Funkmode

Not a fan of the service, felt like I could not be part of the group when learning to dance. If your a beginner this is not the place to go learn hip hop.

My daughter has taken classes all year. She absolutely enjoyed the spring performance and can’t wait for it next year.
We’ve also hired Funkmode for birthday parties. TWO years in a row! The 2^nd time because she adored her teacher and the birthday experience was better year 2.
A friend even hired FunkMode for a bday party offsite and the kids had a great time.
I’ve experienced nothing but professionalism from them and I’m happy they’re part of our community.

Fun classes with energetic, down-​to-​earth instructors, and friendly to all ages and abilities:)

My son took his first hip hop class here. He was really nervous and started to cry before his first class. The teacher was great with him and was able to get him to relax, dance and have fun. He now looks forward to class every week!
The classes are held in a building that has no signage. My first time there, I wasn’t sure if I was at the right place. When the teacher arrived she brought a folding sign. Also there is no dedicated parking, so they ask for you to park on the street. I hope in the feature they will be able to have their own building.

I was really excited to enroll my 4 year old in this dance class after reading all of the great reviews. It was difficult to get someone on the phone, they really push you to do everything online, which should have been my first red flag.
I did, however, speak with Cara on the phone and I explained to her my son’s special needs issues and she assured me that he would do fine and that she would help him adapt to the class. After her reassurance, I enrolled him and he was excited to begin dancing!
The first class was very disorganized, but I figured that the classes were just beginning and it would take some time. Never once did the instructor greet us at the door, say anything to the parents or give guidance as to what was to come next. 2^nd red flag.
After a bit, she started messing with the music and went over the things in the class that kids could not touch. She then said that she was going to shut the door and the parents would be outside waiting. Again, she never addressed the parents at all.
It was clear that many of the young kids (aged 3 – 5) were overwhelmed in the room and that the teacher wanted to have fun with them, but really lacked the skills to deal with kids in this age group. Regardless, it was the first class and once the parents were outside, it was difficult to know what was going on inside. My son left and was telling me how much fun he had on the way home.
Second class comes and it is just as chaotic. My son gets overwhelmed and runs out of the classroom and then, instead of having me come in to help him cope, he is told that he will not be allowed back in class until he is ready to participate. I calm him down in the hall and encourage him to go back in and try again. He does and again, after class tells me how much fun he has.
The night before the third class I receive an EMAIL (not a phone call, not an in person chat) telling me that he is not participating and that he refuses to participate which is bringing the class down and that they will give me a refund. I was completely taken aback that they were not even WILLING to speak with me about it, especially after I had spoken to them about his particular needs. I really try to create a normal situation for him, but I do understand that it is difficult in class and I try to make sure that any teacher he works with is prepared for his sensory issues. This is why I stressed it to the teacher before enrolling. Even after I sent a response email, they were completely unwilling to work with me to have him enjoy the class.
He is extremely disappointed now that he cannot attend. I received a refund check within days, but it really seemed as though this school and teacher had NO interest in working with kids who were going to take a little more effort. I am so disappointed and want to warn anyone who may not have a child who can listen to loud music, in an over-​crowded class, with an inexperienced teacher, to stay away from this dance program.

FUNKMODE ROCKS!!! Their Hip Hop class is the only workout that I truly enjoy. I’ve been trying to motivate myself by watching work out videos, joining the gym, but I have come to the conclusion that I simply abhor exercising going through the usual doldrums of doing the same thing like the treadmill, bike, and elliptical machines. What I really love is music. I love hip hop beats and dancing to good choreography with a great group of people (teachers and students alike). FUNKMODE has all these elements in their dance classes.
They record their routine every three weeks and they post it on Youtube and their website so you can get an idea of what the class is like. It was what drew me to FUNKMODE 7 years ago and have been a fan ever since.
Going to dance class is like clubbing without the manhandling, cheesy pick-​up lines, and seeing people walking in a drunken stupor.
The instructors Mighty, Cara, KMDZ and SarahAngel are all amazing, talented and helpful.
Cara teaches Jazz and all I can say is she has amazing choreography. Every dance is lyrical and creative.
My daughter took the kids hip hop class (ages 3 – 5)and thoroughly enjoyed it, alas she grew older.
Things to remember when signing up for a class is to arrive a few minutes early so you have time to find parking in the side streets. The parking lot by Round Table Pizza is reserved for patrons going to restaurants and shops there as well as across the street by the Olé Smoke House. You will either be ticketed or reprimanded if they see you park there. I was the recipient of a heavy rebuke from a restaurant owner and I don’t want anyone to suffer the same fate.
Another thing is you pay for the entire session in one lump 12 week sum instead of per class. It is still cheaper than a lot of dance classes out there and this is the most fun. They have new choreo every three weeks and they have tutorials every week.
I encourage all of you dancers out there to take this class. You won’t regret it!

I was really embarrassed to sign up for this class, due to my age. But based on the Unilocal ratings, it sounded like fun. I contacted them and they assured me that I’d be fine.
I’m so glad I did it. I am in the adult hip/​hop class at 47! Woohoo! The instructors are very energetic and patient. We have a lot of fun.
I work out a lot, but this class makes me drip with sweat. I wish I had more time to do more classes, but I do what I can and enjoy it immensely. It works out, cause there is a new routine every 3 weeks. I’ve been to schools where it’s a 10 month thing, and if you miss, you can’t ever catch up. I travel, so if I miss, I’ll be able to catch up with the next routine.
MIGHTY Rocks!!!

My 7 year old loves the b-​boy class! The staff is extremely nice, and they make sure that everyone is having fun, and attempt to do the dance moves. I have tried the adult hip hop class years ago, but found out that I’m not meant for hip hop. However, the class was really fun, and it’s great to feed of the positive energy of the great instructors!

Finally! My life is complete… As an out of shape ex cheerleader who has always loved learning and practicing choreography, this is exactly what I needed. Great for all levels, tons of fun, and an awesome workout. The staff is super fun and positive, and the routines are well choreographed. The structure of the class is nice. It isn’t so serious that you feel uptight and under pressure. But even though its fun, it isnt chaotic. I cannot deal with chaos, it is perfectly structured to my liking. I was hesitant to write this review because I don’t want the classes to get over crowded, but with any luck they will start doing hip hop classes on another weeknight. I would sign up in a heartbeat! They do have a Saturday class at 10:30, but as a hairstylist that could just never work out for me. I’m considering signing up for adult jazz on Monday’s next session. This truly is the most fun part of my week, I am so grateful to have funkmode only one city away. This is the best decision I’ve made in a long time !

We’ve all been at the gym, doing our same boring cardio on the treadmill, probably even listening to hip hop on our mp3 players, but running in place like repressed hamsters until some dude that really shouldn’t be wearing spandex kicks us off the machine after a measly thirty minutes. Well, that was me four months ago, and I’d had more than enough of that.
I originally found Funkmode back in the Spring while looking for a fun and different way to get some exercise, and two sessions and twenty weeks later, I’ve found that and so much more. Signing up for Wednesday night Adult Hip Hop was easily one of the best decisions I’ve made in quite some time. No doubt, I’ve sweated my ass off, but I’ve also made friends, shared laughs, and participated in some righteous, face-​melting hip hop choreography (side note: dancing with a melted face isn’t as difficult as it may seem, you just gotta learn the 8 counts).
I’m not really going to get down and dirty into the details of the class, because this is really something YOU need to experience for yourself, but a typical class involves a warm-​up, freestyle, core work, and then choreography in the course of about ninety minutes. The intructors, Mighty, Cara, KMDZ, and SarahAngel are all super friendly, and run the class so it’s conducive to people of all skill levels. Don’t believe me? Perhaps you’re scared people will judge you? Just mosey on over to
and check out some of the recent videos from adult hip hop. You’ll notice this tall, slightly awkward but in a cute way, Asian guy that ends up a half count or so out of sync every now and again, and if he can do it, so can you, but I digress.
The other great part about having four instructors is that they each put their own flavor into the exact same dance moves, so you can follow whichever one you’re feeling that day. A word of warning though, if you choose to follow SarahAngel, make sure that you extensively stretch out your hip flexors prior to starting class, because I guarantee you will be shake, shake, shaking it like a polaroid picture. Actually, to be real, it’s more like taking the picture, the undeveloped film, the camera itself, the case that it came in, the photographer holding the camera, and then putting all that into a giant paint mixer, and turning it on.
So I know what you’re thinking, something so face-​meltingly, and booty poppingly awesome must cost at least as much as Master P’s gold plated tank. I’m almost afraid to share this next part, because I get a little defensive of my dance space, but you too can join in on the party for what it costs to drink two lattes a week (I know you ask for extra pumps and venti size it, don’t lie). The best part of all is that after joining the class you won’t need caffeine ever again because you’ll have hip hop coursing through your veins, and nothing keeps you hyped up quite like it. Actually I lied, you will still rely on coffee, only now you’ll need to drink it after class to mellow out, and help you fall asleep because that’s how much fun this class is.
So if you haven’t guessed, I can talk till I’m blue in the face about how great Funkmode is, and how YOU should be doing it too, but really the best way is to find out for yourself. My challenge to you is simple: stop being a hamster and get off the treadmill. Pass on the lattes. If you must, get out of your comfort zone and out of your own head, and get yourself to a FREE once per session «Bring A Friend Day.» If by the end of class your L.A. face isn’t smiling ear to ear, and your Oakland booty isn’t shaking enough to make Beyonce blush, and you aren’t ready to sign up on the spot, then I know a really swell weekly bingo game at the San Ramon Community Center I think you’d love.

I can’t believe it has taken me this long to write a review for FUNKMODE. I’ve been taking hip hop at FUNKMODE since August 2008 and I LOVE IT THERE. Founders and lead instructors Mighty and Cara have built a dancing school that encourages anyone and everyone to dance to their fullest potential, without pressure. KMDZ and SarahAngel (the other two instructors) are also amazing instructors with a ton of dancing experience. Not to mention, great personalities.
It’s hard to find adult hip hop classes anywhere so when I saw the flyer for FUNKMODE, I was a little nervous. But on my first day, Mighty and Cara made it clear that this is OUR class NOT theirs and they stick to that mantra. I quickly became a fan and noticed that I have become a such a better dancer because of them.
The dances are sometimes challenging, sometimes they’re easy… sometimes you have props (bandanas, hats, etc)…they’re also different and unique. They teach all types of hip hop styles like pop n’ lock, waving, New Jack Swing, krumpin’, etc., so you’re never bored.
They make it fun when they have «dress up» days to get everyone to dress up under a certain theme: camo day, all black day, early 90’s day, all pink day to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Months, etc. Trust me, you are NEVER bored in this class.
Everyone, including students, are accepting and friendly. If the only thing that is holding you back is the worry that you might not have friends, you are WRONG. FUNKMODE makes it clear that this is a family, friendly atmosphere and they even «force» us to meet new people the first two weeks of every session. You leave class with 40+ new friends.
No one will judge you here. This isn’t So You Think You Can Dance, although the choreography is certainly up to par. If anything, come for the exercise and fun.
So my recommendation is to try the class out for ONE SESSION. Don’t just try one class and give up. Trust me, you won’t learn anything in one class. Since they video tape every time, it’s a great opportunity to see yourself grow from Day 1 to Day 12.

Moved to Northern California less than a year ago and I wanted to get into shape but not join a gym. I knew I wanted to dance but there were so many places that were geared for kids and not for adults. I checked on Unilocal and stumbled upon reviews for FunkMode. And I am so happy I did!
Checked out their website and watched almost all the videos. I knew instantly, this was what I was searching for. I joined the hip hop class and immediately fell in love with the class, instructors, and the other students. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted with love. Almost all the students have been taking classes with FunkMode for years and had nothing but love for the class and instructors.
Mighty, Cara, KMDZ, & SarahAngel know how to dance and they have fun doing it. Their energy and love for teaching is evident in their teaching style. Whether you know how to dance or just love to dance even if you have no skills whatsoever, FunkMode welcomes all.
I am going into my 3^rd session with FunkMode and will not stop. I love their classes so much I took up jazz.
If you want to dance, make lifelong friendships, and most of all have fun… Join FunkMode. You won’t be sorry.

Tons of fun. Don’t go if you want a very serious experience. Just go to have fun.

I just completed independent lessons with SarahAngel for an upcoming event. I can honestly say that I feel considerably more comfortable and confident about dancing. I started out feeling really awkward and silly and have gradually worked to get out of my own head long enough to enjoy myself.
Less about me, more about SarahAngel– words I would use to describe her are positive, enthusiastic, creative, upbeat, and encouraging. I think she is a fantastic teacher and uses creative approaches and different techniques to help you reach your goal. The three most important things she taught me was to how find or count the beat in music, that when spinning, in partner dance, their arm goes across my face, and, most importantly… to «not freak out!»
I had a great time working alone with her, but judging by her personality and energy I can imagine that classes with her are also wonderful!
Definitely worth checking out!

I just got in from Adult Jazz. This class is loads of fun! I am not a dancer, although I took ballet and tap when I was about 7. Tonight I went to class glad that Monday was over, but feeling like the rest of the week was going to be a beast. By the time I left, I felt like I could run the world! Could be because we danced to Beyonce’s new song! Need less to say, Cara is a great instructor. She recognizes that there are different skill levels in the class and somehow is able to teach to all of us. Sign up for one session and you’ll be hooked!

Love Jazz! Love Hip Hop! Both of the vibes are different, however, they are the same because they are FUN classes & GREAT work outs!!! I love being able to learn a new dance every three weeks! It keeps me on my toes, literally!

I am on the Adult Jazz class and I can say with all my heart this is a AWESOME place to be! The classes’ environment is great, the teacher is an awesome dancer and person… she always comes up with a super creative dance routine ans she’s always blowing my expectations away in every dance. Besides that… the technique part of each class is not boring at all… always fun… it makes me look forward for Mondays… who else can say that???
Another really cool thing is that there are people from all kinds of skill levels… what makes it very comfortable for everyone. Different from other dance schools on the area, they don’t require a crazy dancer background to accept you on their classes.
But stay tune for registration times, because the number of sports is limited and very demanded.
The price is also great!

I found this place on Unilocal and was excited that it offered classes for both my 7 and 3 year old, but after registering a month ago, and not hearing back from anyone, I had to call today (three days before the first class) to find out if classes were, in fact, starting this week because of spring break. I got an email back from Cara explaining that the classes were full, and have been since February. So, they knew that when I registered on March 16^th but allowed me to do so anyway, then never notified me. I had to reach out to them. I certainly hope their teaching skills are better than their business management skills, because they aren’t impressive. If they decide to upgrade their management, I’d be willing to try them again, but for now, because of the very poor customer service, they only deserve one star from me.

Great dance studio for adults! Their adult jazz and hip hop classes are awesome. The teachers are tons of fun, and you will get a fantastic workout as well!

This place is about to blow up. Mark my words.
Mighty & Cara are the founders and 2 of the instructors. I’ve taken adult hip hop a couple of times. It’s on Weds, 7 – 8:30 and Sat 10 — 11:30 or something like that. They also have jazz, and lots of classes for kids. Check their website, that’s what it’s for. On it you’ll learn about the discount for 2 or more classes purchased. The downside is that if you only take class once/​week you are not going to remember the routine. That sort of slows things down because Mighty has to review eeeeverythiiiing all over again, eeeevvvery week. They should probably tape the dance for students to practice in between sessions.
The classes are full to begin with — thanks to ABDC (MTCV…everyone thinks they can boogaloo now) — but just join in. They thin out by the end of the 12 wk term and not everyone comes every week. The opening warm up is awesome and should be given solely as a workout class option. I’d sign up for that in a heartback!!! As far as the routine learning portion of class goes, you can be a total beginner w/​no rhythym and still catch on. No, sorry… no rhythym for sale but you will siphon some by way of great instruction.
I’m impressed w/​this group. The company was founded out of love for dance and I think they’ve been winging it since inception. We are luck y to have them on this side of the tunnel. Everything seems to be coming up roses & I wish them lots of luck. Not that they need it.