spoke with at the studio. I do know that there must have been some sort of mix-up, because as stated classes start at the beginning of the month. Unless you've had previous experience, it's highly unlikely that you would start on the third lesson of a four-lesson month. Each class builds on the others and either you would be behind or the class would have to be held up for you. Kris is kindness personified and would never, ever humiliate another person. The instructors and fellow students at Arete are like family to those of us who have stuck with it. We feel so fortunate and lucky to have found such a wonderful studio and instructors we now count as treasured friends. read more

I went to a beginners' class and found Kris and Yuriy to be kind and patient. Highly recommend this studio, which is very welcoming.

Arete Dance Center is a wonderful dance studio with true professionals who really care about their students. I always enjoyed going there for a weekly classes. Since the pandemic started they have started to offer classes and Zoom and these classes are a life saver! Every night I stand in front the computer with my dance gear on and for one hour I am filled with joy trying to do ballroom/swing/line dancing/latin with the wonderful instructors at ADC. I have found one thing that works for me to manage the overall stress with the shelter in place. I could not recommend Arete Dance Center more. read more

After moving from Dallas to the SF bay area we really missed dancing and our dance community. After some time off we were anxious to get back to our passion. After an exhaustive search I was about to sadly give up. But then came across Arête Dance Center on Yelp. I am super picky and was not going to just go anywhere. Plus it was important to me that a studio offered a variety of classes and at various experience levels. I needed a studio/instructor that could teach me to be the best dancer I could be not just dump a bunch of patterns on me. I spoke with Kris and bombarded her with all of my numerous questions. She was so patient and kind (thanks Kris). She explained the studio's offerings, their teaching style/philosophy, their backgrounds, etc. After discussing our previous experience, goals, etc she said we should come down and check them out. We initially signed up for a group class and I signed up for an intro private lesson. After the first group class with Lerey and my initial private lesson with Rebecca I WAS BLOWN AWAY and knew I had found what we were looking for. I have been a student at several studios and with several instructors and never thought I would find the perfect studio. Arête is truly AS GOOD AS IT GETS. - Beautiful new modern studio - Variety of classes and different levels - Technique drop in classes every Sat - Friday night workshops - Holiday parties that include student, instructor/pro performances - OUTSTANDING instruction, very clear teaching style/method - No attitude from instructors or students that you experience at most studios - No pressure to buy packages or sign up for classes that you experience at most studios - Very clear this studio knows what they are doing - Flexible packages for private lessons - Instructors that are dancers, not dancers trying to be teachers - Hidden Benefit: this is couples therapy....trust me - Amazing instructors that care about you and want you see you reach your goals Whether you are new to dance, experienced, looking for wedding dance lessons, etc you have to try Arête Dance Center. My boyfriend thanks me after every lesson for finding them.....hehehe. We are now regular students (private and group) and have found our dancing home. Thank you Rebecca, Lerey, and Kris....much love! read more

Love this place and the owners are the nicest people you can have. They have the cutest dogs which spreads joy in the studio. Yes, they also do a great job teaching how to dance :) read more

This place is an absolute gem. Owners are the instructors, and they're super friendly and fun, and also highly professional. My fiancee and I go to group classes and private lessons too. We really like the latin dance, though learning Foxtrot, Quickstep, and ballroom have been delightful. We love learning here and HIGHLY recommend Arete Dance Studio. If you've considered learning to dance, drop by for visit. You'll be sooooo glad you did. read more

My fiance and I were looking for a place to take dance lessons for our wedding, per his request. We contacted multiple dance studios in the area and planned on trying our two or three to see which was the best fit. Arete was the first one to get back to us and after our first lesson with Kris we knew we had found 'the one' and didn't need to try out the other studios. Kris was patient, funny and great to work with. She could teach the moves to us in different ways so that we both understood. We really enjoyed going to dance class and seeing Kris twice a week. We had no idea it would be such a fun and special experience. Many thanks to Kris and the rest of the crew at Arete! read more

Arete Dance Center - one of our moves - Dance Schools Near Me - Los Altos, California

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You owe yourself to check Arete out. It's a wonderful place to learn, and dedicated instructors who are passionate about what they love. It's people like Lerey, and Kris, Yuri, Marissa, Rebecca, who make dance fun, rewarding, and a positive experience. For those entering dance, yes, it can seem daunting. Trust me- they have a great program uniquely suited for everyone, whether beginner or advanced. It's a wonderful place for anyone who wants to learn about dancing. And if you want to compare cost, Arete is far less expensive than other places. That is how they designed their studio, to be welcoming, and warm, a friendly environment to introduce and promote dance. I know. I had a wonderful experience, and you will too. Go check them out for yourself and find a really unique, professional, and rewarding gem. S. read more

After not dancing for over 20 years, I started back taking ballet classes at ADC about 6 months ago. I had tried some other studios prior to that which felt too competitive and impersonal. ADC has a wonderful welcoming atmosphere regardless of a dancer's age or level. Joe LaChance teaches both the Intro and Intermediate ballet classes and creates a relaxed, fun yet focused environment in which careful attention is paid to correct technique. Kris Mola, the owner of the studio is a ballet dancer by training and also teaches some classes and infuses a lot of humor and fun with similar attention to technique. The atmosphere of the classes are friendly and classes are not crowded. I highly recommend Joe, Kris and the ballet classes at ADC! read more

I started taking lessons at Arete last year. I literally had no experience in dancing of any kind before joining the studio. The intro classes start with basic movements, and they're easy to follow. This studio is very beginner friendly. I've been taking lessons with Mariah and it has been an amazing experience. She encouraged me to work hard very early on and I believe that helped me make a quick progress in my dancing. Every lesson leaves me with a ton of stuff to practice for the rest of the week and beyond. Mariah and I performed in the studio's Spring showcase this March. She choreographed a Quickstep/Swing routine with some advanced moves, and taught me how to perform those moves in just few of months of preparation. I absolutely recommend Mariah for private lessons! read more

I took classes here for about six months last year, and it's my best experience learning ballroom and latin dancing to date. The group classes are very fun. Each month they focus on certain styles, and from what I gather most of us take each style at least twice before trying to test into the next level. I found that the second time around things I wasn't so good at before would "click" and I improved a lot, so if you learn the way I do it's a great system. Some of my favorite weeks were when I spent two evenings at the studio-- one for the group class, and one for the workshop + parties on Fridays. You should really practice in between classes to make the most progress, or take private lessons if you can. I got a "happy birthday" email from them a few months ago... which I somehow only noticed recently. Unfortunately every cent I have has to go toward school these days, but I hope to come back here soon. I had a great time! read more

I think overall the instructors are very good at what they teach for intro level and level 1. I guess, I just don't like the policy overall. I've ballroom danced for over 15 years before and am already silver certified back home. It's been over 10 years since I last danced and now that my son is old enough to be left along for an hour or so by himself, I wanted my wife to learn, so we tried this place out. However, I found it strange that they only allow certain types of dance shoes and encourage everyone to purchase ballroom dance pants and skits. There reason was that in order to advance, they need to see you move correctly. Didn't purchase any dance pants and luckily my dance shoes were acceptable. For me, the class was boring but I needed to get the rust off. Each month they teach 2 dances and only 4 dance total for intro. Recommended that every take the same class a few times before going to next level and after a test. After third week, they recommended everyone to take private lessons. Told them I didn't need any and I could bring my wife up to speed. Was allowed to resign after the first month, but was not allowed to resign again unless I do weekly privates and attend 2 Friday night dances a month. I had to ask a few times to make sure I heard correctly. Each private is $105 for 45 minutes. As far as I can tell, no one teaching there was at the level of privates that I took back home. I guess for beginner they would not know the difference but for $105 I better be taught by someone who has won a few world dance competitions or at least entered. read more

Kris is a phenomenal dancer and person. She has a huge heart, great humor, unbelievable depth of knowledge of dance and overall a deep wisdom. Because of this, she is able to connect with students of all type. In particular, she has been able to teach a person like me. I am someone who has basically hated dancing his entire life and now has found a passion for it. Kris is able to teach me in my learning style. She adapts. Instructors like this are very rare. People like Kris are rarer still. If you are looking for a teacher and want to really appreciate dance at its finest, Kris is your instructor. Additionally, Rebecca and Lerey are fantastic perfectionists who bring dance to you in a way that is incredible. They teach you what you want to know, but in a way that creates a foundation for dance that will allow you to take your passion anywhere you want it to go. The degree to which these two attempt to perfect their teaching methods and the experience the provide for their students is really inspirational. read more

I've been taking group and private lessons at Arete for about 5 months. Both Kris (my group instructor) and Yuriy (my private lesson teacher) have been consistently warm, encouraging, clearly able to explain and demonstrate steps and techniques. The pace is flexible and responsive to my needs as a beginner with a lack of experience in music as well as dance. Yuriy starts and ends each lesson by checking if I have any questions and is unfailingly responsive. He is exceptionally able to explain the steps and techniques as well as any mistakes I make so I can correct them. He's taught to me to hear music as well as taught me the steps. Throughout, he is patient, encouraging and enthusiastic about my progress. I have been surprised at how much fun dancing is thanks to the supportive and warm environment of Arete! read more

Rebecca and Lerey are clearly passionate about their business and the enthusiasm for their craft is reflected in everything they do. Confucius said "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." Rebecca and Lerey must have this quote hard-wired into their brains! Come to Arete if you want some kind souls show you how to bust loose with your soles. read more

We are so glad to have found a small personal ballroom dance studio and have been dancing at Arete since April 2015. All the teachers are talented artistic dancers (watch them dance and you are instantly inspired); but more importantly to us as students, is that all Arete teachers are motivating and dedicated as well. They can verbalize and dissect the moves for you ...YAY! Yuriy, our private lesson instructor, is super patient and diligent in planning each lesson and then re-caps with notes at the end with specific areas to work on in between lessons. He is always encouraging and creative with analogies (and hand-drawn pictures too :)) to help us understand concepts; above all he keeps our lessons fun and engaging. Our group lesson teacher, Rebecca's instructions cannot be more clear, precise, and succinct (I wish I can record her :D); especially helpful on executing intricate steps and understanding nuances with each different style of dance. Technique classes with Kris help us drill the steps and technique that brings out the character of each dance. She makes something that can be boring and challenging for us amateurs more fun and manageable. We feel all our teachers truly care about our progress and try very hard to help us advance. Each person has their own reason for taking dance lessons, from a leisure recreational hobby, to therapeutic, to serious competitive dancers. Our teachers recognize each student's different ability and motivation, and we really appreciate Arete's support to help us achieve our desired goals. As a bonus, we have made many good friends at Arete and it's a fun supportive community. read more

We've been to several other studios and taken some private lessons there, but we've been consistently frustrated with the fact that they'd teach us patterns, but not the technique behind the steps. We'd end up knowing the footwork but would look awkward doing it. This is the first studio that has explained the technique and the logic behind the dances. They are able to train us through exercises that strengthen the arms, the shoulders, the legs, the ankles, and the feet. We are also taught correct posture. Other places avoid teaching you the theory; Rebecca and Lerey actively promote learning it. If you really want to learn how to ballroom dance, you owe it to yourself to try out Arete Dance Center. read more

I liked dancing in the studio so I bought a pre-paid 10 classes punch card. But after a few classes, I needed to stop for a few months due to some personal circumstances. The studio acted in the worse possible way! They thought I had a good reason not to be able to dance but they didn't agree to freeze my punch card nor to transfer it to some other student. One of the teachers/ owners offered me to transfer it to another student but then changed her mind and lied about it! Basically what they said is- we only care about your money, we don't care about you. I will never set foot in that place again! It's important to be a professional dance teacher/studio, but more important is to be humane! 2/25/14 .One of the owners, Rebecca, investigated the matter and made things right. Thank you Rebecca! I appreciate the fact that you care about your students. read more

Nice manager, nice instructors, they all take care of your needs and help you learn dance fast

Such a great studio! I've been searching for adult beginner ballet classes and am so thrilled I found Kris at Arete Dance Center. Kris is such a talented dancer and gives serious and precise instruction without making the dancer feel intimidated or overwhelmed. She, and everyone at the studio, are extremely welcoming to dancers of ALL levels - when they say beginners welcome they really mean it! I've seen such progress in our class (and myself) in just the 4 months I've been taking classes there, you'll be amazed how quickly you can pick things up with great instruction. read more

My husband and I trained for our wedding dance here. In 8 weeks, they taught us some moves which we then comfortably and happily shared with our family and friends on our wedding day. We had a positive experience and would recommend this place for anyone starting out with little to no formal dance background. They cater to people of all levels including intermediate but I'm just speaking from my own experience. Our instructor was professional, patient and approachable. She taught us the basics while ensuring we understood the value of stance, posture, and form. Just remember, it's about enjoying the experience. It's best to bring ballet-like dance shoes as socks don't really cut it and you can't go barefoot. Also it can get really busy on the dance floor (my only complaint). Couples waltz across the small dance floor and cut into your zone. Once you accept that then it's all good. read more

I have been learning dance at Arete for the last couple of years now. It is a small, absolutely wonderful studio run by Kris that I've enjoyed learning at immensely. Kris, and my instructor, Yuriy are not only absolutely amazing dancers, but fantastic teachers too. I walked in as a complete novice, with no music ear or training & over the quarters, have been coached, very patiently by them to 'learn' dancing. Overall, it is a great community that I enjoy very much - the dance shows, the Friday night socials, and I really appreciate the professionalism they bring to the teaching and to their craft. Thank you! read more