Starting Arts - San Jose, California

Kristi T.

Starting Arts is such an amazing organization. They provide much needed art programs (music, dance, theater and visual arts) all over the SF Bay Area. The arts continually get defunded or are underfunded and they help schools provide students with these essential programs.
They also have the most amazing theater programs from their school productions, studio shows and their Dream Team & Dream Team II audition troops.
Starting Arts has such kind and dedicated staff that are welcoming to all kids. They are nurturing and supportive on top of being top notch in their fields.
We can’t begin to say how grateful we are to be part of the Staring Arts “family” and look forward to many more years.

Wrong ?. O.

This place seems great even though I don't have a kid that goes here. Just a heads up for those going here, there is a company next door to them that run a re-entry program which is great but .... There is guys all over the parking lot smoking and "relieving" themselves. Some are on Megan's law and all have been to prison for anything from murder to stealing and everything in between. Please keep that in mind when coming to this place. Also there are homeless that live behind the building. Most of the people in the pi program are pleasant but this is just a FYI.

James W.

"Tech week and all shows are mandatory, so please adjust any outside activities your student may have at this time.

March 27- 29th. Monday-Wednesday Tech rehearsals start at 2:20 and will run until 6 p.m.
March 30 & 31st. Thursday & Friday: Students need to arrive at 3:45 for the show at 5 p.m."

This is the email we got ahead of tech week. No where did it mention if they missed one day they would be removed from the show. Well two students were sick One Monday one Tuesday and missed school. Yesterday and Today they weren't allowed to attend the final Rehearsal and removed from the show.

So two 9 year old students who have been practicing for months were removed from the whole show. The owner of Starting Arts made the call per the director Christine. The owner Michael is treating kids as adults and punishing them because they had were sick and did the right thing and stayed home. The were ready to go today for the final rehearsal but Micheal the owner refused to allow them.

I know talking to the other parents we don't want our school working with this company ever again.

Robert G.

Our kids have been participating in Starting Arts for almost ten years. The productions are amazing and the staff is top notch. Their Summer programs are a great way to introduce a child to musical theatre.

Katie S.

This review is for the Studio shows, dance classes, and the Dream Team program. We have never been involved with the school shows.

We have been with SA for four years now as part of the DT program, and there are a few things that set it apart from any other program in the Bay Area. The kids are truly supportive of each other. Through the DT program, there have been amazing opportunities to learn from actors with many traveling shows and local talent. They strive to highlight every child in some way in their productions, and push them as actors, dancers, and singers. The SA staff want to teach the kids to better in every area.

They are not a show mill. They have two shows a year with the DT program, but there are opportunities to do more through their Studio shows.

We have done dance classes off and on here as well (schedule permitting), and have learned so much in such a short time. The tap classes are challenging but fun.

Over the last two years, we've been involved with the fall Studio show. The amount my child has learned about acting in that short time has been amazing. To be clichè, my kid was pushed way out of her comfort zone and I was shocked at the difference.

We have been involved in other theater programs, but this one is personal, has your child's interest at heart, and they set out to make the world a better place. They do not have a huge staff or a huge facility (although bigger than you would think from the outside), but do incredible things in the community.

In the end, though, you have to try several companies and decide which is best for your child's goals and your family. It's like comparing apples to oranges (another clichè, but oh well). Each company has their own goals for their participants.

NNV N.

My kids love theater! Great productions and summer camps

Chris F.

Great place, great people

A S.

High standard and great fun!