Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Your Premier Dance Training Center in El Cerrito
Founded in 1966, our studio has established itself as a premier destination for dance education in the San Francisco Bay Area. With decades of experience cultivating talent, we offer comprehensive training in jazz, tap, hip-hop, acrobatics, and ballet for students ranging from beginners to professionals. Our founder, Katie Maltsberger, brings a lifetime of expertise having danced professionally since age 14 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a dance specialization. Certified by Dance Masters of America, our team emphasizes technical excellence while fostering teamwork and self-confidence through performance opportunities.Students benefit from access to specialized workshops, competitions, and professional show placements, with many alumni achieving international success in prestigious companies like the Mark Morris Dance Group. Our facility provides essential dance apparel and maintains partnerships with industry professionals for career development. We maintain rigorous health standards while offering flexible scheduling across seven days a week, ensuring accessibility for children, teens, and adults at all skill levels.
Services
Jazz Dance Classes
Ballet Instruction
Hip-Hop Workshops
Acrobatic Training
Tap Dance Lessons
Private Dance Coaching
Summer Dance Camps
Performance Preparation
Dance Company Auditions
Professional Development
Details
- Year established: 1966
Highlights and features
- We offer 50+ years of proven success in dance education
- Our instructors include industry-certified professionals with Broadway experience
- Students gain access to international performance and competition opportunities
- We provide specialized workshops for advanced dancers
- Our alumni network includes performers with major dance companies worldwide
Associations and certifications
- Dance Masters of America
What people say
Experienced instructors
Professional opportunities
Supportive environment
Successful alumni
Comprehensive training
Services
Jazz Dance Classes
Our jazz dance program develops technical proficiency in syncopation, isolations, and rhythmic precision. Students learn various jazz styles from Broadway to contemporary while building strength and musicality. Classes emphasize performance quality and improvisation skills for dancers aged 4 through adults.
Ballet Instruction
Comprehensive ballet training follows Vaganova and Cecchetti methods. We offer pointe work for qualified students and focus on proper alignment, turnout, and graceful execution. Classes include barre work, center combinations, and performance preparation for competitions and professional opportunities.
Hip-Hop Workshops
Contemporary hip-hop classes teach breaking, popping, and locking techniques in a high-energy environment. Instructors emphasize rhythm, body control, and personal style while preparing students for battle competitions and commercial dance opportunities through choreography drills and freestyle practice.
Acrobatic Training
Our acrobatics program combines dance and tumbling skills with safety-certified instruction. Students progress through levels mastering cartwheels, aerials, and advanced tricks while maintaining proper warm-up routines and spotting techniques to enhance performance capabilities.
Summer Dance Camps
Annual summer programs provide immersive training for ages 7-13 with master classes in multiple genres. Campers develop choreography for final performances while receiving personalized feedback from industry professionals in a supportive environment focused on technical growth and artistic expression.
People
Katie Maltsberger
Founder & Artistic Director
Certified Dance Masters of America member with 50+ years teaching experience. Former professional dancer since age 14, holds BS in Kinesiology with dance specialization. Choreographs professional shows and develops curriculum for all studio programs.
Questions
What dance styles do you offer?
We provide instruction in jazz, ballet, hip-hop, tap, and acrobatics with specialized workshops for advanced students.
Are there performance opportunities?
Yes! We offer company auditions, recitals, competitions, and professional show placements for qualified dancers.
What age groups do you teach?
Our programs serve children aged 4+, teens, and adults with classes at all skill levels from beginner to professional.
Do you offer private lessons?
Private instruction is available by arrangement with our faculty for personalized technique development.
Reviews (2)
Marc Guerrero
Jan 29, 2021
Report
One final note: a handful of instructors play their music LOUD. If you value your hearing, you may need to invest in earplugs for some classes to ward of the headache and ear pain of the day after.
Julia Gratol
Aug 05, 2017
Report
This is place is amazing I think of it as my home. I love the teachers they teach me so much. I have gotten better technically and flexibility wise. They are so loving and I have grown to be a confident dancer. I also love all the dancers there.
