Manhattan School of Dance & Music

My 4−½ year old daughter has been taking ballet there for almost two years. She’s in the advanced ballet class (age group 6 – 7). She listens to and follows instructions really well. We’ve been very pleased and impressed with the ballet and dance instructors thus far.
This Spring, our daughter decided she wanted to learn how to play the violin. We had an introductory class with one of their teachers (she had an English accent) and it was a bad experience. Her first sentences to us were, Hi, I’m — and I’m going to be your instructor. Who’s the student (my child introduced herself)? She then said, kids this age typically drop out and that it’s the hardest instrument to learn. I should’ve walked away at that point. During the session she had my daughter recite the alphabet backwards. Again, she’s only 4−½. When my daughter couldn’t, she sighed loudly. Then she said, okay recite the alphabet backwards from the letter G, by fours. Those are the strings on the violin I guess. I have a doctorate degree and even I had to pause. My daughter, being an over achiever tried and tried. Each time she tried the teacher kept sighing and telling her in a stern way, NO. TRY AGAIN. The teacher just didn’t have the patience nor did she have the empathy to understand her student. We finished out the lesson and never went back. We’re now taking violin lessons down the street. If you have a young child I wouldn’t recommend her. Maybe she’s better with older kids.

UPDATE ¹¹⁄₁₆
A call from the director apologizing for immediate termination without explanation of forfeiting make ups. I received one make up back out of the 3 or 4 owed to use anytime and will have my last month reinstated at a time that works for me.
Of course, I can receive my full make up back as long as I register my daughter again this year.
I appreciate their help and clarification. I learned not to have my husband mangle with the twins schedule and to always double check.
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Very disappointed at the politics of this academy. Sign up is easy, beware when you need to cancel!
My daughter was very fussy with going to dance so my husband decided to take her home and asked about cancelling the dance lessons. We had already missed 4classes so when the front desk said my daughter is cancelled now and had 4 make ups, my husband thought that was to make up the 4 we had paid but missed previous two months… Entirely unaware and not told that he had just forfeited his 4 make ups and the 4 remaining was for the last month he had already paid.
I called multiple times to inquire and finally today I got through and they said the only option was for us to register her back which means to pay first and last month AGAIN!
Basically, we paid for a month without dance; had my husband been offered options of withdraw, we wouldn’t have forfeited any classes.
We signed up for this academy for their ease of accommodation and that was what was good about this academy.
The front desk did not explain these details when cancelling and so we are very disappointed and this is very unprofessional.

As an update to my previous review. The director of the school contacted me and we were able to resolve the issues I had with regards to my daughters accident which I greatly appreciated. My daughter had been at the school the previous year and we had a positive experience. I only wish that this issue had been able to resolved sooner but overall I am satisfied with the outcome.

My daughter just started her second year here and she loves it! She’s been talking about her ballet class for the last two weeks so we were very excited to take her this past Saturday. This particular location is jammed packed all the time. The classes fill up quick and her current teacher is awesome with all the kids.
The studio is clean, well kept, there’s barstool seating along the windows so you can watch your tiny dancer during class. They also have free wifi so that helps if you have other little ones waiting with you so they can play on their electronic devices (not to mention for all the parents).
The private parking lot is in the back off of Oak Avenue. They don’t allow left turns into the lot from Marine so make sure to make the left at the stop sign and enter from the Oak Ave side.

My daughter loves dance class and the studio puts on a great recital for all the dancers every year. Ms Megan is our favorite ballet and tap teacher!

This is the BEST dance studio in the South Bay! The staff at all three locations are so nice and extremely helpful. My daughter and son have had a combination of over 10 different instructors over the last 6 years and all of them were amazing teachers! Our school had a talent show and was in need of an instructor to teach a 5^th grade class of 70+ students. A very difficult task. I couldn’t find any instructors from any of the dance studios until Liliana the owner of School of Dance and Music said she would choreograph the dance for us. She was UNBELIEVABLE with the kids! I wasn’t sure if she would be able to control so many kids let alone get a routine done in just a short 5 weeks of time. Liliana had COMPLETE control of the kids and even though she was strict with them at times they all LOVED her and looked forward to coming to each rehearsal. She choreographed a very intricate routine with numerous transitions. Not an easy thing to do with so many kids. The routine was by far the best 5^th Grade Act that I’ve ever seen at our school’s talent show. I can’t say enough good things about Liliana and the School of Dance and Music! Liliana, staff and the instructors are second to none. A+

My two daughters have been dancing at the RB/​HB/​MB school of dance and music for 7 years. They love it here. The teachers and front desk staff are fabulous. Their favorite teachers are Tara, Kara, Meagan J., and Meagan H. Right now, they are getting ready for the ballet company performance at the end of March. Their costumes are gorgeous, and they can’t wait to perform at the show.

I babysit two girls that take classes here. 3 y.o. Ballet/​tap and 6 y.o. Hip hop. Both girls look forward to dance class every week! Teachers are very kind and patient with the kids. They always make it fun for all the children in class, and for friends/​family/​sitters to watch as well! Front desk staff are fabulous! Always very helpful and kind as well.

My daughter has been taking ballet classes here for several years. She really likes her class and her current teacher, Rebecca K. Her instructions are focused, gentle, and sweet. Staff here are very accommodating as well!

Second week of ballet class for my daughter and so far so good. Nice staff and facility. Tuition is reasonable. Many schedules to choose from. Three dance rooms and smaller rooms for private music lessons: piano, percussion, etc. Studios in Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach. My daughter has been in dance for almost 8 years but took a 2-​year hiatus so her instructor is patient with her as she acclimated to the new studio and brushes up on basics. Getting into the studio parking lot after 5 p.m. at Manhattan Beach studio can get troublesome with all the traffic on Sepulveda Blvd. and Marine Ave.

This school has been a blessing to our neighborhood! I’ve traveled to the wonderful Hermosa School of Dance an Redondo School of Dance with joy. But now that I have one in my own backyard — not enough can be said! The building is beautiful, the instructor are tremendously creative and the staff uniquely helpful in every way! I can’t think of a better place to teach my young one dance. So far she’s had hip hop and jazz. I am hearing rumblings of wanting to try ballet. Thank you School of Dance for the wonderful influence you’ve had! May your doors be open for many generations to come. (Just realized this has been in my draft box for 2 years. Still posting because its still true! xoxo)

My daughter takes ballet here. I like everything that they offer but the most amazing thing they have is their staff. They are so attentive and willing to go extra miles to make the entire experience the best it can be.
Only down side is… the parking at the manhattan location.

My three girls love it there! They love their teacher and all the moves they learn (they take hip hop).

We have been attending SODM since 2009, when my oldest started Mommy & Me ballet. We have had experience with a lot of teachers through the years, and two daughters. The teachers are well qualified, all having college degrees in their specialties; whether a dance teacher or music teacher, they are all well versed in their area of expertise. This has been a wonderful experience and opening to performing arts for my children. Prices are fairly comparable to other South Bay locations, though more expensive than the rest of the US. The availability of classes is second to none, in our opinion. The best part is the unpretentious atmosphere, without the crazy competitive dance moms.

My daughters have been dancing and taking singing lessons for the past 6 years and I have nothing but GREAT things to say about this studio. The instructors are very professional, enthusiastic and wonderful with kids. The staff goes above and beyond my expectations for their timeliness in getting information out regarding schedules, rehearsals, make up sessions, costumes and recitals. Hats off to this class act organization!

I’ve been bringing my girls to each of the three locations for dance lessons for over three years now and couldn’t be happier. There are a wide variety of classes for all ages and levels. The teachers are all excellent — great with the kids and come with loads of experience. The staff are very organized. Each year I’m amazed at the time and effort that is put in to making each class and recital a success!

My daughter has taken ballet and tap at another studio for the last year, but since we recently moved, our old studio recommended this one which happens to be awesome as well! My daughter loves her class and her teacher. This studio also has a recital that even the preschoolers can dance in (which does not seem to be the norm in the area),