Great school! My niece attended here two or three years and has since graduated with the Class of…read more2026. From my understanding, Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) is a nonprofit public charter school. They have a immersive arts program, and they serve hundreds of kids tuition-free! We've been to many student shows and concerts. You can easily tell the student's improvement from earlier in the school year to the end of the year, and from the junior high students to senior high students. By the time they are in high school, their stage presence and performances are even better. It's a beautiful thing! Best high school vocal performances I've seen. I don't know all the ins and outs of this school, but from my standpoint, OSA is a great school especially for kids in the local Oakland area. The faculty and staff that I've seen are dedicated, and they truly care about the kids' education and growth. One teacher even attended my niece's 18th birthday party and spoke at the event. That says a lot about the school and the faculty/staff at OSA.

Our son has been in this school for four years, and will likely go for all seven. A great fit for…read morehim, and a vibrant community of artists. The school is in a good place financially, having expanded their campus and programs. I can't say enough about the faculty and staff - they're dedicated public school instructors that truly care. Their Executive Director, Mike Oz is an Oaklander through-and-through, and has been there 20+ years.

Customer service 5/5 Environment 5/5…read moreQuality of teachers 5/5 I have been going to Kinetics Art Center for over a month now and it has exceeded my expectations overall. The adult drop in class packages work best for me and I've been consistently attending Sam (primarily silks and lyra) and Megan's (trapeze) classes. I called the front desk to make my initial purchase because there were so many options, I couldn't decide what I wanted based on my schedule. Fortunately, Janelle (front desk) was very patient and helpful, and I ended up getting the 10 class pack. When I got there, it was a bit intimidating because I was more used to smaller studios, but everyone here was so nice. Janell also made sure to check on me to see if I was doing ok when I took my first class. The other students and teachers were very welcoming and supportive to check out other classes, which is how I ended up with taking two classes back to back at-least once a week instead of just one class. In regards to the teachers, "great" would be such an understatement. I love Sam's class because even though it's primarily silks, they'll put one other apparatus (hoop mainly, and recently flying pole!) for us to try out-so it's more than just one apparatus in this one class. I also really like that they'll give us challenging *enough* moves because it's so satisfying to execute steps after struggling so much for it. I also love Megan's trapeze class because she's very flexible with our experiences. This pace is great for me because I don't have alot of experience with trapeze and the ropes on it feel so different from silks! Nikki and Zi have substituted for their classes and they're both amazing as well. I'd highly recommend taking classes here. It's a fun and challenging workout compared to a regular gym...I also love that it's spacious too!

The coaches are nice so it's easier to follow their directions.And the camps there are really good…read morebecause there's a nice schedule.- this is the opinion of my kiddo based on aerial classes and camps.

So far just one class with my 5-year-old son, but I'm very impressed on multiple fronts. After the…read moreinitial drop-in class yesterday we purchased weekly classes with the full expectation this initial great experience will only be surpassed. Husband & wife team Matt and Chelsea (owners) and Matt's sister Stephanie are lovely. It's a really great space and Matt is preternaturally good with younger kids. I shadowed my son for a bit in the studio to observe both my son's behavior in a structured environment and the instructors' teaching style. My son is both young and inherently independent (and often distracted) so this was bound to be revealing. Matt and Chelsea's approach to teaching is closer to informed guidance and it seems to work very well with my son and the other kids I observed. They let the child initiate their creative intent and then equip them with the technical information they need in a manner that is both empowering and not overwhelming. As for my son's proclivity to essentially 'not listen,' Matt in particular was excellent at focusing my son's attention on the task at hand and contextualizing what needed to be done so that he could 'own it.' It's clear his forthcoming studio experiences will be about so much more than learning and enjoying ceramics. This isn't 'OK class today we're going to make a coil-built pot. First I want you to take your clay and...'. Not at all. In an hour and fifteen minutes, my son made two objects in distinctly different techniques: a bowl thrown on the wheel and a slab-built shark. In the course of building those two pieces he was exposed to: centering clay on the wheel; managing the clay to expand, compress, elongate and widen his bowl; keeping his eye on his work; keeping the clay moist; the effects of various pressures applied to the clay on the wheel; scoring and attaching separate pieces with slip; scribing; use of various tools; under-glazing; clean-up, and more. I imagine he'll have to revisit every one of those lessons in subsequent classes but it's a gentle teaching style that works well here. Matt and Chelsea always had an eye on each of the kids and were great about transitioning between them to give guidance in a way that seemed very natural. The space itself is wonderful and can only be described as luminous. Well, that and clean. This is not a stereotypical 'mad potter's studio,' nor is it an anal 'everything in its place mausoleum.' Instructors have a clear view of everything going on in the space at all times. There's a front seating for parents/nanny's to hang out (WiFi available) and get some work done if you want to wait. Parking in the neighborhood doesn't seem to be a problem. The most critical measure of Kids-n-Clay is the reaction from my son, who really didn't want to leave and spoke of it more or less non-stop the rest of the day. Looking forward to what's next here. If you attend a drop-in class, be aware it takes about 2-3 weeks before pieces cycle through the process and can come home with you. But that's just ceramics. Highly recommended.

My kid loves this place! The kids can use the pottery wheel or just mold clay on the table. There…read moreare assistants there to guide the newer sculptors, and the owner, Matt, encourages the kids to design what they feel.

My son just attended a birthday party in this little hidden gem. The space is inviting and the kids…read morehad so much fun . The instructors were so kind and engaging with the kids . My little boy is already asking to go back again ! Definitely recommended !

We just had our 10 year old's bday here! Every thing was great, and the kids really got in to the…read moreproject we picked (felt succulent gardens). Planning to come back soon for an adult night (or another private party with my girl friends!).

We attended Gymboree Play & Music at Lakeshore for a year, from when my daughter was 18 months to…read more30 months old, and it was such a wonderful experience! The teachers are fantastic--Ms. Leah in Play & Learn and Ms. Muna in Music class were both patient, energetic, and great at leading activities that kept the kids involved while fostering social and motor skill development through Gymboree's catchable bubbles. The classes struck the perfect balance between structured routines and free play, making them ideal for school preparation at an early age. At some point last year, a new owner took over and made some really thoughtful improvements that elevated the space. They spruced up the otherwise plain walls, added a baby gate to prevent little ones from running in and out of the play area without their adult, and even replaced the circle time carpeting. These small but meaningful upgrades made the environment feel even more welcoming and safe. One of the things we really appreciated was the flexibility in choosing which class to attend. Most of the time, we could just drop in, which was incredibly convenient. That said, for busier days--especially when it was raining--it was a good habit to book a class in advance through the app to make sure we had a spot. At first, it took about a month for my daughter to feel fully comfortable, which I think is completely normal. She started by observing and then gradually joined in after watching her peers interact. It was amazing to watch her growth--learning problem-solving skills (like navigating play structures, balancing, and safely calculating jumps), improving her motor skills, and practicing taking turns and following directions. A big plus is that the play area is always so clean and well-maintained--much better than the park. And while socks are usually required in indoor play spaces, I appreciated that kids could go barefoot here, which helped with my daughter's stability and movement. My daughter loved it so much that she would sing the songs at home and even ask for parachute time outside of class! Now that she's moved on to preschool, I do wish there had been a transition class to help bridge that next step at a younger age. Otherwise, our time at Gymboree was truly special, and I highly recommend it for little ones and their parents looking for a fun, social, and enriching experience.

My baby loves Gymboree! We has so much fun singing (the instructor sings great!) and especially…read moreloves the bubbles. It's clean, fun, and always a great time

Wow what an amazing space. Stopped by the capoeira class last night. This was an amazing workout,…read morethe group of people there train hard and the teacher Professor Chipa is very attentive and detailed. He is from Brazil and brings a wealth of knowledge. Highly recommend taking a few classes. They have this incredible outdoor space and indoor which is not used for now since covid. They also have fitness classes and after school programs. You can feel love when you step in there!

This place is very, very PURE. It's like something out of a non-capitalistic culture, where the…read moreteachers are all excellent and also very focused on transmitting their respective traditional lineages on to the next generation of humanity, somehow gently AND rigorously AT THE SAME TIME. The energetics of this space are beautiful and the community of kids and parents they attract are also chef's kids. A joyful place. Beautiful place for kids to learn and to free play Strong, strong recommend.

My kids have been enrolled in Saturday classes at Luna for the last 2 years and our family loves…read moreeverything about it. The teachers are experienced dancers/instructors AND are incredibly encouraging and kind. I love that Luna teaches my kids about body and spatial awareness--learning how to engage with others and the environment around them. It feels very holistic and fosters creativity. I highly recommend them!

My son is enrolled in the 5-7 year old creative dance class at Luna and the experience has been…read moreamazing so far. The teachers are warm and inviting, making each child feel welcome, and the curriculum allows students to explore movement and creative expression in a low pressure environment. I especially love that each child gets a chance to lead the class with their own prompts and choreography. My son has really blossomed in this class, enjoying a sense of empowerment, creativity, and increased confidence. There is no other dance studio like Luna -- I can't recommend it enough!

My 6 year old kiddo comes home with the most impressive art pieces when she attends classes at…read moreCorner House Studio, and while I know it's not all about the final product, clearly there is some legit instruction and creative inspiration that takes place. As a mom and an artist, It's such a beautiful thing to witness your kid falling in love with creativity. I love the location, responsiveness has been top notch, and my kiddo is happy, which makes me over the moon.

Obsessed with this place!! My son is 7 and just finished his second "season" here. I'm truly blown…read moreaway with the pieces they've worked on - we've hung them up everywhere because they're so unique and interesting. They learn a lot of art concepts too so pretty cool hearing him talk about organic shapes, how to use the light, etc. Also took the first adult workshop and absolutely loved it. Recommended big time for both kids and adults to check this place out!