DC Dance Center

I have only gratitude and respect for Debbie of DC Dance Center. She has always been professional, kind, respectful, and firm (as needed… and always with soft kindness). She is nurturing and thoughtful with her students as well as parents. She is mindful of hiring teachers who are great with children too. One of the things I love most about her studio is that it is very diverse – you will see children of all shapes and sizes… different ethnic and family backgrounds. I have been going to DC Dance Center since 2010 so my experience and perspective are a culmination of many interactions with Debbie and her studio and staff. Debbie really cares about all the people in her studio. She cares about our community too (received an award from San Leandro). You’ll only know how positive your experience will be at DC Dance Center if you try a class there!

My daughter is currently attending DC center (ballet). Her teach Ms. Sara is great. She is very patient with all the kids. Especially with my daughter whom tend to not really pay attention.
Debbie is also very great. She listens and takes your suggestions very seriously. If there is a problem, she will compromise to favor both parties.
I love working with the staff at DC.

My daughter just started tap dancing and now she is in the preschool dance. She loves it! Her teacher is Ms. Dawn and she is an AWESOME teacher! Not only is she patient but she always makes it fun for her students. My daughter adores her and has learned so much from her. My 3 year old son also signed up but he was too shy. Ms. Dawn actually took some time after class to try and help him. She is one amazing teacher! I hope she will keep teaching at DC because she is definitely an asset to the center!
I would highly recommend DC Dance Center to all my family and friends! If you want your child to have fun and learn at the same time, I would highly recommend this school.

It’s now our 2^nd full year at DC Dance and we couldn’t be happier. Debbie, Dawn, Tianna, and the rest of the staff are like my daughter’s second family. She is learning and thriving. She has performed at Great America, Fairyland, the County Fair along as other local venues. More importantly she is learning to value discipline, teamwork, and cheerfulness. I love that she is having fun and growing up in such a warm dance community.
I take issue w the review from the so-​called 3^rd generation dancer. I attended a locally owned studio in my youth and those basic lessons about perseverance and having a positive attitude continue to serve me in life and dance. Dance is about joy and DC offers plenty of that. I am fully confident my child will continue to be treated with love and grow up loving dance.

My daughter is taking ballet classes at DC dance with Ms. Sara who is a wonderful teacher. Everyone is pleasant. Parking is good.
But, the place could use a deep cleaning and some installation in the wintertime!

Miss Debbie is AMAZING with the children that attend here. Many of the students have been dancing here for years. My child is a HUGE fan of Miss Debbie and looks forward to dance class with her every week. I love that all the students treat each other with respect. Many of the younger students look up to the older students. It’s great that the older students take the time to talk with the smaller children. It’s like a big happy dancing family.
Every year there are several performances during the holiday season with a big recital held in June. I enjoy that the venues change from year to year.
They offer beginning and advanced classes, All-​Stars and Competition classes for the die hard dance performers, Hip-​Hop and Zumba.
The entire staff at DC is great. Every teacher has years of experience. They are passionate and caring about dance and the students. You just can’t get enough of their knowledge and definitely their smiles. Great teamwork for sure.
Reading previous reviews… I too have an extensive backround in dance, performing for over 15 years. Yes, although technique is not quite emphasized on the younger children, as they get older, more familiar with steps, and advance in the skill, technique will follow. Bottom line, as a parent, the most important thing to me as well as my child is that FUN is key. DC Dance Center is a fun and loving environment for the children as well as the parents.

First, let me begin by saying I have a dance background and am a 3^rd generation dancer. My mom was a professional ballerina. I know good solid teaching when I see it. This is not it.
My daughter wanted to learn tap so we signed her up for a summer program. There was absolutely NO technique! That is the most important part of learning to dance to avoid injury. I asked Debbie about it and she said they don’t teach technique during the summer. So I guess whatever you do in the summer will never cause injuries. We later ended up in Hayward for both tap and ballet classes.
I have heard story after story of how students are yelled at and come out of class in tears. The prices are also steep. This is not a case of «you get what you pay for».
It makes me cringe whenever I talk to someone who dances there. I try to steer them in the right direction.
If you do chose to dance here, don’t forget to change into street shoes before walking outside. Those shoes are expensive and are not to be worn outside.

For a different perspective, I can attest to the long-​term impacts of Debbie’s nurturing, inclusive approach to dance instruction for kids.
It has been 30 years since I was a «Debbette» in sequined costumes and glittery tights, yet my self-​confidence is still strongest when I’m on a dance floor. Not because of talent, but because Debbie fostered my self-​esteem so consistently in my years of classes with her that I still feel my best self when I’m on a smooth parquet floor. It always felt like self-​expression and joy were the priorities in those childhood classes, rather than perfectionism or the pressures of competition.
As a result, I have continued to dance at all stages of my life in some form or another — East Coast swing, salsa, adult jazz classes, Argentine tango. The safe haven that Debbie created in her studio and her constant positive support when I was young instilled in me both a love of dance and a love of self. What could have been a mere hobby at other studios became a lasting foundation for poise and fortitude at DC Dance Center.
If you just want someone to teach your kid to tap, go anywhere you like. If you want someone to champion your kid’s spirit, go to Debbie.

My 3 year old daughter loves here! Miss Debbie is a great teacher!

My daughter danced at DC for 10 years. Unfortunately once high school became very busy she did not have the time to continue. She LOVED DC Dance and her «family» there. Many of the girls & boys started dancing together when they were young and continued to dance together through high school.
Since she was a DC All-​Star, she performed a lot (which she loved). She now has no problem being on stage or public speaking because of her DC Dance experiences.
Debbie and all of the teachers are great! I’ve been to dance recitals from other area studios, and DC’s are top notch!!!

From someone who tried another Dance Studio in the same city I have to say it DOES NOT get better than DC.
My kids are small and the teachers are sooo good with the little ones, one thousand times more patient that i could EVER be! Ms. Debbie is awesome and the whole DC family is awesome. It’s a true community in every sense of the word.
I love how the bigger girls volunteer to help the little girls in classes so you know more people than those in your class. Lastly we are building lifetime friendships already! We have had the same core group of girls in class for two years and summer session.
We love love love love love it here! Did I mention we love it?

Hey DC Dance is AWSOME. Our daughter tried another dance place and did not like it at all. She told us she did not want to go back there anymore. We called and did a trial class at DC and Miss Debbie and her staff are SUPER!!! We signed our daughter up right away.
DC is friendly, welcoming and our daughter LOVES her dance class. She is learning tap, ballet and meeting new friends and having a blast.
I highly recommend DC and their super staff !!!

I love Zumba! Kat, Grace and Johanna are awesome. It’s a great work out to fabulous music.
My only beef is that the classes are ridiculously full (some nights that means 38 people). If this is your first time trying out Zumba you have no chance to see the instructor and learn all the moves. So come in the mornings when the classes are almost empty or learn the moves on a DVD. Then come and party at DC!
I hope they will consider opening a new session on week nights, I know it will be much more pleasant. Nevertheless, I am going to sweat it out tonight and even bring a friend.

So this happy little dance studio is where I go to Zumba. It is a nice little place with sweet owners who are always there! There is definitely a child-​friendly atmosphere and lots of classes available. My only issue is the parking… I don’t like having to walk to my car alone in the dark.
You should check it out if you’re in the market for a dance or Zumba class!

This is my daughter’s second year with DC Dance Center and I couldn’t recommend them more highly! We were previously at another dance studio that didn’t allow parents to watch the classes and was extremely anal about everything. Miss Debbie is welcoming and loving and has helped my daughter to love dance. In addition to the monthly cost of the class you must purchase the costume and tickets to the performance. Unlike other dance schools where there is one recital and that’s the only time they get to use their costume, Miss Debbie arranges numerous performances throughout the year. My daughter has been able to use her costume many times, and is also getting very comfortable performing on stage.
DC Dance Center is a fanstastic school! They welcome all types of children. Miss Debbie and the other instructors have created a real family atmospher at DC Dance Center and there are always dancers hanging around.

My daughter was taking classes from Miss T through the San Leandro Rec Department and she loved it. Miss T mentioned that she dances and teaches at DC and though that my daughter would really love it and she was right! We started going this summer with Miss Debbie and my daughter has loved every minute of it. Everyone there makes you feel at home and comfortable.
As for the prices, it is actually pretty reasonable. I did a LOT of searching for the right studio for her and there were some that were about the same pricing and other that were more expensive. BUT, when it comes to my daughter it is not about the money, but rather her happiness at the studio with the right teacher. And, we have found that.

DC Dance has been providing a nurturing & joyful dance space for young children, juniors, and teens for over 30 years. Today, I love that I (an adult) have a place to smile (and sweat) as well. As part of the community of Zumba enthusiasts, I’m thrilled to get my cardio work-​out in a real dance studio in the heart of Downtown SL, where we have the luxury of a long room with full-​length mirrors for our viewing pleasure, and a great sound system too. The owners, wife-​husband team Debbie & Jerry, are true community leaders with great hearts. Give your kids (and/​or yourself) the gift of dance. Check out DC Dance.

We love Debbie and everyone at DC Dance Center! Our daughter has danced there since she was 3, and she’s now 9 and part of the DC Dance Center All-​Stars. DC is all about having fun, building self-​esteem, and giving kids the opportunity to showcase their talent.
The monthly fees are very reasonable and they are never «hidden». Everything is explained on the website and at registration, and the only costs that are not disclosed are the costume fees, since they differ for each class and aren’t known until the performance costumes are selected by the instructors. Depending on how many performances your child has in a dance season, you could be buying 1 or 2 costumes or as many as 5 or 6 or more. Each parent is made aware of this at the beginning of each season, but they won’t know the costs until a few weeks before payment is due (we just prepare for it and budget accordingly).
Am I biased? Sure. As a parent of a dancer who’s extremely happy at DC and who loves every minute of rehearsal and performances, I admit it. Interested in my daughter’s opinion? Then watch this video:

I had the pleasure of watching a couple dance groups from DC Dance Studio perform last night during the Downtown San Leandro Farmers’ Market. Wow! The kids were really great! After the performances, free dance lessons were offered to children in the audience. Really cute. Check out DC Dance — the kids really looked like they were having a blast.

My daughter is in her second year at DC Dance. She’s 7 years old and has been taking dance on and off since she was 2 years old, but now that she’s in Miss Debbie’s class, she actually LOVES it.
To quote her, «I don’t like it, I LOVE it!» But I digress.
The studio offers lots of classes — and I do mean LOTS. There are several required performances throughout the year and some of the classes must purchase more than one costume in a single enrollment year. Of course, I’m sure the competitive groups need many costumes, but I’m talking about the once a week, 50 minute classes. It can become a bit pricey and time consuming for a busy family, but what’s a mom to do? The little one LOVES it.
Classes are reasonably priced and there is a train table, books, etc for brothers to play with while they are waiting for their sister to finish (or for their class).