Bayer Ballet Academy

I selected the school three years ago for my (then) three year old daughter. This school stands out as the only school I found in the Bay Area providing serious instruction for children of this age. The level and effectiveness of training is unparalleled. Their «pre-​ballet» programs provide a tremendous base of awareness and skill building unique for Bay Area schools, and utilize real instructors (not high school students) and techniques. The dancer is well prepared for entry into the more rigorous levels of the Vaganova method the school provides.
The classroom environment is dignified, disciplined and respectful while providing the required balance of motivation, support and rigor. Requirements for student behavior and attitude is the same. Considerable individual attention is given at all levels. Focus and method are adjusted with the increasing maturity of the dancer. In the higher levels of training (apprentice, pre-​professional), the demonstrable level of proficiency attained is spectacular for all students. This is effectively showcased by the school’s productions, where dancers of many levels perform. It is difficult to remember that the «stars» of these shows are typically no older than 8^th graders!
The ambitious production schedule, with sumptuous staging and choreography is demonstrative visual affirmation of the school’s standards and success. This gives rise to a significant «volunteer» commitment for parents, as much of the logistic and backstage activity for these events is managed with volunteers. This is part of the enrollment contract, although there are «opt out» clauses for all. As a result of the rapid growth of the school, they have saturated their current facility. Parking can be challenging on certain days with class overlap or rehearsals. Arrive early, as overflow parking is limited, and not very convenient.
This school is testament to the enduring vision of the founder, Inna Bayer. During the ten years of the school’s existence, she has maintained the standards of the school through rapid growth by adding accomplished instructors and other staff, hosting Master Classes and Intensive sessions. She has been scrupulous in never compromising the delivered result.
If your interest is primarily a «fun», play oriented experience for your child, this may not be the program for you. This is a serious, thorough ballet education. If you want the discipline and rigor that accompanies achievement and excellence, there is no better choice.

summer intensive dose not worth.
Last summer I registered my daughter to summer intensive .They rent another location for the camp. same parking lot with car rental company. Girls have lunch outside on the parking lot not save. someday one volunteer mom can’t come only one teacher monitor the girls outside and inside when lunch time. Parents talked with Inna, She did nothing for it. She didnot want to hire one more teacher must because cost. She shout at parents, not professional as a business owner.
The master teacher only gave one hour teaching per day, other hours teaching by two young girls looks like high school students. different with their commit when we registered. A least 2 girls in one group got injured, fall down by stepping on craft paper on the ground. that girl went hospital .
If your kids is new for this school, donot go their summer intensive, they will treat you differently.
The owner wants money but less thinking about giving value class, be trust.

I have to say that one of the highlights of this holiday season was going to see the new show «The Snow Queen». Bayer Ballet has a reputation for staging the best shows and they really outdid themselves this time. I don’t live in the area but I missed seeing a real high caliber children’s show for quite some time so I wanted to go and see their latest production. I got what I went there for and the experience was more than worth the trip. I really love seeing such well trained and thoroughly rehearsed kids of all ages and levels. The production was exquisitely beautiful and had a charming original story. It is a nice change from all the Nutcrackers everyone else is doing.

Instruction is rigorous and up to standard if you desire your child to later dance professionally. However, buyer beware that customer service and relationship management is not their priority. 10 months of tuition are required to be paid upfront with no refund policy except for extreme cases (I was told a refund was only given one time previously for a girl who broke her arm). Therefore, I lost $ 1100 when I decided to leave the studio halfway through the year and the studio adamantly kept the money despite the fact no work was done in ballet instruction on the studio’s behalf. This was the policy signed by all parents in very fine print and it withstood a credit claim process putting it to the test. I think this works fine if you (and your child) are in their good graces. The second you decide a new focus for your child’s education make sure it is timed in the summer or they will make it hurt your pocketbook. In case you have a bad experience and want some corrective action, there is no monetary incentive for righting wrongs because they have already collected their money from you.

My son has had the pleasure of attending this school for the last 18 months. B.B.A. is one of the few ballet schools in the Bay Area that includes a serious program for boys and young men. This is a top notch school where your son or daughter will receive the proper training that a dancer needs. We have been thoroughly impressed with the professionalism of the school. My son has enjoyed performing in both the Winter and Spring productions. The Director, Inna Bayer, along with the rest of the teaching faculty are devoted to giving the students excellent instruction. I recommend this school for any child that wants to work hard, and takes their ballet training seriously.

The Pre-​Ballet program is excellent. The teachers are wonderful and caring. They not only technique, but movement and creative visualization as well, which the younger children love.
The pre-​professional performance program for the older children has both pros and cons. The students are introduced to a good combination of stretching, character and ballet technique classes. Inna Bayer is an instructor with a background in teaching and performing. Inna’s attention to the details of the technique is a positive and has greatly helped. I would recommend the professional performance program at BBA.

We enrolled our 3 year old and everything was fine for 6 weeks or so. After 6 weeks, she refused to go again. I asked her why and she said that it was because they made a rule that parents couldn’t go into the classroom anymore. I took her back just to watch a class and she still didn’t want to dance. I also saw some some other things that I thought was a bit extreme for the little ones– for example the teacher would press down on them while they were stretching and ask them if it hurt. If they said no, she would say– good, you’re flexible. Great for them, but what about the 3 years who aren’t as flexible? I also witnessed the teacher berating the the students to pay attention before one of the little girls skipped around. The poor little girl about to skip thought it was directed at her and was in tears. I think Bayer isn’t the right school for this younger crowd and I plan to try out Veksler instead, which I’ve heard good things about.
We paid a $ 125 initiation fee and prepaid 5 months worth of classes ($ 525 total). They wouldn’t reimburse any of the fees, but offered store credit, which I will never use. It was a waste of money– buyer beware!

Ina Bayer has built an incredible ballet school here, from the pre-​ballet classses (starting at 3 year old) to high school dancers. The school follows the Vaganova method, believing that every kid can dance and should be able to participate in ballet. Kids are taught according to their age and skill set and ‘no child is left behind’. The entire school is performing two major productions a year, one in winter and one in spring. The ballet classes, hence, are focused on teaching pieces for the performance. So, if you just want your child to enjoy ballet a little bit, this may not be the right school. If your child really enjoys ballet and enjoys productions, costumes and sometimes training/​practice beyond the regularly scheduled classes, this is the place to be. Miss Ina and her teachers are fabulous: They are totally children oriented, teaching the kids to discipline of dancing without being to strict or dogmatic.
My 5 year old loved Miss Ina and all the other teachers and was always excited to go to ballet. Due to the production, however, it became very clear that she fell behind going only once a week and Miss Ina recognized it and encouraged her to attend twice a week, like all her other ballet classmates (which we did, particularly before the performances). All in all, she loved being in a production, seeing the ‘big’ ballerinas dance and the costumes and all the experience around being on stage.
Here is a link to an explanation of the Vaganova method: