I want to share a story about our family and how Musical Theater, more specifically how RTA…read more(previously Grand Performing Arts) has positively impacted our daughter's lives and our life as a family. My oldest daughter Chloe was bullied in the 2nd and 3rd grade. She was picked on by her peers and then in 3rd grade she was constantly picked on by the same two girls and was physically hurt on a consistent basis by one of them. Based on the observations of Chloe's second grade teacher, Chloe was able to receive some support via a school program run by the school counselor. It was the school counselor that brought to our attention that Chloe's self-confidence needed some support and healing and that by enrolling her in something that allowed her to be creative, to express herself on an individualistic manner, but in a group setting would help her overcome some obstacles. I'm so glad that the school counselor was able to see Chloe. See what she suffered from and seeing what she needed to redirect her on a path of positivity and growth. As we have a family history of depression, I could already see the signs in Chloe and didn't want her to fall into the deep hole I myself fall into time and time again. Soon after, I happened to fall upon a FB Ad for Grand Performing Arts. I contacted Kristi Grand, the Director at the time (and co-founder), shared our story and I felt an immediate connection. That was over 5 years ago. And today, Chloe and her younger sister Ella live, breathe, sleep, eat and dream about the theater. We have found a community/family filled with love, support, positivity, acceptance, and awesome examples of what an awesome place the world would be like if everyone had just a little more singing, dancing and acting in their lives. My husband and I continue to commit ourselves to RTA, supporting them behind the scenes because we BELIEVE in them. Their mission, their vision, their philosophies and we can't thank them enough for saving our little Chloe and bringing us closer as a family. Coach Trent and his staff provide a home away from home for our girls. A place to thrive. A place to be. Join the magic and then you can witness for yourself the proof of what RTA and Musical Theater can do...

From the owner: Royal Theater Academy is a family educational theater company designed to nurture the artist…read morein every one of us. From seasoned performers to amateurs young and old, R.T.A. has a unique way of including everyone that has a love for theater, family, community connection and desire to take the stage.

We took only some ballroom, Latin and West Coast Swing classes at their several locations so I…read moredon't know about the many many other services offered by this business. Has average prices Did it for the price they quoted us Did it within the time they said they would Place was clean and organized The owners of this business like their Freedom so they have a Military and Veterans Discount as a thank you to Veterans with a publicly disclosed daily Veteran Discount which provides resource to ensure Veterans (rare 7% of the population) and GIs (rare one-half of one percent of the population) opportunity to participate in American Dream Veterans and GIs' sacrifices have made possible for 100% of the population. That earned 'em another rating star. They advertise "No partner or experience required!" yet teach only ballroom, Latin and West Coast Swing dances that require a partner. That lost 'em a rating star as I've learned that these dances are by definition partner dances. Men are required to rotate so the single women get to dance with a partner because there are always more women than men. I understand this business is doing the best they can for all of their customers. I understand it's not the fault of the business that there are far more women than there are men taking their ballroom, Latin and West Coast Swing classes. The requirement all men rotate to the single women so the single women have a partner to dance with; while I stand there in dismay and indignance with no partner watching my husband dance with another woman, is wildly inappropriate to me. Perhaps this business can also teach Country line dances, Salsa line dance, Flash Mobs which are line dances, and soul line dance as these dances don't require a partner. We'd be back to learn only line dances. I spoke with some of my older women friends, and one of them directed me to the ghastly Dirty Secret of Ballroom Dance at https://www.scribd.com/doc/23523198/Dirty-Secret-of-Ballroom-Dance. Today, 24 January, is Speak Up and Succeed Day. It's celebrated on the fourth Tuesday of January every year. Speaker, talk-show host and author of many books Mary-Ellen Drummond established it to observe the importance and power of the ability to courteously and effectively speak up in a public setting.

My 10 yr old girl started in Bollywood dance half a year ago with no dance experience. She loves…read moreit! The dance and music are fun and high energy. The instructors are enthusiastic and engaging. She got to perform in their winter dance recital and it was a full blown production, very well done. I think the owners are doing a great job from the top down with the organizational culture, making everyone feel welcomed and part of a bigger dance family. Makes me want to take a class too. Highly recommend to anyone of any culture or dance experience.

Nice center that was clean and had plenty of parking. We came here for a dance competition and it…read morewas a nice venue

I was impressed with this theatre. I have been to a few East Bay HS theatres due to my kid's…read moreperformances. I can't help compare the stage, seat arrangements, and backstage setup. This place was very well laid out. The stage is wide. The backstage layout was nicely planned. It was so spacious for the props and performers. The dressing room could be bigger. I did appreciate that they had very accessible restrooms within the dressing room. I also liked the seat layout within the theatre. It provides a good view of the stage regardless which side you were watching. It was a good-sized theatre.

After 12 incredible years of being part of this family in many aspects, I can honestly say it is a…read moreplace like no other . The owners are the sweetest guys and truly care for each and every student. They are great communicators and the admin process is simple and organized. The studio is safe to drop off your kids for hours on end , the kids will make everlasting friendships & learn valuable life lessons. My daughter has loved all her teachers and valued their expectations and standards to make her the best she can be. She thrived in the classroom due to her time management skills, juggling her education and Dance. I would highly reccomend trying the summer classes if you don't know where to start. There is a class/ level for everyone to shine and JUST DANCE!!

We love Triple Threat Performance! The customer service was quick and helpful. They got us set up…read moreright away. The instructors are awesome, and my girls absolutely love them. There are plenty of class options to choose from, and the price point is super reasonable. Highly recommend!

Mark is an amazing instructor and has a long tenure of improv performance that comes across in his…read moreinstruction. Classes are fun and inspiring. Highly recommend.

I've been to the 10 week-long improv classes twice (once for short form and once for long form) and…read moreI cannot recommend them enough. The student cohort included new and experienced improvisers from diverse backgrounds. Mark Duncanson was the instructor both times. He made us all feel included while at the same time teaching us to put ourselves out there on stage. He made sure the class was a judgement-free space where we could explore our skills without fear. The final class is a showcase on stage with an audience of family and friends - this was a lot of fun and a chance to put all our lessons to the test! Gave us students a feel of what's it like to be on stage and ending on a high note! I'm definitely signing up for the next round of classes- they are fun and affordable, and will help you try something new.

The Arts are back at Dougherty Station! Music, poetry,…read morevisual art, choir, drama, dance and more. It's a wonderful place for community at Dougherty Station Community Arts Center and I'm hoping to experience as much as possible.

This is a great place. It's a small theatre that allows the audience to have a 'front row' view of…read morethe stage. My daughter had her dance recital here and we're also watching a children's play today. This theatre is conveniently located within the same area as the Dougherty library and the Dougherty Station Community Centre. There's adequate parking and minimal walking distance from the parking lot to the theatre. This is a perfect place to watch any performance. It's not hige, but it can fit a little over 100 people.

Enjoyed an evening of Disney jazz with the Jeff Bordes Quartet and Alanna Vicente. The lovely…read moresounds of the piano, bass, drums, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and vocals paired with an excellent sound setup and lighting in this theater. No concessions were available on site, but they did offer guests free bottled water in the lobby. Photography and video recording was allowed for this particular show. Note, you can't see the full stage from the side balcony section unless you lean forward drastically as the seats are too far from the railing and unmovable. There are also poles in front of some of the side balcony seats with no advanced notice about the obstructed view when purchasing tickets... there's a reason these are the cheapest seats in the house. The performance was great, including beloved tunes from Mary Poppins (Chim Chim Cher-ee), Cinderella (A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes), 101 Dalmations (Cruella De Vil), Aladdin (Never Had a Friend Like Me), The Little Mermaid (Kiss the Girl), Snow White (Some Day My Prince Will Come), Lady and the Tramp, The Princess and the Frog, Jungle Book, and a non-disney encore of What a Wonderful World.

The firehouse arts center is a great venue for performing arts. The acoustics are excellent. As…read morefor seeing the stage there isn't a bad seat in the house. The seats are comfortable with enough leg room. The center is kept clean. The art displays are engaging. The concessions are good quality and different than most theater fare.

First, the good/fine:…read more This is a very nice high school theater that often hosts fairly well-known artists. You can see everything from local recitals to bands you've heard on the radio. Most seats are good. Parking is easy and free. And now, sigh, the bad: The night we were there, after the show my family was accosted by a staffer who was incredibly creepy. She followed us around, listened to our conversation, yelled at us. She was so hostile, it was weird. The other kids and parents who were around noticed and were upset.

Beautiful new venue. Saw the Marshall Tucker Band tonight, good show, great music and 50 years…read morelater going strong. Tons of parking, zero traffic, beautiful new theater, comfy seats, clean restrooms, good lighting and sound. Orchestra/mosh pit area for VIP ticket holders to dance. Only complaint, audio was too loud for the size of the theater.

I've been a student at Rachel's Ballet for seven years, and during that time until my senior year…read moreof high school right now, it has become a second home to me. First of all, the teachers here are extremely knowledgeable regarding the Royal Academy of Dance curriculum and have years of experience teaching dance. For example, everyone who took the Advanced 1 exam last year achieved a score of merit or higher. Our annual Nutcracker performance at Temple Hill in Oakland attracts a full house, bringing the joyful spirit of Christmas to the community for free. Under the discretion of the staff, any student has the chance to be invited to the Pre Professional Dance Company, which contains students who compete in competitions under the studio's name. One of the ensembles was invited to the final round of the 2022 Youth America Grand Prix in Tampa, Florida. Students have obtained scholarships to rigorous summer intensives in places as far as Portugal. The dancers here tend to be successful in ballet as a whole. Regarding the atmosphere of the studio, there is the perfect balance of team spirit, hard work, and compassion. We focus on cultivating our individual artistry and skill while also supporting the people around us. Even though I struggled as a beginner, I was never judged by my classmates or teachers. Everyone understands that ballet is rough, so we do our best to be patient with ourselves when we struggle with choreography. The teachers help us achieve our dance goals with individualized corrections, but remind us to stay safe when we push ourselves too hard. Regardless of our age or level, they respect our needs. If we have aches or injuries they modify the exercises for us or let us take our pointe shoes off. They also understand that we pursue difficult academic endeavors outside of dance, so they make the studio a place where we can take a break from that. I have built positive relationships with many of the people here, and I consider some of them as family. Rachel's Ballet is an amazing place to become a dancer. If you're looking for recreational, but rigorous ballet classes for your child, take comfort in the fact that the students and staff here will make your stay a wonderful experience.

Rachel's bellet is a nice family owned business and is very nice compared to any other ballet…read morestudio like Tiffany's ballet. Everybody is so nice and the atmosphere is amazing. Teachers at Rachel's ballet very nice and help you on turnout and Pointing your shoe. They also have a pointe shoes and really help the students when they get on pointe.it's in a nice area and it's close to the ballet shop Encore which has everything ballet shoes ribbons pointe shoes and much more.