Kids 'N Dance (Oakland, CA)
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Jan 2012
Re: Summer camp recommendations for 2nd grader
For a full day camp with aftercare til 6:00 consider a musical
theater camp
at Kids n Dance. The do a whole production in one week. Rehearsals
are first, free time on gym equipment, and then later in the day they
do fieldtrips. Usually they are swimming trips to Cull Canyon and
Roberts. What is nice about it is that it is a mellow group of no
more than 12. My kid can never handle the masses of kids that get
herded in various directions like at Camp Galileo. This is at the
Oakland Studio
Anon
Kids-N-Dance Birthday Party
Jan 2010
We are considering doing a Kids-N-Dance birthday party for
our 5 year old daughter's upcoming birthday. She did a
Kids-N-Dance camp this summer and had a great time. I am
wondering if anyone has done/gone to one of their birthday
parties in the Oakland Studio and what you thought....
thanks!
We had a great experience with Kids 'N Dance birthday parties. My daughter
loved it so much for her fourth birthday that she asked for the same thing for
this year's party. They have lots of themes to choose from, but will work with
you if you want to modify it in some way. I love that when they put all the
dances together, whichever ones you choose, they manage to turn it into a
cohesive story. I've found that kids that usually don't participate, get into the
the imaginary world that the teacher creates and are soon out there with
everyone else. Aside from the dances, the teachers are really helpful for the
second half: helping serve, cleaning, making sure kids have things to do with
their free time. Well worth the money (which is actually relatively inexpensive
comparatively)
anon
April 2009
Re: Musical Theatre for 9-year-old son
Kids 'N Dance and Theater Arts!......They have a FABULOUS musical
theater program for kids with age groups that start at 4 and end at
14. What I love about them is they work hard at giving all the kids a
great experience. Scripts are customized for each cast and everyone
is given a chance to be challenged and have fun. The quality of the
productions is amazing considering the broad range of talent. We
have done three shows already and our daughter loves it and has made
a great community of friends. An added benefit that I wasn't
expecting is that she is learning about responsibility and teamwork.
She insists on practicing with the CD they give her everyday so that
she is ready for class. Usually we are in the car and she happily
sings at the top of her lungs wherever we go!
They do musical theater in both of their studios (Laurel District -
Oakland, and Lafayette) and also do productions at the Orinda Rec.
Center.
happy low-key stage mom
Jan 2009
Re: Short-term summer camp for 4-year-old
I am not sure what your 4 year old likes to do, but my daughter loves dance
camp at
Kids N Dance in Oakland, Lafayette, or Orinda (not Berkeley). They have
1-week
sessions all summer. I think their website is kidsndance.com.
Dec 2008
Re: Young Drama Queen looking for Venue
If you are looking for a great
musical theatre class for kids, there is a hidden gem at Kids N Dance
in the Laurel district in Oakland and in Lafayette and Orinda. In the
Oakland studio they have a Beginning Theatre on Thursdays (age 6-12),
Intermediate Theatre on Mondays (age 8-14) and a lot of ''Little
Theatre'' classes for age 4-6. The classes culminate in two full
performances. Check it out!
Stage mom
Oct 2008
Re: Gymnastics Class for 18-month-old
Check out the creative movement / gymnastics classes at Kids N
Dance in Oakland (www.kidsndance.com). There are fun
''parent-and-me'' participatory classes for the under-two crowd,
and the teachers do a great job keeping the kids engaged and
participating.
Enjoy!
May 2008
Re: Ballet classes for six year old Richmond
KIDS N DANCE! It's on MacArthur, in Oakland's Laurel District
(with another studio in Lafayette). If you are in Richmond, it
would be a bit of a drive for a ballet class, but in our opinion,
well worth it! We've met families there who drive from Richmond,
Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, San Leandro, Hayward, etc. They
offer a wide range of dance and movement (as well as musical
theater) classes. Our daughter started taking classes there last
year and just LOVES the classes, and all the teachers. I can't
say enough about how wonderful this place is for children. Steps,
positions, technique, etc. are taught using imaginative play and
creative movement, so the emphasis is on having FUN while
learning. They use costumes and props for ''theme'' dances and
have a blast-- getting exercise, using their imaginations, and
learning dance all at the same time. At the end of the approx. 11
week session, each class has a performance that all the adults
are invited in to the room to watch.!
All the teachers we've met are not only great dance
instructors, but also great with kids. Our daughter is very shy
around unfamiliar adults, and hesitant to try new things, but she
has really blossomed there. The teachers have done an amazing
job at not only teaching her, but also helping to build her
confidence and self-esteem. The woman who runs it, Kris, is also
wonderful. I could go on and on, but I'll stop. They have a
website, Kidsndance.com, but the best thing is to experience it
first-hand and go check it out. You can watch the class going on
in the adjacent room on a big monitor, and you can hear it, too.
And you'll see how happy the kids are! Ok, I'll stop. The phone
number is 510 531 4400.
It's a great place.
April 2008
Re: Summer camp for 4 1/2 year old?
Last year our 4 year old daughter went to several camps at Kids 'N Dance in Oakland.
She did a musical theater camp (Lion King) and two dance camps (Happy Feet and
Diego). She had an absolute BLAST! The teachers were great, crafts were creative and
fun for the kids to do, and the shows at the end of each were adorable and impressive
considering the age of the kids. In each class there always seemed to be at least a
couple of boys. This might be exactly what you are looking for.
Dec 2007
It's not exactly summer yet, but time to start thinking
ahead . . . My 6-year-old daughter, who has no discernible
singing or acting expertise, has been asking me to find her a
singing or acting camp for this coming summer. Most such
programs seem to be for the 8+ set, but I just noticed an ad
for Kids 'n Dance, which has programs for much younger kids.
I've read the BPN reviews, but didn't see anything specific to
their summer-camp THEATER programs. I'd love to hear your
opinion, especially if you are the parent of a youngish kid who
does not at first glance seem Broadway-bound. (Also, I'd
happily listen to any other recommendations for a 6-year-old.)
Thanks!
Anonymous
In response to your question about Kids N' Dance, while I do not have any
experience with their summer camp, I can very enthusiastically recommend their
theatre arts program! The director, Kris Mueller, is quite talented and just
wonderful
with the kids. My daughter has been in the program for one year, starting when she
was six, and she has really blossomed -- starting out rather shy and asking for a
chorus role only, but now has no fear of singing and dancing solos in front of an
audience. They learn so much, too! Much more than just acting and singing and
dancing -- they learn to work together, support one another, focus/not be
distracted by the audience, be quiet when backstage (not easy!), memorize their
lines, etc. etc. Our experience with Kids N' Dance has given us much more than I
was expecting and I highly recommend it!
Brenda
Kids 'n Dance is a wonderful, nurturing place for curious kids to
experiment with theater and dance. ALL of the teachers are
fabulous with kids, and have this wonderful ability to keep even
the youngest children enticed and on task. There is no pressure
for children to be anything other than themselves, and it is
pure FUN. My kids have not participated in the theater classes
but we have gone to the theater performances for both the 4-6
year group and the older kids group, and it is fabulous with
costumes, set design and everything! As for the dance classes,
my girls (3 and 4.5) would be sorely disappointed if we
discontinued, it's the highlight of their week. Try it, you won't
be disappointed.
Kristen
My daughter has participated in Kids N Dance for almost three
years. Mostly these are the afterschool programs, but also
some of the summer programs. Kris Mueller, the director,
deserves alot of credit for including all of the children
despite their differing temperments. It is a no-pressure
environment focused on having fun. There are no prima donna
attitudes. I have really come to appreciate the important
educational benefits of theatre arts through KND. The kids
learn to speak before a group, the value of practice, and
working together in coordinated fashion. I recommend it.
Re: Dance or Drama Class for 7.5-year-old boy (Nov 2004)
My daughter has taken dance and theater at Kids N Dance and really loves it. They
do shows like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Sound of Music, Peter Pan.
The teachers are all wonderful, it's amazing how much they could get out of the
kids. The shows are fun to watch and the kids really enjoy themselves!! They also
have hip hop, jazz, tap there. My daughter took the ballet/modern when she was 7
year olds and there was one boy in it. There dance is very playful, fun and
imaginative. They pretend to be Queens and Dragons, cats, Dalmations, and
dressed up too. During the class they did some structured dancing too and at the
end they preform on stage. The dance show my daughter did was called Cirque Du
Soliel and they had glow in the dark clothes and danced with red lights on a string.
They have a web site Kidsndance.com Hope that helps you.
anon
June 2006
Re: Ballet classes in Orinda for 3.5 year old girl
Kids 'n Dance in Lafayette has wonderful, fun oriented, non stressful classes for kids from
preschool on up. They also run classes at the Orinda Community Center. Kris, the owner is
very child and process centered as opposed to strict technique, although technique is taught
at developmentally appropriate levels.
Good luck,
Sindy
Jan 2006
I have been looking for a dance studio for creative movement for my 2yr old and have
passed by this new studio on MacArthur (sort of near High St. in Oakland). Their
website looks pretty good, but I would love to hear if anyone out has had any
experience with the teachers there.
anon
Look no further - it's absolutely lovely. We've been doing dance
with teacher Sara since they opened. I can't speak highly enough
of her. Her manner with the kids is warm and age appropriate,
and the facility offers an imaginative approach to dance classes
complete with costumes that change weekly. My older daughter did
their drama program, and I was knocked out (as was she) by what
they were able to accomplish in a short time. The kids had fun,
everyone felt included even if they didn't have a 'main' role,
and they learned a lot. The staff as well as the owner, has been
warm, flexible and friendly. There is even a nearby coffee shop
to grab a cup while class is in session. If you're fast, you can
even do your marketing at wonderful Farmer Joe's down the street.
Sign me... ...a happy dance & drama mama
My daughter takes a Creative Movement class at Kids N Dance and she LOVES it!! Her teacher Sara is
patient, and great with the kids. I have other friends whose children take other classes at Kids N Dance
they too love it.
Sylvia
We discovered this as an alternative to the structured ballet classes that my daughter seemed stifled by,
but she really wanted to move & dance. It's really pretty fun. My 3 yr old loves it! and I've been to the
younger class,a nd they have lots of fun too! 2 yr olds have a Mommy & me type class, with lots of fun
movement, dance, gymnastics things to do. The teacher that we've been to is fun, imaginative, creative,
enthusiastic. My only complaints about the place are that the space is small, and the transition area
between classes, with kids & parents coming & going, can sometimes be really cramped. Also, I kind of
wish the studio space was a little bigger, but it's actually fine for everything they do with the kids.
They have a 4-class pass if you want to try it out, and I understand you can also do dropin. If you sign
up for one class you can do makeup in another class if needed, and if there's room in the class (which
seems to change from a moment to moment basis on the Saturday classes). The weekday classes are less
busy. Oh, and most importantly, you really need to check in with them to make sure that the class you
want to do is actually offered. They have an extensive schedule, but sometimes no one signs up for a
class so it isn't actually offered. Most of the morning classes seem to be offered, but many of the
afternoon/early evening classes aren't open despite the listing on the schedule.
janet
My 2.5 year old son took the introductory 4 week session of the Mommy and Me Creative Movement class at
the new location in Oakland at Kids N Dance. I can recommend it. He enjoyed it, the teacher was very
good with the kids (I think her name was Nicole) and the studio was clean and bright. It is very
convenient to where we live, so we will probably take a few more classes in the future - but at this
point he is more into running and jumping!
I am very happy that they are in the Laurel and want to support them so they will stay in business.
Valerie
I have just started my second session of the ''Mommie and Me'' class at Kids-n-Dance in the Laurel. This
is the class for 20 month to 3 year old kids. My son is now 2 and 1/2 and LOVES the class. We do it on
Friday morning with Nicole.
Nicole is energetic with the kids and keeps the energy of the class lively and fun. We've done a couple
makeup classes and found the other teachers great as well. Chris is the woman who owns the studio and
she's there alot and makes us feel welcome when we come.
I plan on keeping him in the class until he's too old for it. My son asks to go to ''dance class'' and
has a blast when we're there.
I highly recommend the class and would just say try to get into a class that isn't totally full. His
Friday class has about 5 kids in it and with the adults there's 10 of us and that feels perfect.
See ya there!
monica
1999
My 5yearold takes "preballet/modern dance" at Kids 'N Dance in Lafayette. the
kids are taught a few basic movements, and the empahsis is on
incorporating those
movements into a different short dance skit each week, with costumes. It
is very much geared to the short attention span and physical coordination
of the 45 age group.
And quite fun! The Saturday teacher, Christina, is very good and patient.
Nancy
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