Just wanted to write an update because I see that a lot of people reviewing here confuse BroadStage…read morewith SMC Theater. It is the same PHYSICAL venue, but not the same organization. So, some people who are reviewing the programming or staff are actually reviewing SMC, not BroadStage or vice versa. I have never attended an SMC performance so I can't speak to their programming or staffing, but BroadStage has very interesting programming & very kind staff. Since BroadStage programming is so eclectic, though, some of it just isn't of interest to me. Different strokes....

Lovely venue but sometimes the artists or productions chosen to take the stage are disappointing…read more I've had the experience now twice of going to a show based on genre and marketing and having to sit through performances that feel like they were brought in to cater to a very specific, very small but obviously inner circle community. Choose wisely what you come for. If your intuition tells you this artist was maybe brought in simply on connections and what community they're a part of then listen to your gut. I say all of this because there are so many deserving and talented productions out there that deserve and would love the privilege of being paid to perform here but to see the opportunities squandered on the same old stories and inner circle artists is enough for me to think long and hard before buying tickets to this theatre again.

You'd come here if you are a ballet dancer in L.A. especially if you like Mr B's style of ballet…read more The training is thorough and their Nutcracker is well organized and well rehearsed. Their L7 girls are amazing ! Expect to be part of more than several shows for Nutcracker with hours of rehearsals. So many well known graduates in American ballet companies. Advanced dancers are mostly very serious in the training and train in prestigious summer intensives such as SAB, PNB, MCB, John Cranko, RBS. The new director is very strict and expects a lot from the kids. Overall, probably the best studio not just for kids but for adults with their variety of adult classes and even their own intensive in summer!!

I attended an introductory adult ballet class with Natalia Velarde at Westside Ballet, and…read moreunfortunately, it was a very frustrating experience. I arrived early and incredibly excited for my first-ever class. While I now understand beginners are often placed in the back to follow more experienced dancers, Natalia was incredibly cold and not welcoming at all. She placed me directly behind someone tall where I couldn't see the mirror or the instructor, which made it impossible to learn. To make matters worse, during the final stretch, she asked me to move into a corner so I wouldn't 'block others,' even though I was already in the very back of the room. An instructor's primary job in an intro class is to make students feel safe, capable, and encouraged--not like an inconvenience. I originally came to Westside Ballet planning to start my own classes before enrolling my toddler in their children's program. Because of this deeply disappointing experience, I will not be returning with my toddler or myself.

Not sure why it states this place is closed... I just went in for a class this morning! It's…read moredefinitely open and classes are on. And it seems like a very lovely place to tap dance! I look forward to going back for more lessons with Joseph! Here is their website, for class schedule and additional information! http://www.tapacademy.bizland.com/ ETA: Thankfully, they changed the headline so that it no longer states that the Tap Academy is closed!

I love this place, but the building has been sold and classes will end on June 30, 2012. Check with…read moreBert Chan or your teacher for more details.

We thought this was supposed to be a serious burlesque show but it was much more like a student…read moreshow, like people trying out stripping in front of an audience to see how it would feel. But it had heart for sure. It was cute and funny at times and pretty raunchy at times also which wasn't our particular taste but that's ok. I like raunchy but most of the humor here was just a little too much on the cheap and sleezy side for my taste. I just wished for one act at least to wow me, which didn't happen. The whole thing just felt like we were in someone's living room being entertained by their fun, sweet, and silly friends. If I were them I'd bring in real dancers, a director and production designer that was familiar with cool old cinema or theatrical dance sequences - think Crazy Horse, Singing in the Rain, Victor Victoria. Put real stories in the acts and relationships and not just make it solely about stripping for the audience each time, get a real costumer that can make cool visual experiences- right now it all feels like the artists built their own costumes out of whatever they had at home. Make the humor a little more funny and intelligent, put in a better sound system so we can feel the music more- the music was way too soft, and find more ways to bring creativity and imagination to the show. It's burlesque, we should leave feeling enchanted, not embarrassed we made our friends sit through it. Hope that's helpful.

Biggest waste of money. The place was dirty. I paid extra for the VIP experience which got us…read morenothing. The girls were gross.

Another outstanding performance from Cirque. Funny, breathtaking feats of awe inspiring acrobatics,…read morebalance and artistry. Many "are you kidding me??" moments of seemingly super human achievements. In my group the Wheel of Death was a favorite. The female contortionist blew my mind, as if her spine is a loose string of beads. I was concerned about tight seating based on some reviews. We found the seating space comfortable. But please, no flash photography, for the safety of the performers! Some fool in one section kept using a flash. I was surprised a seating attendant didn't stop the person. There's a 25 minute intermission, just over 2 hours total. An employee was playing with the Chinese yo-yo near the merchandise section and was kind enough to show two of us the basics. One advantage to this show compared to a Vegas venue is a smaller audience and better seat prices. Our crowd was very enthusiastic. I wanted to give a standing ovation many times but waited til the end. Truly a memorable, mesmerizing experience.

The show was definitely entertaining, but it's nothing you haven't seen before at other similar…read moreshows. The major disappointment was that there were no Wow Factors with this show. It's probably why on 12/29, the day of our show, we found out that they were offering 20% off all remaining tickets and shows, including 20% off the fees as well. A big plus was the shuttle that took you from Lot 4S south of the Santa Monica Pier to near the main entrance to the circus tents. It was very convenient not to deal with the traffic around those tents. It made leaving the area after the show relatively easy.

The Morgan-Wixson Theater is located in Santa Monica. Parking is on the street, but mind the signs…read more You can park without any problem right down the street at the Family Clinic for free anytime and it is not a long walk at all. This is a not for profit and it has professional actors, kids and armatures. It is small and there is not a bad seat in the house. Most of the staff are volunteers so be nice. You can order from their website. It has a great selection of plays, from kids plays (called the YES program) to musicals and some very serious plays. We have been so many times and have never seen a bad play and if you have a kid, it is a must you take them there. The prices are so fair and they a little snack bar inside. There is nothing not to like about this theater. It has nice places to eat nearby and it is a great area.

RENTERS BEWARE!!! Not reliable management. The theater…read moreitself is nice. But our dance studio had horrible experience with administration multiple years. 2026 was the worst experience. We reserved theatre for our concert a year in advance. They kept refusing to send us contact (like previous years), probably waiting for some bigger renter to offer them something more. 3 DAYS BEFORE OUR RENTAL THEY CANCELLED ON US! We had to find a new theater, change program, rearrange performances, reprint all tickets/booklets,posters, tell 40 families to change time and location of the event. This was the most stressful experience ever. It's too bad. We were ready to rent their theater every year. And we have rented twice before, having same problem- no contract till last minute! Bill(William) is not responsive. You will call, text, email and have no response. If you're up to get your hair turn grey while dealing with them, go for it.

This is a review for the camp only. Some things to know if you put your child in their camp. I…read moredon't usually like to post negative reviews but I do want other parents to know about the following things so they can be aware. 1) On their camp advertisements they mention instruction in many different instruments. What isn't specified is that they only have a couple different instruments to learn on if your child does not own that instrument themselves. So unless your kid has their own Oboe, Cello, Flute etc they can't get lessons. I think they have guitar and violin on hand. Thus, i would not recommend this place for a summer intro to an instrument unless you own said instrument or you double check they have your instrument ahead of time. They will say it's on the paperwork the child needs to bring their own instrument but they don't send you that paperwork until the night before camp starts. 2) They watch a movie every single day. I don't think any parent wants their kid watching tv every day at a camp they pay good money for. Why not have other activities for the kids for breaks from music? Maybe Let them run around in the park longer, or play some games, or talk amongst themselves and make a friend. Another note about the movie watching -- they show the kids PG13 movies. And if your kid isn't allowed to watch PG13 movies they will sit your chilld with the much younger children and watch a disney movie or cartoon. This is not great for those kids 7-11 whose parents may not want their kids watching PG13 movies but also don't want their kid to feel humiliated watching cartoons with much younger kids and not being around their peers in their age group. When my child was there, there were no kids ages 13 and up so it was baffling to me that they were catering to the kids whose parents allowed their young children to watch PG-13 movies.

We are lucky to have SM Conservatory as a resource for our kids…read more I have experienced nothing short of excellent customer service, from the director to the front desk staff to the instructor. When I sit on the couch waiting to pick up my son, I hear laughter, enthusiasm, singing and of course music. It warms my soul. My son loved 3rd grade chorus (and the complimentary bus shuttle is a huge plus for kids and parents!). We are currently taking private flute lessons with Sierra - so far so good! She is patient, kind and helping my son make the ever important first step, a sound! The school music program is great but with so many children my son needs extra one-on-one instruction and this business fits the bill. Looking into the musical theater next ... to be continued!

I first met Marcos and Ruta almost five years ago. They had a weekend workshop and as I had been…read moredancing Tango for about a year it seemed like a good idea to take the workshop. The workshop was amazing, Marcos had a way of breaking down, explaining and teaching even the most difficult moves that he made them look simple to learn. I was hooked on the QMethod (tm pending) way of learning. I immediately wanted to take private lessons from them, but at that time they were based out of Las Vegas and came to OC only once a month. No problem, I booked TEN lessons for each month for that weekend. Intense? Yes, it was and well worth it. Fast forward a couple of years, and Marcos and Ruta moved to Southern CA. Now, I could take lessons every week and multiple sessions at that and I was happy. I even made it to their group sessions. After hundreds of sessions, my Tango journey continues on with Marcos and Ruta in the present day. I have danced at Tango festivals around the world with a multitude of partners. I do get compliments, and have even been mistaken as an Argentinean due to the way I dance. I owe it all to Marcos and Ruta that have patiently guided me throughout my journey, and still guide me today. They also are more than just instructors. They have become dear friends. Needless to say, I recommend them to anyone wishing to learn Argentine tango. I have taken a lot of lessons from different teachers, and without reservations I can say that they have no equal.

I love the way the studio space feels , is as if you were learning tango in buenos aires,…read moreArgentina! It's a really is a conducive atmosphere and the instruction it's super high quality ! Marcos and Ruta are really fun and friendly... No wonder they are so many people taking lessons from them... As a data point if you ever have he opportunity to see these two masters dancing live, don't miss it I warn you, you might get addicted to tango !

I never knew this artists' sanctuary even existed until last Sunday when I stopped by their 2nd…read moreannual fundraising event called BAM Fest. BAM = Beer, Art & Music, a perfect combination on a sunny afternoon. 18th Street was closed off to provide parking for food trucks & bicycles. I saw The Green Truck there, as well as Border Grille. 20 breweries donated beer from booths set up in a private courtyard flanked by galleries, where 4 bands provided live music. I only had time to stay for an hour, so I missed all the bands except Speedway (alone worth the trip from Redondo!). The event was packed but very well-organized. A bike valet was looking out for the crapload of parked bicycles. Maybe the reason I had no problem finding a spot for my car was because so many people rode their bikes. Beer and music were included in the price of admission ($35 advance, $40 at the door). All proceeds went toward funding spaces for artists to work & show their work.....a very good cause. The arts need support, especially in rough economic times. The festival attracted a great crowd. Despite all the free-flowing beer, people were upbeat without a hint of rowdiness. I love a good party on a Sunday afternoon and I'm guessing I'll be back next year when I will try to allow more time to hang out and enjoy the day.

Cutting-edge and timeless art by brilliant local and international minds. The curation of the 18th…read moreStreet Arts Center Events is absolutely world class! In a city so often known for it's monetary focus, the center refreshingly keeps it's focus on the art and artists themselves, refusing to become blinded by art world commerciality.

Great atmosphere great music great ambiance. Great drink specials, friendly staff, good eats tooread more

This is a really cool little live music club with a great atmosphere. The drinks are strong, the…read morecocktails are good, and the whole place has an intimate, almost speakeasy-like feel. We went to see a tribute band with a very jazzy vibe, which was a lot of fun. The venue is quite small and fills up quickly, so grab a stool when you can! Just don't try to move it around, or you'll definitely hear about it. The bartenders seemed a little moody during our visit, although the place was very crowded, so I'm assuming that was why. Parking is surprisingly convenient, with public parking structures right outside the venue. They were only a few dollars an hour, and the first 90 minutes were almost free, which is a great bonus. The surrounding area is also lovely and very walkable.