Hawkins School of Performing Arts

Hawkins is the premier dance and performing arts academy in Folsom and the greater Sacramento area. There is no better place to train. If you want your son or daughter to have the most well rounded and fulfilling experience as a young artist then make the right choice and enroll them at Hawkins. You will not be disappointed. I can not say enough good things about this school.

My children love Hawkins. The studio is family friendly and my children who are waiting for a sibling in class have comfortable, quiet spaces to work on homework.
The teachers are enthusiastic, and carefully trained to ensure that all techniques being taught are appropriate for the growing bodies in their care– this is perhaps the most important criteria in choosing a dance studio for children.
The studio also fosters a nurturing environment for both the serious dancer and the student who may only pursue as a hobby and form of exercise. Performing troupes, competitive troupes, and companies provide extended performance opportunities for the serious dancer.
Rates decrease per class based on how many hours your family attends per week– this is important for families with more than one dancer or a student who studies multiple styles.

I enrolled my 6 year old in a ballet class. The teacher was was terrible. She didn’t take much interest in the students because the type of class wasn’t one that would lead to some big performance. That was my impression.
My daughter was so bored. I check in a few times and they would be standing there doing same repetitive movements. And sometime while that might be the case, practicing the basics. What bothere me was that the teacher was off to the side working on other stuff. The kids knew she was not taking interest in them.

My daughter has been at Hawkins for over three years all with Mrs. Rebecca. We think that the dance studio, and especially Mrs. Rebecca are fantastic. The only things I would change are the mandatory Hawkins signature leotard. It does not fit the younger girls well and tends to fad into a weird purple/​grey color. A simple capizzio leotard is much cheaper and easier to fit. Second, and my biggest issue is the pay by credit card method for costumes and year end performance. For the past three recitals they failed to charge my credit card timely, resulting in my little girl being told that I had not paid. Each time they were able to find the form I filled out asking for my credit card (the way I pay every month) to be billed — they person responsible for that simply had not done it.
A lot of my daughter’s friends are on the dance teams and it sounds like those are alot of fun, she has never tried out for one — she is on a ice skating team and that leaves no time for the extra classes needed.

Some friends and I took a modern dance class here last night. The instruction was completely different from the ballet class I took so long ago.
We warmed up for a good 10 – 15 minutes, went over the steps several times before starting, the teacher was informative, friendly and didn’t ignore us because we were slightly older than the other girls in class…
Not only was this class a great workout, it was fun! I love dance and this school offers lot of variety, from Tap, Jazz, ballet, lyrical, jazzercise for adult etc.
The rooms and waiting area are extremely clean and tidy, no children running around or screaming. They run a «tight ship» it seems and I like that!
It was such a great class I’m thinking about continuing my instruction here (at least for lyrical/​modern). I noticed they no longer have an adult ballet class on the schedule, probably for the best. There other classes seem much much better Haha…

have tried many different dance schools in the area, and this one is the best. lots of options, can learn just about any type of dance. also vocal and piano lessons.

Teachers seem to be pretty good and a lot of happy and serious faces in the dance classes.
The non teachers who run the place are a little uptight, coming off as demeaning to us more than once. Just had to shrug it off as they seem to be the only game in town.
The performance at the end of the year was at Folsom high; must sit through a couple hours of the studio showcase to see your kid’s two minute performance. The place was too small for the number of people who wanted to get in to see their kid. No videotape or photos were allowed, you have to pay the bucks for the DVD of your kid.
Aside from that, quite a variety of dancing going on and it appears like they foster a great love for the art and inspiring a lot of girls to keep with it.
They get 3 stars, but I have seen better for less money. Don’t let that stop you from going though.
Update: Summer 2011: They revised the end of the year performance to shorter installments. Now you don’t have to sit through as many performances. This had the added benefit of creating less of a crowd.
Also, in the last year, no problems with staff. Raising to to 4 stars.

I danced at Hawkins in High School, and I have been teaching there for about 11 years. All I can say is the studio boasts class, quality education, and a positive atmosphere for all ages. I believe kids learn to balance strong technique and a long term love for dance. If there is any question of age appropriateness, I recommend watching the youtube videos of recent Hawkins dancers at competition.

Cathleya’s review of Hawkins is somewhat antagonistic and being a former Hawkins dancer I think she is off her nutter about the costumes. Hawkins was ALWAYS extremely conservative when I danced and oh wait CATHLEYA… I DANCED THERE FOR 10 years. What about you?
They were ALWAYS extremely professional and broke me of all the bad habits I learned at other studios. I competed with them for 5 years and I have to say that never once was there anything even extremely close to hooker wear. Hawkins was also acutely aware of things like if girls were ready for point (in terms of feet, etc.).
All I have to say is JEEZE, Unilocal what kind of crazies (Cathleya) are you letting become Elite these days?

I really had to laugh at the previous blog about Hawkins. I truely believe the dancers from this studio are and always has been one of the most, if not the most, conservatively dressed at their annual recital and at competitions. I taught at the studio in 2005 and would be curious to learn what costumes were so offensive. All rectial photos are posted on the walls, if you don’t believe me, come in and take a look! Conservative parents are welcome. Hawkins dancers all dress age appropriate.

I dont know if things have changed since the days when I was a little girl, but the recital costumes that they had always bordered on HOOKER wear. I dont know how parents let their children dance in public with some of those outfits. Conservative parents beware.