Western Ballet

Mountain View, United States

4.4

Closed now

20 reviews

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 650-968-4455
Website:
www.westernballet.org
Address:
914 N Rengstorff Ave Unit A, Mountain View, CA, 94043
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
1 miSan Antonio
1.8 miDowntown Mountain View
1.9 miMountain View
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Bussiness info

Bike Parking
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes

Today

Today 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Mountain View) 11:33 PM Friday, November 29, 2024

Business hours

Monday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Saturday 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Western Ballet offers children’s classes, a complete pre-​professional youth program, and more than 30 adult ballet classes each week. Our students range from age 3 to 96 (yes indeed!). We offer classes for a wide range of levels from absolute beginners to advanced and professional levels. There is no membership required to take advantage of our adult programs. Our Studios, costumes, sets and props are available for rental.

History

Established in 1975.

Western Ballet was founded by Richard Gibson and Kenneth Delmar in 1975 and became a non-​profit organization in 1979. The School has offered classical ballet training of the highest standard since its founding to children and adults in the mid-​peninsula area. We offer our students the finest studio facilities available in the Bay Area and an outstanding staff of professionally trained faculty with a teaching style that brings out the creativity and individuality in our students. Each year we perform The Nutcracker in December and a mixed repertory program in June at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.

Meet the Manager

Alexi Z.

Manager

Alexi Zubiria has danced with ballet companies worldwide including the International Ballet of Caracas (principal dancer), Ballet Nuevo Mundo (principal dancer), Deutsche Oper Berlin (soloist), Roland Petit’s Ballet National de Marseille (principal dancer) and San Francisco Ballet (soloist). His career with San Francisco Ballet (1986 — 1994), included roles in Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, the Pas de Deux from Le Corsaire and the Cavalier in Christensen/Tomasson’s Nutcracker. In 1982 he competed in the II U.S. International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, winning a Silver Medal. His talents made him an extremely versatile dancer, proficient in classical, neo-​classical and modern styles of dance. After retiring from San Francisco Ballet, Mr. Zubiria earned a degree in biology and has accumulated a number of years of experience in the high tech world. Mr. Zubiria brings a wealth of experience and a passion for teaching of the highest standards to Western Ballet.

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20 reviews of Western Ballet

No registration required
Place rating: 5
Menlo Park, CA
I really like it here because they take their adults seriously. I am an adult beginner and I have taken classes with Francisco, Eileen, and Alison. They are all amazing and each has a unique style of teaching that makes me eager to go to their classes each week. I recommend Western for the adult beginner.
Place rating: 5
Los Altos, CA
I have been an adult student at Western Ballet for the past ten years. I have always appreciated the high level of professionalism of the teachers. While there is a wide range in talent and ages in the intermediate level classes, I always find the combinations unique and challenging. The teachers graciously provide constructive feedback while also making the classes light-​hearted and fun.
Place rating: 4
Boston, MA
So, I can only speak to the open program here, but wow – I am impressed! I recently moved to the area and wasn’t expecting to find many studios that offered adult classes at all, and Western Ballet offers SO many. There are a ton at all skill levels and all times of day, and every class I’ve tried from beginner to intermediate has been very welcoming and well-​taught. I’m trying to get back into ballet after a 3-​year break, and I am so happy to have found this studio.
Everyone I’ve interacted with from the front desk to the teachers to the dancers has been super friendly and helpful. I especially recommend Eileen’s beginner class – she get to know everyone by name and really makes an effort to give individual assistance/​critique throughout class. There is a high level of professionalism in all classes, and I’m inspired by the talent here. Shout out to the older women doing barre en pointe and kicking my 22-​year-​old, regular-​ballet-​shoe wearing butt! I could go on and on, but you should really just go try out some classes! :) Highly recommended.
Place rating: 4
Palo Alto, CA
I used to be a student at ODC and Alonzo Lines in San Francisco. Since I’ve moved to Palo Alto, I try to visit the city less as it’s such a schlep. Thank goodness for Western Ballet. They have solid ballet classes, the teachers are great, and students are sweet. One day, I mistakenly took a beginning class thinking it was going to be intermediate. It was taught by Alison. I’m surprised it was a beginning class. I got a good workout and would take her class again.
I just noticed that they offer a Contemporary class on Mondays. I look forward to trying it!
Place rating: 4
East Palo Alto, CA
I am a fan of this place and my little ones have been attending classes here for several years. Despite the organization is good, i am holding out one star because there are things just drive me crazy.
1) Saturday morning parking is a ZOO. With back to back classes, there are just simply not enough parking. On top of it, there are people just park WHERE EVER they want even if they are blocking the main driveway. Do they think they are the president???
Recommendation for WB: Either 1) Leave 10 mins gap between classes or 2) put some towing signs and ENFORCE it.
2) The noise level in the lobby is outrageous. I know WB only have limited control on people who do not understand the concept of ‘indoor voice’ and respect for others. Please… it is ballet school, not a farmers market. It is literally a torture to sit there for 1 hr to wait for the kids to get out class. Bring a good BOSE headset to block them out.
Place rating: 5
Mountain View, CA
I really enjoy the adult absolute beginning workshop with Francisco. he is patient and provides just the right amount of guidance. the pacing is perfect and there’s enough repetition which helps with the combinations. Love this studio and highly recommend it to adult beginners.
Place rating: 5
Palo Alto, CA
For adults who had little or no experience in ballet, Western Ballet certainly provides the best classes for adults who either want to achieve childhood dream or simply learn new activity.
I started Absolute Beginner workshop with teacher Francisco and few beginner classes with teacher Eileen. Both instructors are dedicated, patient and sincere. They pace the classes well to minimize the adult «I am slow» anxiety. They also give attention to individuals even though the classroom is usually crowded. I interpret the large class size as a positive that students enjoy class a lot and keep coming back.
Thanks Western Ballet to offer such a great learning environment!
Place rating: 5
Mountain View, CA
I wanted to add an update to my review to say that Adrienne Parker Foley’s contemporary dance classes are AMAZING! Her classes are energetic and uplifting and absolutely addicting!
I’ve seen a wide variety of dancers in contemporary class, from little to no ballet training on up to very advanced, and Adrienne makes the class work for all. After taking 6 – 8 weeks of contemporary, I can honestly say that it has added another dimension to my classical dancing and I have made several technique breakthroughs in both classical and contemporary because one feeds off of the other. I feel so much stronger and more dynamic and, honestly, I don’t think my dance training would ever feel complete again without some classes from both disciplines.
If you have any interest in trying contemporary, now’s the time to try it!
Place rating: 5
Mountain View, CA
I’ve been an off an on adult student for a few years and I really enjoy the studio and the Instructors. Ballet is definitely a commitment and in order to improve you have to take several classes a week. Consistently. I am reminded of this every time I come back to class after a few months off…
I’ve taken classes all over the Bay area and this studio is very good at ballet foundation and technique. Although I do wish they had contemporary classes — but hey, it’s a ballet sutdio :) As for a favorite instructor, I think they are all great in their own ways. I also like the scheduling — there’s usually a more challenging or less challenging classes at the same times — so you can switch it up depending on how you feel.
Lastly, I most enjoy my fellow dancers who come to the adult classes. They are a really warm and welcoming group. If you come twice a week or every weekend, you will pretty much see the same faces — all sweating it out at the barre, all dedicated to make those tendus tighter and grand battements higher. If you want to learn and be confident in taking a class anywhere, this is a great place to start… and improve.
Place rating: 4
Sunnyvale, CA
I take adult beginning classes here — I tried Francisco’s «absolute beginner 1» workshop series and I’m pretty sure I improved 100x in that period. He’s very patient and helpful, making very specific corrections and using repetitions to give you a good foundation for more advanced beginner classes.
Now I’m taking the «beginner» classes with Alison Share. She’s also a great teacher but the class level is really for people who have had some ballet training already. Her barre exercises are well-​paced, and center work is challenging in a good way.
I only wish they capped the beginner classes smaller to allow for more individualized attention. Right now it’s about 30 – 35. You’ll get a mix of levels in the beginner classes, from girls who definitely have had training for several years to girls who can’t keep up with the combinations. Alison is patient and encouraging for all levels.
Place rating: 5
Mountain View, CA
Western Ballet is a wonderful place, not just for children but for adults too.
Both my children (6 and 4) take ballet here. They love it and both talk about becoming dancers when they grow up. The environment is so warm and inviting, the instructors are patient, knowledgeable and very talented. It’s like a huge extended family.
I really enjoy bringing my children here for dance.
Place rating: 4
Mountain View, CA
We are nonprofessional, but our 4 year old daughter loves coming here. Only complaint is parking is limited to 11 spots in the front, but it has ample parking in the back. And it can be very busy when kids are preparing for rehearsals. But again, our daughter loves it!
Place rating: 5
Mountain View, CA
Western ballet is great! I feel so lucky to live so close to the studio. I’ve been doing competitive ballroom for over 4 years, so it was pretty frustrating at first because I was struggling in a beginner class. Beginner doesn’t mean you don’t need any previous training. I did ballet pretty seriously as a kid and I also did pointe, but two decades later, it was a totally different story. I’ve been going there regularly for over a year now, and it’s a great place to dance.
Teachers are very well qualified and inspiring. Some students are a bit competitive and serious, but then again, we are here to learn. I also did their adult intensive course, and it was fantastic. They offer adult ballet classes everyday, and the price is affordable. Two thumbs up! :)
Place rating: 2
Napa, CA
I’ve tried several classes there and want to see which teacher is good for me since my original dance studio stop adult class for summer. However, I got an unpleasant experience. Some of their students and teachers are snobby and not friendly to new comer. I will never go back again.
Place rating: 4
Saratoga, CA
I danced in the youth program for 3 years and moved from level 3 to level 4 to level 5! (the 5⁄6 combo level is the hardest and about 6 days a week and we always took classes together). Every teacher was wonderful and really shaped my experience there. I took pride in the roles I got, and always felt busy at rehearsals learning balerina doll or chinese or La Bayadere. I also loved the fact that you could «understudy» any role. Everyone had such a thirst for learning and many of us went to summer programs through ABT and other impressive names. I quit after Freshman year, because it was a huge time commitment, but I often miss ballet quite a lot. I’m thinking about going to drop– in classes, because those are also great – I often took them as additional classes.
A few negative things though: One of my favorite teachers, Eric Bourman is at another studio now and the politics of the place could often get in the way (usually only seen at the highest level where some girls are trying to go professional).
I turned to cheerleading Sophomore and Junior year of high school, and while I will always consider myself a dancer, I excelled at «flying» and other things due to the posture and flexibility and strengthed pushed here. I still find myself dancing everywhere – so great job, Western :)
Place rating: 5
Menlo Park, CA
I love the absolute beginners class here. Francisco is nicest teacher
Place rating: 5
Irvine, CA
Tues/​Thurs drop in Adult Beginner class. 1.5 hours $ 15?
Love it
come and enjoy.
not for true beginners. there is another class for those who never been in ballet before. I think on weekends mornings.
Place rating: 5
Santa Clara, CA
Have been coming to Western Ballet for years. Like that there are classes on Sundays in addition to Saturdays. Feel comfortable taking the classes as all teachers are very patient and explain things well.
Good for anyone interested in trying something new to get into shape as well as though who love to dance.
Place rating: 5
San Jose, CA
I love Western! I started taking ballet in college (it’s fabulous exercise– will tone every muscle in your body and fix your posture) and had about 2 years of non-​serious experience. They have the best adult classes, including beginning classes. If you haven’t done ballet, I’d recommend starting with beginning and testing out the waters (because it’s still challenging).
There’s an interesting mix of clientele– some really nice people, some sorta mean people, but the instructors are super nice and helpful. P. S.– don’t worry about what you look like, there are all body shapes and sizes and genders who go to Western’s classes.
I wish I lived closer. The classes are a little crowded sometimes, but still very good. You get a good deal if you buy more classes and you can use them on a drop-​in basis.
Their production of the Nutcracker is always fun too, and they will take adult volunteers for the Party Scene in the beginning (and you don’t have to pay anything for costumes or whatnot). :) Adults are also cast in other roles in the show too.
If you enjoy ballet and are an adult, I highly recommend checking them out!
Place rating: 2
London, United Kingdom
They do have a good, solid selection of ballet classes available and are a reputable company/​school. Facilities are nice, with large, clean studios and tall ceilings, and at $ 16 as drop in rate for a 90 minute class, it’s reasonably priced. I came here to try some of their classes after a long time rehabing from a serious injury; however, some of the regular students in the adult ballet classes need a serious reality and attitude check. Really makes for a sour experience when they’re more focused on giving dirty looks to new students rather than the fact that they’re doing the entire class in poor form. Funny how it’s the most out of shape and amateur students that had the attitude problem, whilst the experienced dancers focused on the class…
It’s a shame because they have some awesome instructors, but it’s the students that ruin it. Omit that and you’d get a solid 4 or even 5 stars.