I have spent a long time debating whether to write this review because Starlight was once a place my child genuinely loved. Unfortunately, many of the issues that ultimately led us to leave were not isolated incidents, they were patterns that existed for years and appeared to worsen as the owner took on more stress. Constructive criticism is not an attack. Honest feedback is not disloyalty. The common denominator throughout the concerns many families raised was leadership. Communication problems were present long before the recent turmoil, but they became significantly more noticeable as the program grew. Important information was often delayed, incomplete, changed without explanation, or communicated differently to different groups of people. Parents frequently found themselves piecing together information from rumors, social media, group texts, and other families rather than receiving clear and consistent communication directly from leadership. The situation surrounding the temporary location (without heat/AC and wall) and construction delays was particularly frustrating. Families were repeatedly given timelines and explanations that changed over time, creating confusion and eroding trust. We were told at one point that construction was halted due to human remains being found, this was false. As a parent of a neurodivergent child, I was also disappointed by decisions that appeared to overlook the needs of many students in the program. Despite the owner stating that Starlight is "inclusive and welcoming to all". The owner even going as far as stating "LGBTQ and neurodivergent kids are my specialty". One example was the creation of a teen group chat used for communication while excluding parents from those conversations. Most of the students involved were freshman, many of whom are neurodivergent and rely on adult support to manage schedules, stay organized, and process information. Removing parents from those communications created unnecessary barriers and left families struggling to ensure their children had accurate information. I was further troubled by comments made about students and families. Hearing a neurodivergent child who was struggling emotionally described as "throwing a hissy fit" demonstrated a lack of understanding and compassion that I would expect from a youth program serving diverse learners. I watched as students were guilted into taking on more responsibilities/roles than they wanted despite their feelings being clearly communicated. Likewise, hearing concerned parents characterized as "entitled" was disheartening. Parents were not asking for special treatment,they were asking for transparency, consistency, and accountability after investing significant time, money, and trust into the organization. The saddest part is that the students were often caught in the middle of adult decisions and conflicts. The children showed up to learn, perform, build friendships, and pursue something they loved. They deserved stability, professionalism, and leadership that modeled healthy communication and accountability. The students deserve nothing less. One of the most frustrating aspects of this experience is that many of the concerns raised by families over the years have never seemed to be genuinely acknowledged. Instead, there appears to be a pattern where criticism is immediately dismissed, explained away, or attributed to misunderstandings rather than treated as an opportunity for reflection and growth. Even when families take the time to leave thoughtful feedback or reviews, the response often seems focused on defending decisions, challenging the person's account, or explaining why their experience wasn't valid rather than recognizing that multiple families may be raising similar concerns. When every concern is attributed to a misunderstanding, a disgruntled parent, or someone who simply doesn't know the full story, it becomes difficult to believe that meaningful accountability is taking place. At some point, when the same themes continue to emerge from multiple families over multiple years communication issues, lack of transparency, shifting narratives, exclusion of parents, and dismissive responses to concerns. It is worth considering whether those concerns deserve genuine reflection rather than another explanation for why they aren't true. Again, constructive criticism is not an attack. Honest feedback is not disloyalty. Families who speak up are often doing so because they care deeply about the students and want the organization to succeed. Unfortunately, too often it felt like those voices were viewed as a threat rather than an opportunity to improve. read more

My daughter is absolutely thriving at Starlight Performing Arts. She does both competitive dance and theatre. Both are wonderful programs. Under the direction of the new dance director, Miss Gemma, she has been growing leaps and bounds. There have been some recent changes made, and we feel that things have really improved in the way of organization, communication, and professionalism. With the change in dance program director, communication is excellent. Everything we need to know, we know well ahead of schedule. We are now a well-oiled machine! We love all of the staff at Starlight. They are are professional and beyond welcoming and loving. Most importantly, the children in the program are thriving. This is my daughter's second year with the team, and to see her now is just incredible. We are so happy with the dance program and the theatre program. Another thing worth mentioning is that Starlight shows are incredibly well put on. You will not find a more beautiful show than ones performed by Starlight. The sets, the costumes, the music, the acting, the singing. Just wow!!! I've never seen anything like it. When I go to their Jr Broadway shows, I feel like I've stepped into another world. The passion behind this performing arts company is incredible!! Chelsea and her team are wildly talented, and they know how to pull the best from every performer. We feel incredibly blessed to be a part of the Starlight family. read more

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My girls both worked with Chelsea in her theater and dance studio for years! Our experience was phenomenal. She always provided a space for them to feel accepted, celebrated and supported! I can't imagine their teen years without her. read more

My daughter has been part of this incredible program for nearly six years, beginning as a 1st grader in the "Minis" program. After a pause during COVID, she returned to participate in a couple of shows with the Kids program, then successfully auditioned for the Junior Competitive theater program in 4th grade. Now entering 7th grade, the growth we've seen in her has been nothing short of remarkable. Her singing, acting, and dancing have all improved exponentially--but even more importantly, the program has helped transform her natural confidence into real poise and presence. She's also built lasting friendships along the way. As part of the competitive theater program, she not only performs with a team but has also chosen to do solo competitions, which have helped her grow as an individual artist. These experiences have pushed her in the best way and have taught her discipline, collaboration, and how to shine on stage. I'm so grateful for the leadership of Chelsea and the entire team. The amount of care and effort they pour into the students and the productions is truly impressive. From "SpongeBob the Musical" to "Alice in Wonderland," the quality of these youth performances is extraordinary--complete with fantastic costumes, imaginative sets, and professional-caliber direction. The instructors are passionate, talented, and committed, and it's inspiring to see former students--many of whom have gone on to study theater in college--return to help with current productions. If she ever tires of theater, they have a solid dance program that offers competition opportunities as well! I'm so glad my daughter has the opportunity to grow within such a creative, supportive, and high-quality program for years to come. read more

Starlight Dance Studios and Theater - Scene from Alice in Wonderland, Junior Theater program, May 2025. Photo by Nicole Dial Photography - Dance Studios Near Me - Pleasant Hill, California

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My daughter (10 years old) recently joined a Starlight theater for the second time. First time, she loved, however her experience with the new audition process this time was very disappointing and traumatizing. Because of this, we will not be coming back, and my daughter has decided to drop out. The program now uses a new "audition without auditioning" model. But from a child's point of view, this was not clearly explained at all. My daughter thought she was coming to her first class to get to know the teacher and other kids, not hidden audition that would decide casting. It was also her first class, which is already stressful for a child, especially who needs a bit of time to get familiar with new situation. After I raised my concerns with the management, they told me that this was my fault because I was "notified" by email about their new system. But notified of what, exactly? A 10-year-old does not read emails. My daughter was never told directly that she was being auditioned for casting. When she later found out that those activities were actually her audition, she was very upset! This was not about the role she got. She has auditioned before and understands disappointment. What hurt her was feeling unprepared and misled and cheated. It felt like sending a child to their first day of school and then telling them afterward that they just took an important test that will decide their grade for the whole semester. That kind of surprise is unfair and very stressful for a child. We are not comfortable continuing in a program where expectations are not explained directly to the children and are instead pushed onto parents to manage. Our money and time was wasted, and even a partial refund was DENIED. I am glad that I got to enrol my child at great Berkeley Playhouse for the spring and her schedule is not completely waisted. read more

Have tried contacting this studio multiple times to learn more and get my little entolled - gone by the building (closed), called, emailed, left messages. Zero follow up. Bummed because their classes looked perfect for my 3yo! read more

My daughter started musical theatre with Chelsea when she was in 6th grade and continued through high school (and beyond...performing in two young adult shows over college summer vacations). Chelsea and Kevin were such amazing teachers and mentors for her as she grew into a confident and talented actress, singer, and dancer. Their care for every student and every role instills a love for the art form and a belief that everyone matters to a performance. Our family is eternally grateful! read more

We really wanted this dance class to work out for our girls. They have been here since September. The communication has been awful. One time they had no class without telling any of us moms and we dropped the girls off with no teacher who ever showed up. After I complained they put us with a new dance teacher starting in January. Now, with the Dance recital coming up. I have left messages and emails about a few questions I have/had. I've been leaving messages since February. No one in charge will respond. (The new dance instructor was very nice and tried to be helpful- so I do appreciate the last dance teacher they gave us) But just beware that it's very unprofessional and lacking in communication. At least for our class of girls. So disappointing. We finally decided to quit today. A waste of a dance year. read more

We rarely comment on businesses but feel the need to after seeing a negative comment by an old staff member there. Chelsea, the parents, and the kids were awesome here but, we had BIG issues with Ashley who was an instructor there. Very rude and unprofessional. Discussing billing in front of others is very unprofessional. That should be discussed privately and not in front of other people. This was the MAIN reason for us taking our daughter else where. She wasn't a good instructor as well. Seemed aloof at times and our daughter didn't learn much from her. Looks like she was terminated which is an addition by subtraction. Shelby is great though! Good luck to them and their new location. I wish them the best. read more

Wishing I had a better review for this place, but it's been issue after issue. My child was enrolled in the Monday Ballet/Tap class last season, and unfortunately, the experience was disappointing from start to finish. First issue: OVERCROWDED CLASSES. Who thought putting 15 three-year-olds in a small studio was a good idea? The teacher looked constantly overwhelmed, and it wasn't long before teenage assistants were brought in to help manage the chaos. Many kids ended up dropping out, and by the end of the season, only six remained. That alone should say something. Second issue: NEVER RECEIVED THE PHOTO PACKAGE WE PAID FOR. We paid an extra $100 for recital photos -- never received them. I've emailed multiple times, and nothing. What makes it even more frustrating is that I know the photos exist because my child's picture is being used in their advertisements. It's unacceptable that parents haven't received what they paid for. Third issue: ABSOLUTELY NO COMMUNICATION. Calls? Ignored. Emails? No replies. Stopping by in person? You'd think no one even works there. This has to be one of the worst examples of customer service and communication I've ever dealt with. Overall: I DO NOT RECOMMEND. Save yourself the stress and find a studio that values parents, communication, and your child's experience read more

I worked here for over five years and loved working with the kids. I cared about creating a positive environment for them and took pride in my work. During my time there, communication from management was consistently poor. I never received a single performance review or formal feedback. Expectations changed often and important information was rarely shared with staff. Parents frequently came to me with questions or concerns, and I often didn't have the answers because I was left out of the loop. This made it difficult to support families and do my job effectively. The work environment also became increasingly negative. Some employees spoke bad about kids, parents and coworkers, which made the atmosphere toxic. I tried to stay positive and be a steady influence because I cared about the kids and believed I could make a difference despite the negativity. I eventually raised a concern about Jaimee because she had been speaking negatively about me and hurting my reputation. I brought this to Chelsea, expecting it to be handled appropriately. Instead, less than 10 days later, I was terminated without warning. The reasons given for my termination were inconsistent and unclear. Since leaving, I've learned that my safety as a teacher is being questioned with customers and that they have been telling schools that I am responsible for a rocky transition. This is not accurate. My termination was sudden, and I was never asked or given the opportunity to assist with any transition. I've also heard from families who were disappointed with how this situation was handled. Some have already left, and others are considering leaving because of the lack of communication, transparency, and disrespect. After more than five years of loyalty, the poor communication, negative culture, and mishandling of my termination is very discouraging. I hope the company improves its leadership, supports its staff, stops badmouthing coworkers and kids and communicates honestly with both employees and families moving forward. read more

In 2021, I had a great experience with this studio. In 2024 we left the studio to my daughter feeling left out, her teammates were unkind to her, it did not feel as inclusive as it did when we started in 21. It is sad that the owner was unaware of what was happening or that she even let it happen. read more

Such an amazing, inclusive studio! My daughter's sensitive and slow-to-warm personality has made it tricky to find places that fit her needs over the years.... But Starlight has not only helped her feel welcome but also helped her grow in her confidence and skill, especially on dance team thanks to Ms. Shelby's dedication. The theater program with Ms. Chelsea is fantastic too. This studio helps so many kids with diverse needs and backgrounds to thrive. I highly recommend you check out this wonderful studio and community! read more

I wanted to update my review because since then there have been several more negative reviews and toxic occurrences at Starlight. My daughter still dances here but the atmosphere has continued to decline and many parents feel uncomfortable speaking openly about what they're witnessing. It's also troubling how certain recent staff changes have been handled with leadership seeming more focused on covering things up than being transparent. What was once a positive community feels very different now and I hope leadership chooses to listen and rebuild trust or they are going to lose many more loyal families. read more

My girls love the theater classes with Miss Jaime at starlight! Well organized and staff is very helpful/accommodating.

Great studio. Chelsea works very hard to make sure everyone shines. The staff works well together and enjoy working with children. I am in the adult class and i am having a great time. read more

My 10 year old wanted to try both tap and cheer. She has limited dance experience and it's not easy to find a studio with beginner type classes for this age child! She has absolutely loved it. The coaches have been caring, supportive and encouraging every step of the way. We have also done two musical theater productions now and couldn't have been happier. The directors go above and beyond to make sure every single child gets a chance to shine, regardless of role. We are so excited to have found a performing arts home! read more

Our daughter has been Directed by Chelsea since she was 8 and first joined SingOut Theater. Chelsea is a lovely, accomplished, dancer/performer, a warm and empathetic director, and has a wonderful personality. She has inspired our daughter's musical theater aspirations. My now teenage daughter is looking forward to By The Kids and Dance for Musical Theater with Shelly at Starlight. Thank you, Chelsea! If you have a little performer, I highly recommend Starlight Studios and SingOut Theater. read more

I cannot begin to say how much we loved Starlight Dance studio. Last summer we enrolled our daughter in their Little Mermaid dance camp. My then 4yo was (and still is) very clingy. I never left the shopping center as this was her first experience away from an adult she knew well and she was having none of it. She literally cried for 45 min straight while I was at the Starbucks across the parking lot because she thought I left her. BUT, and this is a huge but, here we are 8 months later and she still talks about it and how much she loved it. Chelsea and her staff created such a calming and safe environment for her that even though she was scared she has only positive memories of the experience. My only regret is that we moved to the east coast a couple of months later. We were planning on staying with Chelsea and her staff for years to come. read more

We are SO grateful to have found Starlight for our 9 year old daughter. She joined their Junior Theater Competition team. The program is organized and she is learning from acting, voice and dance professionals amongst a caring community of dedicated and enthusiastic students. She is so happy! Starlight seems to offer something for everyone at all ages and levels, so there is opportunity for her to grow here for years to come. Woo hoo! read more

SingOut is a gem, highly recommend! Our now-17 year old kid - Max - has been performing with SingOut for at least five years now. Being a pre-teen and teen these days has been ... a lot. SingOut, along with its director Chelsea, has been a godsend for our family throughout. Max's self-confidence was boosted, they were able to express themselves artistically, the teachers and staff are all positive and support the kids, and we adults loved watching the productions. Shows Max acted and sang in included Madagascar, Pirates of Penzance, The Little Mermaid, High School Musical, and Lion King. Sing Out has offered a chance for our kid to grow and also taught Max to effectively help the kids around them rise as well. Highly, highly recommend. read more

Best dance studio around. Whether your child/teen is into any type of dance, theatre, cheer, or acting, this place does it all. The instructors are excellent and the owner is one of the nicest, most talented choreographers I've ever met. I love all the staff. The studio itself is spacious and cute. They also sell dance attire, shoes, cheer pompoms, and lots of cute shirts & masks. Such a great place! read more

My daughter has autism, and is socially awkward, and Chelsea and her team of dance instructors welcomed her. I recommend this dance studio, the owner is amazing and so is the rest of her team read more

My granddaughter has been taking classes at Starlight Dance Studios for a little while now and I have nothing but positive things to say! The classes are engaging and my little ballerina always has a blast! The best part about this studio is undeniably the founder and owner, Chelsea Bardellini-Gaskin!!! She is incredibly talented and has a tremendous amount of experience in many areas of the performing arts field, which my church friends rave about. This woman can definitely do it all! My granddaughter absolutely adores her: "When I'm all grown up, I want to own and operate my own dance studio so I can be just like Miss Chelsea!" She said with a big toothy grin on her face, while also enjoying her celebratory ice cream for completing her first few days of class. I will also be looking to register my granddaughter for SingOut Theatre classes as soon as possible next year, because Chelsea has played such an important role in inspiring her dance journey. Despite the occasional arachnid (LOL) in the Starlight bathroom, I love this studio and wouldn't have it any other way. 100% recommended for young entertainers in the making! read more

The vibe is great at Starlight! My daughter and my son both love taking classes here, especially their SingOut theatre classes. The teachers are amazing-- including Starlight's owner, Chelsea. Somehow, during their many years of teaching together, they have created a secret recipe that turns even reluctant participants into kids who literally count the days until they get to go back. Their school year programs are terrific and their 3-week summer theatre program is so much fun for my kids that they shed tears when it's over. It is very much a second family for students, with a big focus on kindness and personal development. Lots of choices, from sign-up classes to audition programs. You can't miss with Starlight or SingOut. Highly recommend! read more

My granddaughter attended the Cinderella summer camp and absolutely loved it. The instructor was amazing, she was very caring and patient with the students. The entire staff really cares about the students. This dance studio is a great addition to our community. read more

I had my 3 year old daughter in gymnastics for a few months and I could tell she wasn't getting much out of it. A friend recommended the tap/ballet class at starlight and I'm so glad she did!!!! My daughter absolutely LOVES the class, the teacher is amazing, and Chelsea the owner is enormously talented and delightful. I originally wanted my daughter to participate is classes like this one for exercise and to make friends. As she's progressed in the class, however, I've come to realize the greatest byproduct of dancing at Starlight is actually how much self confidence she has built! Highly recommend!!! read more

Chelsea Bardellini Gaskin is the owner of Starlight, and an absolute gift! Our teen daughter Eileen has been one of Chelsea's students through the local SingOut Theater group for several years now, as well as for private acting and theater skills coaching. We can't speak highly enough of the results of her work with Eileen. The teen years can be challenging for kids (no one really looks back on their middle school years and says 'wow, those were the greatest years of my life' ...). But with Chelsea by her side, along with Eileen's singing and acting abilities improving, her poise and self-confidence has grown immeasurably. Sure, our kid can now sing most of the lyrics of Pirates of Penzance and Madagascar confidently both in the shower and on a stage in front of a crowd of people. More importantly, though, she now has the skills for standing up and speaking out, both on a stage, and in 'real life' for what she believes in. That, to our family, is the best part. HIGHLY recommend! read more

We have been going to the toddler ballet/tap class since September and it's great! My girls really look forward to going and the instructors have made the class fun for the kids. Highly recommend:) read more