Based in Mountain View, Schola Cantorum is an audition-based, 135-member chorus that offers live performances throughout the year at different locations in the Bay Area. The current music director is Gregory Wait. Check the website for upcoming events.
Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz is a 200-seat multipurpose theater focused on events related to the French language and culture. It puts on a wide variety of plays, screenings and lectures.
South County Dance is an excellent place for children to learn dance fundamentals and more. The school teaches ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, African, ballroom, salsa and many other forms of dance. South County Dance also host several performances throughout the year. South County Dance is located on Arroyo Vista and parking is located in front of the building.
Locals and tourists alike are enchanted by the beauty and serenity of the Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District, which was designed by Bernard Maybeck in the style of Greek and Roman architecture for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. This San Francisco landmark is a popular backdrop for wedding and other formal pictures. Built around a man-made lagoon at its original site, the palace is one of the last remaining structures of that World Fair. It appeals to people of all ages, in particular to couples, photographers, history enthusiasts and architecture buffs.
Parking and public transportation at Palace of Fine Arts
Parking is free in a small parking lot, as well as on the street. The San Francisco Muni 15 bus line from downtown stops a few blocks away.
Best and worst time to go to Palace of Fine Arts
Any time of the year is good to visit this landmark. It's typically busy on the weekends. To avoid the crowds, visit either early in the morning or in the evening.
Admission to Palace of Fine Arts
Admission is free. The rotunda is inaccessible when weddings or other events are taking place.
Must see/do at Palace of Fine Arts
Check out the architectural details of the rotunda. Visit the Innovation Hanger in the palace's exhibit hall, which is free and open on Wednesdays to Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other places to visit near Palace of Fine Arts
Nearby, in the Presidio, is the Walt Disney Family Museum, which features exhibits on the life and work of the founder of Disneyland. Also close by is the Fort Mason Center, which is home to several small museums and galleries, such as the Mexican Museum and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Artists Gallery. About three miles away, beneath the Golden Gate Bridge is the Fort Point National Historic Site, a brick fort that the United States built before the Civil War to protect the San Francisco Bay.
Insider tip for visitors to Palace of Fine Arts
Read the street signs when you park on the street to avoid getting a parking ticket. Be sure you are not parked during street cleaning hours. Also, check for the time limit for parking on that street.
Author's bio: Susan Echaore-McDavid writes Take 25 to Hollister, a blog about Hollister, San Benito County and nearby areas.
This locally popular performing arts training center offers classes in tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop, as well as acting and voice training. Instruction is available to people of all ages. The studio is conveniently located near several restaurants and professional services. The owners also run summer dance camps. Triple Threat has another studio in Tracy. Call or visit the website for further information.
Owner Marion Chaeff owns and operates The Pacific Ballet Academy in Mountain View, which has been in this location since 1994. The Academy boasts three large studios featuring a sprung dance floor in each. Students particpate in a wide variety of dance classes, including character dancing, yoga and pilates to supplement their ballet training.
Students from the Pacific Ballet Academy perform The Nutcracker at The Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts in the fall, and in a Student Showcase in the spring.
Chaeff's training philosphy encompasses the idea that all children interested in dance should have the opportunity to learn. She hopes to pass on "the joy of dance" to all students in her academy, from preschoolers to adults.
In the summer of 1970, Marvin and Jan Klebe bought a two-room school house on the outskirts of Petaluma and started Cinnabar Theater. Their goal was to create a place where local talent could perform, collaborate and educate. Today, Cinnabar Theater is the only venue in Sonoma County that produces opera, musical theater, dramatic theater, chamber series, dance and special festivals. The Cinnabar Young Rep is a year-round program that offers classes, workshops, performance opportunities, summer camps and festivals, where children as young as 4 learn the art of the theater. Consult its website for upcoming performances and special events.
Centre Stage Academy is a dance studio located in the heart of Gem City in Old Town Monrovia. It's in integral part of the community, offering classes, producing shows and placing entertainers in numerous places all over town. It has received numerous awards, including the Best of Monrovia 2009 Dance Instructor and Academy Services. During class time, the academy is filled with a large group of dancers practicing routines. It's a spacious place with padded floors and mirrored walls. Auditions are held on a regular basis, so give them a call or check out their website for more information.
The Ballet Studio is a classically-based dance studio on the border of Temecula and Murrieta. Its classes are heavily disciplined and rigorous. This is exemplified in the technical curriculm, atmosphere, dress code and teacher-parent-student relationships. The studio accepts students of all skill levels. Classes include Tots Program, Technique, Point, Variations, Pas de Deux and Adult Ballet.
