My daughter has been dancing with NorCal Studios for 6 years and I couldn't be more grateful for the experience she has had there. From day one, she was welcomed into a supportive and nurturing environment that has allowed her to truly thrive, both as a dancer and as a young person. The instructors are not only incredibly talented and knowledgeable but also deeply invested in each student's personal growth. They go above and beyond to ensure that every dancer feels confident and valued. The sense of community here is truly special--parents, students, and staff all work together to create a positive and uplifting atmosphere. The moms were incredible. My wife got so much out of her experience as well. She built a group of close friends especially with so many to name. You all know who you are who become life long friends with my wife. My daughter has grown so much in her time with NorCal Studios not just in her technical skills, but in her confidence, discipline, and love for dance. I highly recommend this dance company to any parent looking for a place where their child can flourish and be part of a wonderful dance family. Yes it's demanding & tough but if you want the best, you've found the best place! Thank you, Tawnya for being such an important part of my daughter's life! read more

Walked in with my daughters and asked to see a pamphlet. The girls at the front were rude and not very helpful. I just said thank you and walked out. I have three stars because I can't judge on their program. Only how it went trying to get information. read more

Just went in to the front office to get some information for my daughter and the young woman was very sweet. The building is clean and very spacious. They even had a vending machine which is sweet! read more

I heard about Nor Cal Dance Arts from my friend, who loved the Heels Class that she took there. I took her up on the invite and joined her for a class. The whole Nor Cal Dance Arts facility was amazing. From the outside looking in I assumed there were only one or two studios. It was way bigger than I thought as it had several studios of various sizes. The check-in process went smoothly for me. I registered and purchased a drop-in class via the MINDBODY app. When I walked into Nor Cal Dance Arts, I noticed immediately to my left the MINDBODY check-in kiosks. I am in agreement with my friend as I absolutely loved the Heels Class as well! Something about dancing in heels made me a little nervous, but I got pretty into the class. Admittedly dancing in heels was no joke and was more challenging than I expected. It was such a blast though, and I highly recommend it. The routine, which was taught by Stephanie, was beautifully sensual. I also appreciated the energy and loving support from the other women. I felt that I was in a safe space, which made it easy to be confident about my own sexy, authentic movements. read more

We did a trial based on the recommendation from a friend whose kid went there for years. The studio is huge and parents are only allowed to watch TV monitors outside. I asked to observe my toddler and was shocked to see the lack of control with 16 kids and so little instruction time out of an hour class. 17 min of roster (not joking) 5 min of stretching while most kids are rolling around, chatting loudly, or idling out of boredness 5 min of water time lining up the kids to the fountain (ironically no sweat at all as nothing was done) 5 min of instruction (finally) 10 min of one jump exercise (1 kid at a time, the rest were chatting with the teacher "stretching"...with two instructors, the kids could be broken up into 2 groups) 5 min of changing shoes 5 min of instruction (honestly an adult will find it boring) 5 min of distributing a fabric and asking each kid what color they want (at that time, I'm convinced that they just want to pass time and so did the kids) 3 min of free dance (the most fun part of the class that I hear numerous times of threat to take away if kids don't behave which they didn't) The lights in the studio were shut off by a naughty kid and it was dark for a few seconds. The aid threatened to call her mom. The review is mainly for the parents who just drop off their kids and leave to know what's going on inside the studio. I stayed for the entire duration out of courtesy and was simply in disbelief that they thought it was acceptable. The kids were bored to death and therefore distracted and causing trouble to have fun. It was a total waste of time and honestly exposed my kid to imitate negative behavior. I gave one star to the poor aid (seems like 10 years old) to do everything the sub (17) didn't do...the sub was not even dressed properly for dance. The experience could have been heavily discounted due to the fact that the normal teacher was sick. However, I felt more sorry for the other 15 kids and families who paid fees and got this experience (most likely not aware) read more

My granddaughter did an intensive class , And while it was far to drive she enjoyed it immensely!

It took me a while to write this review. I had planned to do it right after the incident but I waited so as not to be too upset. My daughter used to be in the stretch and acro classes here. On our final night at this ridiculous studio- one of the acro "instructors" (basically a barely legal teenage girl on an ego trip) berated my daughter in front of the entire class because she couldn't do a handstand. Not only embarrassing her but filling her with shame even though she was a 10yr old with literally MAYBE 5 months of experience, who only went one night a week. When I met my daughter in the lobby after class I could tell something was wrong right away. She started breaking down in tears as soon as we started to drive away. That's when she told me what had happened. I turned the car around and went straight back into the studio to complain. They did nothing. There was no apology, no accountability from her "instructor", nothing. So we quit this place. I'm reminded of this now because about a month ago we enrolled her at a real gymnastics place instead that also does dance. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!! She's so happy, she goes 4 hrs a week, the price is a bit higher- but you get what you pay for. And the instructors give a damn. They give good feedback while also challenging her to push herself without making her feel less than. And I don't know about you, but that is so important to me. read more

Where do I begin? We are a dance family, I suppose. My daughters just completed their first season here. My youngest was in rec classes and my older daughter was on team. They both had positive experiences in every class! My girls' technique and overall approach to dance has matured and gotten better. The teachers are respectful when it comes to corrections and they gently guide your child with just as much care as they would their team/company dancers. I only make the comparison because I have dancers in both categories here. My kids wouldn't think of going anywhere else now! The mood is low key in the lobby even though impressive dancing is going on in the studio classes, which you can watch in the waiting area. This coincides with how humble the dancers are here. My kids tell me everyone is kind to them and they cherish their friendships and their teachers. Report cards or progress reports are handed out at the end of the year. This helps the kids know what they have done well and what they can take to improve next season. I appreciate this extra step that the teachers and director make for ALL of the dancers. The recital was at a beautiful theater and all the dances were spread between two shows. We were in and out in 3 hours or so (for one show only). The rec dances looked just as ambitious as the team dances! The communication is mostly electronic for us since we are so busy. I appreciate this as well. I can't say enough good things about Norcal. Thank you for a fantastic season-from the bottom of our hearts! We will be back! read more

I brought my daughter here to take a class and it was pretty much a bad idea. Norcal's presentation is great but the overall vibe there is very impersonal. With so many kids there, you don't know who's coming or going. I think I saw my child's teacher one time out of the whole dance season. They only had one receptionist which made waiting in line to make your monthly payment extremely slow, long and frustrating. And if you tried to call, the phone was never picked up by a human. The recital was definitely not a pleasant experience. Although the atmosphere was very positive and supportive for the children, it was very long. We had to drop out daughter off at 12pm and were not allowed to pick her up until after the whole show was completed. The show had a total of 61 acts and my daughters was in the very beginning. We were there from 12pm-6:45pm. A total of 6 hours and 45 minutes. It was pretty ridiculous. Will we not be back for another season here. read more

I have been to this place quite a few times but I feel it just gets worse and worse. I know a lot of really amazing dancers who come here so I decided to take classes here. When I first started here they recommended I take a beginner Teen Adult Ballet class. I was 15 and the class was not very full at all. I spent about 3 months taking the class and exceeded the qualifications for the class and was ready to move on to a more challenging class. We spent about 20 minutes stretching which took up a lot of the time we could be learning technique. Even after doing the class for 3 months I got no notice of moving up to the next level class which I was definitely ready for. I started at a different studio and got moved to ballet 4 right away and in this class I felt so held back. Second I tried taking a turns and leaps class which was recommended for my level of dance and the class was taught as an advanced class. It was not welcoming at all. The teacher didn't bother to take notice that I was newer in the class or that I was even there. I was very lost for it being my first turns and leaps class and all the students in the class were very advanced which made me feel very out of place. All of the students in the clas to were very unwelcoming. The only thing I like about this place is the hip hop for havoc hour but that's about it. The customer service here is awful. I tried to come for a hip hop class on a Friday but when I got there they said there were no classes that day because it was picture day. Meanwhile the lady who spoke to us on the phone never mentioned that when we signed up and paid for the class. They never answer their phone and rarely answer their emails. Watch out for this place.... read more

It was my 5 yr old daughter's first day of taking Nor Cal's hip hop dance class. And she truly enjoyed it. It is located near The Plant off Monterey Rd in a nice, clean area. The building is huge! Right when you walk in you enter a huge lobby where there are tables, couches and chairs for parents and others to sit there and watch their child on one of the 6 flat screen TV's that they have up on wall. Parents are not allowed to go in class with their child, that's why they have the TV's. If you want to register and it happens to be in the middle of the month, go in person so they can prorate the class fee's for you. I attempted to register online and due to one of the other yelpers reviews I read, I realized I should call before I register online to ask if I had to pay the full price that it showed online. Apparently, they don't have a prorated option online or the registration fee of $25 that you're supposed to pay. So I just went in person. I've had my daughter in another hip hop that was at my Community Center and that was a class where she was just shown how to hop and jump around. I wanted her to really learn how to do some dance moves and a dance routine since she is always copying music videos at home. So at Nor Cal, you will find that there, your child will be taught how to do real hip hop dance moves. They do have recitals and you're not obligated to have your child in it but the one that's coming up in June you have to pay $80 for a costume fee. The recital is on a Sunday in June and there will be a fee for you to attend the recital. I'm really excited. I like how the instructor stretched before class then went into teaching the dance moves and going over them repeatedlly so the children can memorize it. They played some games at the end too which was nice and get a sticker at the end of class. My daughter is super excited!! read more

Nor Cal Dance Arts - Sitting in waiting area watching our kids on tv during their classes. - Performing Arts Near Me - San Jose, California

First u-Jam class with Suzi on Saturday. Morning. The people are super nice and they make you feel comfortable and part of the family. Really enjoyed it and the advanced ones are always changing places so if you stayed in the back there was someone always to follow if I couldn't see up front. It was really fun and it was the fastest hour and a half class is ever taken. Be prepared to bust out in a sweat! Super fun U-Jam class, highly recommended! read more

I called about my 4 year old joining a class or two (tumble time/creative dance) however I was told that she wouldn't be able to join without approval. The girl I spoke to didn't sound too optimistic about our chances. She also said that I would have to wait until the fall to try to enroll. That's too bad! read more

Quality instruction, teachers and choreography. Very professional and encouraging atmosphere. There is a wide range of classes in all styles and levels. Highly recommend to Dancers. The front desk staff is courteous and helpful. read more

I brought a cousin of my daughter to try out the 5 year old beginning dance class with her and the little girl started crying because she was shy and nervous. We talked to the little girl and agreed for her to watch the class. When we told the receptionist she said it was too late. After all the time we went through to help her get the courage she said no. We seriously asked for her to stand in the back for 5 minutes!!! I asked her what do they do if a child is shy to help them start dancing and she said they had to sit outside and watch the class through the tvs intill they wanted to go in. REALLY?!! If your child is shy the receptionist here does not go out of her way to help out children. I run a dance studio myself and was really reallllyyyyy surprised at how UNBOTHERED the receptionist could be about talking to the child or helping in any way at all. I know this is a large studio but small acts like this really shape how this dance studio should be run. Especially when working with kids. Now there is one less kid who wants to try out dance because they could not go out of their way to even say hi or talk to the student. I thought it was weird that they offer a discount for 5 star reviews on Yelp... Sadly we will be looking for another dance studio for my daughter and her cousin. read more

Was a bad experience for my daughter. After a year or so, we are pulling her out of her classes. Director won't respond to my attempts to contact her. Badly run and poor instructors. read more

This review is long over due. We wanted to love this place, since everything online looked promising and it was an in-house referral. Unfortunately, this was not the case. Customer service does not exist here. My husband and I enrolled my daughter and son a little over a year ago in a couple of classes. We purposely selected certain times that would work with our busy, F/T working schedule. I showed up to take my really excited girl to her first day. We waited and waited for her to get called into her class. I finally went up to the front desk where, everyone acted like I wasn't there. I understand it gets busy with the first day but customer service is my very first impression of a place and you can at least acknowledge a person and ask them to wait. I finally got someone's attention and what do I get told? That they were sorry but the class times had changed. No emails, no calls, NADA. I had to leave because I had somewhere to be afterwards. The new schedule wasn't going to work with either my husband, me or any of the kids other after school activities so we asked for a refund. My husband had to stop by in person because they wouldn't pick up their phones. They denied one and, instead, left it in an account for us to use in the future. We couldn't make it back so we asked again for a refund, nope. So we lost our money. I would not recommend this place to anyone. read more

My daughter absolutely LOVES NCDA! We enrolled in their summer dance camp program and paid $90.00 for about five weeks and she was able to try out all kinds of dance styles (jazz, ballet, creative dance, hip hop) and even ACRO/TUMBLING! she loves her dance instructors (Miss TAWNYA and MISS NATASHA!) and her new dance friends. It shows that a teacher loves what they do and you can see it in their faces and their kind words of encouragement. You can bet my daughter will be back for the fall classes! She can't wait! NCDA ROCKS! read more

This is a review for the Zumba classes. I understand that this is a dance studio so there wouldn't be a ton of priority placed on twice a week Zumba classes for people to drop by. However, in my opinion, people who come for the class are treated almost as an afterthought. The Saturday instructor couldn't be bothered to show up on time and ended the class right on time even though we were gypped by 15 minutes. The class itself was fine albeit hard to follow as our instructor was low on energy, couldn't be bothered to give instruction, and was distracted by her two children playing off to the side. Let's not forget to mention that she didn't even show up the next Saturday session and offered a lame excuse to the receptionist that she just wouldn't be doing the class anymore. Luckily the receptionist kindly offered those of us who had waited two complimentary Monday classes to make up for the utter unprofessionalism of the instructor. I'd heard good things about the Monday instructor so decided to give it a shot and took my friend and two aunts. The class was packed and we actually DID have a good workout so I'd give 4 stars to the gentleman conducting that class (his name escapes me, sadly!). As excited as I was to have a Monday class to add to my schedule, I took my friend, her mom, and my mom to the next Monday class, only to find out that there was no class as well. Seeing as how NCDA had my information, I was surprised that I wasn't contacted. I was simply told, "yeah, we didn't contact anybody" and that NCDA class schedules were changing over for the summer and just to call or come by again to see when the next Zumba class would be. I just find it unorganized and inappropriate that people would plan out their schedules to come to this class only to not be afforded the same respect to at least be told about these constantly changing classes. I appreciate the low drop in rate $5, but with the inconsistency, I will be a spare customer, if that. read more

I love taking classes here. I only come once a week on Tuesdays tho, but still! I love it! Especially the heels class with Allyson! She's a wonderful teacher and really makes the class fun. The heels class really tests your ability dancing in heels and you really break out a swear! I highly recommend taking this class! read more

I took my daughter here for her first class, and am new to the whole dance world. Monica at the front desk explained to me the class schedule, pricing, recital, costumes and everything else I needed to know. She was very informative, helpful, and replies quickly to my emails when I had additional questions. My daughter's teachers were also amazing. They were upbeat, and had a lot of patience with my 3 year old. She was able to learn discipline and learn dance at the same time giving me a overdue break. read more

Bad customer service. It was my first time attending and I'm fairly new to the art of dance and I didn't feel accepted or welcomed. I was looking to do private lessons so I can learn and improve but they said they only offer it for students interested in competing. The class I took was a waste of time and money. The instructor expected me to do improv to a dance I have no knowledge on. How do you expect that from a beginner ! Nor Cal Dance Arts doesn't compare to Millennium Dance Complex at all. read more

I love NorCal! Best studio in San Jose for sure! The teachers and the classes are awesome! I take the Heels class on Tuesday's and it's soooo fun! You won't regret coming to this studio! read more

A-mazing! My daughter has been dancing since she was 5 years old and it took us 6 years to find Nor Cal Dance Arts. You name a dance company and she has danced there and we were not happy. When we found Nor Cal, our daughter was coming home excited about dance! She is now 13 years old and is still thriving at Nor Cal with Ballet, Hip Hop and Lyrical. She comes home after every dance class with motivation, determination, new techniques and always wanting to do better. As for the recital, our whole family, including grandma and grandpa were so impressed on how much talent these children have. We were not looking at our watches to see when the recital would end. It was truly entertaining and HATS OFF to the teachers and owners. If you are looking for a wonderful dance community to join, look no further. Our family highly recommends Nor Cal Dance Arts. read more

NorCal Dance always has a variety of classes to offer, which is why I love coming here! Although I'm only taking Tuesday heels class with Allyson, it is still amazing. Her class definitely challenges you, but also allows you to put more of yourself out there, making me feel more confident with my dancing. I love how they have classes suitable for anyone! From any age range, to also the level of dancing. Thanks NorCal! read more

Love it! Yaaaaaaaaasssssss. Its fun, a lot of people care for people to grow. Classes can be a good time and challenge. I enjoy the tuesday havoc hour, ton of talent visit and a lot can come from this studio. Front desk lady monica has been nothing but polite and patient read more

I take ally's heels class every Tuesday and I love it! Such a great environment to be in, everyone is so fun and energetic and such a great place to meet new friends. I recommend her class to all my dance friends. EVEN BOYS! read more

Nor cal is one of the best dance studios out here in the Bay Area! They are so welcoming and have the best staff ever! I currently talk a Heels class on Tuesday nights with Allyson, who is so great and hypes you up in her class and let's you bring out your inner diva, also let's you just be very comfortable with your dancing. I highly suggest you come to nor cal and try a class out! You won't regret your time or money! (: read more

My daughter has been happily dancing here since September. She has taken other dance classes before at local community centers but hadn't danced at with an established studio. We immediately noticed a difference after coming to Nor Cal Dance Arts. Taking just one class wasn't enough because she developed a love for dance she didn't have before. The teachers here are very inspiring and make class fun while teaching proper technique and form. The studio owner, Tawnya is so kind and you can really tell she is passionate about dance and teaching dance. While you may not see your child's teacher during each class, this is because most of them are teaching back to back classes. I have not had a single bad encounter with any of the staff here and my daughter looks forward to her classes each and every week. It can be a little busy in the lobby some days...I truly believe it is only because the many dancers here have loving and supportive families that enjoy watching their dancers in action on the tv screens. If you are looking for a dance studio for your child, I highly recommend Nor Cal! read more

Came to Santa Clara for a dance competition and had an extra day before we left to take a few dance classes. Looked up some dance studios in the area and found nor cal dance. I remember their team jackets through out the convention. Went at 4 since the studio opened at 330. There was no one at the front desk to help us. Waited for 20 mins no one around to help. There were a few dancers who showed up for class but they went straight in the back. Finally a dance mother came, and asked if we needed help. Told her I wanted to sign my daughter up for a few classes I saw they offered online. She said that no one would be in until 5 and that they were not excepting new students due to their recital. Understandable, so we left. Tried calling their studio at 5pm, 515pm and 530pm, still no answer. Wish wee could have taken classes or talked with someone. Their facility is beautiful and large. read more

My son has just wrapped up his 3rd year at Nor Cal Dance. We are done. If you are the parent of a female you will probably be ok, maybe. If you have a female elite dancer you will do great. Owner Tanya does not care about any of the all boy classes. Her focus is elite dancers. The first year we were new to dancing, specifically hip hop was ok. The first year (2016) he did co-ed hip hop. It was a hot mess on stage and he almost did not return, then I enrolled him in all boys hip hop. The recital for their dance that next year (2017) was a mess, the music was interrupted then cut short the boys were left hanging on stage. It was so bad they brought the boys out again to re-do the dance routine. Almost left again but my son loves hip hop and we tried again. This year after 10 months of practice, an instructor change mid-year, no support from the ownership, the performance was by far the worst. The boys we disorganized on stage, no clear routine, confused and the instructor wasn't even there for the recital! The routine was less than 45 seconds long! My son was embarrassed and humiliated. What a blow to a child's self esteem! Do not waste time and money on this place! read more

OK so my daughter took a trial class this summer at the studio. Trial went great she was even asked to join the team. But when it came to sign her up for classes it was so hard. I understand they are moving to the new studio. But I could never get anybody on the phone. I had left several messages. I emailed also. When I finally got an email back. I could only get a few classes recommendations. I was ready to spend good money at their studio. But I could never get anybody's attention long enough to set up a scheduled for my child. I was just told well come to our open house and we will deal with it then. Well classes started that Monday. I wanted to walk into the Open house with some Idea on what classes to sign her up. I was just told pick out her classes & pay on line. Hello I don't know how your classes work? A little guidance would be nice. Well still to this day I have not heard back from Norcal. I hate paying money for classes I can't sing my child up for. Well I am glad that I didn't wait for somebody to get back to me. I may still be waiting. This business must not need the money. OH well I would go find another studio who wants your business. read more

The best studio in San Jose BY FAR. They offer great technique, and different styles of dance. Ally's heels class on Tuesdays ARE AMAZING. I definitely recommend to take a class when you can! Worth the time and such an open and fun experience. read more

I usually come to NorCal Dance arts for Ally's heels class, but occasionally I come for havoc hour as well. I love all the classes that NCDA provides and they are super friendly/ welcoming! They provide many diverse classes and have a wide range of age groups, so if you're looking for a home to dance I'd highly recommend NCDA!(: read more

Presentations are great, but the receptionist(s) or anyone answering the phone (the very few that times it does get answered) are completely inept. The people in the front are utterly useless. read more

This is truly the best place on earth. The energy and the work ethic that is put forth is truly superb and out of this world. This is the place to be. read more

i usually come to ally's heels class on tuesdays , she's a really amazing teacher, when i leave the class it makes me feel confident and i really enjoy myself while there. she's a well paced teacher and she helps as much as she can to make sure everyone understands what she is teaching. read more

Nor Cal Dance Arts is the best dance studio in the bay area. The money that I spend in my daughter's dance tuition is well worth it. The teachers are always very dedicated and teach every student with lots of patience. If you want your child to get the best dance training ever this is the place to sign them up!!!!!! read more

My 14 year old is starting her 2nd year at Norcal - and we love it! Their focus is providing the best dance experience, in a totally positive environment - so parents, have a little patience, you are not their top priority -- your dancer is! The teachers are excellent, the culture great. The owners, amazing. read more

My mother and I wanted to keep my sister of age 6 active so we decided to put her in a dancing class. She didn't know what she would like so we did 2 drop in classes to Hip Hop and Combo class which is $15 each. She tried out both classes and LOVED IT. Orginally we only wanted to sign her up for one class but end up enrolling her for both. The only thing I didn't like was that after she tried the second class. We made a decicion and signed her up right away which was mid month. We paid $112.00 for the month and found out that it's not prorated and that our next due date would be on the 1st which we paid pretty much 112 for 2 weeks. They explain that in some months is longer so it pretty much "MAKES UP " for it. Which I don't agree thats how it should work at all. If that was the case I would have sign her in the 1st of the month of OCT. Other then that she loves it and I guess that's what matters. read more