I'm an adult beginner and have been taking classes here for a couple months. This place is very special, with a lot of intention and care put into the community by teachers and students alike. The teachers help us feel supported, give specific feedback and demonstrate commitment to our growth as dancers. There are opportunities to perform and most importantly to develop a connection with your body and with others who are also on this journey. read more

Los Gatos Ballet is my favorite ballet school. I wish I had discovered it much earlier. I tried so many ballet classes from Lines Ballet in SF when I used to live there, to a dozen ballet schools in South Bay in the last two years. The teachers here are the best. They are so friendly and knowledgeable. They can explain alignment and movement down to the muscles and bones, e.g., pelvis and tail bone alignment. No other teachers had explained it so thoroughly. Their barre and combinations are fun and challenging enough so that every time I feel I learned something new. I usually take Monday drop-in adult class with Laura and Friday class with Marcie. Marcie and Laura helped correct my problem of overarching my chest effectively. Before, other teachers had mentioned I overarched. But I didn't quite know to what extent or how to do it otherwise. I see it's a common issue with many amateur dancers because everyone wants to try it hard and be expressive. Marcie padded my stiff chest. Laura corrected me with friendly smiles. I learned from them that I should brace my rib cage instead of opening my chest, but broaden my upper back and collar bone instead. Marcie also showed how to relax my face and neck and use breathing effectively with every plie. These all tremendously helped my alignment and balance so that I have become stronger for so many moves including arabesque and develope. I used to get back pain from overarching and pinching my back muscle. Not anymore. What a life saver! I feel I am a stronger and more elegant amateur ballet dancer now. It's definitely hard to seriously tackle ballet at my age of 50. But I feel I gradually improve. I even started to choreograph my own solo to music I love. Ballet nurtures my mind and also exercises my body. I want to keep dancing it for the rest of my long life. read more

Los Gatos Ballet - Practice a balanced arabesque in Los Gatos ballet - Pilates Near Me - Los Gatos, California

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There were five people in my group class Intro to Ballet and I didn't get any individual instruction. Even when I asked questions, the instructor wasn't helpful. I got better instruction at a California Community College. I would not ever return here as a beginner. If you have extensive training in ballet, then maybe you would get a good workout here. You're not going to be able to just show up and get anything out of it! I recommend Baigali & Dancers ballet instead. read more

Thank you, Elizabeth, Olivia, Tracy, and all the rest of the teachers for teaching so well. When looking for a ballet studio last year, I was pleasantly surprised that you teach Saturday mornings. You also have students older than 50 !!! I'm very appreciative to have found you. read more

Great ballet teachers, beautiful and spacious dance spaces, and friendly students. I'm glad I found this dance studio!

There are better dance schools out there. There are a few good teachers at LGB. You can find better training elsewhere.

I go there to see the Nutcracker every year. The most beautiful costumes I have ever seen! The costumes are truly museum quality. The decorations are also very well thought out and mood provoking, especially the ones with the moon in the dark snowy forest. Dancing is also pretty good quality. This place is my family tradition every Christmas. read more

This review is for the open program and private lessons. I started ballet late as an adult three years ago. I'm almost forty and wanted to try getting on pointe just to see if it feels as awesome as it looks. Before covid, I attended class once a week although I would have liked to attend more of the three weekday mornings available. Andrea Moody always teaches challenging patterns with a point. There's always some theme or correction in both barre and center so that you come away improved. I also took private pointe lessons with Darci. I went from not knowing how to tie or sew my shoes in January to now being able to not break my ankle pirouetting on pointe. For me this is miraculous ... Far and away my initial expectations and I credit both Darci and Andreas eye for detail, fun to remember corrections and emphasis on strength and basic technique. My daughter now takes classes here as well I love the way teachers here emphasize what your body is doing not just what it looks like. Finally, they care about safety. Masks required. All health recommendations followed. So skip the gym and hit this studio! Sweat to Nutcracker this holiday season. read more

I took an adult ballet class in the evening with Andrea. Really sweet teacher, she was great about adjusting the class to differing levels and really open to absolute beginner students. I highly recommend this class if you're an absolute beginner, or haven't had ballet class in a long time and want to get back to the studio--and looking for a pressure-free fun ballet class where you get to move. The studio is beautiful with new marley floors. read more

I love Los Gatos Ballet and I am so grateful to have such a lovely ballet school right here in Los Gatos. My daughter has enjoyed 6 years of learning the beautiful art of ballet at Los Gatos Ballet. First, with Christine as a little girl of 5 and for the last couple of years from Raul as well as other wonderful teachers that have added their own expertise, like Pilates and Yoga, during summer intensive programs. Now that she is on pointe, she is excited to take class with Marcie as well. The discipline, grace and flexibility that she has found in herself is amazing. Marcie is the director and our fearless leader. I say this as a proud member of an amazing team that is giving so much to the community. With the Annual Spring Shows and our Nutcracker every December, Los Gatos Ballet is inspiring young artists to work hard and master themselves as they strive to do the best they can in a demanding art form. From the youngest of aspiring artists to our high school seniors, they all take pride and gain so much from dancing on a big stage like The Flint Center for Nutcracker and during productions of Cinderella or Alice in Wonderland, just to name a few of the spring productions. Los Gatos Ballet also collaborates with the San Jose Youth Symphony, and has special guests from San Francisco Ballet and Silicon Valley Ballet for their Nutcracker and Spring Shows. We are happy to support our daughter and our community at Los Gatos Ballet with the volunteering that helps to put on these amazing performances. Some families do not have time for the volunteering, so it is wonderful that they have a buy out option. It is easy and fun to be a part of the shows and when the kids are younger the parents volunteer less, so that is very fair. When you sit in the audience with family and friends, it is such an amazing experience to watch and be entertained by these fine young artists, and families can also take pride in helping to put on these wonderful shows that inspire and entertain so many. The studios are beautiful and clean with great floors and mirrors and when it is time to prepare for the shows a lot of the rehearsals happen during class times, which is very convenient. Sarah, in the office is very organized and helpful with everything from ordering T-shirts to paying for tuition. A new studio has just been added, so it is a very exciting time for the growing school and I am very happy to recommend Los Gatos Ballet. The confidence that is developed and the relationships that are built in this community are priceless. My daughter loves her classes, her teachers and working hard to put on these amazing shows, and of course being on stage and dancing with her friends! I have taken the adult ballet classes as well with Andrea, and I highly recommend her class for those that wish to add ballet to their routines or those that once danced and wish to feel that poise again. Andrea is a great teacher and will work with all levels. Beginners are welcome, but experienced dancers will also be challenged. Ballet is a great way to build confidence, improve posture, flexibility, grace, balance and strength. Ballet teaches you Grace for Life! read more

Los Gatos Ballet - Los Gatos Ballet's Nutcracker at the Flint Center!!! - Pilates Near Me - Los Gatos, California

This place must be good. One of my buddies has a daughter that takes ballet and and all I would hear was his grumbling about some studio, San Jose Dance something or other, that she was going to. On the couple of times I did the guy a favor and drop off or pick up his daughter (no good deed goes unpunished) I encountered rude pushy parents which I figure is par for the course. After all, when you pay big bucks for this kind of stuff what would you expect? Besides ballet people are a bit on the pretentious side anyway. When I went inside, the staff couldn't give me the time of day. What a nightmare. Now that the girl is in Los Gatos, which I figured would be even more snooty, my buddy has something else to whine about. Begrudgingly, I did my buddy yet another favor and took the kid to ballet. First, I didn't have to sit in 280 traffic for an hour to go 12 miles. Second, I drove up in me beat up old car that hasn't been washed since the last rainstorm and I'd just gotten off work pounding nails on a construction site. Yah, there were the usual prima donna parents in their Mercedes SUVs but the staff were actually friendly to me. I though I was having an acid flashback but my buddy said that they're all really nice. I wouldn't normally be giving a review on a ballet school but my buddy is singing their praise and I was very impressed with how nice the staff is. I took her there a couple more times just to see if it wasn't a hallucination. Well it's not or else that was some really good stuff.... forty years ago. read more

I have been taking Pilates here twice week for a couple of years . Excellent facility and equipment and Darci my teacher is the best !! read more

Highly overrated ballet school, biased and not short of arrogant aggressive parents. You bring your kid here in hope of receiving solid ballet training, you will be so disappointed. Twice a year performance sounds good, however kids are been used as a tool to promote school so they can make money, lots of volunteer hours and ready to pay if not met. Only 1 or 2 good teachers/dancers, the rest are just normal ballet dancers who do not care about your kids. If you want your kids survive in school like LGB, register all performances, summer session on top of regular session, pay for sdditional one-on-one would be even better.. Oh and watch your back, someone is gossiping behind your back. My honest suggestion, go somewhere else, spend your money wisely on other great ballet schools around bayarea. they may not be as big as LGB but they teach real ballet move/technique. read more

My daughter has been going here for a couple years and she loves it. The people there are super nice, always welcoming, and have helped my daughter to blossom. She'll never be a superstar but the instructors are very attentive. read more

Pros: There is one lovely teacher who walks the very delicate line between making sure class is lots of fun but also disciplined. My child learned quite a bit in this class. Cons: There is an expectation that LGB be your life. All students are expected to be part of the spring and fall ballets which include more than 6 days of performances/rehearsals (completely inappropriate for the 11 and under children). Plus the ballets cost extra money for costumes (many of which are reused) and participation. Additionally, you have to do 30 hours of volunteer hours, many of which are offered in 2-3 hour slots. It is completely unrealistic and vastly overpriced! And if you don't want to do the big ballet, then your child gets to hear about it every week and be left out of the choreography and costume trying on. Further, none of thus was made clear to us before the semester began, or we wouldn't have joined in the first place. What happened to letting children perform a dance they learned in class at a showcase? Communication is poor and disorganized. The owner is not responsive to inquiries. I can't speak to the older children but for the 11 year old and under child this studio could suck the love for ballet out of child and parent who would love it. I am very disappointed. I would give it 1 star except we do like the one teacher. We will not return after this semester. read more

Ditto to Hilary's review. I have taken the basic mat class, ball and mat class, "Mat & More," which combines mat work with reformers and all the other "toys," and the Jump Board class. Great workouts, and I always leave feeling like I'm standing taller and moving effortlessly. The location is convenient and there is lots of parking. read more

I have been working with trainers at Los Gatos Ballet and Pilates for several years. I am very happy with the quality of the instruction I have received, with the knowledge and skills of the instructors, and with the equipment in the studio. LG Ballet and Pilates instructors have an in depth knowledge of the human body and how it functions. They tailor instruction to meet your individual needs. My Pilates has strengthened my core, developed my balance, and helped me maintain my flexibility. I can't say enough about the positive benefits of this exercise routine for me. read more

This review is for the pre-ballet program only since we don't have experience with the more advanced classes. Christine is an amazing teacher. Other dance and movement classes I've seen for young children are free-for-alls designed to keep the kids moving and happy and out of their parents' hair for 45 minutes. Christine is able to keep the kids moving and happy while also teaching discipline, respect for the space and each other, and the fundamentals of ballet. She's encouraging and sets high standards for the kids, and her classes are fun. The studio is beautiful. We've had a few small communication issues with LGB, but they're always responsive and accommodating, and we've been able to clear up any misunderstandings with a quick email. They have also been understanding about the enrollment whims of 4-5 year olds, which I appreciate. read more

I love this dance school! The adult classes are so great. The instructor is very aware of people's abilities and goals. The studio is professional and clean. Think this a great atmosphere for beginners and advance dancers. It's nice that there is not attitude that some schools can have. read more

I went to the Ballet Fundamentals Class (Adult/Open Division class) today and loved it! I'm going to try to write the review I would have liked to read before going to class today, so it is a little long. First, everyone was very friendly and welcoming. The teacher, Andrea, is amazing. She pays so much attention to each student, constantly checking our alignment and making little corrections in a very kind and positive way. I appreciated how each student was given modifications to the exercise to tailor the class to her own needs, from absolute first-time beginners to continuing students in the class and me (taking my first ballet class after a long break from dance). I had never seen anything like the pilates machine we used but because the instructions were so clear I never felt confused or left behind. I was prepared to feel like the ugly duckling in a room full of petite, perfectly-toned young women in leotards and tights but was glad to discover that all ages are welcome, you don't have to be in perfect shape (the resistance springs on the pilates thing can be customized to your strength level), and leggings or yoga pants and a shirt were perfectly ok with either socks or ballet shoes (word to the wise: fitted pants are a good idea since you spend a lot of time on your back with your legs in the air!). Working on the pilates apparatus was amazing and made me feel weightless, almost like I was swimming, but I noticed after class how much straighter I was standing and I could feel that we had worked muscles I had forgotten about or at least not used in a concentrated way in a long time. I can't wait to go back next week! read more