Choosing Laguna College of Art + Design was truly life-changing and remains one of the best…read moredecisions I've ever made. For a long time, I wasn't even sure if a creative career was feasible, let alone if I could support myself doing it. LCAD proved that it's not only possible but sustainable. One of the biggest draws for me was that LCAD is one of the most affordable accredited art and design schools in California. I never felt like I was sacrificing quality for cost. The education I received in the Design program was easily on par with competitors like Art Center, but with a much smaller price tag and a far more intimate environment. The industry connections here were so exciting to me. While I was still a student, I had the opportunity to work on projects with powerhouse brands like: Nike, Vans, Hurley, and the Anaheim Ducks. These aren't just names on a syllabus; they are real-world partnerships that prepare you for the workforce. When I graduated and entered the industry, I felt completely prepared because the classes were incredibly rigorous. People might think a school in a beautiful beach town is the "easy" choice, but I have never worked harder in my life. What really sets LCAD apart is the faculty. They don't just know your name; they care about your life. I saw this firsthand when a friend in the program was in a bad car accident. The Department Chair personally helped her navigate legal issues and created a custom plan so she wouldn't fall behind due to transportation hurdles. Years after graduating, I am still on texting terms with many of my professors. They are always ready to provide industry leads or advice. The location in Laguna Beach is stunning. Being able to slow down and enjoy the nature of the canyon provided a necessary balance to the high-intensity coursework. Not to mention the beauty and calm allowed for a constant source of inspiration for me. I left LCAD with a sharpened skillset, a career I love, and a group of best friends who are now my peers in the industry. If you are looking for a supportive, high-caliber, and industry-connected experience, this is it. I wouldn't change my time here for anything.

My daughter dropped out after a year and a half. It was a terrible experience. After graduating…read morefrom OCSA she was so excited for LCAD. It was just teachers that were professionals just trying to make an extra buck. And her IEP did not do her any good. The 6 hour classes were almost debilitating. And there were NO available counselors ever! This school drove her to depression and anxiety. Please don't send your children to this expensive school!

I started taking acting classes here for the first time this past summer and it's been very…read moreenjoyable! I've grown more confident as a performer and have received many helpful tips from the coaches here. Additionally, there's always someone available to answer questions - Samantha has been very helpful in particular.

I enrolled my daughter at Performers Academy when she was 10 to help her overcome her shyness and…read morebuild confidence. From the very first day, she felt welcomed, and the positive, supportive environment quickly became a safe place for her to grow. Over time, I watched her truly come out of her shell. She became more confident, expressive, and comfortable speaking in front of others. What started as a way to help her socially turned into a genuine passion--she even took on lead roles in her school play and amazed us with her talent. The instructors are incredibly encouraging and knowledgeable, and Brianne has created something really special--an organized, professional program that still feels warm and like a family. This experience has meant so much to our family. Acting class is now the highlight of her week, and I'm so grateful to Performers Academy for helping her find her confidence and passion. I highly recommend it to any parent looking to support their child's growth and self-confidence.

My 10 year old absolutely loved it!! She was there for a week for summer camp and thrived! We loved…read moreit and 100% recommend!!

TLDR: If you're an aspiring actor and you live in the area, you want to try this school. They…read moreknow Hollywood and can advise you how to get roles. Yes, they will improve your acting, but they go into the business of Hollywood and sounds like they'll save you a lot of time, money, and headaches by giving you sound advice. If you're just doing it for fun (like me), they'll absolutely increase your acting range. I got a lot of good tips from my acting teacher, Jonathan Tysor (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7240096/?ref_=fn_all_nme_1). I'm a middle-aged man who wanted to take acting lessons for fun. On a whim, I reached out to Orange County Acting Academy (OCAA) because I was listening to a few audio books and really left impressed with the voice actors. I took a complimentary adult class on Tuesday. The class lasted an hour and I left thinking this would be fun to do. I spoke with Ron (one of the owners) and told him I'd like to take voice acting lessons rather than adult acting lessons and he said if they have the classes again, he'd accommodate. I decided to take the adult classes. I had taken acting classes before at Segerstrom around 2013 - it was very structured and formal to almost prepare you for plays as they also tackled blocking, improv, and foundational acting skills. The classes at OCAA - based on conversations I've had, are more akin to what you'll find in Los Angeles acting classes with another benefit, they really try to tell you how Hollywood works. I do not think any other types of classes like this exists in South Orange County. For example, Ron tells you when you may need an agent or when you can do without one. He'll tell you roles that are happening and how to prepare for it. He has firsthand experience since his son is a working actor. Further, they'll have workshops with casting directors and actors. I almost feel that if you are going into the industry and need a consultant to help you navigate that world, this school will help you - it'll save you time, money, and headaches in the long run. The classes at OCAA are less structured and you don't cover blocking on a nightly basis, but you do acting lessons, scene reads with other students, and the teachers try to get you out of your comfort zone. They are trying to increase your range first and foremost. I took about two adult acting classes before Ron told me they have enough students for voice acting lessons. The voice acting lessons were taught by Jonathan Tysor. I switched over since that was my main reason for joining the academy and I loved every minute of it. The class doesn't tell you how to mimic voices or do funny voices, it teaches you how to act. If you incorporrate mimicry or different voices, he'll help you make it natural to fit within a scene. Jonathan really increased my acting range because he encouraged me to make bold choices. Yes it's a voice acting class, but we went over acting skills. When the choices didn't work, he'd gently nudge me the right way - you can tell he was being nice as to not discourage me. He had different scenes I could select from, which included voice over for commercials, audio book monologues, and voice acting scripts. If you have roles you are working on because you booked a gig (some people did that), they'd help you work on it. For example, I did a monologue of Vas from Far Cry 3 (a villain), a scene (with a partner) from the Incredibles, and then some random small roles. The random small roles were cartoony characters, but it was probably my favorite exercise. The reason is because every student had to tackle the same character, but we all put our unique spin to it. For example, one of my classmates tackled one scene with intense anger, another with disgust, and I was trying arrogance. You're able to compare your acting and get new ideas from other students. Jonathan would also give you directions on the scenes so you'd do it multiple times. This was important because what he was doing was being a director and he wanted to see if you could follow instructions. He went over what both actors on set and actors in the voice over booth would be going over and gave tips on how to navigate the business. Hands down amazing experience. Only reason why I couldn't continue is because I'm working full time. Ron worked with me on when I could take classes or not - at times I'd be missing for weeks. Now that my schedule has intensified, I couldn't continue, but I hope to in the future especially with Jonathan - I found him to be really good at his craft.

Our daughter is currently training at DKCBA, and we truly credit the strong, professional,…read morehigh-quality training she is receiving. The instruction is excellent, and the teachers are dedicated and supportive. The school creates a positive, inclusive environment where students feel challenged, motivated, and connected to one another.

I used to dismiss the negative reviews thinking they might be exaggerated. Now I regret not…read morelistening. Our experience. Here was far worse than anything I read. We chose the studio despite it being the most expensive locally, believing we were investing in top-tier training. What we got was the opposite. The new director is very arrogant constantly named, dropping the Vaganova Academy and the Mariinsky Theatre. However, this obsession with prestige does not translate into quality teaching. My child's fundamental technique showed no significant improvement over a considerable period.

I absolutely adore this place!! This studio is so delightful and welcoming! My dreams of publishing…read moremy first children's book came true with the help of Studio 14!! Everyone I've come across is so kind and welcoming. They have the cutest art pieces to buy! I definitely recommend coming here for any events they are hosting!

I adopted a puppy last March and was looking for a dog trainer. My neighbor recommended I contact…read moreJulie & Bruce and called them not only "true dog whisperers" but also incredible people who run a learning academy. I was considered "out of area," but they made an exception for me and drove the distance to train my puppy. They were confident that after 4-6 sessions my dog would be good to go. That sounded very promising to me! I've never hired a dog trainer before so it was an incredible learning experience for me. Bruce is a phenomenal instructor. He educated me that communication and hand signals are key, along with repetition and consistency. My dog wouldn't be who she is today if it wasn't for him. Many people become frustrated with their dogs because there is a lack of training. I wish I could give them 10 stars. You truly won't regret hiring them for your fur baby!

We are so proud of our Son Atlas. He's been going to Ms. Armenta's for 2 months now and we have…read moreseen wonderful improvements! We are really impressed with his ability to work hard and hold attention for a solid hour each week. We are proud of our bright 4 year old. I'm grateful to have found Armenta Learning Academy. Unlike large establishments, they were able to customize a learning plan unique to my son. They can easily change things up if something is not working. They have lots of different options to keep learning fun! Both Ms. Armenta and Ms. Harms are very dedicated, kind and great at what they do. They know well how to make the kids feel seen, heard and loved.

I love their creativity! Their choreography is the best in the bay area- and so versatile that even…read morea beginner can actually learn to dance! Its a great way to workout, their warm up sessions and actual dance classes get you so toned in a matter of time! The choreographers are a dream to watch- phenomenal dancers, every one of them! The beauty is they actually encourage you to learn- regardless of how many years of dancing experience you have. Parents who want their children to take up dance as an extra curricular activity- this is the place for you! I've seen multiple shows where kids are given a platform via Project Pulse to perform on stage. I recommend everyone trying Project Pulse classes at least once...trust me you get hooked on to them.

I love coming here very much because I have the best piano teacher. Phil has been my teacher for…read moremany years, and he is a lot of fun. He keeps me interested and playing piano. I really enjoyed jazz band and music camp, and I got to perform with other kids.

Los Rios Rock School is the best! My son cannot wait for his third summer camp with these guys…read more After his first summer camp a few years ago, we moved out of state. He's tried other rock schools and none are as good as LRRS. Now, we make the trip back to SoCal every summer and schedule our family vacation around a camp week at LRRS! It's not only that the teachers are super talented and kind, but they also demonstrate a love for music that is so authentic, it's really inspiring. The progress that my son makes after attending camp is phenomenal - it's as though he leaves LRRS every summer with more motivation to practice and learn new instruments. After a few summers, my 12-year-old son plays keys, guitar, bass, and this year he wants to add in drums. If you have the chance to get your kid either in camp here or in lessons, do NOT pass up the opportunity! I can only imagine where his music talents would be if we still lived in the area and could practice with LRRS year round!