Who We Are
PCPA is a creative and performing arts program that requires dancers to be both artists and athletes. Our ultimate goal is to instill dance intensity and drive inspired by much more than trophies and sequins. We believe in building strong fundamentals, technique, and discipline through dance training and performance experience. You can count on building a respect and love for dance whether you are training for personal or professional goals.
What We Offer
PCPA offers dance classes for kids ages 5 and up. We are the only studio in San Mateo that offers all of the following styles — Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Lyrical, Contemporary, Acro, and more.
Performance teams are available for those that wish to fast track their training. Technique classes, workshops, and yearly intensives are also available. We have classes for all ages and levels.
Why Choose Dance?
Dance is a unique sport. It requires the individual to be both an artist and an athlete. Strength, flexibility, and motor skill development are just some of the physical benefits. Dance also has a lot of mental and social benefits as well. Learning to be part of a group, working as a team, communication, and trust are built in classes. Dance is also ideal for setting individual goals. Watching our students gain confidence in themselves and their abilities is a fulfilling thing to see.
Our Dance Studio
We have a 7000 square foot space with 4 dance rooms and 2 lobbies. With the exception of our toddler room (carpeted) all our studios have mirrors and sprung floors for the safety of our dancers. Our space is on the 2nd floor away from the traffic on El Camino. We are in a secure building that also including a state assemblyman, a yoga studio, a family dental practice, and other professional offices.
Performance Teams
Principal Arts offers dancers the option to participate in our performance teams. We are not a competition driven studio, but we do have teams that compete in the spring every year and attend optional dance conventions as part of their training. All teams also perform in our June recitals.
Our youngest teams (mini-teams) start at age 5 and we break up dancers by level, not age, moving forward. Auditions for our teams happen in August, and you must be invited to attend. Being on a team is a one year minimum committment and you are required to attend all events. If you are interested, please speak with our office staff and we can help guide you on your next steps.
Re-Opening Plan Update
Here is a link to our current re-opening plan. We will invite back private and semi-private classes to begin. Followed shortly after by performance teams, and all remaining groups down the road. Dates are not set as we have to flow with the state guidelines, but we are inching towards everyone returning to studio.
COVID UPDATE – FEB 23, 2021
San Mateo County has announced that we have moved into the red tier of the state’s reopening plan. This means we can reopen to 10% capacity. To stay within the guidelines we will allow private and semi-private lessons to resume in person. We will email families as soon as we are ready to do so. Some of this may depend on teacher availability to be here in person. We will have more updates on in-person lessons for teams and groups as we get into the orange and yellow tiers.
With vaccines coming online and decreasing cases, we are hopeful that we will not regress from here, and that we can continue to move, even slowly, towards a full re-opening. Stay tuned!
#WeWillBeBack #PCPAStrong
Summer 2021 – Dance Camps
We will have an update on our annual summer dance camps and intensives in the next couple of weeks. The current projections are that we will be able to hold our camps like we have in year’s past. Discussions are on-going, we will email and update and post to social media when we have news to share.
Get Your PCPA Swag!
Get your dance gear anytime of year through our online store. If you are looking for performance team gear, we will let you know when it’s time to order. We tend to place one bulk order per year.
Our online store has:
- T-shirts
- Tank Tops
- Hats
- Hoodies
- Masks
- Water Bottles
- More…
If you’re looking for our dress codes – CLICK HERE
Conveniently Located
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley. We are easily accessible from highways 101, and 92, just off El Camino Real.
1528 S. El Camino Real, Ste. 208
San Mateo, CA 94404
Free parking on site and on surrounding blocks. We are located on the 2nd floor. Directions, access codes, and all other info will be emailed to you with your free trial confirmation.
Have A Preschool Age Dancer?
Small Fry Dance Club, the program that launched our studio, offers dance classes for walking toddlers and preschool age dancers (18 months to 5 years) both at our studio, and on-site at preschools throughout the Bay Area. We have had dozens of dancers that have started with us as young as 2 and are still dancing with us in their teenage years. Our programs are designed to grow with your dancer’s needs.
Same amazing staff, same location, same school, just age appropriate.
To learn more click the button below.
Voted Best Dance Studio On The Peninsula
We have been given numerous awards by Bay Area Parent, Redtri.com, and other local publications over the years. We have been voted “Best Dance School” by Bay Area Parent readers 7 of the past 10 years, and in the top 3 dance studios for each year of the past decade.
Join us and see why we are a family favorite!
