This is a review for the business practice not the dance class…read more My daughter wants to try ballet so I contacted the business via its website for a trial class and mrs Briones never once told us there is a trial fee. But after the trial when we decided to join another ballet school, I kept getting an email about $20 fee. All other Ballet schools in the area offer a free trial class and to me it is a standard for a good Business. If I would have known there was a fee, I wouldn't even try. On their website there is an offer for Free boy trial class so it is totally not transparent. The business clearly doesn't disclose its business policies to its customers. Please on the watch out for their shady practices. Update So I saw a reply message from the owner explaining why there was a trial fee (which again wasn't communicated at all from the beginning via email).But what made me even more upset was when she/he stated "we saved your spot for months"...OMG that was totally incorrect!!! Luckily all my communications with them was via email so I had smt to go back to.

Our family is very happy with our experiences at Ayako School of Ballet (ASB). We have a daughter…read moreand a son both taking classes at ASB. If you are considering a dance school, it is important to know that even children dancing in ASB's beginning levels are given top-notch instruction. Many of the teachers are current or former dancers from widely-respected professional companies. Children studying at Ayako School of Ballet have the opportunity to dance with professional guest dancers in annual full-length Nutcracker performances as well as in end-of-year events. Competition activities are also available. Every ASB student is taught with care and artistry. As a result, Ayako School of Ballet's dancers are some of the best. They continue to win national awards and many students are accepted into leading summer dance programs, university dance programs and dance companies throughout the United States and abroad. We are proud to be associated with such a fine school. Ayako School of Ballet is a wonderful, welcoming environment.

My first opera ever. Salome--gruesome story about a beautiful and majorly entitled princess. Men…read moreswooned and one was stupid enough to kill himself over her. Then she wanted to kiss a prisoner prophet who turned her down. So she had him killed and served his head on a platter. Ultimately they had her killed which was a good idea. Excellent voices and set. I was told this might have been a difficult first time opera but I'll definitely go again.

We are SF Opera subscribers but we drive down to Palo Alto once every season to catch an opera by…read moreWest Bay Opera. They are usually high quality and it's really fun to see an opera in such a small house. The Samson and Delilah we just saw didn't live up to previous operas we've been there but it was pleasant. They are creative with sets and it was a good production. The chorus needs a lot of improvement but the leads were good . There is a lovely outdoor courtyard for intermission. Ticket prices are much less than SF Opera and I admire their goal of making opera available for all.

I hired Bay Area Breakdancers for my kids graduation party in Walnut Creek and they were amazing!…read moreThe guests loved them! I loved the matching sweatshirts and their moves were outstanding! I will definitely use them again for my next party. My 18 year old twins didn't know what to expect but loved them after they performed!

Gina is a fantastic voice coach. My daughter has grown so much through her years of learning and…read moreperforming with Latimerlo Studios. Gina has helped her understand how to maximize her talent and develop healthy singing habits. She also coached and supported her through many auditions for shows and college theater programs. Gina is very professional, kind, and a pleasure to work with. I recommend Gina to anyone looking to grow as a singer and performer.

My daughter, Jade, has worked with Gina for many years. Gina creatively encouraged Jade to reach…read morebeyond what she thought was possible. She has a special gift for connecting with young adults. Additionally, my son decided to broaden his musical abilities and decided to work with Gina. We are so fortunate to have found her so many years ago.

I started taking singing lessons with Mete as my dad was in hospice in my home in 2016. I had…read morealways wanted to learn to sing! It was so helpful to have this to look forward to during a such a sad time. Mete had been recommended by a neighbor, whose children study with him. I can't believe how well I've progressed - I even sang for my dad at his memorial celebration, in front of 50 people. I love my voice now, and I have so much fun singing! Mete is just the best teacher for me, so inspiring and supportive! I think most of his students are young people and children, but he's great with adults as well! He also teaches piano, and sings at events - he's just a sweetheart, and with an amazing voice and kindness!

Highly recommended!…read more Mete has been my vocal instructor for the past two months. I hadn't taken serious vocal lessons in the past so my voice was as untrained as it could get. :) He has been great at identifying where my strengths and weakness were and he could design the lessons in such a way that I made a lot of progress in such a short time. I am now able to produce operatic sounds that I didn't think I have in me! All this preparation is for my upcoming first album and Mete is critical to my singing quality both in technique and interpretation aspects.

A great way to support your local arts and dance programs!…read more Redwood City's own Ballet America (ballet school) puts on this show every year in mid December, and includes ballet students from all ages (4 and up) to participate. Though the cast is primarily students (and even some parents), they do also use instructors and a few professional dancers to fill out the main roles (e.g. sugar plum fairy, snow queen, etc). The result is magical, fun and surprisingly polished for what you'd expect from a local, low-budget production. The performance period is short: only 2 days & nights, which makes sense considering all the young children involved. We attended the final 2009 performance on Dec 11. Though typically held at the Fox theatre downtown (which is in the throes of a foreclosure saga), this year it was held at the Sequoia High School theater (Carrington Hall), a surprisingly nice venue with a colonial Spanish design, built in 1904. As usual, we enjoyed the show and came away feeling like the Holiday season had REALLY begun. Until next year!

The 2010 Nutcracker production from Ballet America was astonishing in the quality of the dancing…read more Every year this production continues to improve in the choreography and the ability of those dancing on stage. This year was no exception. The professionals that accompanied the junior company dancers and those that were our featured dancers were incredibly accomplished and a delight to watch. I heard from folks in the audience that they felt the choreography was more difficult than in the past, and the dancers were excellent! The people I heard this from do not see dance productions that often, but have come to this Nutcracker in the past. The show date tends to fall on the first Friday or Saturday of December. I hope people reading this review will hold that date for the 2011 performance. I overheard another patron say the length of the performance was perfect, and was just as enjoyable as any of the major productions in the area. Redwood City is very lucky to have a production of this quality in their midst.

My husband and I saw Kippy at the 2009 Chocolate Festival in Ghirardelli Square, and fell in love!!…read moreWe bought one of his CD's, and can't wait to buy more!!

I don't have any photos to share at the moment but Kippy recently played at our wedding and it…read moreabsolutely perfect. He is incredibly talented and I would highly recommend him if you're looking for a truly special performance.

I have an attendance for anyone who actually goes to the school. Facilities enjoy watching and…read morecoaching track every season. Ample parking, wonderful track and field layout.

Does the name Bill Liberatore ring a bell? Only if you're lucky enough to know this incredible…read moreman. He's changed more lives than Elton John has changed glasses. He is the extraordinary force behind the Gunn High School Choir and one heck of a talented individual. Old songs, new songs, foreign songs, holiday music - you name it and he'll inspire it. He encourages these high school kids to bring out the best in themselves, shine like the bright stars that they are and have a lot of fun doing it. I drug myself to the first concert at this school thinking it was going to be a boring evening, but I was tapping my toes and singing along before the end of the night. I have found myself first in line to get tickets to all the subsequent concerts. As a professional entertainer I can say with all honesty that the Staff/Student show last year was professional quality and far from anything I've ever seen at a high school and I'm first in line because the shows sell out. That's how good they are. The choir has travelled all over the world and won many awards over the years. If you want to see some of their fabulous work, head to YouTube and type in Gunn High School Choir. Or check out Bill's blog on the choir website. You can see from the reviews that Gunn High School has great academics for the left brainers, but the choir program and Bill Liberatore nourish the right side in all the right ways.