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International Academy of Dance
5 ★★★★★ 19 Google reviews · Ballet school in Santa Cruz, California
Dance school with 3 studios for classes in ballet, jazz & tap, plus hip hop, Zumba & belly dancing.
Plan your first class
- Free trial / first class new students can usually try a class free or at a discount — call ahead or check their schedule to book your first one
- Pointe pointe and pre-pointe work for dancers who are ready — the pre-pointe strengthening comes first
- Recitals end-of-year performances and shows — ask about costume and performance fees when you enroll
- Summer intensive holiday and summer intensive programs — these fill early, so ask about dates and auditions
- Today see hours ·
- Phone +1 831-466-0458
- Website & schedule iadance.com — enroll and see the live class schedule
Hours
| Monday | 3–7:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 2–7:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 2:30–7:30 pm |
| Thursday | 2–7:30 pm |
| Friday | 2–7:30 pm |
| Saturday | 10 am–12 pm |
| Sunday | 10:30 am–12:45 pm |
The programs they offer
“This has been such a good place for my daughter to Blossum and grow.”
What families & students say
“She challenges her students with new choreography that wants you coming back to perform at your greatest potential!”
“I have experienced the professionalism at IAD first hand.”
From the reviews
I have experienced the professionalism at IAD first hand. I have taken class with Melissa Palumbo and she runs her class full of fun, first and foremost. She challenges her students with new choreography that wants you coming back to perform at your greatest potential!!
we have had such a wonderful experience with the ballet classes and productions at IAD. My six-year-old absolutely loves it. The teachers are amazing, patient, and very well-versed at what they do. The staff is incredibly accommodating, and it is a very positive and supportive learning environment.
I had the pleasure of attending IAD's performance of Oz. What a great show. The choreography and music were so well put together. The costumes and set design coupled with a new twist on the story, I would have to say made this my favorite rendition. Thank you all for such an awesome show right here in Santa Cruz.
This has been such a good place for my daughter to Blossum and grow. She has been here for 3 and 1/2 years, and we can see here here for many more years to come! If you have a chance, come down for a lesson, it’s so much fun!!
Your first ballet class at International Academy of Dance
Nervous about walking into your first class? Almost everyone is — and a good studio expects beginners, whether your dancer is five or you're returning at fifty. Here's what to know. What to wear: comfortable clothes you can move in, with socks or bare feet; a leotard and tights are nice if you have them, but not required, and pointe shoes are years down the road — never day one. What to expect: class usually starts at the barre with slow, simple movements to warm up, then moves to the center — follow along, copy the teacher, and don't worry about getting it "right" the first time. Arrive early: come 10–15 minutes ahead to change, find a spot, and let the teacher know it's a first class so they can keep an eye out. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
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