Our teacher, Becky, is awesome and is the main reason why my daughter has studied at CDA for more…read morethan a year. My daughter dances for fitness and as a hobby but this studio trains serious dancers, little ones who come for their first dance class, and everything in between. The studio has ample parking. Nice people run the studio and we are happy that we found it!

The people here are the real deal, good people…read more My son is a ballet dancer. We lived in Simi Valley for many years and my son danced with a studio that was a competition studio. They have all genres of dance, but it always felt they prioritized the competition dance team, which isn't our thing. As a result, when we moved to the San Fernando Valley, we decided to stick with a more traditional Ballet school academy environment. No competition team type places. We ended up in downtown LA. But during covid, we really had some challenges and my son wasn't able to get back in a studio for many many months. I found California Dance Academy on social media and saw that they were doing Nutcracker outside. I emailed them and ask if my son could take class with them for a while until our school opens again. They were dancing outside and following all covid precautions until case numbers came down and county restrictions allowed indoor classes again. They followed everything to a T and kept dancers safe. No cases were spread within the studio. Everyone we met here was fantastic. No drama. And truly solid classical ballet instruction. I'd have previously written this place off because we were looking to get away from competition environment, but California Dance Academy treats both classical ballet and competition as equally valuable. They develop strong dancers and train kids up in the area the kid wants to go. Their focus is art and solid instruction. My son's school downtown reopened and he was genuinely sad to leave California Dance Academy. But I have to write this review and just say that whether it is classic ballet or more commercial style dance you are looking for, this is a great school with great people. They are helpful, transparent, kind, and honest people.

My daughter has been dancing at Carousel for nearly five years, and our experience has been nothing…read morebut positive. Some of the negative reviews, particularly those with one or two stars, appear to come from individuals with personal grievances or exaggerated complaints. They simply don't reflect the reality we've experienced. Carousel is a disciplined and focused studio that offers serious dance training. This is not a recreational center or casual after-school program--it's a place for students who are committed to developing their craft. The instruction is exceptional, with a strong emphasis on proper technique that, in my opinion, is unmatched in this area. Importantly, the environment is also healthy and supportive. In the five years we've been at the studio, I've never once heard a teacher make a negative comment about a dancer's body or weight. On the contrary, Natalie teaches dancers how to fuel their bodies properly for training and often encourages healthier choices--like skipping sugary snacks or drinks--purely from a nutritional standpoint, not as criticism. It's always been about education, not shame. She IS tough but also loving and the kids idolize her and want to impress her. In fact most of the teachers are firm but nurturing. They genuinely care about each student and push them to be their best. My daughter was not on the company her first year, but she was always treated with respect and never made to feel less than others. Now that she is on the company, she is held to higher standards and expected to set an example for younger dancers, which we fully support. Unlike many studios, Carousel has very little of the typical "dance mom" drama. The families here are supportive, and the dancers are inclusive and kind. My daughter has built friendships both on and off company, and there's a real sense of community. At recitals, dancers who are not on the company are still given opportunities to shine. I recently attended the recital, and I saw numerous non-company dancers featured in solos and highlighted performances, directly contradicting the claims that only company members are showcased. Before finding Carousel, we briefly attended Dance Dimensions. Despite attending for two weeks, my then 10-year-old daughter was never included or welcomed by the other dancers. In contrast, on her first day at Carousel, several girls immediately invited her to join them and made her feel at home. This studio isn't the right fit for every dancer--but that's part of its strength. Carousel values dedication, work ethic, and respect. Students who embrace those values will thrive. Karen and Natalie, the directors, are passionate about what they do and committed to developing strong, technically proficient dancers. They prioritize quality over quantity and are not interested in simply filling spots. THIS IS KEY. If your kid works hard, makes dance a priority, has a good attitude and is kind.... and YOU are not difficult.... your child will do wonderfully here. Additionally, Carousel is extremely mindful of cost. Compared to other studios in the area, it is significantly more affordable. Claims that it's "all about the money" are completely unfounded in my experience. They actively look for ways to reduce financial strain on families--recycling costumes, keeping competitions local, and organizing fundraisers. I've consistently found that they do everything they can to help families manage expenses. I never feel pressured to buy anything I don't want. I appreciate the drop in classes for younger kids so that if we skip I am not throwing away money. Lastly, my younger child takes recreational classes at Carousel and absolutely loves it. The teachers are kind, patient, and age-appropriate, and I've never witnessed any harshness or negativity toward younger dancers. In short, if you're seeking a studio that offers exceptional dance training in a respectful, supportive, and disciplined environment, I wholeheartedly recommend Carousel. It's been a wonderful experience for both of my children and our entire family. Be on time, be dressed appropriately and come with a good attitude and work ethic and your kid will be fine.

My Granddaughter has been going there for many years. She truly enjoys it. They have a performance…read moreevery year, usually at the Performing Arts center in Thousand oaks. They also have a dance company which has competitions in many cities nationwide.

Our daughter spent the last 5 years dancing on the competition teams and taking unlimited classes…read moreat Dance Dimensions PAC. She absolutely LOVED it. They brought in numerous guest artists to teach master classes, had professional photo shoots with the company dancers, had talented and patient instructors and choreographers, and she was always treated with care and understanding by the owners and staff. Her senior year was particularly wonderful as she was able to lead her team, clean routines, perform at her favorite conventions/competitions, and even choreograph her own senior solo. She felt so loved, appreciated and celebrated at the Company Recital that featured the seniors. Dance Dimensions was her home away from home. It was a safe place for her to grow as a dancer and thrive as she became a young adult. We highly recommend this studio!

My daughter has been attending Dance Dimension for the past 4 years, and we absolutely love it…read morehere. Every single staff member is caring, welcoming, and truly dedicated to the kids. From the very beginning, they have embraced my daughter with open arms, and the supportive, positive energy throughout the studio is exactly what any parent could wish for their child. The confidence, joy, and encouragement they give the kids is unmatched, and it shows in the way my daughter has grown both as a dancer and as a person. The only thing I wish for is a slightly stricter sick policy, as classes can get quite busy, but that doesn't take away from how grateful we are for everything this studio does. Dance Dimension has been a second home to my daughter, and we are so thankful for the love and positivity they pour into every student. Highly recommend!

Both of my daughters love their teachers at the academy. As a parent I love seeing their…read moreconfidence, skills and appreciation for various dance class types/styles. Also I extra appreciate how organized the classes and recitals are. Great studio!

My daughter dances here and it couldn't be a more positive experience! The owners are so kind and…read morecaring. The dance training is top notch! The teachers are all fun and beautiful dancers with great choreography! If you want a place that's inclusive and fun, while giving your child a great dance education, then this is it! Great community studio!

We've been with Elite since 2016 between my two daughters, who both started dancing at age 3. Our…read moreoldest has moved on to other interests, but our 7-year-old continues with ballet and loves it. I've watched Elite grow from a smaller studio into the powerhouse it is today. Elite is an excellent dance studio, from day one through their very polished recitals. It's important to note that this is not a cutesy/playtime type of studio. Dance is a discipline, and so dress code and presentation are taken seriously. For first-timers, that might feel a little intimidating, but there's a reason behind it. Hair and makeup need to be spot-on for recitals, because there's always a chance your cute 3 or 4-year-old might get on stage and just stand there! But guess what? They'll look fantastic doing it. And then, year after year, you'll see their confidence and ability grow. As a parent, you will need to stay on top of recital packets to know who/what/where/when, and I find Elite to be very thorough in the material they send out, or if you simply call them ahead of time. Another perk.. they have a professional photographer who takes photos on stage and backstage at shows/recitals for FREE. As well as a videographer, which is very much appreciated. The owner, Toni, taught my oldest years ago and is fantastic, both as a teacher and as a business owner. Neither of my girls have ever been on team, but both have always enjoyed their classes. The teachers are wonderful with age-appropriate instruction (shout out to Miss Princess with the littles) and technique. My 7-year-old only takes one ballet class currently, yet she could not be more excited to be performing in The Nutcracker for her second year in a row. Needless to say, we love Elite!

Ability the hands down best since academy in Las Vegas. No other comparison availableread more

All of the teachers are gifted, patient, creative and fun! The kiddos enjoy learning various dance…read morestyles, and performing on stage. Very energetic atmosphere for all ages!

We love our princess ballet & tap class with Ms Sydney!…read more She's so fun and engaging. Our daughter is learning and growing so much with Creation Station!

This is the most amazing dance school, my grandaughter has been there for 4 years and now she still…read moreloves it. Megan and Rosalie, Rene and all the team are amazing....They give everything to the girls with a recital that always ends at the Frank Kavali Theater in Thousand Oak. I love these people....thank you Rosalie! You've given Isabella so much!! Love to all from Grandma and the Fernandez Family!

I went here for years and love Rosalie, she is just so amazing with kids, very patient and kind. I…read morehave fond memories of my years dancing with Rosalie and our yearly recitals.

My fiancé and I decided to take some couple's dance lessons here in the month leading up to our…read morewedding. We were already down to the wire in terms of timing, but the manager, Stephanie, was so incredibly kind and accommodating. We worked with Any and she was so sweet and patient with us. She choreographed a beautiful first dance for us in a very short amount of time. We started with a package of 3 lessons, and ended up adding a couple more at the end because, well, we were pretty terrible lol, but it all worked out. The studio is open pretty late (until like 9pm or later) and there's plenty of parking in front and in back. The only thing I didn't like is that you share the studio space with others, or sometimes a class, so you have to share the music and sometimes have to maneuver around people, which can throw you off a little.

All of the teachers welcome students at any level with a personalized approach to learning! My…read moreexperience over the past 5 years has been incredibly positive. Stefanie, Preston, Erick and the newer teachers, Yoshio, Sydney, Camila and Jessy always pave a workable path to achieving goals and having fun!