Established in 1969, the San Ramon Valley Dance Academy is recognized as one of the finest, most respected studios in the Bay Area. The original owners, Joan Winton, Mo Ruslender, Karla Kobelt, and Klaudia Kobelt, became partners in1978, bringing years of diverse professional and educational backgrounds, training, and teaching experience to their students.  The Academy is home to an outstanding, dedicated faculty as well, whose training and professional experience are unsurpassed.

In 2005, Jennifer Essel Burgardt and Janice Hamill became the new and current owners of San Ramon Valley Dance Academy. Their combined association with the Academy spans over 50 years and their outstanding qualifications made them the ideal candidates to continue the Academy's traditions of quality and excellence.

The 9,000 square foot facility, built in 1978, is the envy of the West Coast dance community. It houses 4 studios, one equipped to provide a complete gymnastic program, plus a Dance Shoppe to supply every dancer's needs.

The Academy  offers a diverse curriculum to students of all ages (3-70+) and abilities (beginner through professional). In addition to the traditional classes in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Gymnastics, specialty classes in Hip Hop, Modern, Stretch, and Special Needs are also available. The Academy's "Color Me Dance" program for children ages 3-6 provides an excellent introduction to dance for the young, creative mind.

Students trained at the Academy have danced professionally in many diverse venues, including Ballet Companies, Musical Theatre (New York, National, and Regional), Dance Companies (from Modern to Hip Hop), Television and more. Others, after graduating from high school, have continued their dance training at noted colleges and universities, including UC Irvine and the famed Juilliard School in New York.

San Ramon Valley Dance Academy is pleased to host Master Classes as well, taught by some of the nation's most noted teachers and choreographers (The late Michael Smuin, Roland Dupree, Jackie Sleight, Chebar Williams, Sam Weber, Charles McGowan and Doug Caldwell, to name a few).

The Academy is committed to providing the same quality instruction in dance and gymnastics that established the Academy's fine reputation in the community over 30 years ago.