20 Best Acting Programs In San Diego, CA (2022 Updated)

As a current student at Platt, there have been two things that have really stuck out to me about this college. A big thing I've enjoyed and really noticed at Platt is how incredibly passionate about teaching and the subjects they teach the teachers are. They genuinely care about each and every student and only want what is best for each of us. The teachers also all have industry experience and are only want to teach the most up to date and important stuff to help students succeed after graduation. Another thing I have truly enjoyed about Platt is the family atmosphere the school has. Everyone is always willing to help everyone and the school has a very laid back atmosphere. Despite this though, the school finds ways to push you harder than you've probably ever been pushed. I've learned an incredible amount of valuable knowledge about not just what I'm studying, but also about the industry and life in general. I have attended community college, and a big state school (Ball State) besides Platt and of the three Platt is my favorite, the state school I felt like I was just another student, I meant nothing to the teachers, at community college, the teachers were passionate but they lacked the proper funding to provide us with the proper equipment necessary. Platt provides all the equipment I need to succeed, and the teachers all know my name and make me feel important. This is why I would recommend Platt to anyone interested in the fields of Digital Media and Design.Sean Hunsche

Filmmaking finally feels accessible to me because of Platt College!! I am a Digital Media major focused on video production. Platt took all of my previous credits and is a veteran friendly school that offers a full time, yet flexible schedule. Platt uses hands-on learning to teach editing software like Premiere Pro and After Effects, but also gives students access to industry standard production equipment like a sound recording booth, a green screen room, and an entire equipment room. Each class focuses on the student building a portfolio. I now know how to create amazing special effects and my own industry level sound. And let’s talk about the campus! It’s small, easy to navigate, and parking is ample around the school when the lot is full. The campus has a cool vibe, it’s comfortable, tons of bathrooms, vending machines, and an open door policy with an amazing staff that cares about each student. Seriously, the school director has come to the screening of all of my class’s films! Not to mention the school always does cool, fun little things for holidays. We had a costume contest where winners won ACTUAL CASH, and a Valentine’s Day raffle with doughnuts! I’m so glad I found Platt. It’s a good school that gives you the tools and knowledge to achieve your dreams. I’ll catch you in the credits. Kimmy JusticeKimberly Justice

I had a great experience at this school, taking home my Associate and Bachelor Degree in three years time! This review though isn't going to be about the school but about a very special person named Celi Yankajtis, Career Services Director. Celi, along with all my teachers, have helped me become successful. Celi, in particular though, has helped me land TWO jobs. One for a startup app company and another recently at a local web marketing firm. I cannot thank her enough for the dedication and care she has for the students and their success. She truly loves her job and truly cares, the proof is with Alumni like myself. She continuously posts job openings in the schools career services job board and always goes above and beyond to help students find work, especially for those students who show the desire to succeed. I warn you though, DO NOT WASTE this woman's time! She truly is there for all the students but if you don't show effort yourself then you are wasting her time which she could be spending on students who want to succeed. Thank you Celi for being an amazing student advocate!!!G

I heard that USD is an excellent private university. They have highly accredited teaching, law, technology, language, environmental and psychology schools, as well as a number of others. I also heard that their physical education school is quite good. USD is one of our nation's top rated colleges in regards to higher education and just to get admitted, you must score fairly high on the SAT ( Taking the ACT can always helps too ) and presenting the admissions evaluation committee with a high school GPA that shows that you were in the top percentile of your graduating class is very beneficial; it also helps to have done some volunteer work and to have been on at least one or two high school committees. All of these combined together should help you gain admission to USD. This college is quite competitive-as are most of our best colleges nowadays. Most of USD's professors are seasoned-the best in our country-and very demanding; graduating in four years means a lot of hard work and can be a wearisome task and often taking a couple of summer session classes or a class or two during Christmas break can help one graduate within this time scale. They do offer scholarships however, these are difficult to get and student loans ( Federal Educational Grants can easily surpass fifty-thousand dollars a year! USD's tuition is at the high end of the scale, especially if you live off of campus ( The City of San Diego is amongst the ten highest priced "cost of living" metropolitan areas in the USA ). There are hundreds of nice condominiums, townhouses and apartments within the surrounding area however, the rental rates for a one to four bedroom unit start at about $900 to $1200 per room ( living together ) per month or about $2200 for a two bedroom townhouse/apartment, to $3500+ for a three to four bedroom ; I'm just giving you a general idea…it's a might expensive to live anywhere in San Diego. USD has many of the most beautifully designed buildings in San Diego; architectural masterpieces. Tourists who come to visit San Diego often include this private university in their sightseeing itinerary, as the photographic opportunities around this campus are simply marvelous; especially on a clear winter day from about early afternoon to sunset. They have a small visitors center, as you drive through their main entrance center and if you get lost, you should stop and ask a couple of students and they may be able to help you? There's a lot to see, including San Diego's famed Tecalote State Park, which lies just below the north side of this university.charles chiles

The campus is pretty. The teachers, at least those who are fluent in English, are mediocre, and those whose English language skills are very poor, are token so this campus can brag about being diverse. The dorms are so noisy that it is impossible to do any work in one's own room or get any sleep before 3 a.m. The people responsible for policing the dorms are too lazy and callously indifferent to do anything, and no matter how many complaints are made, it is a nightmare to live in the dirty, smelly and horribly noisy dorms. The religious classes, which are mandatory, are a total waste of time and not based on any accurate facts or historical accuracy. The head of the Student Health Center is dishonest and harmful, willing to smear any student she takes a hatred to. There are no responsible administrative officers to be found if you have a problem. This is not the place if you care about getting a solid and admirable education.Susan Lea

The University accepted my son to the credential program August 2011. After 2 years and more than $32000 in tuition he is not being allowed to do his student teaching because, in the opinion of some professors, he lacks the skills they require. These professionals (who demand that the credential candidates be able to reach and teach all students no matter what their learning styles or disabilities) should be knowledgeable enough to bring out the best in a young man who has wanted to be a teacher since in the seventh grade he was chosen by his teacher to tutor other students in reading. The professionals who are standing in the way of his dream need to evaluate their own teaching. What did they do to ensure my son's success in their program? What can they teach others when they themselves have failed as teachers?Mark Leonard

I'd like to think that because of Covid, there is a lack of help from this college. I have been trying my very best for the last month to do everything myself without the help from any employees at this college. I have not been contacted regarding how to get enrolled, registered, what classes I need, financial aid, etc. I have been struggling since I have submitted my application to this college. You basically have to figure out everything on your own which isn't hard for me to do because I was walked through the steps from my previous college who actually took the time to help me out. While I understand quite a few things, there are some things that I don't understand and that I have questions about but getting into contact with anyone at this college is very difficult. Even through emails, no one responds. This college lacks the skill for helping their future students. I believe that I have done everything necessary in order to be a student but getting in touch with a counselor is the biggest problem. Making an appointment with a counselor via zoom, is quite a struggle and I have messaged quite a few employees at the college but yet, I still haven't received any responses. I am about to give up and just try somewhere else although this college is very convient for me, it's not worth the struggle and hassle at this point. 😔Mary McDonald

Great atmosphere. Their financial aid office needs help though. I started my fasfa around May and I'm trying to get in for the fall. I sat down with the students that help you with the fasfa form online so I don't do it wrong. I had to wait for them to approve it. They told me to bring my parents IRS info, even though I used the retrieval tool. I had to do a dependent verification form. Turned in copies of those. Then asked for my W-2. Then they asked for another verification form. Just constantly asking me for things I turned in. It sometimes takes them weeks to let you know what's next. So I learned the hard way the previous year that they ask for these forms every semester. They didn't tell me until I was applying for another semester. First year student trying to figure them out. I lived in El Cajon when they were asking for forms making this process extra annoying. Apparently they had to restart the process for the new semester. Don't ask me why but this is the most annoying part of school. I advise making multiple copies of whatever they ask for IRS FORMS, W-2, AND TAX INFO. They'll ask for it next semester and start it months before to avoid lines. I'm grateful there is a financial office though or school would be ROUGH! Thank you. EDIT: THEY MOVED TO A 270PERSONAL

City College is represented by the San Diego transit people, MTS, as City College Trolley Station, a cave, possibly Plato's, remarkable for grime and an expansive range of social behaviors not common in the quiet halls of ivy and higher education. The City College Trolley Station, is, of course, the gateway of San Diego's always expanding skidrow that could be seen as starting here and continuing to 25th and Commercial. San Diego and the real estate community promotes skidrow as being the East Village, but it's not really so much a village as it is a refugee camp. And it is getting bigger every day and will one day engulf all of downtown and possibly as far into the neighborhoods as Hillcrest and North Park. City College Trolley Station is what San Diego is becoming, or is, and what could a college want more than to be so inextricably tired to the dramatic representation of San Diego's future , the (San Diego) City College Trolley Station?Range Cow

Just want to respond to a review regarding the director of admissions. If the person is speaking of Ms. Odom, I have a completely different opinion of her. My son was in in town during the school's spring break and Ms. Odom graciously gave up a day off to come in and take us on a tour. She answered all of our questions, honestly and thoroughly, giving us a very accurate picture of the school and what makes it unique. We ended up choosing LJCDS for our son and she had a lot to do with it. We're only one trimester in, but so far, we love it.Kimberly Hardcastle

Love the school. My son hated public school. He was bullied and picked on by various students. To clarify, my kid is tall, not easy to push around. He finally found a school which challenged him and encouraged him to ask questions. My son love to debate everything, here he got a chance to even question the teachers and support his ideas. He loves going to school now. He doesn't dread it like before. The culture is of respect and learning can I ask for anything more.Rocio Flores

I have a child that has been at this school for 8 years and it has been a school that has bent over backwards to help, support and encourage my child to be everything he can be in all aspects of his life. They are an academic institution but also encourage students to think, speak their own views, be engaged in the world and see beyond themselves. That is why we chose and remain at LJCDS.Jennifer Pirigyi

This is a great school. I would definitely recommend this college to anybody wanting to learn about Chinese medicine as well as massage and acupuncture techniques. School feels very complete and the staff is very knowledgeable. It's exciting to work with such professional teachers and to learn so much that's such an accelerated rate. I personally am very excited to attend this school and would recommend it to anybody that is looking to become certified and massage or acupuncture and so much more. The facilities are generally pretty clean and well-kept as well as stocked pretty well. The library is full of so much material that you can't really find anywhere else. Student alumni have a lot of ability for employment as well as Clinic hours. I've noticed that a lot of our teachers are former students themselves and I think that says a lot about the school. The dean is a very Hands-On open door policy type of professional. And the students are really wonderful people and it has been a pleasure to work with such ambitious people. They do also have a bookstore and a small Cafe where you can get all of your reading material as well as a bite to eat. They are very covid compliant even post-plandemic. And I think it's really amazing how they have set the school up so that many different medical facilities are represented on campus. I'm very excited to continue my education here as well as very grateful for this opportunity. One last note I am a disabled veteran and they do accept GI Bill as well as vocational rehabilitation chapter 2930 31 32 and 33.Corey Robichaud

Student Clinic played a very important role in my health and well Being. I went there with a Thyroid problem, namely a goiter, and wanted to avoid surgery. I went there for about 8 months continuously and learnt so much about the Acupuncture way of healing and dealing with the body. Students worked on me, supervised by well seasoned teachers. I was the kind of person who likes to learn and empower myself in taking care of my well being. They did not hesitate to answer my questions and guide as they did the treatments. I suggest to always have it be a two way street. Engage in the process. Do not just lay there and leave but ask questions and make sure that you're learning and empowering yourself into this holistic way of looking at the body and health. I loved it. I am so grateful. Also, I could afford it better. Students always friendly and doing their best because they are learning and want to strengthen their skills and be the best. I did not do the surgery – did not need to….Lamees Mansur

I started coming here about 3 months ago. I had head to toe issues, while they are not 100% resolved I am about 50% better than when I first walked in the door. With only about 6 sessions. Issues from chronic all over body pain, hearing loss, digestive, migraines, restless legs, thirsty not thirsty, anxiety, like I said head to toe. They have treated me so gently, carefully and thoroughly. They take their time making sure they're precise with their questions and technique. I highly recommend this school. They have some amazing people here and I am so grateful I was turned on to this place. I have committed myself to a year of treatments, and my 8 year old son comes with me now, too. I'm sure I won't stop at year but with the amount of issues I have, they didn't happen over night and won't go away over night either.AthenaMarnae

With more than 40 years in the University system, I have an extensive knowledge of campus life and degree programs. I evaluated 52 campuses before selecting Alliant International University for a PhD. The system offers diversity in majors, student body, as well as the faculty are academics and practitioners. I appreciate the instructional choices of face-to-face and online formats. I have completed both types of classes and the instructional quality holds steady in delivery and the students' ability to effectively learn. The overall strength of Alliant is also its ability to leverage resources for students. Belonging to a system is an advantage for all students. After I complete my degree, I plan to connect with the leadership teams for support, insight, and networking opportunities. Thank you Alliant International University.Becky Arce

Outstanding! The quality of instructors, methods, flexibility in classes, and collaboration with fellow PhD classmates were key to this great experience! I completed the basic PhD coursework in record time (while working full time). Also, the costs stayed well under my GI Bill cap. If you have money on the table from the GI Bill, consider getting your PhD from Alliant University. You'll be smarter for it!Bea Truesdale

I received my undergraduate degree in Psychology from Alliant. I believe this degree prepared me for my graduate program, especially the research aspect. I'm currently attending a MPH program and feel prepared for most of the curriculum. There are hiccups along the way, as with any program. However, I highly recommend!Christina Faulk

Our sons attended starting at age 12 months. When we started, we were fortunate in that we had a good teacher that shielded the parents from the administrators. She did a wonderful job, but unfortunately quit after 8 months of us being there. During those 8 months, the boys were happy, but we still would hear comments from the assistant daycare director like "Your boys have too much energy, I am afraid that I may have to buy more playground equipment." When we mentioned this to the teacher, she rolled her eyes and told us "Of course they have lots of energy, they are 1 year old boys, but they are no different than the other boys" It was not until after this teacher left that we started to see how much she had shielded the parents from the overbearing and vindictive behaviors from the administration. In the next 9 months, there was a revolving door of different caretakers for the boys class room, with 3 different teachers and 4 different aides. The assistant director in particular started becoming paranoid about illnesses after her own husband got sick. We would get phone calls for "He just seems more tired today, even though he isn't sick" and "He seemed like he might get a fever, so I checked his temperature EIGHTEEN times but he never had a fever, but he seems like he might get one." It started to come across to us that she was just looking for any excuse to send the boys home, warranted or not. At one point, she said to my wife "Maybe you should just not work, and should just stay home with your kids." Umm….Isn't that why we are paying you top dollar for child care!?! If their position is that all parents should just be stay at home parents, then there would be no use or job for them. After talking to some other parents and doing some more research online, we learned that we were not alone. We heard from several different parents about kids that had left the daycare after essentially being bullied by the assistant director. Online, we read several other reviews that specifically mentioned being bullied by administration, and called out this behavior. However, we also found something that we didn't expect. We found several glowing reviews, that were written by employees and administration (not even anonymous). We tried going higher, thinking that if they knew this type of behavior was happening within the daycare part of the school that it would be dealt with. The director seemed indifferent to what was happening, so we scheduled a meeting with the Head of Schools to discuss these issues and behaviors. Unfortunately, we learned that the apathy runs deep. We were essentially told that if someone who worked in a daycare thought these things, then they were probably right, and we needed to accept them. It was clear that it was a solid block in that if there is a problem with the assistant director, the rest of the administration team will follow her lead, whether or not she is right. After we scheduled this meeting, we noticed a sharp increase in retaliatory behavior from the admin. The following day, we were told that there were five behavior reports that we needed to sign, which all occurred that day. Seemed awfully convenient that we hadn't had any behaviors in months, and magically after meeting with their boss, there were many of these, every day. Some of these behaviors were actually normal for age – one behavior was that they did not remain seated for lunch, and that they would be expected to sit in their seat and not get up for 30 minutes (as a 2-year-old). After we saw this, we knew that we had to find a better environment for our kids, and told them we would not be bringing them back.Ryan Limberg

The atmosphere of this school is incredible. The feeling one gets when they walk in the front door is extremely welcoming and family oriented. The teachers make some of the best mentors and examples I've seen for students in any Christian school. The school does an incredible job of incorporating Christian values and beliefs, but the academics are great as well with many of the graduating seniors being accepted to prestigious schools. If you're looking for a school that will not just provide unique opportunities for your student to grow, but impact their spiritual life and that helps develop them into a dynamic scholar, then this is the school you need to check out.Kevin McClintock

We’ve had the honor of having our child attend the Rock Academy since the 2nd grade. This next year he begins high school. Hands down, the best decision we’ve made is to keep him here. This is a place where he has been fully known and loved for who he is, a place where he is met with grace and kindness, supported through every stage of life, and celebrated. We are forever thankful for the impact the teachers and staff have had on not just our son’s life, but our lives as well, and we excited to see God continue to move here.jessica wilson

MCHS is by far the best high school in the PUSD. I recommend it to anyone looking to actually succeed in high school. Mount Carmel has bar none the best instructors, that will work with anyone in the pursuit of success. Plenty of extra-curricular activities at this school: clubs, sports, band, games, performances, etc. Good administration (best I've came across) I am set to graduate in June and MC has definatly made high school the time of my life. I see why this school at one point was top 3 in the nation. I don't see why it isn't today. By all means go here if you want success.Tyler McCoy

One of the reasons why we moved to PQ in 1984 was because of the school system. It was fantastic (or so I heard!) I went to MCHS and I have to say – I had a pretty great HS experience. There are some fantastic teachers at this school and a world class band. Harold Dorr, Lee Raskin, and others, were so helpful throughout my high school (and even college) times. Dorr made me LOVE science and Mr. Raskin opened his classroom up to kids during lunch time to read and hang out – a safe haven if you needed it.Dawn Martin

Born raised in Rancho Penasquitos. I had to make a decision between Westview and Mt. Carmel due to the new high school being built. Hell yea MC was my school! I never regret it for one moment! I built a family and a brotherhood. I would go back in time and live it all over if I could. #Sundevils08DaygoHarpenau

1. The recommended Evan Jones parkade lot is a maze. Poorly lit and no internal maps make it a dismal garage needing attention for ease of use especially at night. 2. Everyone at the civic theater was welcoming, helpful and thorough. It would have been beneficial to know in advance what food was available so we could have planned that option. Most theaters we've visited barely sell bevyand snack nuts but yours had much broader menu. Missed sales opportunity. 3. The balcony seating and audio was acceptable. As well there were several places to sit in the lonby areas pre-show. 4. Reasonable pricing and ease of stairs access. Nice show and theater. Not so much the parking garage.H. Yee

Performance was great. Sound needed a little more checking before the show. Very clean, very friendly. Will Devin Kelly attend more shoes in the future. We saw hadestown. Casting was good, could have been better. Hermes needed to speak more clearly, Orpheus needs better vocal control. Hades was amazing as was persephone. Great chorus, great band.SanDiego Food Czar

Wonderful show, wonderful venue. My son's first show was The Lion King and it didn't disappoint. Pure Magic describes it pretty well. Conveniently located, plenty of parking and wonderful concessions including a full bar. Lots of great merch as well. Looking forward to seeing some great shows in the future!!!!!Justin Shaw

This was my first time visiting the fabulous Balboa Theatre in Beautiful, Sunny San Diego. I had stupidly purchased my seat on the end, not realizing it was up against the wall with no walkway beside them. I have PTSD and severe claustrophobia. The panic sets in immediately. I explained the predicament to one of the many courteous staff members, and if a seat would happen open up that wasn’t boxed in, I’d greatly appreciate it, if not so totally understand. This was my fault. 5 different staff members communicated together and got me a nice, open seat that just happened to be closer to the middle. This experience was aces all around and to the Balboa Theatre, every one of y’all deserves a whole bucket of chicken. 🤙🏼 Thanks again! You have no idea how much you improved my already wonderful experience.Jason Sporehees

An okay venue to see a performance. The seats were comfortable and the sound was nice. A few of the stage lights shine directly into your eyes if seated on the upper levels during our visit. Unfortunately the construction takes away from the exterior appearance and the neighborhood surrounding it has a lot of closed businesses and homeless people. No parking provided, I would recommend taking the trolley which is a half mile from the venue. I didn't feel very safe walking the area with the amount of questionable people on the streets around here and the state of this downtown area is depressing with all the abandoned businesses.Stephen Ondo

Good service and some quick entry and check-up of vaccination status of attendants. I didn't like that during the performance some representatives will be passing by down the hallway and stand in front of you so they will cut off the view for moments. I guess they were checking everyones wearing masks, but it was very annoying. Other than that is definitely a must to visit place. They have a good variety of events coming during the year. Definitely I'll visit again.Monica L Cholico

This is the place I did my first professional headshot. First of all, veteran owned business. Hooah! Anywho, the photographer is incredibly professional and skilled. He has all the right backgrounds and tricks up his sleeve to make you look like a model. The editing is also top notch. I love how many pictures you can choose from! I also love the high/professional quality of the photos. I loved how mine came out so much I literally use my headshot for everything. Also, when I hire a new employee I send them here to get their professional headshot. I will be updating my headshot regularly here. Great work! Bonus: you can schedule online!Joanna Benavidez

I had a really great experience working with Donald today from start to finish. He made me feel really comfortable throughout the entire process, was patient, and really efficient with our time. I had even selected to do a wardrobe change and dropped my second shirt when leaving home, and he instead allowed me to receive an extra retouched image. The quality of his work was outstanding. I am selecting the images I want, and I can’t wait to e the final product. Thanks, Donald. I will definitely be sending friends this way.Brett Hicks

When I saw that this place has 5.0 with more than 40 reviews in Google I thought 'oh wow, how do they do it?' Then I met Donald and had my professional headshots taken, and all I can say is 'Excellent'. The whole experience was pleasant, he is an expert photographer and communicates very well even to a guy with zero experience in posing like me. The shots look amazing and he delivered on time. Worth every penny!Ignacio Yañez

10 Billion Stars. PLEASE READ THIS! YOU WILL LEARN ALOT IF YOU ARE A NEW TO DANCE STUDIOS OR LOOKING FOR A NEW DANCE/THEATRE HOME. In the beginning, my daughter and I went around to about 5 local dance studios to see where our best fit was and to sort of "interview" them. I have no dance background or perspective on what a dance studio could be, should be or even what we wanted. But boy did we learn that fast. We have watched our daughter dance here from age 6 ish and is now almost 12, still going strong. The ballet program for the littles is adorable and right on – no spray tans, lashes or inappropriate costumes – it's sweet. And no competitions. No pressure. All of her teachers were so loving and when I learned of their own professional dance backgrounds, I was AMAZED. Your little one will learn ballet technique (you won't believe what they can do so young!) and have fun and be nurtured and loved on. Now at a higher level – wow – I trusted the studio and her teachers for her transition into every level. You can trust these people. They aren't going to rush your child up the dance ladder. And, they aren't going to hold them back, unless there's a good reason. I've learned to be patient and so has my daughter who wanted to move up faster and have bigger roles in performances. It's been a fascinating, learning lesson – trust them, trust the process, learn patience, AND teach your children to do the same. Huge life lessons in expectations. A word about Miss Miah for the higher levels. One cool cat. A NYC Ballet background. Heart of gold. She has instinct with dancer ability and potential. She responds quickly to every email or text. She's thoughtful and deliberate. She's a real pro. If you have a question just ask her. I've needed "perspective" a few times. And she's so helpful. My daughter has the perfect amount of fear (in a coaching healthy way), respect, admiration and love for Miss Miah. Recently my daughter was invited to be "en pointe." Miss Miah recommended an x-ray to be sure her bones were ready for this. She does not advance a whole class, they aren't cookie cutters – she looks at each, individual student for when and how they can advance. She is cautious and careful. I also know that she works around the clock to make everything just right. A word about Miss Angela. We made an appointment to meet her like we did at all studios when interviewing, looking for our dance studio. She was the only one who led us away from the busy area and sat down to talk to us. No other studio owner did this. Then she asked my little to stand and show her certain positions. She looked at my daughter's legs and feet – at only 6 years old! We talked a long time about the dance industry, what it's become (mostly money-making competitions), their goal of keeping children children, maintaining the innocence and having HEALTHY bodies. This resonated with me. I didn't want HOOCHIE outfits, make up or music. She gave us big picture, she shared their studio philosophy. The other studios were all about "here's the schedule and pricing." Miss Angela will show up for you a million times over. She works her heart out to protect her studio, and our children. YOU CAN TRUST HER. A note about Musical Theatre and Jazz – our daughter is mainly in Ballet but she does take a jazz class with Miss Audrey and has an absolute blast. It's good for these ballerina's to move in a different way. She has also taken a Musical Theatre class (Highschool Musical) and it was a HUGE success. Non stop singing and dancing at home. We have all the DVD's, she learned so much – memorizing lines, staging, how to manage nerves, supporting her fellow performers, putting on a show, was fantastic!! You will love this studio!!!victoria robarts

We were in search of a dance program for our son and, after contacting several schools across the county, Scripps Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) stood above the rest in both vision and approach. Our son has always loved to dance and we knew he would need structure and guidance as well as flexibility to still be a kid. From the moment we first walked through their doors and still today, we have always felt warmly welcomed. SPAA provides quality education in all forms of dance as well as musical theatre and delivers it all in a way that supports whole person growth. In our nearly two years as part of the SPAA family, we have witnessed the delight of the littlest ones as they learn ballet and tap technique while singing along to their favorite songs; others meeting up with their friends in the lobby and sharing how excited they are to begin their classes and rehearsals; and the older students walking in with confidence as they warm up for their next class and rehearsal. Across age and skill level, students are met where they are each day. The emotional person is addressed along with the physical technique of each class. As for my son, he continues to be excited to go to his ballet classes and added musical theatre to his schedule this year. He is simply thriving there. We have watched him go from novice to showing promise and full of spirit. More recently, our older son expressed interest after seeing how much fun our younger son was having, and is now participating in a musical theatre class. He, too, is thriving. He is now working with his voice and playing characters at home all of the time and we have already seen his confidence level improve. If there was one thing you could count on your child(ren) taking away from their experiences at SPAA, it is a myriad of skills they will use throughout their life, most especially confidence. SPAA provides experienced and knowledgeable instructors who go out of their way to connect with their students, creating a warm environment for learning. In fact, it feels like a home away from home for both students and their families. SPAA does so much by way of classes, shows and productions, one would think they are a small army when, in reality, they are a tight-knit group, passionate about sharing their craft and educating young people through performance art. Their larger productions also give us families a wonderful way to get involved, helping with various parts of the shows, and allowing us to be part of our children’s fun.Rindi Cullen-Martin

Nothing but good things to say about our experience at SPAA. About six years ago when we were looking for a new ballet studio for our daughter Erin (10 years old at the time), Ms Miah and SPAA were recommended to us as a top notch non-competition ballet focused studio. Erin chose SPAA over other studios we visited due to her interactions with Ms Miah and what she felt she could learn from her. Six years later and my daughter and her passion for ballet is thriving at SPAA, under the guidance of Ms Miah and her other teachers. Over the years she has progressed to pointe and moved from beginning to intermediate to advanced class levels when she was physically and emotionally ready. She has also expanded her love of ballet to include jazz, modern, contemporary, lyrical and tap. SPAA considers each child individually and nurtures the whole child, not just the dancer. She has also made incredible friends with her fellow dancers, including both younger and older dancers that took her under their wings and have been her biggest cheerleaders as she takes on more challenging roles in performances including the Nutcracker and the spring and June shows. It was so great to be back in the theater and see the kids dance again for the Nutcracker earlier this month. Erin has attended multiple winter and summer intensives at SPAA and, with Ms Miah's guidance and support, has also auditioned and got in to multiple summer programs with ballet companies and attended a 5 week program at Ballet West in Salt Lake during 2021 and will attend Boston Ballet's 5 week summer program in 2022. I could go on but the bottom line is that SPAA is an excellent dance studio family that supports the whole child, whether the child wants to dance for fun or is seeking a professional career in dance…it's always about the child and helping them be the best dancer they can be! Ballet has been the constant for my daughter over the last few years with the pandemic and it has taught her that dedication and commitment will help her excel in all areas of her life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Jennifer Brownjennyleecpa1

The Pacific Surf School was an overall great experience. The online booking was straightforward and simple. The communication with info was good (just a little strange that texts came from a bunch of phone numbers). Our instructor, Patrick, was great! He was super chatty and made the experience super positive. My son was a bit timid but he did a great job helping him into the surf and encouraging him along the way. He also prepared us well for the potential risk of sting rays and how to prevent stings. Couldn’t say more positives about Patrick and the experience.Ryanmark86

We had an opportunity to do two private lessons. Edwin was great with our 6 year old son! He was very informative and helpfully with him during his first time surfing. He was also patient when our son was afraid and didn’t want to get back in the water. He also helped with our daughter (while our son was on his break) and her instructor to try and get her to stand up! Would very much recommend again! Daniel was great too! He was very patient and kind with our daughter who was a bit shy and afraid. Would definitely recommend again.Oliver Niw

We had a lesson at Pacific Beach for our kids (ages 12 & 15) on 1/22/22 for their first time surfing. We are from Michigan and only know how to downhill ski:)These folks were awesome and the experience was worth every dollar. Easy to find, park, and connect with our instructor. We had Tate as an instructor, who was great and Fernando taking great action photos of the experience. I suggest buying the photo package. We highly recommend this team to provide lessons.Mike Verleger

Kim is such an amazing voice teacher! I started my lessons with her just before I started auditioning for colleges (musical theatre) and she made me feel comfortable in my songs and work in an incredibly short amount of time. I got into the school of my dreams and can say with confidence that Kim helped me get here. Over the months that I had the pleasure to learn from her, my belt, mix, pop, and legit sounds all improved more than I could ever imagine. And past being an amazing and knowledgeable teacher in voice, she taught me so much about how the voice, mind, and body are connected- I've learned knew methods on how to keep my voice healthy that I'll carry with me for my entire career. (She's wonderful with repertoire as well!) I feel incredibly lucky for the time I've trained with Kim as she is seriously one of the best coaches I could ever ask for. I highly highly recommend her whether you need help in musical theatre, pop, opera, or just want to sing for fun! Her studio and our online lessons were always filled with cool new warmups, techniques, and songs that made sure my time never felt like a chore. Additionally, you know that you are being taught the best information out there because not only is she is a working professional and educator, but she is constantly taking classes and lessons that she incorporates into her studio, not to mention that she has a few amazing degrees in voice! If you are looking for an educated, professional, talented vocal teacher in San Diego (or beyond for awesome online lessons) you need not look further than Kimberly Moller.Annabelle Skala

I have been working with Kimberly for the past couple of months, and she has been nothing short of wonderful! Alongside booking roles in musicals and being accepted into reputable college programs as one of her students, her innovative and scientific approach to the voice and singing has transformed my perspective on vocal pedagogy. She is an amazing artist and teacher, and works relentlessly to help each of her students grow! I always look forward to voice lessons with Kim and will continue working with her in the future. My confidence in and comfort around my own singing voice has grown tremendously—I feel like my voice is heard, and worth listening to! Kim is kind, generous, compassionate, and incredibly talented. As a prospective music educator myself, Kim has inspired me immensely—I hope I can one day impact my future students the way she has impacted me!Melanie Athans

As a vocal coach myself, I sought to deepen my practice with a couple of sessions with Kimberly. Extremely professional, very friendly, lovely to work with. She is extremely knowledgeable about vocal science and neuroscience, was very attentive to my specific goals, and offered me unusual and exciting techniques with immediate results. I trained with six different voice teachers (most had doctorates) before Kimberly, and she was well-equipped to fill in gaps in my knowledge and help take me further. I’m sure she’s wonderful with beginners as well, but experienced/well-studied singers will have plenty to learn from Kimberly.Daniel Bayot

Communication from the beginning was so positive and response was super quick. They were so flexible and kind through all my questions and changes. The day of the shoot was the best. I arrived just as the directions indicated without any trouble, walked into a friendly, warm, and welcoming studio. The shoot was quick and turnaround time was same day… he was even able to accommodate retouch while I was in the studio because we finished early. So professional but so down to earth! I will send all our executives to Laurens.Beth Tufekcic

This was my first time ever having a career headshot done and Laurens and Tori made it such an enjoyable experience! I didn’t know what to expect and was slightly nervous being in front of the camera, but they made me comfortable instantly and smiling wasn’t hard. They spent ample time making sure I was happy with the photos taken — probably more than they had to! I highly recommend reaching out to the them if you need professional quality photos! I felt very involved in the process and also had an enjoyable time!Angela Abbott

Laurens is a true professional! I had and amazing experience from the time I stepped in I was warmly welcomed by Tory and felt instantly at ease. The environment was chill and that helped bring a natural smile out of me. We fell into natural conversation and the shots flowed from there. I had many great options to choose from and finally chose the perfect shot. I am so happy with the final product! If you have any doubts, let me put them to bed. You will not regret this seamlessly incredible experience!Philip Mawamba

Amazing! The longest running surf shop and school in San Diego for a reason. 60 years and standing strong. these guys know their stuff. I had a 9 am private intermediate lesson and brought a friend who had never surfed, and had a beginner private lesson. It would be an understatement to say we had a good time, it was phenomenal. Rafa had me catching glassy rights and lefts all morning. Very knowledgeable teachers, welcoming staff, and the owner who’s been there from day 1, still there with a passion. The equipment we had was great quality, wet suit selection was perfect for any size, and the photographer took so many amazing shots that we could purchase. I’m so glad that I found PB Surf Shop for our lessons. Better yet, my friend who had never surfed was paddling into waves in 20 mins. Not white wash, real waves! Thank you Pacific Beach Surf Shop, you guys made our first trip to San Diego better than we could have imagined. I will be back, and you will be my first stop.JJ Atkinson

100% PB Surf Shop! The ONLY place for legit lessons. We were welcome from the first step onto the surf shop patio. Tanner ROCKS! He was super encouraging and has some amazing ability to help alleviate any doubt. He showed us everything from the stingray shuffle, to timing the wave right. All 4 of us were able to get up on our boards and were riding waves in no time! This was THE most memorable experience for our family while we were in San Diego. Thank you PB Surf Shop! Max took a ton of photos! All of were fabulous! When we had some questions about the photos after we got home, max was still friendly and able to help us out. We did a lot of research on surf lessons, when we finally came across Yellow Productions on YouTube, we knew this was the only place to go! It was a quick endorsement but was exactly what we needed. There are a lot of places along the beach that do lessons… Don't go anywhere except PB Surf Shop – You won't be disappointed.Salt Lake City Diamonds

Excellent experience for two adults who always wanted to learn to surf. Surfing lessons are not just for kids! Rafa, our instructor, had a fantastic calm and confidence-inspiring energy. He was so knowledgeable about the ocean, and how to stay safe, I felt confident before we even stepped in the water. We were standing almost right away. We got so much out of the experience we returned for another lesson. He was a big reason we came back. Now we are totally hooked! The shop itself is full of great staff who are super friendly. Awesome experience, and we will be back!Kim Anderson

Dee is truly amazing. It was my first Brazilian & I was nervous of the pain & the… exposure. She made me feel very comfortable & honestly: the pain wasn’t that bad. The technique and hard wax she uses make all the difference. She takes her time to do it right, so you get the best possible result for your skin. She takes the time to explain to you how to care for your wax, after the fact. She really knows what she is doing! If you listen to her, you will have amazing results. I will be back forever. Dee has changed my life. Treat yourself to a wax experience unlike any other & see how beautiful & happy you & your skin can be. Add photos? Nice try, Google. 😉Alexis Bondch

Dee is AMAZING! She’s an expert about skin types and what type of wax to use, specifically for your skin! She will spend time talking with you about your skin and any concerns/issues you have so she can properly wax you. I’ve been waxed by other esthetician’s and have always had issues with bumps on my skin after the waxing. I shared those concerns with her and when she was done waxing me, she used a high frequency tool on my skin that prevented me from getting bumps! I was so impressed because this was first time I got waxed and NO bumps appeared!! See Dee, she will take very good care of you!Carolynn Augur

I cannot say enough about Dee!!! Prior to going to Wax Haus and Skin, I was the type of person to head into any chain for a quick bikini wax. I was far too naive to realize it didn't have to be a horrible experience and it can be beautifully done. Dee has completely changed my perspective. Her hard wax technique and incredible care of my skin, hair growth, etc makes her a true master of her craft. Not to mention, my sessions with her are always filled with great conversation and laugh. I continuously buy her packages and will be a long-time customer. Thank you!Kris Corr

Amazing free classes! Great campuses with updated equipment. Why did I pay for my undergrad degree again? The only downfall is that some of the people in the classes may be a little slower to grasp concepts than others. Patience is a virtue when receiving free education.Joniene Swick

10 Billion Stars. PLEASE READ THIS! YOU WILL LEARN ALOT IF YOU ARE A NEW TO DANCE STUDIOS OR LOOKING FOR A NEW DANCE/THEATRE HOME. In the beginning, my daughter and I went around to about 5 local dance studios to see where our best fit was and to sort of "interview" them. I have no dance background or perspective on what a dance studio could be, should be or even what we wanted. But boy did we learn that fast. We have watched our daughter dance here from age 6 ish and is now almost 12, still going strong. The ballet program for the littles is adorable and right on – no spray tans, lashes or inappropriate costumes – it's sweet. And no competitions. No pressure. All of her teachers were so loving and when I learned of their own professional dance backgrounds, I was AMAZED. Your little one will learn ballet technique (you won't believe what they can do so young!) and have fun and be nurtured and loved on. Now at a higher level – wow – I trusted the studio and her teachers for her transition into every level. You can trust these people. They aren't going to rush your child up the dance ladder. And, they aren't going to hold them back, unless there's a good reason. I've learned to be patient and so has my daughter who wanted to move up faster and have bigger roles in performances. It's been a fascinating, learning lesson – trust them, trust the process, learn patience, AND teach your children to do the same. Huge life lessons in expectations. A word about Miss Miah for the higher levels. One cool cat. A NYC Ballet background. Heart of gold. She has instinct with dancer ability and potential. She responds quickly to every email or text. She's thoughtful and deliberate. She's a real pro. If you have a question just ask her. I've needed "perspective" a few times. And she's so helpful. My daughter has the perfect amount of fear (in a coaching healthy way), respect, admiration and love for Miss Miah. Recently my daughter was invited to be "en pointe." Miss Miah recommended an x-ray to be sure her bones were ready for this. She does not advance a whole class, they aren't cookie cutters – she looks at each, individual student for when and how they can advance. She is cautious and careful. I also know that she works around the clock to make everything just right. A word about Miss Angela. We made an appointment to meet her like we did at all studios when interviewing, looking for our dance studio. She was the only one who led us away from the busy area and sat down to talk to us. No other studio owner did this. Then she asked my little to stand and show her certain positions. She looked at my daughter's legs and feet – at only 6 years old! We talked a long time about the dance industry, what it's become (mostly money-making competitions), their goal of keeping children children, maintaining the innocence and having HEALTHY bodies. This resonated with me. I didn't want HOOCHIE outfits, make up or music. She gave us big picture, she shared their studio philosophy. The other studios were all about "here's the schedule and pricing." Miss Angela will show up for you a million times over. She works her heart out to protect her studio, and our children. YOU CAN TRUST HER. A note about Musical Theatre and Jazz – our daughter is mainly in Ballet but she does take a jazz class with Miss Audrey and has an absolute blast. It's good for these ballerina's to move in a different way. She has also taken a Musical Theatre class (Highschool Musical) and it was a HUGE success. Non stop singing and dancing at home. We have all the DVD's, she learned so much – memorizing lines, staging, how to manage nerves, supporting her fellow performers, putting on a show, was fantastic!! You will love this studio!! (I cross posted this review to their Carmel Valley location too)victoria robarts

Nothing but good things to say about our experience at SPAA. About six years ago when we were looking for a new ballet studio for our daughter Erin (10 years old at the time), Ms Miah and SPAA were recommended to us as a top notch non-competition ballet focused studio. Erin chose SPAA over other studios we visited due to her interactions with Ms Miah and what she felt she could learn from her. Six years later and my daughter and her passion for ballet is thriving at SPAA, under the guidance of Ms Miah and her other teachers. Over the years she has progressed to pointe and moved from beginning to intermediate to advanced class levels when she was physically and emotionally ready. She has also expanded her love of ballet to include jazz, modern, contemporary, lyrical and tap. SPAA considers each child individually and nurtures the whole child, not just the dancer. She has also made incredible friends with her fellow dancers, including both younger and older dancers that took her under their wings and have been her biggest cheerleaders as she takes on more challenging roles in performances including the Nutcracker and the spring and June shows. It was so great to be back in the theater and see the kids dance again for the Nutcracker earlier this month. Erin has attended multiple winter and summer intensives at SPAA and, with Ms Miah's guidance and support, has also auditioned and got in to multiple summer programs with ballet companies and attended a 5 week program at Ballet West in Salt Lake during 2021 and will attend Boston Ballet's 5 week summer program in 2022. I could go on but the bottom line is that SPAA is an excellent dance studio family that supports the whole child, whether the child wants to dance for fun or is seeking a professional career in dance…it's always about the child and helping them be the best dancer they can be! Ballet has been the constant for my daughter over the last few years with the pandemic and it has taught her that dedication and commitment will help her excel in all areas of her life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Jennifer Brownjennyleecpa1

My daughter has been attending SPAA since she was in first grade. She graduated from high school last year and through the years, she found her passion in dance. The staff and instructors all have extensive professional experience in the classes they teach. SPAA is truly a multi-discipline performing arts academy, where they offer many genre of dance, such as ballet, modern, jcontemporary, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and more. They also have a music theater side for students who love to act, sing, and dance. Some of the other girls also have the chance to choreograph dance pieces and teach younger dancers. One of the great features of SPAA, is the amount of performances the students have options to perform in. My daughter and most of the students love to be on stage! During the years at SPAA, my daughter made life-long friendships and I want to mention this place is not "clicky" like you may think. Each girl is supportive of each other, no matter which dance role they are casted, or which summer intensive program they were accepted to. We attribute these good values of support and respect to the SPAA instructors and staff. In addition, with my daughter's committment to dance, she dance over 20 hours a week but learned to manage her time with homework before and between dance classes. Younger dancers looking up to the older dancers and learning to be committed to dance and school work at the same time. We love SPAA not only for teaching the beauty of dance to my daughter, but for the many wonderful life lessons being a better human being.Sabrina S

This place is amazing. Owned and run by artisans in every sense of the word. My personal experience from taking their Intro to Wood working for Women: I was always intimidated and afraid of the tools and loud "things" in our garage and would head the other way when the hubs was cutting wood or metal. I had no experience in using any of the tools and my fear kept me from getting near those loud, noisy, scary "things". When I heard about this class, I thought, hhmm.. for women, ok, maybe I *can* do this and face my fears, so I signed up. I learned all about the tools used to make all things wood! I learned how they operate, how to adjust them to fit you needs. I learned respect for the tools and marveled at how they performed and did exactly what I wanted them to do. I learned about wood, the cuts, the grains, how to put pieces together. I learned how to sand and scrape – an old style way of smoothing out the grains. The instructors are top notch in their field, they are in fact teachers of woodworking at local colleges and one of the owners is a past president of The Furniture Society. Amazing doesn't even begin to explain. In two days I was instilled with the confidence and very basic knowledge to continue on my own and make other wood THINGS. I went from having never used a table saw to making stuff!Cindy

San Diego Craft Collective is something every city should have! A makerspace where you can learn from professional artisans things that you can't learn from simply watching YouTube tutorials or googling instructions. They have a high standard for their materials and the teachers they hire, and customers leave feeling satisfied at the beauty or functionality of what they've made. Plus learning a new skill really broadens your horizons and opens new doors. What I love most about them is their nonprofit aspect. Bringing the arts to undeserved communities by creating kits to gift to children who normally wouldn't have access to them is really something! The vision of this place is truly unique and well worth supporting.Aimee Lindsay

This place is amazing to learn a new hobby or skill and do it with family or friends. Must come here! Me and my husband did a wood working shop where you build your own coffee table and it was amazing. I felt confident in being able to learn on all the wood shop tools including different routers, table saw, compound miter saw, jig saw and hand tools (sanders, drills, ect). The instructors and staff are very knowledgeable, friendly, and amazing teachers. I loved the whole class and I will be coming back for other classes.Andra K