My daughter has been dancing for about 8 years and has left all other dance styles to peruse ballet…read moreexclusively. After leaving a couple places that she outgrew or weren't a good fit (and doing trial classes at many other studios in the area), we are SO grateful to have found this place. It took us awhile to discover since "ballet" isn't in the name, but we have been here over a year and my daughter's abilities have progressed wonderfully. The director, Miss Ashleigh, is kind, well organized, and she cares about then integrity of the school and the safety of the students. I cannot say enough good things about PDT!

Public Review Statements - Yelp/Google and Peer Hostility Context…read moreDate: August 05, 2025 Public Review for Yelp/Google: I attended private and group ballet sessions at Pasadena Dance Theatre (PDT) from October 2024 to April 2025. I am an educator and professional dancer with decades of experience, and I came seeking quality training. Unfortunately, what I encountered was a deeply troubling environment. The instructor I worked with, Julia Ortega, repeatedly failed to provide structured, technical ballet instruction during private sessions. Instead, she used the time I paid for, more than $6,500 total, to gossip about colleagues and other dancers. She also made repeated racially charged remarks, including derogatory comments about Black women such as Michelle Obama and me. One of the most dangerous incidents occurred when I was deliberately locked inside PDT's alarmed building. My shoes were moved to an office to make it appear I had left. This act placed me at physical risk, and when reported to the Pasadena Police Department, a report was taken without an arrest. I believe this reflects the broader racial bias and institutional neglect that occurred at PDT. I later learned internal staff dismissed my formal complaint with the note: 'Snooze and ignore.' Pattern of Peer Hostility and Complicity: There was a consistent atmosphere of peer hostility during classes. A woman named Kathy frequently belittled me, even announcing in front of others that fishnet tights are 'slutty', an apparent attempt to shame and humiliate. This behavior spanned years, including previous experiences at the Pasadena Conservatory of Dance. Despite my visible technical progress, regularly acknowledged by others, this hostility persisted and was ignored by instructors. Instructor Julia Ortega, instead of maintaining professional standards, appeared to absorb the toxic energy of the group. Her behavior toward me deteriorated, even though I was paying her for private sessions and supported her personally with gifts and supplements. She treated me with contempt and ultimately placed me in physical danger without remorse. PDT's leadership, including Ashleigh Doede, did not address any part of this misconduct, even when directly notified. Pasadena Dance Theatre may appear to offer professional training, but the experience I received was unsafe, unethical, and racially hostile. I do not recommend this school to anyone seeking legitimate ballet instruction or respectful treatment. The organization lacks the artistic integrity and human decency necessary to represent ballet as a fine art.

My kid has been coming here for a few weeks and he's having a blast in the hip hop class. The class…read moreis great for his age, 5.5 and the instructor Chris is A+. We had a few substitute teachers and all were wonderful except for one. We had an issue where one of the other students was causing trouble, but the sub didn't care. I didn't mind too much since I knew it was just a one off class that day. For the young class, they do some warm ups, learn some moves and have fun at the end. This is a great intro to performance and all the kids seem to enjoy it.

I came in for a free trial to see if it was the right fit for my son ( definitely wasn't the right…read morefit) all they did was stretch and play hide n seek. (They definitely did play hide and seek I stayed the whole time and watched so don't say I'm making accusations. ) Thank you. I then let them know that I will think about it. I then was harassed and kept getting phone calls DAILY. and voicemails about that class. If someone doesn't answer the phone 2 days in a row stop calling. I literally had to block their number.

Very knowledgeable teachers, highly skilled and committed to their arts and their students!read more

My daughter has been coming here for years. Before we started her in her dance class she was obese…read moreand had borderline diabetes and high cholesterol as an 8 year old! She fell in love with tap after going here and she lost a lot of her weight gained during the Covid lockdown and has gained confidence and joy of the performing arts. The staff here is wonderful and this is such a gem for our community.

I went for a stand up comedy show. loved neon sign out front, the small theatre setting, and kind…read moreemployees.

Sierra Madre Playhouse is an intimate theatre house in SM. It is one of SGV's cultural performing…read morearts. It may not be the Lincoln Center but it can hold its own. Folding seats were comfortable. Atmosphere was vibrant. I got a Nutcracker ticket show at an affordable price. Its perfect for kids and the entire family. It's my first time watching a puppet holiday show, so I was curious enough to see it as a bday gift. For a playhouse this size, it's enough to garner four stars. Playhouse staff were cordial and professional. The performance show is only an hour long. Parking was easy. Overall, it's a nice holiday kid show.

On July 25, 2025, I brought my 4-year-old daughter to her 4:00 PM gymnastics class. We arrived at…read more3:59 PM and, as directed by the front desk, walked through the ballet room to get there. The ballet class was already past its scheduled end time, so we waited until the students finished before passing through. Halfway across the room, the ballet teacher suddenly began yelling at us aggressively. My daughter was terrified. I calmly asked her to lower her voice, but she continued screaming--following us into the gymnastics room in front of dozens of children. I have a heart condition and began feeling unwell from the stress, yet she would not stop. No staff intervened. I assumed the school would handle it properly, but I was wrong. Later, the owner defended the teacher, accused me of being a "criminal," and took zero responsibility. The real victims were my daughter and the many children who witnessed this unprovoked outburst. Parents should be aware of three serious concerns: 1. Poor safety - No security, unattended front desk, and children can easily wander outside to the street. I personally saw a 6-year-old disappear for 20 minutes. 2. Emotionally unstable ballet teacher - Multiple online reviews mention her history of yelling at kids when parents aren't present. 3. Unprofessional management - Canceled classes without notice, no accountability, and intimidation tactics from the owner, Serge. I regret not calling the police that day. If I had, maybe fewer children would be subjected to this behavior. Parents, please protect your children. A school should be a safe, nurturing place--not one where kids are traumatized and parents are threatened.

My 7 yo daughter has been here for just over a year now and we've really enjoyed our time here. She…read morehas learned so much at the grand academy already and has absolutely loved every second of it. The instructors are great with the kids - firm but kind. My daughter has had classes with Marina, Yelena, and Taylor and they're all wonderful. I've also taken some adult beginner classes with Marina and Yelena that I really enjoyed. The owner, Serge, is easily accessible and always willing to listen to any feedback or concerns I have. Operationally, there's some room for improvement but overall we've been really happy here and have seen a lot of progress over the last year.

I'm really excited to have found this club! So affordable for ballet classes. $6 per beginners…read moreclass and $9 for the intermediate class, and you don't have to worry about paying for an entrance fee for the gym. The classes are held at the Caltech Braun Athletic Center. I didn't see a parking lot specifically for the gym, so I found street parking along Wilson Ave (south of California Blvd). There is no big sign that will direct you to the Braun gym from Wilson Ave, so there is a pathway you have to find and walk east toward the Caltech baseball/athletic field. Once you reach the athletic field, you'll see the entrance to the Braun gym on your right hand side. I went for my first time to the Beginner class last Sunday, which was taught by Artemis. I wasn't sure what to expect because when I've been to Beginning Adult classes at other ballet studios, the adult students were very well versed with ballet footwork and choreography and sometimes I found myself falling behind. I've been practicing ballet for the past 4 years, but took a 6 month break so I wasn't sure if my body would be ready for the Intermediate class. I'm glad I took the Beginner class the first time around because my muscles felt so tight during the stretching; it made me think I need to be more discipline in stretching every day so I don't lose my flexibility! I would highly suggest signing up for their mailing list when you visit their website - caltechballet.blogspot.com - because it really helps that they email like a day or two before Sunday to let us know if Sunday classes are happening and who will be teaching them. I'm excited to continue going every Sunday. Perhaps I can try the Intermediate class next time! :)

I wouldn't recommend this class to anyone who's not a student. There is no parking structure so you…read morehave to park on the street which wasn't a problem. Then I notice when I was leaving there was a security driving around getting ready to put tickets cars. Finding the place was difficult. So, I called serval times, (the phone number on yelp) no one answers. When I arrived to the class there was no one around. I ask a lady at the front desk and she kept repeating just wait in the classroom. As I'm waiting I approached her again and she tells me to look for a schedule.... I could not find it. Finally another worker comes and I ask him everything (nice guy) He told me the classes are $10 not $6. The classes do not start until 12. I'm not returning to this place it's too complicated. Smh

El Fuego de la Vida performed for a small gathering of 6th grade young ladies and parents. They…read moreamazed us all with their double-staff dancing, fire breathing, and flaming (juggling) clubs. After the dancing, the 6th graders and one adult (not me) got in on the action with LED Poi. With just a little guidance, the troupe had some middle-school-aged girls surprising themselves with how talented they already were! This was a fabulous performance, and at all times, safety protocols were clearly being observed. The 6th grade girls present had an opportunity to see courageous and strong women in action, and got to explore their own coordination and strength. Afterward, the troupe members said that they had never had so much fun performing. This is an experience we'll all remember fondly.

I highly recommend hiring these girls for your next event! Coordinating was friendly and easy,…read moretheir rate was affordable & they were very open and accommodating to all my ideas. They arrived early to set up instead of eating into the established party time and were friendly with my guests. We hired them for my daughters 5th birthday party and everyone was impressed and loved the show. The girls even agreed to hang out and "flow" with the kids after their performance which was so much fun! Thank you for making her birthday so awesome and I look forward to working with you again for future events.

The Chinese-American Dancing Group was formed in 1987 by Dr. Jaw John Chang. The dance group…read morepromotes Chinese culture, raises multicultural awareness, and provides a professional training center for its children, teen and adult dance classes. Dr. Chang has successfully created its own Chinese Dance Training Program and offer a "Ten-Level Examination on Chinese Dance" for every class.