Just started taking the adult beginning ballet class here, and I really enjoy it. I've already…read moregotten some new insights about my feet, and as well as some well-earned soreness in the arches. But, oh those calves are getting a workout, and skirt season is here! Conveniently located near Rockridge BART. Not badly priced: $12 drop in, $40 for a 4-class card. And I really like the instructor, Mary Armentrout.

I grew up at Danspace. This is the best ballet studio in the Bay Area, not because of the number…read moreof professionals that come out of it (though there are a few), but because Danspace really takes care of your body. Beth makes the studio feel like family, and you will feel welcome here no matter what your body can do or what it looks like. Great place for adult beginners. Danspace provides excellent foundational technique that will carry through to every class you take from now on. If you're looking for a place to send your kid for dance classes, this is it. Danspace is nurturing, encouraging, and most importantly, they value your kid's health far more than any other studio in the bay area. Your kid will come away from ballet with lasting technique and higher self-esteem, not lower. There is no recital mania at Danspace--the emphasis is on teaching, not performance, so while there are performance opportunities, you will not have to shell out for fifty bazillion sequined leotards and tutus. Take Carly's jazz class if you're an adult/teen with a bit of experience. She's a great teacher and will push you to try things you didn't know you could do.

This the best and most ornate theater in the Bay Area. It was originally opened in 1931 as a grand…read moremovie palace (yes Palace!). The Art Deco Decor is everywhere, on every surface, with unique patented ceilings, gold leaf everywhere, art carved into the walls, period furniture, carpets, light fixtures, and a Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ (which can reproduce the sounds of a symphony orchestra, including percussion). Wandering around the theater looking at the hundreds of artistic elements in the decor is worth the price of admission. I have been here many times over the decades and each time I am in awe of the decor. You don't get tired of it. There is so much to see you can't see it all in many visits. I was here on Friday 17 July 2026 for a performance of the 1920 movie "The Mark of Zorro" with Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. This silent movie was accompanied by Mark Herman playing the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ. Not only was the original Zorro (all the other Zorro movies are remakes of this one) movie very good, the music was fantastic. I was seated in the center of the balcony in the second row, perfect for the full sound experience of the mighty organ (whose pipes are level with the balcony on both the left and right walls just in front of the state). You can feel the music as well as hear it. (I did say the organ was Mighty!). This showing was part of the Paramount's summer classic movie series every Friday night. Get there at 6pm to explore the theater. Then there is a half hour concert of theater organ music, then the Cartoon Short (it was Tom and Jerry on this day). Then follows a prize drawing (Deco-Win) where based on the numbers drawn that match your ticket stub, you can win prizes. Then the movie follows. Everything here is perfect except one thing. The prices at the snack bar. There is a mandatory 20% service change and sales tax applied after the high menu prices. I had a cognac and some caramel corn and it cost about $32!!!. The price of the movie ticket was only $10. The theater is only a half a block from the BART 19th station (20th street exit), so BART is the best way to get to the theater.

1/2 (3.5 Stars) I…read morehad the opportunity to visit the Paramount Theatre while I was in Oakland visiting my best friend, and we had a wonderful time. The theater itself is absolutely beautiful and full of historic charm. You can definitely appreciate the craftsmanship and character of a venue that's been around for decades. My only challenge was accessibility. Because I require ADA accommodations, I found that there were quite a few stairs throughout the theater, and even the parking area involved navigating steps. I understand this is a historic building from the 1930s, so I know there are limitations, but I hope they continue looking for ways to improve accessibility wherever possible. What really made the experience positive was the staff. Everyone was incredibly kind, patient, and accommodating. No one rushed me as I made my way up the stairs, and they treated me with genuine courtesy throughout the evening. Overall, despite the accessibility challenges, we truly enjoyed the concert and had a great experience. The outstanding customer service made a big difference, and I'd certainly consider returning.

I came here with my friends to see Sunday in the Park with George. The production was very well…read moredone and our seats were only $8/each since the show was still in previews! Support local theater! I'd come again to check out other shows.

I write with an update about Shotgun Players. I do so because of the pandemic. That historic event…read moredivides experience, individual and collective. So much of the world did not make it through, even institutions. I'm glad this theatre is still around. It is as good as before. Shotgun Players actually is better. During the pandemic, they renovated. I thought that from looking around, and I googled for news articles to confirm. I also learned they are considered, with Berkeley Rep and Aurora, one of the Big Three in town. We subscribed again. I want to support local live theatre. I don't even reside in the Bay Area anymore. But my wife does. We're in the area enough weekends to want to catch more than one show. We go with another couple. The matinees are a favorite. We received free soft drinks as regulars, and a chocolate. The poster art, with murals to match on the side of the building, are by R. Black. They also have a set of tarot cards. I was not able to find too much more about the person. I am glad Shotgun Players has such a consistent look and feel. A note about the seating. I mentioned earlier my favorite, row L, which consists of bar stools for a high top table. They won't be for everyone. Your feet will be dangling. All of the other rows are benches with long cushions underneath and individual pillow cushions behind. The legroom is great. You are not cramped as at most venues. The truth is following the lockdown, we are not out as much for cultural events. But I am always interested in what Shotgun Players is doing. If you have the least interest in seeing performers on stage, I recommend them with enthusiasm.

Garden of Memory is a one-of-a-kind annual walk-thru concert at Chapel of the Chimes, presented by…read moreNew Music Bay Area, which apparently sells out of tickets each year. We arrived early this past Saturday, so street parking was available right in front. The small entry line went quickly at opening time, and once we stepped inside, we were enchanted by the maze-like setting inside, the most beautiful maze I've ever encountered. Colorful gardens with vibrant flowers and greenery, sculptures and fountains, winding pathways and staircases and hidden nooks, where music and artists of all kinds could be found in the most unexpected places on three different levels. Mainly ethereal melodies could be heard throughout, soundscapes, shamanistic and experimental music, a little bit of pop but no recognizable genre. An opportunity for the audience to connect with the beauty of the instruments being played. There were indeed a wide range of instruments utilized during the event, both traditional and uncommon, including the marimba, synthesizer, cocktail drum kit, tuba, xylophone, native recorder, hurdy gurdy, ocarina (death whistle), violin, cello, tambourine, shakers, french horn, melodica, accordian, japanese mouth organ (made of bamboo pipes), harp, bass, saxophone (quartet), dueling digital pianos, kelp horns, pine cones played with a violin bow, and even a parrot perched in an enclosure with a microphone near its beak. A few more that stood out to me were Edward Schocker with resonant glass sounds from cylinder containers filled with water, the mesmerizing performance of Pamela Z. creating engaging tunes with the theramin, vocals, and looping, and the work of sound alchemist, Laura Inserra, in the Garden of Eternal Wisdom, which was personally enjoyable and inspiring. There were a few food trucks out front with outdoor seating and tables set up, so we grabbed some dinner while at the event, a steak quesadilla from La Casita Del Guero and a lamb gyro from Halal Bites. Bracelets allowed for in-and-out flexibility, so guests could eat dinner off site and return, too. Restrooms were available inside the building as well as porta potties outside. I have nothing but good things to say about this place and our experience. It was delightful and therapeutic, and I'm pretty sure my musician bf got more than he expected out of his time here, a dream for instrumentalists and music lovers alike.

There is no bad seat at The Freight but this time I got front row , it's always general admission…read moreseating. This show was for Dave Alvin and Jimmy Dale Gilmore... two legends playing without their band for this show. Last time I saw them with their full band much closer to home at Felton Music Hall... also a great venue. Opening artist was guitarist Lenny Kaye from The Smiths and he was great too. Awesome audience as usual for The Freight. Get out and see live music, it's always a great time.

We saw Keola Beamer and Henry Kapono recently. It was our first visit to the Freight since they…read moremoved ever so long ago. This is truly a nice venue to see music. The staff is friendly; parking is convenient next door in the garage; plenty of restaurants nearby. There were also a few snack items and drinks available for sale. I was bummed that perhaps customer service and management aren't completely in synch with their own policies. I had written and asked if photography would be allowed since this was a Hawaiian show. I wanted to bring in one camera with an attached lens, no flash to take photos for personal use only. I was told that the policy was no photography was allowed. On the night of the show, the last announcement before the show started, was that non-flash photography was welcome. Oh well.

First time visiting for a concern this past weekend. The space is intimate and has great acoustics…read more I liked how the sofas and other furniture were all mismatched - adds to the esthetic! Our event was 2 hours long, and it was BYOB. Towards the back there are high chairs with seating so if you come early could grab those and settle down with your drinks. It did get a little warm in the afternoon as they turn the fans off during the performance, which makes total sense, but overall enjoyed our time here and would come back for another performance. It's also close to a ton of restaurants and cafe's, and the BART station is just a few blocks away. There is a parking lot around the corner if you're driving.

Great intimate music venue, with a variety of different styles of music…read more Bring your own drinks and food, nothing is available.

I love this dance community…read more Community: -friendly -safe -fun -relaxed -good people -diverse ages -diverse life experiences -diverse skill levels -welcoming/people will ask you to dance Venue: -large floor -plenty of room to dance/not crowded -fairly informal, don't need to dress up -not too loud -good mix of fusion songs (great for blues dancers looking for something a little different) -variety of DJs -variety of instructors -run by people who dance at their venue & engage with their community/strive to improve -snacks :) This and the Wednesday dance at La Peña used to be my regular East Bay dance diet.

This is one of my favorite dance venues in the Bay area. It's fusion partner dancing, but you don't…read moreneed a partner. Most people show up alone and either ask people to dance or solo dance. Just make sure you get here in time for the lesson if you're new to this type of dance!

THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE KHALID SHOW ON 6/26…read more This place is hands-down the best venue in the Bay Area. This was my first time here and I'll be going to see two more shows this summer. If you are attending a GA show here, I recommend arriving when the doors open. We were able to get parking with ease right across the street and get in line. Bring a stadium cushion or seat with back support as long as there's no metal in it. They didn't seem to be super strict on bag sizes, I used a stadium approved clear tote. But I saw a lot of bigger totes and Trader Joe's shopping bags. Refer to the site for information on what you can bring in as far as water bottles, snacks and other items. Literally every seat is a good seat here!

Came here for 2026 Lewis Capaldi concert!…read more Rookie mistake, I had to dump water that was in my water mug during a bag check. Seats were first come first serve but its such an intimate setting that all seats are great in comparison to football stadium concerts. Bring some form of cushion for your butts! Saw Joy Crookes as the opener and she was great. There are a lot of food and drink options as well as portable restrooms beyond the lawn. Would recommend and come back for other events.