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Van der Zwaan Dance Studio
4.7 ★★★★★ 24 Google reviews · Ballet school in Berkeley, California
Plan your first class
- 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 (510) 717-3872
- Website & schedule zwaandance.com — enroll and see the live class schedule
Hours
| Monday | 3–8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 3–8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 2:30–8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 3–8:30 PM |
| Friday | 2:30–8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 AM–7 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The programs they offer
“Paula and her assistants are exceptional with the young children, and I have observed a nice skill progression as they have aged into older classes.”
“Our little guy started at age 3 with Paula at Van der Zwaan and has been obsessed ever since.”
“They’ve studied ballet, pointe, modern, Haitian, tap, jazz and hip hop from multiple instructors and have grown as dancers immensely.”
What families & students say
“All of the teachers at the studio are kind, supportive and fun!”
“With a huge variety of classes offered 7 days a week and two amazing performances each year, this studio provides an exceptional environment for young (and adult!”
“The teachers are absolutely wonderful, professional, and dedicated to helping every dancer reach their potential.”
“The teachers manage to capture my daughter's twirling fairy princess imagination while also instilling patience, discipline, and basic pre-ballet mechanics.”
From the reviews
Our little guy started at age 3 with Paula at Van der Zwaan and has been obsessed ever since. We all look forward to our Saturday pre-ballet mornings. He runs in and never looks back, while I get to grab a cup of coffee and relax. Performances are a lot of fun too. Paula and her crew are always so kind and supportive.
Between my two girls now ages 11 & 18 they have taken hundreds of classes and attended countless camps and Intensives at VDZ . They’ve studied ballet, pointe, modern, Haitian, tap, jazz and hip hop from multiple instructors and have grown as dancers immensely.
We’ve been at this dance studio for four years, and it’s been a fantastic experience. My child has taken a wide variety of classes and has loved every class and teacher. She’s grown so much as a dancer and is always asking to take more classes. The recitals are also a standout.
My daughter has been taking dance classes from VDZ for many years in all of the genres: hip hop, modern, ballet, acro, etc. I am thankful to VDZ for supporting her development as a dancer and as a good person. All of the teachers at the studio are kind, supportive and fun!
Your first ballet class at Van der Zwaan Dance Studio
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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