My daughter (9 years old) just completed 2 different summer dance camps here. The camps were each a week, with different themes. My daughter had a lot of fun at the camps offered. She also learned a lot of wonderful, diverse dance moves. The instructors (probably late teens/college students) and are very sweet and outgoing. The camp offered healthy snacks and crafts related to the theme/or era of the dance. My daughter now wants to take regular classes here, so we'll be signing up. We live in the mountains, so it's a bit of a drive, but it's worth it. read more

Our two daughters just took several dance classes at this small-but-bustling studio and were so happy there. The teachers are nurturing and supportive and the whole environment is really fun. This studio has been around forever....long enough to be considered a Santa Cruz County institution. They moved about a year ago from their longtime location on 41st Avenue and now are in (IMO) a MUCH easier and better location on Bay Ave across the street from Nob Hill. (They are in the same center with Dairy Queen.) My girls are preschool and elementary age but if you look at their website you'll see that this studio offers many classes for all ages including adults. We live out of town (were in town for summer classes) otherwise I would definitely take yoga and bellydance at Dancenter. I believe this studio offers the widest variety of bellydance classes in a single location in the county. I also really appreciate that the studio does a lot of community-involved work such as supporting National Dance Week, performing at local events like the Art & Wine Festival, and classes for kids & adults with special needs. Prices are comparable to other area studios. read more

My two daughters took dance lessons over the summer and couldn't have been happier. The staff is friendly and great with kids. I don't think you'll find better for your kids. read more

Dancenter is amazing!! I miss dancing here. Ruth is an amazing dance teacher. She has a range of dance classes to choose from as well. I would defiantly recommend dancenter to any one. read more

Dancenter encourages all people to dance, regardless of their ability level. The studio has a warm and friendly feel, and yet international and world acclaimed teachers and dancers reside here. My three children, two girls and one boy, eagerly attend dance class. The classes are structured, vocabulary rich, musical, and focused. All of my children thrive in this environment. I want to commend and thank all of the teachers at Dancenter; I am constantly enamored with your choreography, teaching, ability, style, and grace. I am thankful to call Dancenter my home studio when I am back visiting Santa Cruz. read more

Our Daughter attended this dance studio for about 6 years... we liked the studio. My daughter is a serious student of dance and for her it's more than just an after school activity. She would go out of her way to be a helper, fill in as a back up when needed, etc. Although we liked the studio, the Teachers and staff do not interact with parents or talk to parents at all. No information comes home as far as how your student is doing or progressing. Plus, the Teachers do not advocate for their students. The studio spends too long learning one dance the whole year. The students get bored. Plus, the same type of choreography with dances and students end up in the same roles over and over. If you've seen one Dancenter performance, you've seen them all. Once my daughter got older, (this year 13/14 years) and expressed interest in attending another studio alongside Dancenter, to learn other dance styles that Dancenter does not offer, the Director Ruth was very discouraging. She essentially would not accommodate a change in my daughter's schedule and essentially drove her out. We only had to drop 1 class and make an accommodation for another, which would have left us with 9 classes a week at Dancenter, but Ruth would not allow it! She essentially drove my daughter away and barred her from taking classes! It's Her way or the Highway. Again, we've been at that studio for 6 years. No loyalty or love for my daughter was shown... just the door! This hurt my daughter so much! She thought she was really apart of a family... Ruth has rules for different students. Some have scheudle accommodations, but she was unwilling to accommodate my daughter. When I talked to her about the flexibility she shows with other students, she didn't have any good reason why her rules are arbitrary. They allowed one student to stay and have the scheudle that my daughter wanted. This student has only been coming to Dancenter less than 1 year!!!! Also, my daughter is home schooled and had a purchase order to pay for classes at Dancenter. Since she was kicked out, we had the PO from the home school canceled. Dancenter was to do a final billing so our Educational/Instructional funds could be returned and we could use the rest of our funds to pay for our child's education and instructional material. The billing to this date still has not been done! We are almost to the end of the semester and if this final billing is not done we stand to lose over $500 of instructional funds due to Dancenter's lack of care or concern. THEY DID GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF... IT ONLY TOOK WAY MORE PERSISTENCE THEN ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO DO TO GET SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS THIS TAKEN CARE OF. CUSTOMER SERVICE- 1 STAR Again, we liked Dancenter, but once our child expressed other interests, they turned to a dark side and showed how they really do not care about their students! We were there 6 years... Our daughter grew up there... Dancenter lost an amazing committed and loved student for no good reason at all. I'm still baffled and cannot find any good reason why they would not let her continue taking classes. Be Warned!!! This place has a DARK SIDE! read more

Ruth Fisher, the owner and Director is so wonderful. Awesome kids classes for dancers who are at a beginning, intermediate or above level. Super fun classes and choreography. read more

If you are looking for an adult modern class, then you should check out DONNA VON JOO-TORNELL's class on Wed at 11:30 am. She has a really nice class, technical, flowing, good music, fun choreography. She teaches a mixture of techniques but mostly Limon. Highly recommend this class. The room is big ,good light, nice marley floor. read more

I love Dancenter! My daughter has been there since she was 3. Ruth is an awesome teacher. She has so much fun, has made friends.... love!

wonderful environment to dance! both the teachers and the dancers here are welcoming and friendly. after dancing here for a few months, dancenter became like a second home for me. i also received great feedback that helped me to improve as a dancer, which does not always happen in classes with teens and adults (i'm an adult). it's rare to find a dance studio that does not feel competitive and that you're just there for the love of dance and dancenter accomplishes this with ease. read more