Pacific Ballet Academy

It has been a couple years (!) since writing the last review so I’m happy to report that we’re still at Pacific Ballet. In the interim period, we’ve participated in large performances by other schools and found that Pacific Ballet is the most organized when it comes to managing the comfort and security of preschool performers. These positive first experiences are very helpful in keeping the joy alive!

Karen Dycaico is a wonderful instructor and so patient with young children. She is kind and so supportive of their creativity. You can opt to not join the nutcracker performance if you don’t want to commit to buying four tickets but it is worth it. There are at least 6 Clara’s in their performances and I have found them to be ethnically diverse and of different body types. Also like the older girls mentoring younger ones. They also do a lovely spring showcase if you don’t want to do the nutcracker. Like that this school is only ballet.

Spoke with the Director after an unhappy event. She was willing to listen and take suggestions into consideration. We are back to the classes and I can definitely see the instructor adjusting her communication strategy and making an effort to listen and respond. It was a relief to see my little 5 year old smiling and eager to practice all the ballet moves. Thank you for working with us to make this a great place for the future ballerinas.

Our kid joined the Christmas show. At first they told us you need to buy 4 tickets if you want to place your kid in the show. That is fine, but in November they suddenly change that to 12 tickets, which is over $ 350 for just a few minutes on the stage! This is ridiculous, dishonest and unacceptable. We won’t go to this place again.

After waiting too long to get back into the practice, I am thrilled to experience such a great class with such a charming instructor. Eric makes it enjoyable and takes the time to make sure everyone is grasping proper technique. I look forward to each class! A+++

Our daughter started at 8 years, in 2003, just some steps of ballet taken in her previous ballet experience. Mrs Chaeff welcomed her at the door, today, in 2012, she is graduating as Sugar Plum in the Nutcracker from one of the most prestigious ballet schools in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Fantastic classes for adults, Anton is definitely more challenging, more of the «just go for it, I expect to see you do doubles» kind of instructor. The studio is very welcoming of adult students of all levels in their classes. I highly recommend this studio!

This, IMHO is the best ballet school in the area. The owners are a wonderful couple who really take things seriously and at the same time are able to create classes for the little 4 year olds that are perfect.
The most important thing about this school is that the owners instill a mentoring system for the kids. The older ballerinas help teacher the classes (the professional instructors are so wonderful) and they also mentor the kids through performances. My daughter still knows the girls that were her «big angels» from 4 years ago.
I love that they insist on all the girls to wear pink tights and place leotards. It takes the guessing game out of the creepy sequined things you see at the stores. The other thing I think is great is that EVERYONE gets to participate in shows. They do an amazing Nutcracker at the Mountain View Performing Arts Center over Thanksgiving.
They are also great for girls body image. Everyone looks like themselves and look like ballerina’s and get to not just participate, if they are good, they get to star.

Pacific Ballet Academy offers curriculum for all levels and ages. I used to take a series of classes, mainly adult beginning and intermediate, and fully enjoyed them. I ended up returning to Western Ballet after a few months, but I still like the instructors and students here more. They’re very friendly, accommodating and non-​competitive. Over all, the classes are more laid back than the ones at Western Ballet. The rooms, as well as the bars, are reasonably well maintained.
Before you head to class, make note of which building it is in. There are three separate structures with different places to park.
One complaint is that they rarely pick up their phone. You’ll just have to drop in and ask questions in person.

I love this school!!! I have a BFA in dance from ASU and tried many adult programs in the Bay Area. They are the only school with Adult classes that are at times a working girl can actully go to. My instructor is Kim she is Wounderful!!! She is also a Pilates instructor and she actually makes efforts to know your name and get to know you as a person. Other schools I have been to don’t make any efforts to know your name or any other information like, knee injuries, ankle, etc, etc. I have seen the other levels and the school has an excellent dance training program for the youth and pre-​professianl levels. If your looking for a great caring school for your children; or are an adult that wants to gain strength and flexability, are a retired dancer that just wants to stay in shape, then this is the place for you.