Francine Garton Royal Dance Academy

My 17 year old has been dancing at the studio since age 5 when the studio opened. She was in RAD ballet exam program until age 15 and it provided a foundation for the rest of her dance classes. She continues to take ballet and loves it. She competes on senior lyrical team and Jazz team and is doing a solo this year. What I love is that the studio has been able to provide the level of dance that your daughter wants. For my daughter it was the highest level. She hires amazing qualified teachers.
As far as the tuition yes it is expensive but so is the studio space and it is not cheap to rent space in Carmel Valley in fact one of the highest places to rent space. The owner puts a lot of money into facilities and the program. If you have seen the place then you know what I mean. It’s not a warehouse, it’s beautiful.
The owner is like a second mom to my girl and she able to provide a wonderful place for my daughter to dance. This is our last year at the studio and I know my daughter will miss her second home as she goes off to college and minors in dance.
Maria G.

I had a daughter as a student here for a couple of years. I guessed it was ok as she wasn’t super-​serious, and seemed to really enjoy the ballet classes. Finally we all decided the recital was overblown and more about costumes, flowers, photos (which were pushed to a mediocre photographer and then there were more photos to purchase at the recital) and less about dance — too much money, too many emails, not much focus on whether she was improving at dance. It just seemed like the focus wasn’t on the kids and dance, but it does seem to work for some people.

Have been so happy with the dance instruction and overall experience my daughter has enjoyed. She started 3 years ago as a overly shy 6 year old with no confidence. I don’t think she will ever be in the performing arts, but the way they run this place she has really blossomed socially because of the skills she has learned and the friends she has made. I especially like the discipline that is built in to the programs and classes. I wish it was cheaper (costumes and such) and that is the only reason I didn’t rate 5 stars. But I’ve found something my daughter looks forward to every week and that has made a huge difference in her development.

My daughters have been dancing there for years and love their classes. They’ve taken ballet, tap, lyrical and jazz. All the teachers are passionate about dance and clearly love teaching. I am totally happy. There is a big recital in June that is fun and clearly what my daughters enjoy most.

The owner wants to rip you off by charging 75 minute classes as 2 hours.

My daughters have taken classes here for years. They have a wide variety of classes and it has been easy to fit into our schedule. Although it is a large studio, the teachers and owner all know my daughters. One participates in the RAD program, which is wonderful, very age appropriate, and gives them goals to work on so they develop properly (and stay injury free!). Students take an exam graded by an examiner from London, and the studio always does well. Many students also place in the most selective summer intensives internationally. There are plenty of opportunities for the casual dancer as well.
In regards to another review, staff never «insisted» my girls participate in the recital. It is OPTIONAL, and you have to sign up for it, on a sheet that includes the rehearsal info and the cost of the costumes. I felt that review was very unfair: Apparently that parent wanted to be given a costume for free, not have to show up for any rehearsals, and then watch her child, and her child only, during the performance. Fortunately, most of the other families at the studio are not like this at all, and it is a very friendly place.

My two daughters have been attending RDA for about four years. I am very happy with the instruction and professionalism of the classes. All the instructors show the passion they have for dance as well as a high level of training. My younger daughter participates in the RAD program and I have been very pleased with her growth in ballet. Miss Christina is her teacher and does a fantastic job preparing them for exams. Previously, my older daughter had attended another local dance studio. Not only was the experience negative but the owners appear to not even like children. At RDA, my experience couldn’t have been any different. Francine Garton truly cares about her students and my kids love going.

Very strange place. The owner thinks she is running some sort of Julliard school of dance out of the Vons shopping center. Insists on kids buying hundreds of dollars of costumes for a recital that is out of control (4h long for 4 nights in June; cost of tickets $ 25pp) for my 3 year old!?! Makes you go to these rehearsals during the workweek even if you are a working parent (and if you don’t you get threatened to get kicked out). I cannot believe it! I would stay far away from this place and find a more friendly studio, unless you want to spend a LOT of money for all sorts for extras or get guilted and nagged by email constantly.

My 4 year old took ballet/​tap dancing classes here this past summer. She enjoyed it immensely. Her teacher was Jenny, but we had one makeup class with Christina. Both instructors were very good with the young girls. I am not sure how rigorous the lessons were, as I don’t have a dance background. But, I can certainly say that my daughter looked forward to dance class every week. They would start out with about 20 – 25 minutes of tap – learning steps that alternated heel and toe taps. Then, halfway through the lesson, they switched to ballet, sometimes skipping across the studio (gracefully, of course) with a partner. Usually the lesson closed with free «dance» using scarves or other fun props.

A fabulous, nurturing environment for children of all ages and levels to dance and perform. From the minute you walk into the studio, you can feel the warm welcome of the staff and the beautiful energy surrounding the dancers. My daughter has been dancing at RDA since the doors opened ten years ago and longer than we’ve lived in our current home. It truly feels like her home away from home!!!