I love musical theatre. When I saw that "Hello Dolly" was the Spring Show I invited a friend and…read morebought tickets, in the center in the second row. The Huntington Beach Academy for the Arts put on such a great show! The orchestra was amazing, the student actors were amazing, the soloists were amazing, and the chorus was amazing. The dance numbers were spectacular. The dance was so athletic and energetic! I would have been happy to see this show at the Music Center. The Huntington Beach High School theatre, built in 1928 is an amazing and historic venue. It was truly magical Saturday night. The parking was easy and free. The volunteer staff were friendly and accommodating. There were snacks at intermission. The only thing missing was my customary glass of champagne at intermission. It is a High School!

The music is good. The problem is the leadership of the music program. The leadership does not…read moreprotect the students in the program from abuse from other students. When asked for help, they literally said, "Let's just focus on the music." I have emails saying that. The leaders are not objective and obviously put talent over ethics; teaching kids that they can behave any way they want as long as they are good at music.

We love this place my son started his music journey there when he was just 4 years old . He started…read moreon the kids rock bands playing the piano than went to privates and did his first performances with them than did some music video clips it was great to develop his love for music. Sophie and her mother help him a lot and Danny was always very helpful with the administrative part and scheduling. We just left there because he started doing trumpet at school and got really into it and these days he is 14 and is part of the band at school and the wind assembly. We are so grateful for this place they supported my son creativity and got him very enthusiastic about playing music. Is a great place to start your kids musical path. We will be looking to starting our 4 year old musical journey there soon.

This review predominantly pertains to the decidedly unreliable and/or mediocre loose management…read morepolicy of The Music Factory. There was far too much play it by ear, did-you-get-my-email, did-you-get-my-voicemail inconsistency. The instructors were good, but I did not get an impression the organization/mgmt. behind them was really that well oiled or structured. The school accepted my money for DJ/Production type lessons; I was under the assumption the lessons would continue under one instructor or another for some time or at least indefinitely in the sense that the lessons can be renewed monthly with the school, etc. A little over a month into lessons the 1st DJ/Instructor I was working with resigns, and this individual more or less alludes to the possibility of the school discontinuing the DJ offerings in its program. An unexpected statement or loose reference from someone providing the lessons, etc. The school staff reassures me lessons will continue under another instructor. Unfortunately, the other instructor could only work remotely. I agreed to work with the new instructor remotely. The new instructor later changes his mind about having time in his schedule to meet remotely. So the school informs me via email that it cannot offer me further lessons at this time etc. I cannot recommend The Music Factory. The services and management proved to be unreliable at best. Look elsewhere until the day this business drastically improves its practices.

Unacceptable. Dangerous. Complete Lack of Responsibility…read more At my toddler's ballet class, the instructor removed my daughter from class to use the restroom and HANDED HER OVER to a random adult I do NOT know - someone who does NOT work for the studio. I was sitting just outside the waiting room door the entire time. Instead of taking a few seconds to find me, the instructor allowed a stranger to take my child into a bathroom stall and begin undressing her. Let that sink in. When I confronted the instructor, her response was shocking: "I don't have time to look for parents." Excuse me? Your convenience does NOT come before my child's safety. This is not a minor issue, it's a major breach of trust and judgment. Handing a child to someone the parent has not approved to take them into a private space is completely unacceptable and potentially dangerous. I don't care if the person was "nice" or "helpful" you never, EVER do this. I stay for every class. The instructor knows that. In today's world, how can anyone think this is okay? What happened tonight could have ended very differently and that is terrifying. Parents, beware. If you value your child's safety, think twice before trusting this studio.

I can't believe I finally found a dance studio that has it all. Excellent training, the kindest…read moresweetest girls, and parents who steer clear of drama. Thank you Southland!

My daughter has been dancing since she was 2. We moved to Huntington Beach when she was 9 and…read morechecked out several local dance options (there are a lot of great options in the area). We decided on HAD because it has all the things she wanted at the time.(lots of performance opportunities, kind experienced teachers, a friendly dance community, a focus on ballet and proudly stayed away from some of the dubious costume choices one sees at competition studios). I could go on and on about this place,but I will try to be concise. A few notes on why we love this studio still (7 years later and going strong) 1. Safety. They use a defined curriculum (The Cecchetti Method). It may seem slow, but no kid goes up on pointe until they are physically ready. This helps reduce and prevent injury and provides a clear path toward their goals. 2. Quality. As my kid and her friends transitioned into High School, they were all able to succeed at any high school program (academy for performing arts, dance team, ASB), whatever direction they went, the dance foundation they got at HAD paved the way. 3. Options. There are many levels and styles of dance that kids can focus on. They can spend 1 hour a week at HAD or 12. They can aspire to join the studio youth company or become a student demonstrator or just perform in the spring recital. 4. Opportunity. So many of the kids have gone on to prestigious collegiate dance programs, some have pursued successful dance careers at world class dance companies around the world. Some danced in a few shows,gained confidence, learned about taking corrections, hard work and collaboration and took that to the next thing. 5. Community. Most of my kids closest friendships were fostered here. She has some incredible mentors and role models in the teachers and girls who have gone through the program before her. I highly recommend you check Huntington Academy of dance for your child. I believe they offer a free class so check it out to see if it is what you are looking for. Go in and talk to some of the families at the studio or the people at the front desk, they are super helpful!

I have two girls that attend HAD and feel fortunate to have found HAD. Both girls and I have…read moredeveloped a great love for ballet and great friendships through HAD. As a mom, I appreciate this studio because the studio follows the Cechetti method and focuses on performances instead of competitions. The end of the year performances, as well as the performing group shows, are very high quality. As with all things though, the studio, the kids and the parents are not perfect. Each situation is so different. However, as you can see by Miss Kimberly's responses to the reviews, she is very professional and cares deeply about the studio and especially the kids. I feel very very fortunate to have found HAD.

Phenomenal in every way -- Braver Players has exceeded every expectation we had and then some! We…read morefeel incredibly blessed to be part of this amazing community. My daughter has now participated in four (going on five!) productions, and every experience has been nothing short of magical. She is seen, valued, and supported not only as an actress but as a whole person -- and that kind of love and encouragement is priceless. Chelsea Braverman, the owner, is warm, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable. She truly cares for each of her students and takes the time to build meaningful connections--not only with the kids, but with their parents as well. What makes Braver Players so special is its deeply inclusive environment. Every child is celebrated for exactly who they are, and the result is a cast full of confidence, kindness, and pure joy. The quality of the productions is exceptional -- from the gorgeous costumes and beautifully designed sets to the professional-level acting, singing, and live music. The coaching the kids receive is top-notch and helps them truly shine on stage. What also sets BP apart is the culture among the families. Parents and kids alike are genuinely supportive of one another. There's no drama over roles -- only excitement for the success of the entire production. It's a true team effort, and you can feel that in every performance. I am consistently blown away by the level of talent and the brilliant casting choices -- it's as if each performer was born for their role, which speaks volumes about the vision and care of the directors and producers. Braver Players is more than a theater -- it's a family, and we are so grateful to be a part of it.

Braver Players is a home away from home for my child and so many others. The environment is…read moresupportive and encouraging, and the focus on education is evident in all aspects of the program. Chelsea Braverman (owner) makes every effort to foster an atmosphere where students can flourish in all aspects of performance, including voice, acting, choreography, and production. They don't shy away from productions that tackle challenging themes, and they create a safe place for students to explore the complexities of theatrical artistry. Lastly, and most importantly, they recognize and reward hard work and dedication thereby fostering each student's passion for the performing arts. Oh - and the final productions are top notch! In sum, Braver Players is more than a musical theater company; it is a vibrant community that we are profoundly grateful to have discovered.

Although we have great appreciation for the arts, I want to start by saying, we have never…read moreexperienced musical theater/performing arts camps or schools before this. We were recommended by someone we know that went through their summer camps and spoke very highly of AAFK. I was definitely nervous in the beginning because we didn't know what to expect and we're also protective as well (as many are too). All of my questions were answered when I texted them and as we got closer to the start date, a detailed and waiver were also sent out outlining all of the information. Signed up for Wicked Part 2 and K-Pop Demon Hunters. I can't express enough on what a positive experience it was. We were in awe what the students were able to do in less than a week! Incredible!!!! The lighting, the sound, the stage, the props, and costumes brought everything life! How exciting it was for students to see the inner workings of theater and all of the magic and hard work behind the scene. To top it off, it took place at an actual theater, which made it official and exciting. Mr. David, his assistants, and the theater staff were all wonderful. Mr. David is charismatic, fun, silly, and knowledgeable, yet can also be serious with the students when needed as well. We loved how he added life lessons and teachings where he could in a way that came across as a casual conversation. It really stuck with my student; we appreciate it. Love how he can switch to a different voice when interacting with the students and adults. He knows how to communicate effectively, yet also encouraging and motivates the students as well. Yes, if you go to the Newport Beach location, there is a tree and rolling hill in the front. As much as it's the staff's responsibility to keep your students safe, it's also your responsibility as parents to talk and explain to your children what you expect of them and decorum when you are not there. The same goes for what parts they get in the show. Before attending, we had a conversation about not getting certain roles we may want and how to process and deal with that. It doesn't take away from the experience if you prepare your students ahead of time. Skills my student learned after two weeks: Following through and not giving up even when things get challenging, believing in yourself, be and do your best no matter what, being a team player--by helping others, taking ownership and responsibility for the role you get, and understand that things can happen on and off stage--dust yourselves off, but the show must go on!!! Most importantly, TO HAVE FUN! Will definitely back!!!! We hope they will offer Hamilton and Wicked Part 1 later on in the summer next year!

Started with a summer camp, my daughter fell in love and we keep coming back for more! The…read moreteachers are all very kind and do a great job training the students in acting, singing and dancing. So impressed by each and every show we've done!

Ms. Judy is an absolute legend. She engages all of us--babies, toddlers, and parents/caregivers…read morewith lively songs, instruments, and rhythms. She understands and supports the needs of every child in the class and makes everyone feel welcome. She skillfully interweaves music theory into all she does and makes music so approachable and enjoyable. My granddaughter absolutely loves class. She started at 10 months and it has been such a blessing, watching her enjoy music, her classmates, and of course the extraordinary Ms. Judy!! Having been in education myself for 35 years, I can honestly say its an absolute privilege to watch Ms. Judy teach with such passion and skill. She is something special. Thank You!

We love music together and ms Judy! This is a really good program for young kids and music highly…read morerecommend it is studied and has been around forever! The music is actually really good! It teaches the littles to be part of a group too.

Mr. Sellars is the best! I've been taking classes on and off (on now) for the last 15 years and he…read morehas been consistently great. So kind and patient, and clearly loves teaching. He will give attention to all his students but especially those who have good attendance and a desire to improve. Per class it's $20, however they a discount if you pay for 1/2/3 (etc) classes a week which comes out to about $16 a class.

I have been dancing at Orange County Dance Center for 24 years (starting when I was 5). It was my…read moresecond home for most of my life, and still is. I took tap, jazz and ballet from wonderful teachers who are still my friends. My husband was a professional ballet dancer at the studio. At 29 years old, I'm still taking class in the advanced tap group, and my 12-year-old step-sister has started taking ballet. The ballet program is the best in Orange County, hands down. Terri and Anthony Sellars, the owners of the studio, are former professional dancers. They teach proper technique, which is evidenced by the studio's many awards and trophies from competitions, and have turned out many professional ballerinas over the years, including their son, Chris Sellars, who is a principal dancer at Ballet West. I don't know why anyone would choose any other studio besides OCDC, especially for ballet. When I have kids, they will grow up there just like my husband and I, and all of our siblings, did.