Best ballet teachers for adult open program and best piano accompanists in whole Massachusetts metro Boston area. Except Tuesday's morning one, I lIke all classes on both morning and evening. I wish they open Sunday class one day. read more

Although I've lived in the Cambridge area for almost 4 years, this was my first time at the local ballet. Located inside the church, I have definitely walked by many times but never thought to come. I managed to snag tickets from a friend. My beau and I had stool seats, meaning that we were on tall chairs in the back. Some of the chairs were wobbly / broken so beware! There is a cash bar as well. Wine is $10, beer is $5, and bottles water is $2--we opted to skip refreshments. Overall, it was perfectly fine for the date. The crowd is what you would expect for a ballet: middle aged white people. One note for the college students thinking about coming, don't forget that ballets are not shorts+t-shirt places! The show itself was great. The theme was Suspicious Spaces. The stage and costumes were simple but the performers brought great athleticism and grace. There were two intermissions in the show. The show started 15 minutes late as well. read more

So fun taking the adult beginner drop in classes! The teachers are so talented and kind. Beautiful live piano in a gorgeous building. Definitely worth going!! read more

I enjoy the adult dance drop in classes. However, there is something insanely inefficient about their administration/operations. Somehow it always takes 10-15 minutes to sign in for a class where I prepurchased online. The staff never seem to know how to use the computer or perform any transactions. So, a line of 3 people takes 15 minutes, which really cuts in to time to stretch pre class read more

I wanted to like it here, but I just can't. It's inside a church, which is nice in theory, but there's just a lot of random stuff going on, such as extremely loud salsa (can't hear anything in class because it's so loud), martial arts, and belly dancing. It's extremely disorganized and unprofessional, and unfortunately, some serious renovations/repairs need to occur before someone gets hurt. The amount of dirt and grime everywhere is unacceptable, especially since I thought at first that it was just an "off day." But no, I've seen people "cleaning" and they just don't actually clean that well, so the same dirty stuff just sits there. The classes themselves are highly variable, and unfortunately the classes can get so full that no one has any space to dance, but they just keep letting more and more people into that class. People also roll in when barre is almost over. Seriously? One of the pianists is horrible; he has a repertoire of maybe ten songs and can't hold a tempo to save his life, not to mention that more of his notes are wrong than right. Between the dirtiness/general rundown appearance and the desperate attempts to cram as many people in as possible, I get a real "barely making ends meet and need to get some cash pronto" vibe. (The actual company is not very good, sadly. My friend took me to a performance and I would not waste my time going to another performance even if it were free. There are definitely a couple dancers who are pretty good, but as a whole, the company is pretty amateurish.) Now I go to Boston Ballet or the Dance Complex. read more

Molly Wheat's class (Elementary I on Tuesdays and Thursdays) is awesome. I find it's forgiving to adults, but challenging at the same time. And she's got a fun personality. She talks about alignment that you can achieve as an adult. She's realistic. and comedic at the same time, too. AND the classes are cheap! ($12) well, compared to other dance classes I've been to. And ballet is a total workout. Try it! read more

I was introduced to the adult beginner/elementary classes at Jose Mateo via a Gilt City deal. The venue is absolutely gorgeous, the teachers are great, and the classes are affordable. Molly is my favourite - she is passionate about ballet, has a fun personality, VERY patient, I always have a blast at her classes. The only thing with the Gilt City deal that I wish was different was the timing when the promotional value expires (10 classes in, say 10 weeks, would've made life a lot easier than 6 weeks). The week night elementary classes start at 6pm, which means I'd have to leave work by 5pm to travel there and have enough time to warm up. Having to leave work by 5pm twice a week can be a stretch for me. read more

I heard about this program on the news, it was amazing to hear that it has a location in Dorchester! They are amazing about giving families and kids the opportunity to apply for financial aid. Which is a huge deal for a city that has a lot of disparities. My daughter (4yo) loves going to her classes every Saturday morning. She looks forward to seeing her new friends and her teacher. Great Program, I tell everyone about it any chance I get! read more

Their performances are beautiful, touching, intimate. What an experience. This is a place to bring a date, someone for a special occasion, a dance lover anytime. And a great introduction to ballet, too. You can sit so close, you can almost touch the dancers. And I just found out they do a great Nutcracker (although in Duxbury and Waltham), but I bet it will be worth it. read more

My daughter enters her 5th year this Autumn and started in their Creative Dance class. She loves to dance, learn new steps, and very proudly shares after class and during parent observations. The class is well structured, and each class has set goals for the coming year . The instructors offer respect and in return the students give back that respect. There were changes in the administrative team in 2016-2017, so a few bumps along the way. I continued to find feedback welcome here in the Cambridge studio where we attend classes, and staff offered quick turnaround time in responding to questions. Note, the Cambridge studio is in an historic church, and the rooms functional and simple. read more

My son is currently enrolled in summer elementary class here. He seems to like it so far...I was a little surprised that parents are sent away for the duration of class, but hey, I get to read for 45 minutes or grab a coffee. So my reportage of what goes on in class may be limited to my 4-year old's reports--i.e. "I danced and danced and then danced twenty times!" But his teacher seems very friendly. Parking around here stinks, though. I make sure to have enough quarters to get an hour-only spot, as they are all I can find. EDIT, 7/26/07_______________________________ Ok guys, you need to put up a sign on the brick paved driveway-like area out front that tells people in no uncertain words not to park there. We have been happily attending classes for weeks now, and every time I go, I see cars parked right out front. So, after seeing the grandmother of two of my son's classmates park there, I decided to pull up next to her. When I get out of class 45 minutes later some guys from B&B's towing are jimmying open this grandmother's car and hoisting it up onto the tow truck. Unbelievable. You administrative staff at the school should just tell the waiting parents/guardians about an imminent towing of any cars parked out front before simply making a call and hugely inconveniencing the people who pay good money to send their kids/grandkids/whoever to lessons there. Or just, I REITERATE, put up a sign, and save everyone some trouble! The tow-truck guys would not detach themselves from this poor lady's car unless she gave them 75 dollars in cash, on the spot. This is just awful and simply extortionary. I had to go to an ATM to get these guys to unhook from her car (she was short on cash) and allow her drive her crying twin grandkids home from class. How shitty of you guys, both B&B towing and Jose Mateo. Get some tape, put up a sign, and apologize. Now. Mean, mean, mean. Bad karma for you. Removing two stars as I write. read more

My review is for the Pre-Ballet class. I enrolled my child for the entire year, because that's how it works there, but I wished that you can just do a shorter session. There was some early problems with the teacher getting there on time and finally, they changed the teacher. However, the new teacher had difficulty managing the class and often I can hear her disciplining the kids. Towards the end of the school year, I got to see the class during "parent observation day" and I was disappointed to see how little my daughter has learned during the entire year. I will say that the space is beautiful (church) and the older girls classes seemed to have better instructors and were making real progress. Would not recommend the younger kids' classes though. read more

It's a joke. The dance floor is dirty. The music doesn't match the movement, but the teacher didn't say anything. It's like the organization doesn't care about this place. read more

I love Jose Mateo's Ballet Theatre! I have had many years of positive experiences in both open classes, and studying and performing in there summer intensives many years ago. The teachers are strict and old school, and run there classes the way a ballet class should be run. The school has really helped me grow as a dancer, and it is by far my favorite place to take ballet in all of Boston. read more

This review is for the Adult Open Classes. I am a regular at Boston Ballet, but came here when they closed for a week. So glad that I did! I took the Evening Elementary II class with Eyla Jeschke. The level was comparable to Boston Ballet's Elementary class. Eyla demonstrates every exercise (and is a BEAUTIFUL dancer) and gives personal corrections in a very gentle way. Her combinations are always unique and challenging, and she gives great tips for technique and artistry. The class itself trended older age-wise (at 29, I was one of the younger ones in the bunch) which lent itself to a much warmer class dynamic than at Boston Ballet (where you see many more college students and recent grads). It had the community feel of a local studio, but the teaching was world class. The only drawback- the studio in the summer gets HOT. Being an old church, the studio has few windows that can be opened and limited circulation. It's like you're doing ballet in a hot yoga studio. The class is so great that I continue to come back, but be advised: bring water and a towel, as you'll be sweating by the second exercise. Tip: keep an eye out on Gilt City for class card deals! read more

I've never seen a performance by this company, I'm reviewing exclusively as a really lovely place for drop-in adult ballet classes. It's pretty reasonable at $12 a class ($10 if you buy 10 classes), and a beautiful space with stained glass windows and cathedral ceilings. The teachers are sort of hit-or-miss, but they only "miss" in that they either favor instructing the younger girls enrolled there (understandable), or they concentrate more on floor work than I'd like. There's a class for every level -- I highly encourage 20-somethings to join in Elementary so I'm not so lonely between the teenagers and the middle-aged ladies. read more

I am writing this review as a newcomer to the adult open classes and also a patron of the Nutcracker for the past two years. Re: adult open classes: After studying ballet through college, I hadn't been to class in 9 years but finally told myself it was time to get back on the wagon. Despite my excitement, I was also quite nervous and uncertain about what to expect. I cannot overstate how pleasantly surprised I was by my whole experience. The person I spoke to on the phone and front office staff were helpful, warm, welcoming and not one bit intimidating. Bettina Indaco (Sat. AM elementary/intermediate class) embodied the same ethos-her class was challenging and constructive but adaptable for a range of ability levels. It was also fun-I sincerely enjoyed myself! The accompanist is lovely and of course talented as well, and fellow class members were supportive and similarly unpretentious. The cherries on top? 1. Very reasonably priced, 2. gorgeous studio space and 3. good temperature-I was worried I'd be freezing and was not at all. Re: Nutcracker. I'm a school administrator in Chelsea working on a limited budget, but thanks to the affordability of JMBT's Nutcracker production, I've been able to take a small group of students to the Nutcacker for the past two years. By pricing as they do, JMBT truly lives their mission of community outreach by making first-class dance performance accessible to families, groups and individuals for whom $35/ticket is not an option. Thank you, JMBT-I'll be back for more right after the holidays! read more

I grew up going to see the Boston Ballet's productions of The Nutcracker, but otherwise never really went to the ballet. A friend of mine invited me to see a Jose Mateo ballet and it was amazing! I've gone to every single show since. The dance is phenomenal and interesting (definitely no boredom) and you sit SO CLOSE to the dancers you can literally see their muscles twitching. I also love the cabaret style seating with drinks and food. A wonderful night out! read more

Great instruction and support from my daughter's instructor Janelle. I was so impressed by the level of dedication and discipline my 8 year showed- not to mention how beautifully she dances. I like how the class is very structured and serious. She definitely takes her training seriously! She has a new level of self control and endurance. She will start her second year in September. read more

My review specifically relates to the Adult Intermediate classes. If you are an experienced ballet dancer and want a class that will kick your a$$ with an intense bar (approx 45-50 min) and challenging combinations then check this place out. Seriously, the male teacher they have here gives you a virtually company level class. If you're a guy your going to love it because he usually gives men slightly altered combinations/tempos to incorporate men's steps and higher jumping abilities. I took about a 10 year hiatus from dance and these classes are getting my butt back in shape in record time. I recommend anyone who once considered themselves serious about ballet try this class.... bring a towel! read more

The adult ballet classes at Jose Mateo are excellent- I'm a beginner, and I've taken other beginning classes where the teacher either moved too quickly for true beginners or was condescending. The teachers at Mateo are neither- they keep class interesting and fun, while making sure we cover all the basics thoroughly with plenty of repetition to really get the hang of it. The studio is also beautiful- a renovated church, complete with stained glass windows and vaulted ceilings! read more

I am in the YDP (Young Dancers Program). It's such a great school. Great teachers, and so many cool opportunities to perform. It's a great community too. The classes are a great workout, so if you want a fun workout, there are classes for all ages (three year old children to older adults). read more

My daughter attended the pre-ballet II class and she had a great experience. The teachers re highly qualified and the setting is amazing.

Molly Wheat's adult classes are fantastic. She focuses on alignment and is friendly and professional. She knows how to teach to adults -- giving corrections while not talking down to you. Open classes are relatively cheap ($13 per class) and the space can't be beat. read more

At Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre, classical ballet lessons are available to everyone, age three and beyond! Classes are a mix of hard work and fun; the dedicated student will improve effortlessly! For the beginning adult, the studio offers three intro series. The reasonably priced ten class series provide a thorough introduction to classical ballet dancing, including arm placement, ballet positions, and alignment. The adult program runs six days per week, with class held twice a day (Monday through Friday). The youth program runs after school and on Saturdays and is open to children 3-18. In addition to studio programing, JMBT has a ballet company. Performances are original ballet choreography set to classical music. The theatre is a small, intimate space with table seating. Performances run four times per year in addition to The Nutcracker. The choreographer, Jose Mateo, combines his original choreography with simple yet stunning costumes and thoughtfully chosen music. JMBT is an excellent place to participate in and experience ballet, and meet others with similar interests. Dancers of all ages, levels, shapes, and sizes will find a home at Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre. JMBT: a place to dance, connect, and dream! read more

Horrible experience with children's class. I wish that I could give them zero stars. My daughter is 3, almost 4 years old. She has taken a dance class with The School of Classical Ballet and really enjoyed it. I signed her up for Jose Mateo because they were the only place that offered a Saturday morning class in her age group. I was hesitant because you have to commit to the full year and pay in full, but she loves to dance so much, and she was always talking about going to ballet class. When we arrived on the first day, we were given poor directions by reception and entered the classroom through the wrong door. The teacher corrected my daughter and had her go outside and come back in the right way. My daughter is definitely on the shy and sensitive side, and this threw her off. She did not want to go back inside the classroom after being made to leave. Eventually, I convinced her to go back in, but she was still nervous and did not want to join the other kids sitting in a circle. I tried to encourage her, but by this time my baby son, who I was holding, started to cry. The teacher did absolutely nothing to encourage my daughter to join the group. She completely ignored us and did not even acknowledge our existence. I was unable to do anything more, and so we left. I stopped at reception to inquire about a refund, and by this time I was crying too because I was so frustrated with the experience. Dance is something my daughter LOVES. If she only had one kind word, she may have been fine. I do recognize the teacher has many other students, and I also acknowledge my daughter is shy, but we got not even the slightest bit of help or encouragement. Per their policy, there will be no refund. So I spent $718 on a class my daughter will never attend. It is cruel to be so strict on policy given our poor experience. It is cruel to make parents pay for a class in full upfront on faith that the teacher will be kind to their children. The money is a lot and was not an easy thing for me to pay. I am so upset and frustrated. I want to share my story so that other parents don't make the mistake of sending any young children here that are a bit shy or sensitive. Jose Mateo will not care about them. They will just take your money. read more