C Round Ballet Works

amazing. seriously. I always wanted to take ballet but I was always too intimidated. this class is amazing perfect for beginners and it makes you want to continue dancing. Catherine is awesome she shows you proper technique and doesn’t let you get away with ANYTHING. but above all she makes you want to dance and her kookyness just goes to show you that ballet can be fun and not just something for the young and rich!

Although I’ve been dancing since I was a young child, ballet was always just part of my warm-​ups and technique, but not part of my repertoire. I grew up performing Chinese folk dance and moved onto modern/​contemporary in college. I was never serious about ballet and at one point, I just told myself that ballet is for little girls and I am too old to do ballet now. Then, I decided to one day look on Unilocal for adult ballet classes because I started seeing those kinds of classes popping up around the community. I landed on Catherine’s page here. Since the class location was so close to where I lived, I decided to give it a shot. Well, I was completely surprised by what a wonderful teacher Catherine was. She didn’t let me slack on anything. Starting the first day that I took class with her, she began correcting my form and adjusting my way of thinking in regards to strength, form, and flexibility. I realized that I’ve been dancing with the wrong form all this time and it’s no wonder I felt like I’ve hit a plateau with my dancing.
After taking class with Catherine on and off for several months now, I have to say that I am truly a stronger dancer now than I have ever been. It is amazing that I feel more confident as a dancer, even though I still have so much to learn and work on, I know that I am strong and I just need some proper guidance. It’s not that I can’t do it, it’s just a matter of knowing what is correct. Catherine even has pointe classes that I’ve been taking and everytime I put on those shoes, I’m amazed at what I am doing. I can’t believe that at 30 years old, I can begin to see a whole life of dancing still in front of me. Whereas just a year ago, I never thought I would be dancing on stage again, and here I am starting to rehearse to perform in a ballet piece for Catherine’s annual benefit performance!
Thank you Catherine for being such an inspirational teacher with a great sense of humor!

I miss and love Catherine’s classes.
I have been remiss in taking class the last several months, but the love is always in my mind in other classes/​activities.
I began dancing at 5 years old and stuck with it through college. Ballet, well let’s say I lost count of how many times I dropped out. I never felt I had great turn-​out, or could kick my leg over my head, and forget about the booty shape!
I chose a career in healthcare over dance and found myself working on the other side. The physical therapist in me knew the benefits of ballet, but my childhood fears haunted me. Along with age and many injuries I was reluctant to attend a class.
After moving to Los Angeles I found myself searching Unilocal for ballet classes. What? Had I gone crazy? Thankfully, I had a temporary lapse; otherwise I would have never found Catherine. She offered a beginner workshop and thought, what the hell do I have to lose. I loved it! She is patient, clear, concise, and passionate about ballet. She also does not judge or make you feel like you should look like a ballerina (we may put that on ourselves). After the workshop I began taking her ballet classes and I just love them, the environment she creates and other students are so welcoming.
Oh, did I mention she is picky about form? Yeah! This is something that is rare with adult instructors so embrace the comments and learn and grow.
Yes, I need to get back to class — join me anyone?

Catherine is the best. I hadn’t practiced ballet in 3 years before I took her beginning class at PCC, and it was the perfect pace to ease me back in. I took that class twice then started going to her studio in Old Town. She is extremely patient and thorough. I have taken beginning classes at a few other studios but no one compares to her. Catherine is also super funny so even when you’re sweating ballz you have a fun time

Just updating this because the review doesn’t seem to be showing up under her listing. Can’t recommend this teacher highly enough for adults who want to become familiar with «the dance.»

It can be a challenge to find high quality adult ballet instruction in Los Angeles. Catherine is the best. Whether you’re trying ballet for the first time or you’re a professional, I highly recommend her. She is incredibly knowledgeable about technique and the physics of the human body so you develop a strong foundation and undo bad habits. She consistently brings enthusiasm, good humor, and passion to every class. I love that she watches each student and gives individual instruction. Go to her. You will grow as a dancer!

I have never taken a ballet class in my life until 4 weeks ago.
I have been taking Saturday ballet classes with catherine @ PCC for 4 weeks now and I have to say I love it.
She starts from the beginning… The VERY beginning. So, with that said if you’ve NEVER taken a ballet class before, take her beginners class it’s tailored for people like us. Its fun, she’s patient hands on and gives a ton of good dance advice.
Try her classes you wont regret it!

I started ballet when I was 5 years old and took it for over 8 years. After a long break I wasn’t sure if I should bother going back to ballet again especially since I now I don’t have time to go as often as I would like to; to make it worth while. so I thought. I tried several classes in LA and didn’t feel comfortable until I found Catherine. With Catherine one class a week is just as worth it as 5 classes a week. We share great passion for ballet and I am happy whenever I can make it and she lets you enjoy ballet at any level.
Happy Ballet Times!
Claudia Graf
actress

I’m 33. I’ve never had any ballet training whatsoever… yet, there was something inside of me that has always wanted to do it… the «What if?» and «If only…» frame of mind…
…so I searched and searched in the LA area for a «beginner» ballet class… and I find a couple of (so-​called) «beginner» ballet classes and give it a go…
eh…what…they want me to spin across the floor and leap and do… um…what?!?
I was lost.
…and then I found Catherine.
Her beginner courses start you from the *very* beginning… from the way you should stand in first position. I wasnt thrown into some haphazard dance pool of mixed levels and confusing floppiness… I started from the beginning…
I have been with her now for almost 2 years and not only do I feel like a good dancer — I feel like the way I dance is based on proper technique, core strength, and the knowledge that– hey!.. Im 33… maybe my body won’t do what I’d like it to anymore — (I’m no rubberband.)…but whatever it does its now been trained to execute dance in a proper way– one that is beautful and will keep me dancing for a very, very, (veryveryvery) long time…
(5 stars!!!)…

As a contemporary dancer & choreographer, Catherine Round teaches a solid strong class. She is very knowledgeable for all levels. Her talent to guide and make you understand the process and physics in why we do certain moves a specific way has given me the ability to think outside the box and put my technique into perspective. To use the basic strength my body offers and as long as the fundamentals are there you’ll never fail!
Catherine has helped me grow as a performer and artist.
Give Catherine a few classes and she will help you rid bad habits and focus on solid clean technique. Her charisma makes the class exciting and enjoyable.

When it comes to ballet classes in LA I am very particular about where I spend my money. Catherine Round offers a valuable ballet class unlike many I’ve come across. She is incredibly knowledgable about the Vaganova technique and has a special gift with instruction.
Catherine has helped me understand that as a professional contemporary dancer it’s crucial that I get that fundamental strength training.
Catherine’s vivacious personality makes the class that much more exciting!

I couldn’t agree more with the reviews of Ms. Round. I’ve always enjoyed dancing, but being a «thicker» girl, I was intimidated by formal dance classes, especially ballet. But after taking Ms. Round’s beginner ballet course at PCC, I was hooked and now continue to take both her conditioning and ballet dance classes on Sunday mornings at Le Studio in Pasadena. That’s right, 2 ½ hours with the most patient and thorough dance teacher I have ever had. I also take ballroom dance classes and I feel that with Ms. Round’s techniques, I am developing proper posture and greater awareness of my body. To top it all off, this is the strongest I’ve felt in a long time. Who knew ballet was such a great strengthening workout!

I live in the South Bay area. I drove (in evening rush hour!) to NORTH HOLLYWOOD once a week for six weeks just to go to her class. Have you ever done that drive? If you have, you will grasp the degree to which I think Ms. Round is amazing. You don’t subject yourself to that kind of traffic for just anything.
But her classes are absolutely worth it, because she is patient, she is passionate, she is funny, and she will get you to do things you thought were not possible. She believes in her students with such fervor, it helps you past your «I can’t do this» moments.
Plus, she is an eagle-​eyed dance teacher who sees every detail and knows how to correct it, so you learn solid technique and good body mechanics for both beautiful movement and injury-​avoidance.
She teaches professional-​level classes as well, but my experience is as a raw beginner. And I am forever grateful to her for her encouragement and patience and am awed by the results I’ve seen her achieve with all of her students.

Now, I’m probably the least graceful person in the universe and am definitely NOT a dancer, but Ms. Round is such an amazing and patient teacher that after I take ballet classes with her, I feel like a prima ballerina! I started with her Beginning Adult Ballet class at PCC and I’m continuing with her now at Le Studio in Pasadena and, I must say, I’ve become absolutely hooked on ballet to the point where I’m trying to recruit my mom and mother-​in-​law to join in at the next session at PCC.
If you’ve never done any sort of ballet or dancing in your life, but have always wanted to try, I’d recommend stopping by one of Ms. Round’s classes for sure.