Boogiezone Utopia

So this was my first time coming to Boogiezone Utopia and was not sure what I was getting myself into. Walking in I felt a welcoming home-​y atmosphere. The staff, the people taking classes, and the teachers. This is contrast from the other LA dance studios I’ve visited — where the front desk people are stoic and stern and not having a great time. But everyone here is amazing.
I came for their $ 10 dance day (meaning you can take all day classes for just $ 10) When I say the studio is a Community — I mean it is truly for the dance community. They do not discriminate, judge, or look down upon anyone. Everyone brings each other up, not tear them down.
There is a variety of classes I tried:
‘Tribal Hip Hop Fusion’ with Aaron Davis (he was a lot of fun)
’90’s Hip-​Hop’ with the studio owner Elm Pizarro (one of my favorite classes and very beginner friendly)
‘Beginning/​Int Hip-​Hop’ with Brittany Johnson (I felt was advanced but I’ve been on competition dance teams and this one was great)
‘House’ with Hans Pierre (he really gives you a foundation of steps and a way to really listen to music)
‘Int/​Adv Hip Hop’ with Hans Pierre (we did a smooth hip-​hop routine and he plays a lot with musicality and details in performance)
‘Jazz Funk’ with Jeffrey Liang (this guy knows his jazz technique and knows how to perform — I would say Int/​Adv but fun)
‘Int/​Adv Hip-​Hop’ with Hillary Santos (really works through the movement and never LEAVES you hanging — wants to make you feel you’ve accomplished your dance goal for the class)
‘Int/​Adv Hip-​Hop’ with Elm Pizarro (this guy is just fun with his choreo and super approachable and humble guy)
The atmosphere of the building again is home-​y (a lot of lounge couches) The changing facilities are the bathroom but it’s very typical. I didn’t really get to explore the surrounding area but a lot of businesses and city buildings.
I highly recommend this studio for anyone. The cool thing about this place is you have all walks of life and levels of dancers come to this facility (young, old, teens, college, int/​adv dancers, beginner dancers, dance enthusiasts)
I hope I will get to come back soon since it’s a bit far from my neck of the woods — I guess you can say this was a dance adventure and hope to come back!

Incredible studio.
I’ve danced at studios in Northern California for the majority of my life; some in San Diego, and a couple in the Los Angeles area. BZ Utopia is hands-​down one of my favorites for a multitude of reasons.
1) There’s no snobby LA vibe here at all. The staff is welcoming and friendly and so are the instructors.
2) The curriculum. My goodness, would you look at the variety? Check out the schedule and see for yourself. This is not one of those studios where you walk in and immediately understand «ok, so this is a studio for crazy competitive 10 year old jazz dancers in crop tops» or «ok I get it, this is a mainly hip hop-​focused studio». This is literally a studio for every type of dancer. Little kids to working mothers. Beginner and new to dance, to veteran of 15 years, to people somewhere in between like me, who have taken hiatuses from dancing and are looking to return to their passion.
3) The instructors. They are so gooooooood. Instructors drive from all over the place to come teach here. They all have different personalities but nonetheless they all have impressive backgrounds and some are actually quite famous if you follow the right circles; you’ll recognize their names and their work and the impact they’ve made. I love that the classes here are usually balanced where you’ll learn choreography, but the instructors will break it down for you and explain what they’re doing in the process.
We all know there’s nothing more stressful that rubbing elbows with 40 other dancers in a classroom where you can barely see the instructor who’s going way too fast and there’s no intimacy or guidance or freedom.
4) The studio itself. It’s a 2 story building with many different themed rooms. I feel like a student again running from class to class and I love it. Small note: It can get pretty stuffy in the summer. Literally students dripping with sweat uncontrollably.
5) The sense of community. I know this studio is (seriously, not just claiming to be, but SERIOUSLY) actively involved in the dance community and empowering our youth, often offering programs to students who are serious about a career in dance. They are so innovative and forward-​thinking here.
I never feel embarrassed or out of place dancing here, like I have in studios in the past. This is a completely safe zone to simultaneously work on your technique, while also unlearning it and learning to just love dance and to let yourself dance freely again.
6) Pricing. Very very fair. So far, I don’t think there are any «master» classes that are more expensive (could be wrong). Same prices across the board. Membership and actual class prices/​drop-​in prices are some of the cheapest I’ve seen.
But this studio doesn’t mess around. Even though you will have to go through a process of trial-​and-​error to see what classes fit you best, I have always walked out of my classes feeling like I learned something about myself as a dancer as well as the style I took, and feeling challenged in my mind and my body.
Really a place where you learn actively, something new every single time.
Such a privilege to dance in this studio.

ELM PIZZARO is the BEST! We came to take 2 classes today, to find out that it has been cancelled. We want to take a class since we drove over an hour in traffic to get here. The current class at that time was a beginning Hip Hop class my daughter is in an intermediate/​advance level. Elm decided to take my daughter to an open room and gave her a free dance session. If this isn’t customer service, I don’t know what is… this is way beyond my expectation and Elm turned a negative experience into a positive one. Boogiezone is definitely one of the best community studios around, we always have a positive experience coming here.
Thank you Elm!

My daughter is a competitive dancer, however, most of the dancing she has done revolves around dances and getting a good part. This has taken away from real tech teaching and learning to improve in a non threatening environment. My daughter has joined the program in the summer and has been addicting ever since. I have seen her improve so fast and so much. Amazing staff, owner, and people. My daughter loves it and I do too.

I really didn’t know what to expect coming here for the first time but it turned out to be exactly what k was hoping for: dance and that’s it. I’ve have at least 7 different teachers across 5 different classes. All the teachers have different styles which make it great for variety. There’s a wonderful inclusive vibe to the place and I’ve always felt comfortable. My favorite class is the Chad’s beginner/​intermediate commercial hip hop class though he runs it like an intermediate class.
Get out there and dance!

This is a place of opportunities and creativity !! The studio has so many great dance classes to offer in every dance style and levels and the instructors are very talented. Great vibes and it’s so much going on there that you can be part of. It’s a great place to get out of your daily life and work out and dance — makes my day

This studio has a wide variety of classes and workshops going on. You can also rent the big ballroom upstairs, which is pretty cool. The workers are friendly and will explain and guide you if you don’t know what classes to take. My only «complaint» is that a couple upgrades/​renovations would be nice, but not necessary. I come here very often and I love it :)

This review is only for the girl that’s working at the front desk. I came in ready to sign up for the 20 class package deal ($ 200), which i expected to renew in a few months, but the girl was so unhelpful and lacking in customer service that I ended up asking her just a few questions, mostly to see if my first impression of her would change and if she would actually be more informative, and then walking out. It isn’t as if she’s uninformed about the classes either, because she mentioned that she’s taken quite a few of them, but getting her to elaborate on pricing was more difficult than it should have been. It’s not that she’s rude — don’t get me wrong — but if you are the first person, the first impression, that the public has of an establishment, then you really do need to make more of an effort to be informative and helpful. Anyway, I’m going to look for other studios closer to home.

Boogiezone Utopia really is a wonderful place for all dancers to hone their craft. The studio space is a lot larger than at many studios I have been to, and the flooring is also a lot nicer than the flooring of other studios I have been to as well. What makes Boogiezone Utopia so special and unique is the quality of the dance teachers that teach here.
In particular, one teacher I highly recommend is Noelle Marie. If you’re thinking about just trying out one class, please try out Noelle Marie’s waacking class. It is a must. Noelle Marie is truly an inspirational teacher (and phenomenal dancer!) that pours her heart and soul into every class she teaches. She is incredibly passionate about helping her students achieve their highest potential as dancers and fosters a supportive and positive dance environment. No two classes I have taken from Noelle Marie have ever been identical. Each class offers something unique and valuable to take away. It’s really refreshing to learn something new every week. I have been learning waacking from Noelle Marie for a few years now and I feel that each time I take her class, I grow so much as a dancer. Ever since learning waacking from Noelle Marie’s classes, I have gained much more confidence not just in my dance abilities, but also as a person. Noelle Marie’s class enables dancers to have a creative outlet to express themselves through freestyle dance. The foundation that Noelle Marie teaches through waacking fundamentals really prepares dancers to gain a solid waacking foundation to build upon. Noelle Marie is also enthusiastic and open to answering any questions not just about the technical dance aspect of waacking, but also about hip hop and the roots of waacking. In waacking class, be prepared to have a great time groovin’ and having a good time!

Definitely recommend this place for taking class!!! Lately I’ve been taking the Waacking class from Noelle Marie (Wed. 8 – 9), the Krump class (Tues. 7 – 8), & Freestyle 101 (Wed. 6 – 7) both from JP Goldstein. Each class is taught in a free-​style fashion & I absolutely love how they share a bit of history on the particular dance style. They provide a warm, welcoming environment with no expectations from any new incoming dancers & are very encouraging and fun for for anyone who is willing to learn. Personally, I have never been fully comfortable with freestyling & really relying on myself to move to music but they help and push me to be more comfortable in my skin each class I take from them \(^,^)/

This review is for Noelle Marie’s Waacking class only. She teaches on Wed 8:00– 9:00
.Come take her class and you will never regret it !!! She always give the positive energy and a hyper vibe to the class. and it’s a open level class good for every one and every age. Each time she will go through the foundations of Waacking then start a series of other practices such as crossing floor or Posing. each practice’s main goal is trying to build up not only our Waacking skill but also let us know how to dance freely with the music and at the same time to express our emotions no mater what emotions we have through the dance. And also she will not only teach you how to Waacking but also will give you a clear background knowledge of Waacking.
I have taking her class around or more than half year now. every time i come to her class by the time i leave i always feel great. i am still working on how to Waack without fear and dancing out my emotion. Also she is really friendly in personal and patience for questions:)

My experiences at BZU are solely based on Noelle Marie’s waacking class and Freestyle Friday open sessions.
Regarding Noelle Marie’s class where do I begin? She is attentive, encouraging, and versatile. The true test of a great teacher is their ability to not just teach what they want to teach but to quickly recognize their students’ needs and abilities and I’ve witnessed Noelle Marie doing this on a constant basis whenever I find myself in one of her classes.
As a result of this attention to detail, Noelle Marie has been instrumental in my development not just simply as a dancer but as a person learning to express my creativity and come out of my shell. I’ve also seen this in many of the other dancers I’ve found myself growing side-​by-​side in her classes.
If you’re shy and not sure if a dance class is something you’re up for, I can guarantee you that if you find yourself in one of Noelle Marie’s classes, you’ll leave feeling better about yourself than when you arrived!
Regarding the Freestyle Friday sessions, you can’t always expect much from a free, open dance session claiming to cater to as many dance styles as are willing to show up. However, I’ve found myself in these sessions feeling great energy and more welcome than at bougie studios up around Hollywood. From the people running the sessions (shoutout Danga, M-​Pact, and Igi to name a few!!), to music selection, to the other dancers that show up willing to answer questions, lend advice and just vibe out — Freestyle Friday sessions at BZU are DOPE! Oh and did I mention they’re free?!
Again, these are the primary experiences I’ve had at Boogiezone Utopia but if these two classes/​sessions are indicative of the great energy and vibes at the studio, I can only wonder what other great programs they have to offer…

Boogiezone is a an absolute great place to train without the pretentious atmosphere that most studios carry. I’ve been going here for awhile now and it’s been worth the trip from K-​town, Los Angeles. Not only are the selected instructors knowledgeable and trained, but they can teach!
Although there are studios in LA, I make the trip here because I absolutely love the instructors. Because class sizes are smaller relative to LA, they’re more intimate and the instructors are hands-​on with you.
The one instructor I absolutely love here is Noelle Marie. She teaches waacking fundamentals, drills, concepts, etc! She really strives to teach the essence of the dance and genuinely cares about your growth. I always recommend dancers to take her class because you will always get your money’s worth with her!
Victoria Acker is my other favorite– she teaches the ballet and contemporary classes! Although last time I checked she isn’t teaching here at the moment since she’s doing big things with dance — but that says a lot about the instructors they have here.
I recommend this place to my friends all the time. Check it out!

I’ve taken waacking with Noelle Marie for a while now and it’s been an absolute joy. Originally, I was very hesitant about taking waacking, but after my first time with Noelle Marie, I was completely blown away and totally hooked! Noelle is a great teacher; she’s fantastic with breaking down the basics and fundamentals about the dance and every move while at the same time encouraging growth and development with her drills and exercises. I walk away from every class feeling like I’ve taken something from it, whether it’s cleaning up a particular movement or increasing my dancing vocabulary.
The best part is that Noelle Marie really emphasizes that each and every dancer develops their own unique style and sense of dance rather than pushing a particular mentality on her students. She really encourages us to try something new and totally different than how she does things and really expand our own perceptions of what it means to be a waacker. Noelle also has a great, high energy and it really makes her class a lot of fun to be a part of. I cannot recommend her classes enough.
Oh, and expect to sweat and work! I feel like I’m 2 pounds lighter every week after Noelle’s class.

This review is for Noelle Marie’s waccking class only. I had no experience with waccking prior to her class. At first I didn’t know what I was getting myself into and was a bit lost but I did love the energy she brought out in everyone and myself so I trended on through.
After the initial first few weeks I kept coming back and felt like I was improving and really starting to learn and enjoy waccking. Through Noelle Marie we learned a lot about the history behind waccking and had a few special guest instructors, that pioneered and evolved the dance.
Coming to class once a week really gave me a sense of joy and community. I was never really comfortable with dance before but after joining I felt more at ease just exploring the movements and just enjoying the music and company.
I would definitely recommend Noelle Marie’s waccking class.

My review is strictly for the teachers.
I’ve had the opportunity to take class with:
David Norwood (Stretching & Conditioning, Jazz Funk)
Anthony Languren (Contemporary)
Igi Echave (popping)
Emeroy Bernardo (Beginning Breaking
JP Goldstein (Freestyle 101)
Nami Suzuki (Jazz Conditioning, Jazz Funk)
I am a freestyle dancer who has never taken time to learn in the studio– until now. I cannot express how positive my experience with each of these individual teachers has been. They each have extreme attention to detail, are wonderful to work with, and they really cater to their students.
I love freestyle 101, popping, and breaking because each of those classes allow you free movement– we do not learn choreography. But it’s awesome because it allows you to learn how to move by your own volition. I love love love it!
Then, for contemporary and jazz funk, I love the technical aspect of it– by NO MEANS am I a ballerina. I am NOT classically trained, and I was so scared going into these classes because I knew I was going to suck, lol. But David and Anthony are so incredibly supportive and kind– they’ve really pushed me forward and made me a better dancer. I always go in wanting to learn more. For Nami’s class, she approaches from a different angle. She’s a wonderfully experienced dancer from Japan and she trains you hardcore in the same way she learned! She’s helped my form so much and I always get a work out in her class– if you have two hours to spare on a Sunday, you should really try her classes. They’re amazing.
If you’re looking to learn as a new dancer or you’re an experienced dancer looking to evolve further– I highly recommend classes at BU. If anything, the teachers are what make it definitely worth it.

This place is AMAZING!!! It’s about an hour drive but so worth it! My daughter and her friend took a master class here a few weeks ago and they learned so much in just two hours.
The teachers were outstanding with them. They were the only little ones there under 8 but took home so much technique.
Thank you for sharing your experiences with people of all ages!!!

Love this place! It’s about a 45 min drive from my house but hey there’s no traffic (Sun morning) and its well worth it. The front desk girl Autumn is very personable and was very helpful when I had a few questions the first time i came here. I was like um is this class popular, is it hot in there etc you get the picture and she answered all my questions kindly. Also, they email you the class receipt which is cool. I hate having 5,000 receipts jammed in my wallet only to have it burst at the seams. This is the 21^st century and BZ utopia is on board!
I take class here Sunday morning with Arthur Crenshaw. I love this class soo much! The choreo is BOMB! I like that he switches it up. One day we’ll be grown and sexy, the next we thuggin it out bout ta battle in da club fa reals! I like how he engages with the class (very funny and it doesn’t hurt that he is cuuuuuuuuuute *wink*).
The only con is that the studio is really hot. I mean like hell hot. I mean like you better bring all the H20 in the world because between sweating from the routine and the lack of air flow you might just pass the hell out. But I’m still dancing! Just have the paramedics give me a fluids IV when they arrive…

Utopia, unlike most Hollywood dance studios, has more classes that have people that are there to have fun and less about being serious. That being said, I took a class here that was the most fun I have had in years and reminded me why I love dancing so much. Utopia is a great studio that has a strong balance between fun and serious classes with a positive atmosphere.
Teachers/​Classes:
Floor/​Facilities: Utopia has two different dance floors. One is big and has tons of space to move around along with another studio that is a bit smaller.
Classes: Groove with Andrew. Class has a focus on learning the beat and musicality in songs. Class is very fun and less about getting the moves and just having a good time. This is a GREAT beginner class for people learning to get familiar with their bodies and learn the basics of hip-​hop musicality.
Notes:
Most of your experience will vary from teacher to teacher, some will be better at teaching than others, you’ll like certain styles more than others, etc. Do your best with what people are trying to teach you and you’ll have a good time no matter what!

You get what you pay for, but sometimes it’s just a damn good deal.
Boogiezone Utopia belongs the to the latter category.
I recommend the 20 classes for $ 200 deal that expires in 20 weeks because you know you have time to boogie once a week!
Zumba with Nicole: I followed her from UFC and consequently found the utopia that is Boogiezone because I love her classes so much! Always a great workout filled with cardio, sass, and technique! (⁶⁄₅)
Bollywood with Regine: I don’t understand why this doesn’t have more students because bollywood dance is fun and I really do feel like a superstar during and afterwards. My only gripe is when I have trouble with a move, she glosses over it like I am doing fine (not!) and I have to ask her for the technique. Also, this doesn’t make you sweat, so if you’re trying to burn some calories this is not your class. (³⁄₅)
Pole with Jagged: They are very big on technique rather than being super sexy. Good, I like technique and I already ooze too much sex appeal (sike!). There are only two poles but if you’re not a superstar on the pole, you get a LOT of guidance from the pole superstars. There are always newbies and returners and the instructor/​and others are always there to physically get you to the position you need to be. I once did a beautiful firefly after awkwardly doing it badly a few times and the whole class stopped to clap. People travel as far as 30 minutes away to come here. That says something. (⁹⁄₅)
Tissu with Christina: She is wonderful and really pushes you to try new things! Don’t trash your forearms with hoop beforehand because it gets impossible to climb the silk and do tricks if you’re all weak and jello. (⁵⁄₅)
Hoop with Christina: If you’re starting out, stick to one class a week unless that first class was so easy for you you went out and swam 3 miles afterwards. I was starting to blister my first class, then I took my next class two days later, had not improved (and possibly regressed dramatically), tore open blisters, and bruised the backsides of my knees. Two weeks later I improved dramatically but will stick to once a week. I suck but it’s fun! I promise! (⁸⁄₅)
Stretch with Danielle: I take dance classes like mad but I am by no means stretchy. This class seems to do more for the already stretchy than for the unstretchy. I can do deeper stretches at home with the comfort of yoga mats and pads and pillows and everything comfortable. (³⁄₅)
Ballet with Grayson: He’s adorable and fun and happy, but he’ll make sure your technique is correct before you go on. Really fun class! (⁵⁄₅)
More classes to take and update!
PS the advanced dance and hip hop classes look AMAZING! Too bad I am not cool enough to do hip hop! And I am blowing through my 20 classes — need to conserve.