Scripps Performing Arts Academy Carmel Valley

"I enrolled my daughter in the Scripps Performing Arts camp with high hopes of a positive and enriching experience, but unfortunately, it turned out to be a massive disappointment. I am appalled by the unprofessional and hurtful behavior displayed by the staff and organizers. Firstly, the camp's communication was utterly vague and inconsistent. When I inquired about the camp, they informed me it would run for five full days. However, the last day was nothing more than a 30-minute performance and then camp was over. I also wanted to clarify the appropriate attire for camp so I could prepare in advance. The lady I spoke with said streetwear or dance wear was perfectly acceptable. With my daughter being a dancer, she had a dance wardrobe of two piece outfits and leotards. When I had mentioned this on the phone, the response was “that would be adorable.” On the first day of camp, my three year old daughter was beyond excited, confident, and rocking an adorable two piece outfit. When I picked her up, she was wearing a very oversized t-shirt to cover her body. I was then told, that midriff was not allowed at the studio and to cover her legs. I was taken aback, as I had specifically clarified this prior to the start of camp. As we were leaving, my daughter (again, she’s three), said “mommy, I didn’t want that t-shirt put on me!” I feel the camp staff body shamed my daughter, which is absolutely unacceptable and offensive. I had confirmed her attire with them before the camp started, and they had given no indication of any issues. This incident left her feeling hurt and self-conscious. As a parent, I cannot fathom why anyone would think it's acceptable to treat young children this way. I originally signed up for 5 weeks of camp, in hopes of an extremely positive experience. Midway through, we were given the opportunity to attend a very special family vacation that coincided with her last 2 camp sessions. I politely requested a refund (partial would have been totally fine), and they gave me options that were impossible for me to fulfill.They showed no flexibility and outright denied my request, demonstrating a complete lack of empathy and customer service. I am deeply disappointed by this dance studio camp's conduct and handling of the situations. They failed to deliver on their promises, body shamed a young child, and showed no understanding or consideration for genuine personal circumstances. I sincerely hope that no other child or parent has to go through such an upsetting experience. Based on my experience, I cannot recommend this dance studio camp to anyone. As a parent, my primary concern is the well-being and happiness of my child, and this camp utterly failed to provide a safe, respectful, and enjoyable environment. I strongly advise parents to seek alternative options where their children will be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve."

"We are here to vouch for Miss Melissa’s skill in teaching Ballet II. Lilah had Miss Melissa as her teacher and loved her. I was also impressed with her teaching skills and her ability to keep up the pace. The students enjoy her class very much!! She also focuses on her students individually. She is very much aware of their individual progress!"

"My 9 year old daughter has been taking Musical Theater and Hip Hop for 2 years. She loves her teachers and is having a blast. I have loved watching her develop new skills beyond dancing. She has come out of her shell with some new found stage presence- memorizing lines, projecting her voice, and learning to work together as a team. Her mentors have built up her self confidence and made this experience fun for her. We love SPAA! Oh, we went to the annual Nutcracker Performance and were blown away by the talent! Highly recommend!"

"My daughters have been attending the SPAA Carmel Valley studio since they were 3 and it has been a delightful experience for the whole family. They are happy to go and always look forward to their classes. I highly recommend SPAA for children who are interested in learning ballet, other dances and musical theater. The studio has a great atmosphere, with friendly and experienced teachers and staff, who are passionate about teaching and also making a difference in your children's life. I have seen my daughter flourish into a confident ballerina over the past 4 years. The studio offers a variety of classes for all ages and skill levels. The classes are well-organized and the teachers are loving, patient and encouraging. When the pandemic hit, the SPAA team quickly pivoted to a virtual format while preparing the outdoor studio. They were flexible and continued to support each student and family during these tough times. The SPAA team is also very creative, we absolutely love the performances they offer each year, the quality, the passion and the effort that go behind are outstanding! Each year, we look forward to our children performing in the Nutcracker, not only they teach them great ballet techniques, but also great skills for life. I would definitely recommend SPAA to anyone who is looking for a great place for their child to learn ballet!"

"It has been truly a joy to watch my daughters grow and thrive as dancers over the years, all because of the wonderful environment at Scripps Performing Art Academy (SPAA). Both of them have danced at other local studios, with great confidence I do believe SPAA is a wonderful studio and I will highly recommend. SPAA offers different dance classes, my daughters have the opportunities to explore them during the summer and they love them all! By participating in various dance classes, summer intensive programs and dance performances, they have learned great dance technique and choreograph while building a portfolio of self-esteem and confidence. At SPAA, Miss Miah and all other wonderful teachers go above and beyond to make every student feel special, valued and part of a wonderful dance team (without any bad competitive vibe). My daughters look forward to their classes each week, both of them have created great friendship with their dance buddies. This is particularly precious during the Covid pandemic, SPAA has been able to continue their classes with excellent safety protocols, my daughters were able to attend their classes in person, and they danced beautifully in toughing performances of Nutcracker and a Year-end production, in an outdoor studio. Thank you Miss Miah and all of the SPAA teachers for nurturing the resilient and creative souls of all your dancers and giving them your love and support, especially during challenging time!"