While there are some negative reviews on here that are not completely false, I def have to disagree that this place is not worth it. Far from it!! My daughter had been in pre-ballet at another studio for almost 4 years (ages 5-8.75) and once she was moved up to ballet 1 and schedule changed, I had to find another studio with a more suitable schedule (due to my work schedule) that was worth the $ and time. Then I found this place and met Mr. Ling, while my daughter attended the Sunday class on trial that Lily was teaching. That was over 4 years ago! And even though the schedule was also inconvenient as was the 30min commute, I made arrangements with a family member to be able to drive my daughter there for a long time so that she can continue to receive the ballet training that is provided there. My daughter had done trial classes in several other places but the attention to technique and form was unmatched anywhere else. Mr. Ling, his daughter, and Lily corrected the students to the point where my daughter felt targeted. My daughter had to learn not to take things personal and to apply correction when given. Now she feels ignored if there is no criticism. It turns out, my daughter learned very little in her previous years in dance (it was more performance based) and in the years since she's been there, she has improved TREMENDOUSLY! Not only is she learning proper technique, I have learned so much from Mr. Ling that I appreciate the dance form so much more because I understand it so much better now! She is still not a great dancer and one of those that struggles more than the others but she has become such a strong and disciplined young lady. I frequently receive many compliments on how graceful and well behaved she is. I feel it is mostly because of the culture and values instilled at Elite Ballet. Mrs. Ling is a Yumiko seller=15% discount+free shipping), they are very supportive of one another and help each other to improve and the summer intensive classes are really impressive as well as reg class and there's not one day my daughter doesn't come out sweating! Yes, there were unexpected costs for performances but you quickly learn that after ur first time. Nothing is for free and still in comparison to other studios, Elite is very reasonably priced. They actually just increased slightly but is still far more affordable than other places. Do the math. And yes, they do insist on purchasing whatever they suggest but really, Mr. Ling is top-notch! As a former ABT principal dancer, he knows his stuff! Most places will understandably deter a student from taking other classes from other places only because it can cause confusion or create injuries. This place is strictly classical ballet and for those who are passionate about becoming good ballet dancers. It is the foundation for all dance forms. read more

Our kids had class in this school for couple years. When I first talked to the owner, he seemed to have passion about the ballet. After a while, I realized that it's all about money. The class usually have about 20 students especially the beginning class. There's only 1 instructor without any assistant. He rarely would tell you what went wrong when the student made a mistake in ballet steps. He expected the students to follow others & correct their own mistakes. To be honest, they're small kids, they'd not know what went wrong unless you told them. Also a lot of time, he'd just have his 15 or 16 year old daughter to teach Ballet I class. It's fine if she worked as an assistant but not as an instructor. Also if you don't go to their summer intensive class which is 3 hours/ day for Sat & Sun in summer. They'd just ignore your kids, won't tell them if they're doing good or not and not even dare to remember their name. Also the students would never be able to promote to an advanced class if you don't go to the summer camp. They only have 1 show a year through audition so the younger kids rarely have chance to be on stage. Other schools usually have at least 2 shows a year with 1 show be the showcase and all the kids could participate. I definitely don't recommend this ballet school. read more

I wouldn't recommend this school, because my daughter who has some experience in ballet was going to be place with " beginners ". The teacher and his wife had extremely bad attitude, they wanted to charge me money that I didn't owe. They talked to me in a very condescending manner and embarrassing me and my daughter in front of the class . The teacher and his wife lacked self control and were very rude and argumentative. The teacher is very unprofessional, lacks manners and treats students in demeaning way . read more

A wonderful dance studio! Mr. Ling, the owner and primary teacher, is extremely passionate about teaching this art. Students are encouraged to focus on technique to maintain proper form to avoid injuries but also to express their emotions artistically. Whether you are looking for a place to build your foundation for more professional growth or simply somewhere to learn more about the art and have fun, this is the place! read more

Elite Ballet Theatre is a fantastic ballet school located east of Rosemead (CA SR-19) and the Las Tunas junction. Let me begin with I never actually took lessons here-- rather it's my friend's daughter who attended the classes-- and the classes she took-- (i took her there twice) was perhaps one of the best ballet schools I've ever seen. The teachers there are courteous-- and very professional. No cutting corners in their goal to making their students into one of the best classical ballet dancers of all time. From what I've seen my friend's teacher-- Mr. Ling-- is perhaps one of the greatest teachers in regards to the fields of dancing I've ever seen (and I should know). Not much else to say-- it's fun watching my friend's daughter dancing to ballet- etc etc. --Victor Charlie read more

I was part of the first class Mr. Ling taught. When it all began, we took class once a week in a studio the size of a one car garage. Back then there were only about 10 students, however his dedication as a teacher didn't waiver. The ballet school started not as a business but as an opportunity to teach his daughter the art of ballet. I was fortunate enough to be caught in this opportunity and as a result developed an intimate appreciation for classical ballet. As the years went by the ballet studio continued to grow and evolved into what is now known as Elite ballet theater. While there are 10 times as many students now in a classroom 4 times larger, Mr. Ling still teaches in a manner that instills a love for ballet to his students. A love for ballet does not develop by allowing you to breeze through class. He makes the classes challenging and expects your best. It is not a studio for students who simply want to dabble with dance. Ballet is not easy. I finished every class feeling physically exhausted, followed by days of aching muscles. Pointe shoes, as elegant as it may appear, is also no walk in the park. Classical ballet takes discipline, patience, perseverance, dedication, and passion. Qualities that students are able to apply in all other aspirations and endeavors. In addition to teaching ballet, the studio will also mold students into adults with class and sophistication. When entering the studio their is a certain demeanor of elegance and kindness expected from its students. Mrs. Ling with the best intentions will be very direct with advice to help you achieve a more classy lifestyle. Students are all expected to come to class in a tidy manner and disruptive conduct is quickly corrected. I can honestly say my appearance and demeanor has been greatly influenced by the "ballet culture" within the studio. If you are looking for a studio with capable insight, knowledge, and experience to create well rounded classical ballet dancers you are in the right place. read more

This ballet school is one of the best I have ever heard of or attended. I searched through loads of schools and studios, hoping to find the perfect one. Elite Ballet Theatre was just that. Perfect. The teacher -- Mr. John Wey Ling -- is very kind. He pushes his students just enough to improve, but not too much that they would complain about pain or fatigue. He teaches the most traditional and rigid form of dance with strictness while making sure his students appreciate taking classes. If you are looking for a dance school for your child, then this is the place. You child will definitely enjoy his teachings. The classes themselves are fun and exciting. The students whisper a little when the teacher is looking for the right track or when groups are rotating, but when Mr. Ling talks, everyone is quiet and paying attention. It shows the amount of respect the students have for their mentor. The music is lively and the dancers are energetic. Finally, the performances. Elite Ballet Theatre puts on full-length ballets that have previously been performed by companies like American Ballet Theatre, Royal Ballet, and Kirov Ballet, such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and the Nutcracker. The performances are exquisite and elegant, and very professional, considering that they are put on by students. The backdrops are full of detail, and they just add to the beauty of the overall performance. Elite Ballet Theatre is definitely the place to go, whether you're looking for a school or a ballet performance. read more

My daughter has been attending Elite Ballet Theater for about four months now and I feel so thankful that we found Mr Ling! He is a true professional with a deep love and respect for classical ballet. Check out his bio on the Elite Ballet Theater website to learn more about him. If you want your child to have a real ballet teacher, one who has personally achieved the highest levels in ballet, then take your daughter/son to Mr. Ling at EBT. He is strict, but in a sweet and tender way, with a dash of gentle humor. Your child will be fortunate if they get the opportunity to study with Mr. Ling! read more

I enrolled my two daughters age 8 and 5 in Elite Ballet Theatre. I've searched a long time to find a good ballet class. I'm so glad I found Elite Ballet Theatre. My daughters enjoyed their class very much. They have fun learning. They can't get enough of ballet. They stayed after class to watch the higher level class. When they go home they watch "Angelina Ballerina" videos. My 8 year old daughter practices to do split everywhere: at home, in restaurant, at school... The teacher Mr. Ling and Ms. Nicolas are very nice and professional. Mrs. Ling is also very nice and teaches me how to make ballerina bun on my daughters' hair. read more

Elite Ballet Theatre - Beginning Ballet Class - Dance Schools Near Me - Temple City, California

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I spent many months searching for a decent ballet school for my daughter. When I visited this studio, I was convinced by the director Mr Ling that he is very passionate about ballet and teaching, therefore, I enrolled my daughter. My daughter spent 2 years in the studio and slowly and sadly found out that this is not the case. On surface, it is about passion, underneath is all about money. I have to strongly agree with one of the previous review about summer intensive. If your child does not enroll into their summer intensive due to various reason such as vacation, Mrs and Mr Ling will blacklist your child, stop providing feedbacks to your child in class and not allow your child to advance to next class. The annual performance is usually professionally done and the costumes are beautiful. However, beware of tons of hidden cost that no other studios will apply. For example, there is a "rehearsal fee" every time you go to rehearsal for the recital. Even if your child just sit around and wait for hours for their turn, you are still required to pay the rehearsal fees. The classes and rehearsals are scheduled without regard to the students family schedule. They also scheduled numerous rehearsals and you can easily end up paying $500+ as rehearsal fee on top of the paying another $500 -$600 of performance fee. Another example, if you are advanced enough to go to competition, Mr Ling required the student to order the tutu through his own "designer" and pays double compared to outside vendor. If you order the tutu from another company, he again will give you and your child a very hard time or end up blacklisted. Another example, if your child is injured and unable to attend classes for prolong period of time, the expectation is to continue to pay the tuition in order to hold the spot in class. Sadly, they care more about the tuition than the injury. In addition, the studio only offers classical ballet classes with nothing else to offer. Mr Ling discourages student from taking any other types of dance classes outside the studio. This completely prevents students from becoming a well-rounded dancer which put his students at a disadvantage in the dance world. The dance school only has one studio and the size of the studio is quite small, smaller than a standard stage size. Each class is pack with 20-30 students which does not even give dancers enough room to move around, let alone to dance across the floor. The teacher to student ratio is about 1 to 25 (or 1 to 30+ sometime) which really does not allow any individual attention to the students. I would definitely not recommend this studio to anyone. read more

We love this school My 5 year old daughter has been coming here for 2 nod year now. We love this school and have only great things to say about this school and coaching. Thanks. Lisa read more

Husband and wife's business, poor management, messy schedule without considering the inconvenience of students and their family's schedule. For instance classes are often open during the lunch, dinner and church time. No student teacher ratio consideration at all. read more

Elite Ballet Theatre is professional and ALL students are taught correctly. They teach classical ballet and allow students experience towards the real ballet world. Many students have been accepted to prestigious ballet summer intensives. Also, students go to performances and watch real, professional, and excellent ballet companies. The teachers are one of a kind, amazing, and allow students to create strong foundations and build up their skills from there. Students learn real technique and are disciplined. Students communicate well with each other, and help each other to learn and grow from their mistakes. Aside from that Elite Ballet Theatre is a great environment to learn the beautiful techniques, skills, and forms. EBT has adept training and very high quality learning. It allows you to gain confidence and dance more artistically and skillfully. If you are looking for a place to learn REAL, CLASSICAL ballet, here's the place. Don't hesitate! read more