Ms. Marian’s Dance Garden

Thank you Ms. Miriam and Ms. Veronica for a lovely spring dance session (hip hop) for my little H. She looked forward to each weekly class and was definitely excited about performing at the recital.
H has never had any dance background or experience prior to attending her class. She enjoyed every class she attended. I was unsure whether we would sign her up again but she asked us at the recital if we could sign her up for more classes. Unfortunately we are unable to sign her up for Dance Garden’s summer camp but will be on the look out for the Fall class schedule. My little H is a shy one but I think there class has helped her open up and I didn’t expect her to not be nervous about performing in front of people.
The website has a load of information about schedules, forms, and faqs. They are located in the Outer Richmond (where parking can be challenging at times). Ms. Miriam is so helpful by email if you have any questions or concerns.

My daughters Harper (3 yr) and Alessa (1 year) have been going since they were about 6 mo old to the Movement class for 6 – 36 mo. I think their favorite part is the costumes, dancing, and learning new things. Harper just loves it! I love that they do special things like make custom picture frames and she sends pictures of the girls home in them. Very special.

My five year old son and I take classes at Ms. Marian Dance Garden. This was his first dance studio experience and Ms. Marian is his loudest cheerleader. My son looks forward to going to his hip hop boys class class Wednesday and camp for the summer.

Our daughter attended this camp last year and everyday she came home with a different enriching experience– from making hieroglyphics, to doing a Greek Goddess dance, to nurturing succulents, which she brought home. We had not heard about this camp and enlisted in desperation. It was AMAZING!!! Ms. Marion seems like she was born to teach and engage children. We are a creative household, but she put us to shame. We will definitely return. It was a wonderful surprise and a hidden gem!

This is a very special place. My 9 year old daughter and 7 year old son both take classes (theatre production and jazz) at Ms Marian’s. This is not what I would call a traditional dance school that is strict and demanding on young students — otherwise we wouldn’t be here! It is quite the opposite — dedicated and talented teachers but in a warm and encouraging environment. My kids don’t respond well to the strict discipline and sometimes harsh criticism of other dance schools. Ms Marian and her teachers celebrate each child and don’t measure the kids up against each other or yell at or critique them. The kids just come and dance and have fun.
I recently started an adult dance class with Ms Marian as well. It was so fun despite none of us having a dance background! I am looking forward to meeting other neighborhood moms and having fun dancing.
So happy to have a school like this in our neighborhood.

We LOVE Ms. Marian’s Dance Garden! My daughter started classes there this spring and was happy as could be! Last week my daughter had an amazing time at Summer Camp!
Ms. Marian is an amazing teacher and really engages the children. She nurtures and inspires their creativity through dance as well as art. My daughter came home each night with stories about her day and couldn’t wait to go back each day. From recitals to art to just having fun, Summer Camp with Ms. Marian was everything a great camp should be!
Her location is easy to get to and parking is not a problem. The studio is clean, well stocked and had a nice waiting room for parents. My daughter made friends and I always enjoyed chatting with the other parents. Ms. Marian has created a wonderful studio, camp and community!

What an amazing teacher Ms. Marian is. This is a woman who was born to work with kids. Her classes have so much imagination, creativity, fun, and play. She can get kids to hold really hard positions for a long time through pretend scenarios, making games out of it, and putting them in costumes. She seems to be able to make every single one of her students feel special and adored. Her Sports Movement class is such a fun class to watch. Sometimes the kids are trying to head a balloon to score a goal. Sometimes they’re learning how to do a cartwheel or jumping on a trampoline, or they’re trying to bounce a small bouncy ball right on a particular spot and catch it. Or maybe one kid is pretending to be a bridge while the other is trying to crawl through on his belly without touching the bridge because it might be electrified. She really understands boys’ mindsets. My daughter is taking a couple of dance classes, and I’m really impressed with the complicated steps she’s learned.
My daughter is also taking her sewing class, and it is the highlight of her month. The class takes place one Sunday a month for four hours, enough time for the kids to finish a project. I am also taking Pilates with Ms. Marian and love it. She really understands when to push me and when certain muscles have had enough.

Ms Marian is a wonderful dance teacher and we were so happy to hear that she opened her own studio this year. Both of my kids have taken classed (son — 4yrs took pre-​k class & daughter — 2yrs took infant/​toddler class) so my experience is with the younger classes and it could not have been a better!
Is was so great for my son to take dance (he is an active, sports loving type of boy) and she was able to get him to focus and learn so much about body awareness. At the end of each class the students would preform a dance number (including costumes), it was so great! My daughter loves it too! She often mimics the moves she learns in class and since I attend the toddler class with her we can do the exercises we learn at class at home together.
I really can’t say enough about Ms Marian, she is kind and really makes learning dance and performance fun. If you are looking for dance classes for your kids I think this is the best place in SF for kids of all ages.
Oh…and she also teaches adult dance classes, adult pilates classes, kids sewing classes and hosts amazing birthday parties!

My granddaughter attended Ms. Marian’s classes when she was with the Richmond YMCA. She has now opened a beautiful, light and airy dance studio for children from 3 – 18. All the children adore Ms. Marian and she teaches them movement and dance in a very relaxed and caring way. I highly recommend Ms. Marian’s classes.