My kids have been enrolled in Saturday classes at Luna for the last 2 years and our family loves…read moreeverything about it. The teachers are experienced dancers/instructors AND are incredibly encouraging and kind. I love that Luna teaches my kids about body and spatial awareness--learning how to engage with others and the environment around them. It feels very holistic and fosters creativity. I highly recommend them!

My son is enrolled in the 5-7 year old creative dance class at Luna and the experience has been…read moreamazing so far. The teachers are warm and inviting, making each child feel welcome, and the curriculum allows students to explore movement and creative expression in a low pressure environment. I especially love that each child gets a chance to lead the class with their own prompts and choreography. My son has really blossomed in this class, enjoying a sense of empowerment, creativity, and increased confidence. There is no other dance studio like Luna -- I can't recommend it enough!

I went into this night feeling exhausted from the long week and shopping all day. The cold and rain…read moredidn't help much either but you can park right next to the main door easily in this safe neighborhood. I'm a freestyle ectstatic dancer, I dance at three different studios a week and I entered last night exhausted and damp from the rain. As I came through the red curtain shear over the doorway at 7:45 PM I was immediately transformed into a room of twenty dancers doing yoga stretch warm-up. I joined in and soon I was ready for a dance evening like I haven't had in a long time. This venue does the slow start, fast middle, and medium speed wind down. I began my night with the stretch. What followed can best be described as a wonderful warm dance energy where modern dance meets contact improv and barefoot boogie/freestyle with some flamboyance of Ecstatic Dance thrown in. The DJ sets the mood. Tonight seemed romantic and warm with the heater cooking us away on a Sunday rainy night. Thank you DJ Clari, and whatever theme that was last night, bring it back again. You were good, and even though this Monday morning I ache from all the leaping and stretching, I am inspired to write this in recognition of a wonderful way to start the week - recharged and cleaned out!

I've been dancing at Barefoot Boogie, here in Berkeley semi-regularly for several years . I love…read morethe fun variety of music and people that show up to this dance with their fully expressive selves. Folks are friendly and inclusive, and after an hour of down-tempo music where folks stretch and 'drop-into' their bodies, the DJ picks up the beat and the party starts! In my dancing, I love to invite people to connect in duets, trios, or even larger constellations that loosely flow together, weaving in and out, sharing energy with each other, sometimes for several songs, sometimes just briefly. Together we create a sense of community and belonging. There is a comfy couch in the studio facing the dance floor which provides a nice place to sit and chat with other dancers taking a break. And there is an area with a matt on the floor that serves as a chill space where folks can give and receive bodywork, or just stretch out and rest, often in physical contact with others. It's a friendly dance where you may receive a welcoming hug from the person at the door, and find enough space to move freely on your own as well as engage with others. It might just be the place you decide to come to dance regularly and become part of the Barefoot Boogie 'family'.

Hula hoops are an ageless toy. No one really knows how far back in history they go. A form of hula…read morehoops has been used by ancient peoples in dance rituals going back thousands of years. Native American tribes danced with them. Kaye can dance with the best of them, she has grace and style that encourages others to want to give it a try, and she is just the one to teach them. She offers hula hoop/dance classes, a great way to work out. She was at the Berkeley World Music Festival and had people hooping thru out the event. Live music is great for hooping. Hoop Power will be a part of the Fun Zone at A Day On The Water 2 at Cesar Chavez Park in the Berkeley Marina Sept 28 12-7pm You can bring a hoop and join in or there will be hula hoops for sale at the Hoop Power booth.

Kaye is an outstanding teacher, and the hooping classes are great. I was hesitant to take a class…read morebecause as a kid I could never hula hoop, but Kaye makes it easy and accessible and now i'm actually hooping and having a lot of fun. Kaye is skilled at teaching different levels, and as a newbie I felt very comfortable. Plus it has been a tremendous boost to my self-confidence - now I can actually hula hoop as well as any twelve year old!

Ruth's Hawkins classes are one of the best things I've done for my body. As a former professional…read moredancer who had many injuries, I thought modern dance was out of the realm of possible for me, Having taken class (and danced in Ruth's company) for the last 4 years I feel my dancing has evolved into more freedom and expressiveness. The deep somatic awareness of How the body works most efficiently is something all dancers will benefit from, and the class moves in a mindful pace, which makes it perfect for newer dancers or dancers recovering from injuries. Hawkins was a master of flow and ease of movement, which is fairly different from most athletic-based classes at studios today. HIs famous quote "Tight muscles don't feel"

I was rolling with a Group of Friends , That were going to Brunch and we happened upon this Blues…read moreFestival. It happen to be "The 20th Annual Jazz on Fourth Festival " . 20th Annual Jazz on Forth Festival is presented by the Fourth Street Merchants and KCSM/Jazz 91 . 20th Annual Jazz on Fourth Festival took place on Sunday May 17, 2015 from Noon - 5 PM. 20th Annual Jazz on Fourth Festival benefits Berkeley High School Jazz Program a very Worth While Cause. The Performers were : 2 Berkeley High School Jazz Combos Mal Sharpes Big Money In Jazz Band With Special Guest Kellye Gray Terrie Odabi and Edgardo + Candela - A Salsa band . The Jazz on Fourth Festival has raised over $175,000 for Berkeley Highs School Jazz Program since the Festivals Inception. Its a wonderful Festival that doesnt charge an Admission fee . It is Free.

What a great weekend festival in Berkeley! I ran right into this event before going to brunch with…read morea couple of friends and didn't even know it existed! The 20th Annual Jazz on Forth Festival took place on Sunday 5/17/15 from 11AM to 5PM. I was on my way to have breakfast brunch with my dinner crew and seen all the stages and booth set up! It was such a delight. They had two music stages: One near Bette's Diner and the other near the Pasta Shop. Both stages were playing great music and had a lovely band that had me swinging my hips back and forth. They had tons of food booths even Bette's Diner selling many different varieties of foods such as: Corn on the cob, Pizza, BBQ and hotdogs. They even had a free photo booth from Photolabatory.com which is a photo print lab! Although I didn't get a chance to take a free photo I will definitely look for that booth next year! I will definitely be back to this again next year! It was tons of fun and so many venders! WAY TO GO JAZZ ON FOURTH!

Zoe Balfour runs this dance school/program/event and to say she has a key that unlocks a fun and…read morefestive world of queer dance (to those of us that feel like we have two left feet) is an understatement. She's been doing this for a while and I was fortunate to find a supportive, talented and loving teacher that is very well versed in working with groups of people that can be dance challenged. I've been to MANY of her classes and dance events. Often, when I receive compliments about how well I dance, (during queer dance events), I walk people right over to Zoe and explain how I once had two left feet and was a beginner, sitting on the sidelines watching and not understanding how people could dance dance-after-dance, all night. Finally, I add, when I introduce them to Zoe; this is the woman that holds a key that will demystify and help you navigate through the intimidating world of dance. We're lucky to have her in our community and you should take advantage of what she has to offer...I've taken private lessons and classes with her in Night Club Two Step, Salsa, Country Western and Country Waltz. Check out her web site for more info... http://www.tripthelightfantastic.org/

My partner and I worked with Zoe in preparation for our first dance at our wedding. I had a little…read moreexperience partner dancing, but my partner had none. Zoe is an exceptional teacher who made us both feel comfortable right away. Even though my partner didn't have experience, Zoe was able to recognize my partner's skills and experience as a soccer player and relate that to dance. She taught us foundational skills for lead-follow communication and presence in dancing that we will now have for our lifetime. Zoe is truly a gem that we have in the dancing world in the Bay Area.

This class is an amazing venture into parts of Africa and to the islands. You are taught a variety…read moreof dance routines that are will get you out of your comfort zone however you are excited about the process. The teacher brings over 20 years of dance experience and she takes her time to teach you the dance and will encourage you every step of the way. To describe the class is difficult because you are having so much fun you have to be there to see for yourself. It is cardio, it is dance, stretching, dance routines, solo dance, African Dance, Caribbean Dance, and the list goes on. It is on a Monday and everyone dreads Mondays but when your day is over and you get to class you wait in anticipation of what you are going to learn. It is a coed class and men are encouraged but for the women if you want to feel sexy and beautiful the teacher will accomplish that. This class opens doors and opportunity for you to learn more about the dance community and great networking with amazing people.

I should have reviewed Tiffany awhile ago. However, this is not about her general classes, although…read more I've attended a few. This is about her private instruction. Tiffany is a excellent private instructor. Most instructors tend not to promote private instruction during their regular classes, but they really should. Let me just say if you really want to become a proficient Salsa dancer, you need to take private lessons. Let me repeat that: you need to take private lessons. Having the undivided attention of the instructor allows you to work on the subtle nuances of the dance ultimately making you a better dancer. Whether male or female you will benefit by private instruction. Yes, it's expensive, but it's worth it. You should take as many private lessons as you can. As an older guy, I don't go to clubs anymore, so dancing with Tiffany was great fun. Spend the money for private lessons, you'll be glad you did. Another benefit is dancing to the music you like.

Such a wonderful salsa class!! The energy, the vibe, it all makes for an excellent evening when you…read moreneed to just get out and enjoy. People are friendly and the moves are broken down to fine, easy to understand, details.