Outstanding ownership and management group. They really care for our kiddos success.

We have been a Riverside family for 10 years now. Our children started at preschool and mommy/daddy & me and now they are Focus Track, Youth Dance Company, and Theatre Troupe members. Our relationships with the studio staff and other studio families have made a positive impact on our lives. The instructors are respectful, talented, and display a high level of concern for the well-being of the performers. Our children have participated in workshops with professional dancers, had virtual chats with Broadway, TV, and Movie actors, and have participated in awesome community events like parades and holiday events. We are so fortunate to have found such an amazing and positive program that has cultivated a love and respect for the performing arts in our family.

I’m so impressed with Riverside and their educators. They embody the perfect amount of love and discipline for teaching young people. Their professionalism and ability to pivot in the climate of 2020 has been impressive to say the least. I’m glad I found them.

We absolutely love Riverside. My daughter has been attending for 5 years and my son just began preschool this year. Preschool they not only offer preschool curriculum followong the Washington standards but also dance, theater, music and tumbling. I have even begun to take adult classes and have enjoyed meeting friends and making memories. During the closure due to COVID-19 Riverside figured out how to continue to do virtual classes and make it engaging for even preschoolers. My kids loved all of the activities and especially the puppet shows. We truly love being part of the Riverside family.

I have a niece who has enjoyed Riverside for over a year now. The facility is up to par in my opinion and the teachers she encountered were amazing. She never had anything bad to say about her experience and was always excited to go and reluctant to leave. The other children were great and we made a lot of friendships during the time shes attended class at Riverside.However, sea change is happening.I think the owner is a bit over the top in her desire to water down the programming for mass appeal. The productions have been great in their execution, but the content increasingly looks like it was decided upon by someone with a cognitive impairment who was fired from the Hallmark channel for being too bland. Kids can handle logical plot structure and not every narrative edge has to be blunted and covered in pink padding.There has also been an abrupt change in staff. The best instructor they had is no longer with the company and the effect has been dramatic. The students are extremely upset; in some cases there have been tears (like, a LOT of TEARS). The parents are confused and hard-pressed to wrap their head around such an abrupt change of course amidst rehearsals leading up to a scheduled show. All we can gather is that there was a disagreement and the owner of the studio grossly overreacted (which may be typical behind closed doors).At this point, given the sentiment Ive heard expressed from the other parents and what appears to be a pattern of mismanagement by the owner, I think the days on this place are numbered.This will be my nieces last enrollment, which is a shame, but the quality of service and morale of the kids has plummeted since that her favorite teacher was dismissed. The owner tried to do damage control and blame it on insubordination but the parents are wise to her BS and not buying her spin story at all. Not once have we seen or heard anything that gave us pause with regard to this teacher. She was always the favorite and her devotion to the kids was self-evident. Hopefully the owner learns to control herself more acutely and make better decisions with the decline of enrollment and possible closing of the studio.

We practically live here. The teachers are warm, engaging, encouraging and highly skilled in the art/education form they teach. Weve done piano lessons, ballet, tap, private lessons, musical theater, camps and preschool. We have zero complaints. We recommend them to everyone. Their policies and calendars are online, and the communication with the staff is always excellent. Also - the kids actually learn things. RPA has helped foster a love of the arts in our kids, and already created loads of memories for our family.

We love riverside performing arts. It has been an amazing family friendly environment where the older dances can be encouraged to push themselves in a nurturing space with amazing top notch instruction with an emphasis on correct technique and skill. It also has been an amazing place to safely and comfortably allow my 2-3yr old to find her independence and also learn the love of dance and music. We couldn’t have chosen a better studio!

Our son has attended dance and preschool classes at Riverside since he was 2 years old, nearly 3 years now. Weve loved it here and he loves the dance classes and the environment and people at the preschool.His teachers are some of his favorite people and they all have a real and obvious love for the kids that attend Riverside Performing Arts. It is a big community of people between all of the staff, students and parents and the people at Riverside do a great job keeping it all running smoothly. They somehow keep the kids happy and learning while managing all of the other aspects of running a business. Id recommend them to anyone looking for a fun and engaging place for their child to learn something new.

Riverside has the most AMAZING teachers!! The owner Annie has more patience than anyone I’ve ever met!! My daughter is in the twirling twos class and will be attending pre-school in the fall. I can’t recommend them enough!

RPA is the best place in Vancouver or Portland to get your education in the arts! The teachers are amazing and actual professionals with degrees. The owner is so rad, I think she is probably the only small business arts based school that actually provides medical benefits to their employees - plus she is just a great person all around. My kids have gone to RPA for a few years now. One started in preschool, which was the most amazing experience for him. Their preschool is AMAZING. It uses the performing arts to teach the kids along with tons of movement. He has continued with more dance and is LOVING it.I love the changes RPA has made in the last couple of years, including hiring more high caliber teachers. This place truly cares about the students before anything else. RPA is a class act! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

My family loves RPA. We have three generations of dancers who go here ( ages 3-71) and we love the family feeling of the staff as well as the other dancers and their families. There is even a homework room to hang out in before and between classes..although there may be more laughter than homework that gets done! There is also a wonderful preschool on site with dancing as a daily part of the curriculum.

Incredible staff and incredible program. As an educator I’ve always been hesitant in trusting others with my child’s education and I 100% trust Riverside PA with my children. The preschool and dance classes are absolutely fantastic.

I love this place so much! Annie Warf, the owner, is such a kind-hearted, thoughtful person and loves all the kids she teaches as her own. She cares deeply about them and their success in whatever it is they choose. It really has a great family feel and I highly recommend trying them out for your childs love of performing arts ❤.

Our daughters have attending RPA for over 10 years now, and we absolutely LOVE IT! From day one Teacher/Owner Annie & her amazing staff have treated my children as their own. My youngest daughter started RPA when she was 3, and now at 13, dances full time with the Youth Dance Company, while also studying Ballet, Jazz and Tap. I couldn’t have asked for a better place for my daughter’s to have spent their younger years, being influenced by some of the greatest and most caring teachers and administrators. We love our RPA family.

Put my 2.5 year old who has some separation issues in a class. I told the teacher about my concerns and that I wanted her to be in the class to help her learn social skills. I sat in the room with her and we were quiet and respectful for a few weeks. The teacher assured me in the beginning that it would be fine and even said she had one kid who refused to dance until the very last class. I then got an email saying that if my child could not be in dance without me in the room that she shouldn’t be there. To add insult to injury, she said she refused to call parents to discuss things or to talk to them face to face about it without another staff member present. The fact that they have this policy is a huge red flag and a sign of past issues. I won’t be putting my child in a class where the staff is scared to communicate clearly with me. My daughter loved dance class and will be super disappointed, however I also refuse to further traumatize a child who has already lost one parent by leaving the room and letting her scream the whole time (that will only lead to resentment of dance and abandonment issues) I would not recommend.

We have been an RPA family for 8 years. Our kids are involved in music, theatre, dance, including the Focus track classes. The teachers always have the childrens best interest at heart while instructing them. All of the teachers are professionals at their craft and weekly inspire the students to work hard and do their best. RPA has a family feel that is unmatched in our community.

This is my daughter’s favorite place. We love the preschool program, the dance camps, and the classes. The teachers and staff are wonderful, and I am excited to continue being a part of the RPA family for many years to come.

When I was teaching theatre at a local high school, Riverside Performing Arts was there to assist with choreography of a few shows. Their primary concern is always creating a love for the arts.

I can not say enough good things about the amazingly caring and talented staff at RPA. They are so patient with the littlest of dancers all the way up to adults. My preschooler has attended summer camp and preschool here since she was 3 and we will definitely be part of the RPA family for life. Their preschool curriculum is top notch involving writing, reading, math, art, dance, theatre, and play.

My child has been a student at RPA for over 6 years. Watching her grow has been the greatest joy for both me and my husband. Having other adults in the world (the entire staff at RPA) who are engaged enough to recognize and nurture my childs strengths, while helping her (and us) navigate challenges that life will always bring, is more than I could ever have hoped for. The entire staff cares enough to create conversations with us, which always result in what is best for our daughter. Finding teachers brave enough to tell hard truths-gently-is a rare and beautiful gift. Thank you, Annie for everything you and your staff have done for S. Your honesty, skill, and thoughtfulness have rippled into every aspect of her life and we are all forever changed.

I have really tried to like this place. From what you find online, it seems like a great place and as a disclaimer, I wish I wasnt writing this poor review.My daughter attended for musical theatre class 2 years ago, at that time there were 2 different incidents that kind of turned me off of the place, but were minor enough...(1. the owner, also, instructor was taking her mother to dinner on a night my daughter had class, she offered a make up class on a different day and if you couldnt make that class, she would refund your money for 1 class, we couldnt make the day she offered, never got refund. 2. I payed for a video of the final performance. After a month, I called about the dvd, and learned it would be another month, they were working on it. Okay. Well, after another month, they finally came clean that the videoman recording had messed up and they didnt actually record the performance they were trying to do a redo somehow. We started attending Oregon Childrens theatre at that time, I was over it, I never did get my DVD or my money back. No one EVER reached out about the video either, I had to ask several times. Ok minor stuff.Like I said, I really want to like this place, so we tried again for summer camp last week. The owner was the camp instructor. She have my daughter the part of one of the scarecrows in the performance. My daughter studied and learned every line, there were about 8 of them. Annie, the owner completely skipped over my daughters part and she didnt get to say a single word in the performance!!! My daughter was upset and hurt. I tried to be positive, but what was supposed to be her fun week at camp ended with her feeling unimportant and left out. Not OKAY!! To add insult to the wound, Annie didnt even have the courtesy to email me back about my concern for my daughter, yet emailed me back right away when I had questions about the camp. I have since withdrawn my daughter from the 2 classes she was going to take there starting this fall and we have found somewhere else.

This was by far the worst place to deal with we ended up canceling and they still charged us for 2 more months after we cancelled. I would not recommend this place and would tell people to look elsewhereNo you won’t find it under Kyle jim but it was this last year and it would be under Adamson

Such an amazing place for my little dancer to develop her skills and love for dance. The staff is incredible and I would recommend them to every parent!

I started my daughter at RPA in one of the week long, Summer Camps when she was three years old. We saw such an instant love of the arts and learning after just a couple of mornings that we decided to enroll her in the preschool. The results were truly magical. She developed a true love of dance, performance and most importantly learning. She went off to kindergarten reading and doing math at a level that is far beyond the standard.Teacher Annie is beloved by both of my little ones. Our familys life has truly been enriched by being part of the RPA family. I am so grateful to be raising my kids in a fine arts studio and as part of the RPA tribe.

This place became a second home for my kiddos. The staff is always so professional and inviting. I have never had a bad experience. They communicate well and bring so much joy to their students. My kids both completed preschool through RPA and are well ahead because of it. The variety of classes and age ranges are wonderful. My daughter started in Annie’s twirling twos and I was so nervous to see how she would do, Annie was so great with the littles I had no idea how she managed to get them to do all they did! My son had a harder time and would lose it when I left the class, the staff was so helpful and worked closely with me to determine if he was ready. We gave it a good try but after a while I eventually pulled him and tried again the next year. He was a whole new kid and was so much more comfortable in class. The staff was always very supportive and helpful. They have a good idea of what the kiddos are capable of and encourage them to bloom. They encourage students to try new things and the older students assist the instructors in the younger classes, my daughter beams at “the big girls.” It creates a welcoming and fun learning environment. I would recommend RPA to everyone and I wouldn’t go anywhere else!

Both of our children have greatly benefited from the time they have spent with RPA. Increased confidence and a willingness to work together are just a few of the things I can thank Annie for. The effort she takes to make sure my children feel included, have really helped my son to come out of his shell and improve his social skills.

My children have been going to Riverside Performing Arts for over 6 years. My oldest daughter is involved in theater, tap, and guitar, and absolutely loves it. Her teachers help give her confidence and recognize her talents. My youngest daughter has been dancing since she was 4. Last Summer she auditioned and was accepted into Joffreys Summer Intensive in New York City. This year she was accepted into three different summer intensives, two by audition and one of them based solely on the performance of two of her Youth Dance Company teammates! The auditioner was so impressed with the girlss technique and lack of snarky attitude, that they were eager to accept my daughter. The teachers are exceptional and work hard to bring out the best in each student. Also, they teach adults too! This place is like family and we dont want to go anywhere else.

Fantastic atmosphere and learning environment. Staff is extremely caring and focused.

Both my children attended Riverside Performing Arts preschool for 2 years. After graduating, they continued with dance classes and even took music lessons for a brief period. Annie and the rest of the staff at RPA are truly amazing. I recommend RPA to anyone who is looking for preschool or dance classes. Now that my daughter is older she is interested in musical theater, and RPA is the first place I reached out to, because I know and trust them. She is looking forward to starting the musical theater class fresh this coming fall. RPA is truly a community! You will not be disappointed.

My daughter has been enrolled at RPA for 10 plus years. A great environment for kiddos to grow up in. My daughter has been taught the value of hard word, dedication and a positive attitude. RPA has been the platform that has inspired my daughter to want to teach! She has learned so many lifelong lessons and values though RPA and the Arts. An amazing studio!

My daughter learned to love dance at RPA. Annies was her introduction to ballet, to tap, to musical theatre and to performance. Finding a balance between teaching and nurturing is as great an Art as dance itself and Annie excels at it all. Perhaps managing the needs and expectations of parents is the most difficult part of running a studio and even that Annie and her staff manage with grace. I would recommend RPA to anyone wholeheartedly. And my little dancer is now in her 3rd year of Pointe and the dance studio is still her happy place. Thank you Annie, Tippy and all the RPA family for a foundation in dance built on joy and the love of dance.

Awesome

Amazing school!!!!