What a wonderful addition to a children's party! BJ came to visit yesterday and kept our group of…read more20 3-6 y/os in fits of giggles for his entire performance. The adults were captivated too. His performance was full of practical jokes and magic tricks with lots of hilarious gaffs along the way. He finished up by sculpting balloon swords, hats and animals for each of the children at lightning speed (and while wearing his clown gloves no less). What a legend! We hope to see you again someday BJ!

The kiddos had a blast :) BJ entertained the kids, was on time, and very easy to do business with.read more

If you're looking for a fun and inviting place to learn how to dance/explore performing arts…read more/sharpen your skills, look no further! I'm writing this review as a mama of two littles who took multiple classes at RPA... and as a current dancer in the adult classes as well. From the moment we walked through RPA's doors the whole studio made us feel welcome and like family. I can't tell you how kind and down to earth the entire studio is. I've had the pleasure of taking classes with just about every teacher and they are all extremely talented and easy to learn from. Annie (the owner) is who I have spent the most time with and she is wildly talented and such a great teacher. She is really good at meeting every person where they're at and taking them where they want to be... all at the same time. She equally makes learning fun while challenging you. Josh's choreography is continually breathtaking and tells a story! I learned so much from him and gained confidence from his teaching in just a year. Sarah, on top of being an amazing tapper, has a fun and infectious personality you can't help but love! Her classes are such a joy to be in. Vanda is warm and inviting. I love that she choreographs hip hop to the lyrics-- making it that much more of an immersive experience. Another thing-- these adult dance classes are truly all levels, all experiences, all ages, all genders. It's a "come as you are" experience and it's really quite special. I am so grateful to have found such a warm home to enjoy the arts. And if you're looking for one... come on in!

We have had a wonderful experience in this preschool and would highly recommend it! Our younger…read morechild will be attending in the future! The teachers are super passionate about what they do!

I'm telling you right now, if you're an actor, you need to be coming to Joseph Bertot's class on…read moreTuesday nights. Why? Because he will flip everything you think you know upside down, and that's when you're going to LEARN. I started his class and was a little unsure at first - his high energy is unlike anything I've experienced from an acting teacher. I AM SO GLAD I STAYED. His focus on you and your work is unwavering. His dedication to you and the class is more than I've ever seen in a teacher. He is on time, professional, and he sets you up for success - but you better be ready to work and to bring YOUR best! The class is a mix of beginners and experienced actors - something I was unsure about, but have grown to LOVE. Why? 1) Everyone in the class brings their A game 2) You will come to see that every single person has talent, and every single person has something to work on. 3) Joe will take you, wherever you are at, and make you better, FAST. I've been acting for over 20 years and I've improved more in the past 2 months than I have with any of my past acting teachers. This is not the place to work out your childhood. This is the place to become a great actor and to learn the business. DO IT. PS - He is a legit, pro actor from LA with many big deal acting credits to his name, but he's humble and seriously wants to help you in any way he can.

Shelly's class was precisely what you want if you have professional aspirations (or if you simply…read morewant to endeavor in something truly enriching and exciting). A mix of learning and refining acting skills, on-camera work, and audition drills. And since Shelly was steeped in the rough and tumble of Hollywood, you can trust he knows what works, and he can answer those questions only someone whose been on the front lines of high-end TV/Film production will know. His acting notes are incisive, spot on. I was a better actor when classes ended than I was when they began. What was really fun was watching my classmates get better right in front of my eyes, and absolutely confirmed the effectiveness of his instruction. HIGHLY recommend Shelly, regardless of your skill level.

Shelly was an absolutely wonderful and generous teacher, and I could not recommend this class…read moreenough. It is not only great for those looking to work on their acting technique, but the best part is the added bonus of the class structured around getting comfortable acting on camera. I benefited/learned so much from Shelly's feedback and instruction and also from being able to observe my work directly after filming a variety of different exercises. Thanks so much for a great experience, Shelly!

My daughter started here in September 2007 in the 3 year old pre-ballet and tap class. We chose…read morethis program because it seemed pretty relaxed (and it's close to our house.) We've been very satisfied with the studio and the teachers. There are about 15 little girls in the class (maybe more) with 1 teacher and 1 assistant and they do a very good job keeping the dancers focused and having fun. My little girl absolutely loves the classes and is learning some of the beginning steps. They do two recitals per year that are absolutely priceless. The studio itself is pretty dated and I think it may be a bit on the expensive side but it's convenient for us so we'll continue to send her.

This is by far the best, most low key, fun and supportive kids dance studio I have been with my…read moredaughter. If you live in NE it is a wonderful gem, and definitely worth the drive if you live in Portland. My daughter is in the 4-5 yr ballet and tap now. The teachers are teen dancers and are great roll models - breaking the stereotype of needing to be unhealthily thin. The prices are reasonable too!

I've been an actor at this company for 5 years now and not once have I thought about leaving. After…read moreI did my first mainstage show at Lovegood I found out just how nice the whole community is. And I've even seen a handful of shows from this company like Beetlejuice which was just jaw dropping. The only issue I've ever had with this company was some actors being... something I can't really say here. I wish the company the best of luck in the future

A great staff and my child had such a great experience with their week long summer camp.read more

I sincerely love Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre! Their plays are beautifully crafted works of…read morephenomenal puppetry from around the world. It's amazing to watch children's faces while they experience the magic of puppetry. In a world of hi-tec animation, the puppetry of Tears of Joy and their arts outreach programming still connect with the imagination of today' youth. I'll be honest, I know this first hand having worked in their After-school outreach program. Plus, ToJT is in it's 40th year! Hell yah local theatre keepin it going!

I just attended a performance in Kirkland, WA of "The Reluctant Dragon" performed by the Tears of…read moreJoy Theatre. The ticket was $28 for a 45 minute performance which seems kind of steep. The performance itself was mediocre. There were so many spots that could have been made funnier, more informative or clearer but it seemed like the performers had a hard enough time simply getting the puppets through their paces. For the most part, their speech was clear, but there were points when I know my 4 1/2 year old son couldn't understand the performers because their speech was so affected or they talked too quickly. That was all passable but the absolute worst part was when they opened up a question and answer session at the end. They obviously had no liking or understanding of children and wanted to be done. It was a very quiet and polite batch of kids, each raising their hand to ask a question of one of the puppeteers. I saw one boy (maybe 6 years old??) raise his hand and when called on by the woman performer, began to tell her about a spaceship model that he had made and had turned into a puppet and before he was finished, the woman said, "That is a statement and not a question" and ignored him, turning to another kid. Good lord. It's not like he took forever in getting his idea out. How about responding like, "That is very interesting. Would you like to ask a question about one of the puppets that I am holding?" I could see her dislike and disrespect for kids all over her face. She ignored my son the entire time, who was patiently waiting to get called on (there were only 7 kids in front of her and only 2 had their hands up at any given time). I am so happy that my son enjoyed the evening and didn't see that side of it. If this theatre company is going to put on shows aimed at kids, AND interact with kids at the end, they need to employ puppeteers who are more human friendly.

Excellent concert! Very informative and educational too! Plus it was free! (althoughI did put $5 in…read morethe donation basket)