We started at a small dance studio for 7 years then the pandemic hit. After that we found Dance Academy USA. My daughter has been dancing for DAU for 5 years now. This studio has challenged her and she has grown so much to be a better dancer and person. I wish I had moved her to this studio sooner. The teachers and staff are all wonderful. If there is any concerns addressed they do their best to resolve it. When greeting on phone, I believe they should say their name first so It sounds more welcoming. And not so stiff sounding. Especially, since the person on the other end of phone probably doesn't know how sweet the office Staff are. read more

Words can't explain how much this studio means to me. I found it when my daughter decided she wanted to compete. We did a trial class and never looked back. I have never more happy about a decision I've made. Not only has she drastically improved in just two years, getting a title, scholarships and awards to boot. But, more importantly we've found a new incredible family. These kids and parents all truly care about each other and it's so beautiful. No drama just unbelievable support and great vibes. The teachers are the most amazing humans who truly care about your kid and have a great balance of cheering them on and guiding them to their best potential. I adore every single one of them. They have given my daughter (and I) so much love and support that I'm forever grateful for. I also take their adult classes which has been the most amazing experience for me as well. Yes, it's great fitness and fun. But it has also honestly been such a light in my life on my darkest days and been so great for my mental health. You get the same incredible teachers and amazing supportive community. Who knew one trial class could change our lives so much for the better? Forever grateful for our new family! read more

We love DAU! Our daughter started dancing here since she was 4 years old, and not only did she fall in love with dancing, she fell in love with the DAU community. She tried a variety of dance classes and even when they weren't the perfect fit, the teachers were supportive. Our son tried out dancing, while we realized it wasn't his hobby, he kept trying because he had a fun and supportive teacher. My daughter also entered the Performance Team and continues to thrive! She's not only improved in her dance skills, she's increased in confidence, making friendships, and learned about teamwork. We are so grateful for the teachers and staff. They genuinely care and are talented at their craft. Highly recommend DAU! read more

I stood there to watch the k pop dancing class. I was very disappointed. I didn't get the impression that the lessons were taught with passion. I felt the instructor just wing it. I'm not sure if the kids could learn more here compared to just watching a YouTube video and learn from there. It's very strange. For the first 15 mins, there was basically just 1 mins of instructions. The first 8 mins everyone just sat on the floor and was waiting. The instructor was yawning and sitting on the floor. She was watching her phone maybe a video for a few minutes during the class to learn the move, and then she spends 30 seconds to demonstrate and then the students repeat. Of course she had to drink some coffee during the class time in the first 15 mins to wake up. I'm also a coffee addict but I don't drink coffee when I present in a meeting. The instructor went back to her phone to watch a few moves. Came back later to show 30s of dance moves. The class lacks structure. The students were not able to see the dance videos. The TV was off. The students were just sitting there or standing doing nothing and waiting. While the instructor watch on her phone. It seems the instructor wasn't prepared. Literally in 15 mins there was just 1 min of instructions. I couldn't stand watching and left early. Scale it for an hour and that's just 4 mins of instructions. Totally fine for coffee break, water break etc. The percentage of time used for teaching was way too low, less than 10% of productivity in the first 15 mins I saw. There are many things that I wish could be done better: - start on time - maybe don't walk away to drink coffee or what not during the class, while the whole group of kids were just standing there doing nothing - be prepared before the class so you know the dance move and teach rather than watching a video on your phone and learn it on the job during the teaching time - maybe show the dance video you are learning from real time on the TV, so the students could visualize what they are trying to replicate, rather than standing doing nothing - end the class in time rather than ending early It's probably a good place to just drop off the kids and have them do something but I'm not sure if my kid is learning much from the k pop class here. By the way, I'm paying for the k pop lessons, but now I need to think if it's worth it, if the k pop class keeps going on like this. read more

3.5 stars Very popular and busy dance studio. Parking lot is truly horrendous. It truly is not equipped to handle the volume of patrons and cars going into this place. It is packed. I've caught billing mistakes. No apologies. Just "We will get to it". And they did fix it eventually. I asked about attending a makeup class when there were still openings in that class. "Absolutely not!" stone faced. I said "Thanks." No answer. Not even- you're welcome. Or sorry. Just silence. I guess it's best not to ask that kind of question. Very unpleasant front desk. However, luckily most things can be done online yourself or you can call over the phone and hopefully you get someone patient and courteous. Bathrooms: many girls use the bathroom to change into their dance attire right before class. There's always a long line of course. Best to use the bathroom very early at the studio, or at home or at school. I always have to think of other places where my kid can use the bathroom before class. Or she holds it in omg! Her teacher has told her it's best to use the bathroom before class. Right. But what if there's a long line all the time? It would then be unavoidable to use the bathroom during class time. Other than that, it's a good place for recreational dance classes for your child. Most parents there are not in happy moods guaranteed at least half the time. Kinda of a grumpy place. If you get in the right class with friendly kids, it's nice for your child. read more

i'm writing only as a participant in the adult fitness classes so am not speaking to the dance part of the academy, and i LOVE the adult fitness classes! 4 classes (Body Sculpt Core Conditioning (2x; Mon & Weds); Step Aerobics; Pilates) are taught by Christina P., who is an extremely experienced teacher. the Body Sculpt classes are not scripted classes (like at 24 Hr Fitness) but Christina comes up with her own routines each time, using different props (dumbbells, those stretchy bands, etc.) as she sees fit. the classes are highly effective and fun. Christina is constantly moving around the classroom to correct your form and give pointers if needed. the other people in the classes are warm and welcoming and it's always a joy to come to class. there are also 2 yoga classes on tuesday & thursday mornings that are wonderful--"gentle" yoga so lots of stretching--not too strenuous. read more

My daughter has been dancing here for the past 3 years and has had the best experience. The studio provides students with foundational dance technique in a low pressure environment. They are extremely well organized and clear with communication. Even though there are many students at the studio, each teacher makes the students feel valued and celebrated. They push students to their potential in nurturing and encouraging ways. I'm very thankful my daughter is growing up in this space, and grateful that the studio had provided us with the opportunity to make so many positive memories together. read more

They were double charging us incorrectly which they acknowledged. We have been trying for months to get them to reverse the charge which they refuse to do despite originally agreeing to do so over the phone. Absolutely insane how they treat customers. read more

I enrolled my 5-year-old in this dance studio, and after just two classes (one of them was a trial), they started contacting me about the summer recital which is five months away--along with purchasing a costume in the range of $80 (and after reading the reviews here, it seems there would be a ticket if you want to watch the recital). I received multiple emails from them starting in January. Today is a Saturday, they called me twice and emailed again. I understand that studio plans ahead, but it's hard to predict if a 5-year-old would still enjoy the class months from now. Our family also often has summer traveling plan, so it's hard to predict the timeline. I've shared both of the reasons with the studio but it didn't stop them from contacting me further. Another thing I read about on their website is, if you do plan to skip the recital, your kid will be placed in a separate area in the classroom (without the costume of course) while other kids practice for the recital. It's hard for little kids to not feel left out, and that's the reason the studio uses to pressure parents I suppose. If you have no issues to sign your kid up for the recital, what I shared is probably not a big issue for you. We are just looking for a place where kids can move around with music and have fun. Recital is good to have but not a must for us. read more

NOT AUTISM FRIENDLY. I'm leaving this review based on my experience from back in October of 2022, I had not made the time to leave a review until now because I'm newly finding out of my daughter's condition, and only want to express how difficult as a parent it was to feel like my daughter was being handled with care and consciousness by the teacher. My daughter was only 3, non-verbal, and was having so much trouble feeling accepted. The teacher was ignoring her expecting my daughter to eventually come to her senses, she wasn't comforting in any way. I dropped her from the class right away as the environment was just not friendly for special needs. I'm sure older students have a better capacity of joining once they've had more outside therapy and one on one work, but I feel the environment for young special needs children does not fit here. I'm still disappointed, because at the time as a new parent, I could not understand myself why this class was so stressful for my young daughter. I leave my review so that other parents with non verbal or high functioning autistic children take into consideration their children's needs. read more

I was referred to DAU from a friend for my 4 yr old and what a blessing it has been. The staff is so helpful and nice. Ms.Kim is a blessing and always goes the extra mile including helping me get private lessons for myself to surprise my wife on our wedding day. The instructors are so good with my daughter and her class. Can't recommend enough. Looking forward to continuing classes and seeing BF performances read more

This is our first year with DAU. We signed up for Ms. Corrine's int/adv K-pop course at the beginning of the season and enjoyed every single class with her. Then we moved our ballet lessons from another school to Ms. Jen's ballet 3/4 class. We are confident that with Ms. Jen's guidance, we will continue to train with the best. read more

The best dance studio in the area. We tried a few, but this one is the best. Well organized, lots of class options and very high quality of dance instruction. My kids are taking tap and breakdance. Special shout-out to Mr. Neal who teaches breakdance. He is so fun and energetic and creates such a positive environment in the class. read more

As a new customer I wanted to like this place. We came from a different dance studio and my teen has been dancing since she was 10 years old. As advertised on social media this place looks like an awesome dance studio. After trying to enroll my teen 16 years old in the 14 and up hip hop class I was denied multiple times on the parent portal . They told me she must start from the bottom up because she was a new student so I went ahead and went along with it and enrolled her in femme hip hop 10 n up and hip hop 1/3 12 n up. When my daughter and I arrived on her first day she did not feel comfortable at all. She is a junior in high school and her classmates were literally in elementary or maybe junior high. With my daughter not being comfortable in a class with kids as she is a teenager I asked if she can be waitlisted in the 14 n up. They flat out told me no, she is new to this school and must start from the beginning classes. So beware! If you have a teenager in high school and want to come here do not ! Unless you want to see your teenager perform with elementary students . I dropped her and took the loss and re enrolled to pur dance studio. Also the girl who spoke with me tonight was pretty rude too and very bad customer service. Even my daughter who is 16 noticed it as well which is pretty bad for a teen to notice that. read more

DAU is the best! The staff is amazing and will take good care of your kids and have a great communication. I brought my daughter here and will soon take my grandkids when they're old enough :) read more

Unlike all other reviews written by the parents, I am writing from my own experience. And this review is only for Marcie Shapiro. Marcie is my first jazz dance teacher. When I joined her class, I knew nothing about jazz dance, I thought it was another kind of workout, but soon I fell in love with this  "workout". My first-ever recital was Marcie's class. Everyone told me all sorts of stage fright stories... I should have been scared because only 4 of us were on a huge stage, but I wasn't. Marcie made us feel so confident that even when we made mistakes, we felt it was choreographed that way.  :-)  The classes I am taking are Adult Jazz and Adult Tap. My classmates are of all different ages, from young moms to me (Oh! Did I mention that I am a few years away from 70?); and all levels, from beginner beginners to experienced dancers. Somehow Marcie magically makes all of us learn with great pleasure and confidence; the beginners don't feel too frustrated or challenged to come back, and the more experienced never feel bored. And she always carries a BIG smile to light up our day even on a rainy day. I broke away from DAU for a few years because of a schedule conflict. Before rejoining her class, I took jazz and tap from several different instructors, you see, my review is not biased from only taking classes from one teacher. Marcie has a knack for teaching. I watched her teach toddlers... all the babies were so happy and laughing throughout the class. I watched "West Side Story" choreographed by her in 2021 (Sunnyvale), and the play was amazing. I am very grateful that before my legs go out, I have Marcie's class to fulfil my life with joy. read more

My toddler boy, 3 years old, had fun dancing here during the summer. Friendly teachers and easy online system. They seem inclusive and I like that. It's good scheduled social interaction during times when he's not in preschool. read more

I took a trial k-pop class here. It was so much fun. The instructor is very nice and professional. And the school offers me a dancing performance tickets as well. read more

I'm feeling the need to update my yelp review from a couple years ago. My daughters are still dancing at DAU and this is our 10th year here. I am so proud of the dancers they have become!! They have been competing for 4 years and they do really well at all the competitions and conventions. I know I owe their dance success to DAU and all the classes they take. Not only have they become great dancers but they have learned such important life lessons about competing with other girls, whether they win or lose- how to be gracious when winning and how to be positive and supportive when they lose. They've also learned how to balance dance, school, family and friends while living their lives as a changing teenager. I definitely recommend sending your kids to Dance at Dance Academy USA!! Our life would not be the same without this Dance studio!! read more

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After 5 years on the competition team with a small local studio, we were devastated when it became a COVID casualty. We were looking for a new dance home. Happily, DAU became just that place! My daughter loves the instructors, and I have seen such growth in her technique and performance over the last year. She has especially enjoyed learning from Ms. Tami and Ms Gabby. They have really helped her excel. She has had a great time making new friends and being a part of the production company. After thinking she would never find a place to call her dance home, she now cannot wait to rush into DAU each dance day. The new facilities are beautiful and well laid out. The multiple studios make it possible for them to offer multiple dance styles all throughout the afternoon to multiple ages. It has also been super convenient to have a large location to spread out to practice for upcoming competitions and prepare for conventions. Everything is very organized and well run. We receive constant email communications from the office regarding our upcoming competitions, picture days, special days at the studio, even recital news. There is a constant stream of email information available. They even send out an email to all parents of the studio, the Thursday Update, each week letting you know of everything going on. Ms. Crystal does an excellent job of keeping the production company in line (which is no small task) and keeping us informed on upcoming schedules for fittings, pictures, competitions and conventions with all their associated paperwork, and ordering all our necessary gear. She has helped make transitioning to a new production team very easy. We have been very pleased with our move to DAU and have encouraged others to join us. read more

untrained teachers for younger kids. especially 2.5-5 years old. Teachers need patience and better skills to teach younger kids group

The picture day at DAU was very organized and well planned. - early info on time and class by email to families - both photo shoots started on time - they managed to hold the Saturday classes - popcorn, water, music and balloons created a festive atmosphere - set up tents for shade during a hot day - pop up store to sell dance clothing Great experience ... read more

My 5.5 year old son has been going to this place for the past few months. We were disappointed to find out that they don't offer children under 7 anything more structured such as tap dance or social dance, because their hip pop class seems like a casual exercise session for kids to release energy, but we were fine with it because he really tries to follow the teacher's instructions in the class. However, what happened tonight has changed our mind, and it was shocking to see how they treat young students and clients. After the class tonight, the office manager stopped my mom by the door when she went to pick my son up. In front of everyone, as though making an example while the other students and parents were watching, the office manager complained that my son has always been too active in the class and jumps around too much. My mom was a bit shocked to learn this, because we have not heard any complaints from his teacher before. Nothing was unusual, and isn't it meant for kids to JUMP and be ACTIVE in a hip pop class? Then the office manager accused my son of calling other student names in the class tonight. My mom asked my son, he told the office manager and my mom it was a group of the kids who did it in the class, although he was accused by other students but he really didn't do it. He tried so hard to explain himself, and cried when he wasn't understood. And, it goes on, the office manager took a broken door stopper and accused my son of breaking it tonight too. The 5.5 years old cried hard and said he didn't do it. My mom asked the office manager if it could be a mistake. The office manager escalated things quickly and asked my mom why she thought the teacher was a liar. By this time, both my mom and my son have been humiliated enough in public, my mom walked out with the crying boy. We will not be continuing to take our son here, and we will be telling everyone we can to avoid this place with terrible treatment of small children. read more

After 6 years having my daughter going to DAU, I felt very disrespected by teacher Tara Roberts. She's very unprofessional: never starts on time, impatient with the kids, the presentation didn't look like done by 7 and 8 year old kids, she was not even present in the recital. Somehow my daughter's name was misspelled in the recital program, even though it was always right in previous years; I contacted Ms. Loretta (the owner's mother in law), who gave nothing but excuses. If you ever have your kids attend this school, make sure to not have Ms. Tara or Jessica Benesch as teachers. Worst presentations I've seen my daughter take part of. On the bright side, I do recommend teachers Kandyce Jones, Jenni Tibbils and Denise Boucher. So, teachers are hit or miss and, if you really mean to have yours kids go to this academy, be sure to get teacher references! read more

The teacher we have seems almost miserable, maybe she's just unfriendly - she's teaching mostly 5-6 year olds. She never smiles and she never greets the kids (or parents) with a smile. We think paying for the recitals is painful - $25 a ticket to see our own kid perform for all of 2 minutes at best. After paying for the expensive costume, expensive tickets, and the expensive monthly lessons, we feel like this studio is only about the money. There seems to be no genuine joy of teaching dance here. Maybe the academy is being influenced from the top down. In our few interactions with the owner, she is always rude and speaks to parents (yes, the paying customers) all with a demeaning attitude. I've never heard her even speak to the kids nicely for that matter too. But most irritatingly, she can't even treat the parents with some kind of courteous behavior. We're the people that are footing the bill there! We didn't have a dispute - we just see how she talks to people (and me included) and she's just rude. The only reason I am giving 2 stars is because my kid actually enjoys the class, but not enough to want to do this again. I've heard other parents say they like their teacher, but our experience hasn't been so great. read more

I had stop by to check this place out. The staff is pretty cool and informative. I had sat in on a class and my son seems really eager to join. Since my son is currently in a summer program, he will start when regular starts, to keep his schedule busy. read more

DAU is a family!!!! Best dance studio in northern CA... the teachers are amazing and some of my best friends came out of this studio! I danced at DAU from 2-18 years old and went on to be a USC Song Girl, NFL Chargers cheerleader and NBA clippers dancer.. love you Dance Academy!!!! read more

My girls have been here for years, it's the best! The teachers are great and the recitals every year is legit! Proud to have my girls here read more

Dance Academy USA - Dance Schools Near Me - Cupertino, California

I went to DAU for 15 years starting from when I was the age of 2/3 to the age of 17/18. I'm a senior in college now and being a few years removed has given me the chance to reflect on my time there. It really was my family, and my constant throughout my entire life. I had amazing instructors, I made friends at the studio and I learned skills that I still use in every area of my life. I am no longer dancing regularly, and I miss it every day, but my organization skills, independence, and general preparedness are all qualities that I have to thank DAU for teaching me. Being a dancer with DAU taught me the value of hard work and what it means to be a part of a team. I competed on the production hip hop team for 4 years and if you don't know your part and nail it each time, you could be letting the whole team down. You win together and you lose together, so you've really got to put in the effort and give everything your all. That's the same dedication I've brought into every job and internship I have had thus far, and that's the same dedication I'll bring in to any job I may get post-grad. I get complimented on this work ethic and understanding of teamwork frequently by teachers, bosses and peers. This past summer, I interned for a small film production company in LA. I landed the job when I was interviewing with the producer and she was critiquing a writing assignment I had handed in to be considered for the position. She apologized for being harsh, but I just responded by saying I genuinely appreciate the value of constructive criticism because I was a dancer for 15 years. She literally hired me on the spot. She told me that's not something she can teach a 21-year-old and it's a character trait she values greatly. At DAU, I learned exactly how valuable constructive criticism is in a safe, motivating environment when I was young and I'll be forever grateful for it. My teachers helped me improve as a dancer and a person constantly. It was the exact kind of structure that I needed growing up. Little things like packing my dance bag for conventions led to my ability to anticipate every thing I might need on any outing whether it's work-related, school-related or for fun. Being prepared and resourceful are the best qualities a film student could possess and I learned those skills long before college when I was at DAU. All the older dancers at the studio were my role models who really inspired me to be a leader and push myself that little bit extra. Now I'm the Director of Recruitment for Sorority Life at Chapman University. I'm in charge of 700 women as they navigate finding their "home" on campus. I joined a sorority in the first place because I knew how amazing it feels to have a community that supports you, I always had DAU. I hope everyone is doing well over there. I miss all my teachers and the Carter family (the owners) all the time, they were a huge part of my life. I still watch all the DAU videos on social media, I know their dancers just keep getting better and better. read more

Love this dance studio!! One of my boys took beginning hip hop a while back and the instructor was great! Patient and encouraging and fun. Although my son wasn't really into furthering his dance career, you're welcome world, I highly recommend this place. I have tons of friends who have daughters who have gone through here as well as adults. . Nothing but thumbs up!!!! read more

Dance Academy USA - Dance Schools Near Me - Cupertino, California

Very much place. Really clean and tidy. I sat down on a session for my friends nephew. He really opened up to the instructors, normally shy at first. He was super excited after and I knew immediately he was open in coming back. I definitely recommend this place. read more

I started dancing at DAU when I was four years old and I have since graduated the studio. I absolutely loved my time at Dance Academy. From a child and a dancer's perspective, it was fun and challenging and had a huge variety of classes, like classical ballet, hip-hop/breakdancing, and salsa (just to name a few). I always felt welcomed and respected by teachers and office staff and with the many friends I made there, it was like a family away from home. Since graduating, I have begun to fully appreciate every opportunity that DAU offers to students. For example, when I was 17 I participated in the Teacher's Assistant program that allowed me to help teach lower level classes. Seeing that I am now seeking a career as a teacher, this was a wonderful way for me to experience this type of job first hand. I learned valuable lessons about hard work, confidence, responsibility and friendship at this studio, and I am very grateful I was able to dance for so many years there. read more

At the age of 6 I took my first class at Dance Academy USA, never did I know my life would truly change forever. Now at the age of 19 dancing at the prestigious American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, I cannot stress on how much DAU has truly helped me accomplish my dreams. The staff are one of a kind and nurture each and every student to the best of their ability. Staff members act professional and make students feel comfortable in the classes. You will get HIGH QUALITY dance education at Dance Academy USA that you cannot get any where else. DAU does not only teach its students dance, but also life lessons that many carry on throughout their life. If you want your child to grow as a dancer and as an individual then PLEASE sign them up for their first class at DAU, you will not regret it! read more

DO NOT SIGN UP HERE. IF YOUR CHILD IS NEW TO THE STUDIO FIND ANOTHER ONE. I was warned prior to signing up by 2 other families and I should have listened. My daughter has been attending this studio all year for a jazz class and it has been an awful experience. They automatically charge your card monthly and if you miss a class there's no makeups and if there are holidays you still pay the full amount. That's fine we still signed up. They're very strict and only let your child enroll in specific classes for that age ONLY. I already called about 2 months ago and complained to THE OWNER that my daughters class repeatedly starts late and time isn't made up by no means and the worse part is they constantly have a sub and they're mixing the class with younger students who are disruptive. Every time there is a sub they don't get s chance to practice they're routine for the recital. When I spoke with the owner she acted very apologetic and agreed that mixing the classes wouldn't happen but couldn't control when a teacher misses class but would have a talk with the instructor and it was early to start working on the recital. AGAIN, the instructor wasn't there last week and AGAIN this week and both times AGAIN classes have been mixed with younger students. Recital is now a few classes away. This is absolutely ridiculous. If you want to send your child here to have them babysit while you go run errands great but if you're looking for a proper studio don't say you weren't warned. read more

As a member of DAU for the past 8 years, I can confidently say that I have never had such a great time and learned so much while being involved with and working for such a great entity. The children are learning more than just dance here. It is about a mind set, a sense of community, a code of values, and tools to lead a successful life that all of these children learn and participate in. All of the teachers are friendly, knowledgeable, and dedicated. The office staff always steer this ship in the right direction with the parents and children's best interests at heart. And the owners who have dedicated most of their lives to this school have managed to create something incredible! read more

Great to see a dance studio with such a family atmosphere. Older dancers assisting and taking care of the younger dancers! Great role models all around the studios! read more

We signed our daughter up for the On Demand Classes and she tried a class last night and already loves it. I'm so happy to have found this studio during these crazy and uncertain times. We couldn't imagine a year without dance but just weren't comfortable in person. Dance Academy USA has offered a perfect solution and we are thrilled. There is a huge variety of classes for every level available and the videos are easy to follow. read more

My niece has been attending this academy for several years. She enjoys the classes, instructors and events. The staff is awesome, helpful, knowledgeable, encouraging and friendly. I highly recommend. read more

This is my daughter's 4th year at DAU and her 4th picture day as well. So far so good. The process is quick and easy. They were behind a few minutes tho but still worked out okay. We can't wait for next season! read more

My daughter who is a senior in high school transferred to DAU from another local studio and joined their competitive performing company. As a teen, it was difficult for her to leave friends she had grown up with and make new ones. But the teachers, staff, and dancers were inclusive and welcoming. She has since moved on to high school dance team and no longer dances at the studio, but her younger sister has taken dance class once a week with Miss Joy. She is in the 2nd grade and really enjoys her class and has a lot of fun. I like that this studio offers many options for different levels and abilities. For the "hardcore" dancers it offers very challenging and competitive programs. For the hobbyists, they offer fun and enjoyable classes in a clean, well-run environment. read more