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ShoeBox Studio

5 star rating
based on 20 reviews

Categories: Performing Arts, Pilates, Dance Schools  [Edit]

Neighborhood: SOMA
855 Folsom St
Ste 112

(between 4th St & 5th St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 861-5976
Good for Kids:
Yes
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20 reviews for ShoeBox Studio

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Photo of the R.

 

48

5

the R.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
5/27/2009

One of the many things I love about Shoebox is the individualized
attention I get from the instructors there. When they show me a
particular move, I end up REALLY knowing how to do it--as in, what
muscles to use, where to move from, and how to not get injured in the
process. The atmosphere is also really relaxed, friendly, and FUN!
It's like a kinesiology lesson AND a rockin' dance party, all at the
same time!

Photo of Reggie G.

Elite '09

72

373

Reggie G.

Washington, DC

5 star rating
5/25/2009

I love this place - it is really cute.... I went for $5 pilates on Saturday morning and had a lovely time.  Cera is great and it was a fun, challenging class.

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Whitney M.

Emeryville, CA

5 star rating
6/6/2008

I've never been to a dance studio that felt as welcoming and encouraging as this space. It really blew my mind to find such instant community. As a bit of a newbie to the world of trained dance, this warm atmosphere has made a huge difference for me. I love the personalized attention you get from small classes.

This isn't to say that they don't challenge you there. They do for sure. you will get your moneys worth if you would like to be pushed. It's that it's done out of a place of love and community.  I would encourage anyone, novice or expert, to check this place out!

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Photo of Andrea U.

 

67

215

Andrea U.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
6/15/2008

I finally had the opportunity to visit this studio last week, and I feel the love here!  A lot of Yelpers have used the word "community" in their reviews, and I agree:  ShoeBox is a true neighborhood studio.  I met Cera, the owner, and staff member/fellow dancer Omar, and they were welcoming and very enthusiastic.

The studio is small, but as a result, the classes are intimate and students receive plenty of personal attention.  For example, I've taken Rhonda Low's samba class before at City Dance, and you can get lost in a class of about thirty people.  Rhonda, along with Mestre Low, teach capoeira at ShoeBox, and here I was able to receive one-on-one attention for the entire hour and a half.

ShoeBox is a great opportunity for any dancer to grow and develop their technique.  I'll be back for more!

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Photo of Tania A.

 

0

1

Tania A.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
6/4/2009

Cera is great!! All of her classes you feel the individual attention! You never feel intimidated which I enjoy since I am not a professional dancer. They work you out, if you really want a work out but they also know how to have fun! Awesome dance studio!

Photo of Chris Q.

 

54

99

Chris Q.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
5/6/2008

The company I work for started a weekly group yoga session at ShoeBox a couple months back.  I had never done yoga before, and decided to give it a shot to work on my flexibility.

I'm very happy I started, and I plan on sticking with it for a long time to come.  Cera is a great instructor.  I always leave class feeling relaxed and refreshed.

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Photo of Amber S.

 

17

17

Amber S.

San Mateo, CA

5 star rating
6/5/2008

As a teacher here, I get the pleasure of watching the community at ShoeBox Studios grow, and I also get invited to all of the "salons" and performances.  I am constantly amazed by the joyous hard work of all of the different students at every level.  
       ShoeBox not only helps folks get their sweat on, but also provides supportive and exciting performance opportunities galore.
       I am so happy to work with teachers who care as much about their students as I do.  Cera (and Omar!) both give their all, more than full time, to make ShoeBox Studio not only a great place to work out, but a place to feel is your neighborhood and home away from home.

Plus, the classes are awesome! Challenging workouts and fresh, exciting choreography... I love it!!

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Photo of Cindy E.

 

15

20

Cindy E.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
5/13/2009

This is an amazing dance studio. I took a dance conditioning / belly dance class here and the instructor Cera made sure everyone in the class was challenged and supported - but not so challenged that you get discouraged. I probably haven't gone to a dance class in five years and while I worked my butt off, I also had a great time and felt confident that I was working at just the right pace to push myself but not go overboard. I am looking forward to becoming a regular. Oh and - the classes are totally affordable and parking is actually NOT HARD. OMG!

Photo of Kate K.

Elite '09

373

426

Kate K.

Oakland, CA

5 star rating
10/10/2007

Cera - who owns Shoebox Studios - and I worked together with a woman named Miki to guide a group of very talented teens in creating a production of "Once On This Island" in 2005.

That show is still the thing I am most proud of having helped to create in the entire world.  It rivaled the quality of most professional productions of "Once On This Island" that I have seen.

I directed, Cera was the choreographer and Miki was the music director.  The first time I met Cera I couldn't talk because I had just had polyps removed from my vocal chords.  However, the light in both of our eyes at the prospect of taking what was one of our favorite musicals and helping a group of teens to interpret it was all the communication we really needed.

That day - through our eyes, some hand gestures and frantically scribbled notes - a creative partnership was born that I feel connected to even now that I'm no longer a full time actor/teacher/director.

Recently, Cera took an amazing leap of faith and followed her dream to create Shoebox Studios and Damage Control Dance Theater... she is a very talented artist, teacher and an amazing friend.  Her company is electrifying to watch; because it's clear how engaged each soul is in the performance.

I'm someone who's heart lies in dance and movement (didn't know that did ya;) and, a woman who has worked the better part of her life (before following I decided to follow my own dream of being a writer) to teach young women how to have healthy self-images and embrace their creativity; and, use both to create art.  Cera is the same.

Full disclosure: I am honored that Cera has sought my assistance in creating a teen summer theatre program.  I'm not actually working for her now; but, I am lending my public relations skills to helping her get Shoebox and DCDT the press it deserves.  And, there is a strong potential that I will be teaching for her this summer.  At least I hope I will... :)  Because, I've never been happier as an artist than when I was collaborating with Cera.

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Photo of Claire B.

 

7

4

Claire B.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
8/3/2007

Ohhh ShoeBox....this studio is my sanctuary.  I cannot imagine any place better than the ShoeBox to learn about the body, mind and spirit.
Cera and her teachers provide a safe, healthy, warm learning environment for all students  All the instructors bring such a wonderful variety of skill and training to their classes and are all incredibly talented individuals with great energy and beautiful spirits.  They are patient, motivating, encouraging, and down to earth.
The classes leave nothing to be desired-everything from yoga to ballet to belly dance and some core-rockin' Pilates is offered, and each class is as fun and fabulous as the next.  I've never left a class without having learned something new about myself and my body.  Anyone can benefit from taking classes at ShoeBox.
Bottom line?  The teachers are awesome, the classes are lots of fun, and the price is just right.

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Mark G.

CA

5 star rating
12/1/2007

Now I consider myself a pretty in shape guy. I run, I do lots of yoga, I work out occasionally, but wow. After Michelle's boot camp my but and quads are SORE!! It was a great class.
The studio is really cute and after my bootcamp I took the Champagne pilates class with Cera. In addition to being a really great instructor, when the class was over we popped open a bottle of champagne and had a couple glasses. It's a pretty awesome way to ring in 2pm on a friday=)

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Photo of Nina L.

 

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Nina L.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
1/8/2009

This is such a great studio!  I've tried their $5 Pilates on Saturday mornings and Hip-Hop class on Thursday evenings.  Cera is a great instructor and makes you feel so welcome and comfortable in your own skin.  I've been to other studios where I've felt like I was auditioning for a workout video and was relieved to have found Shoebox Studio!!  It's like going to a friend's house for a good workout.

Photo of Omar C.

 

12

13

Omar C.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
7/23/2007

ShoeBox just recently started offering capoeira. For those of you who don't know anything about it or haven't tried it. It is an amazing art form. It not only combines music, "dance," and deadly fighting skills but it also gives you the workout of your life combining weight training and aerobic exercise. I have never been so sweaty in my life.

In all I have studied it for two years...mostly in Southern California with a wonderful and talented teacher...Mestre Batata at Capoeira Besouro. I thought I would never be as happy with another mestre. Well, after trying and checking out several schools in the city and Bay Area...I can finally say I was wrong. Mestre Low at ShoeBox is not only a masterfully skilled capoeirista but is also a kind human being who radiates with positive energy. He is very patient...he adapts to whatever skill level you have...and he really takes his time with you.

If you've been intimidated out of trying capoeira because of the amazing acrobatics...because you thought you would never be able to do that...or if you've been to other capoeira schools that have 50 students fighting for space and for the instructor's attention...leaving you frustrated and never wanting to come back.  This is the place for you. You will receive the personal attention you've been craving.

This class is definitely for beginners to intermediate students.

Cera is not only a knowledgeable, talented, and gifted teacher but she is also a beautiful human being. Her training encompasses so many diverse areas (pilates, bellydance, yoga, among others) which she blends seamlessly just as she does in her fusion of dance styles. She has brought together talented instructors from diverse backgrounds...a much broader array than what your conventional yoga or ballet studio offers.

I have taken pilates with Cera and was very impressed at how she was able to give me feedback on my posture/body movement and set up a strategy on how to engage in preventive measures.  She also helped me to increase my body awareness. You will see tangible results.

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Photo of Debbie W.

 

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45

Debbie W.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
11/22/2008

I'm new to the neighborhood so I thought I'd check it out.  It's a cute little studio, emphasis on little.  Any more than 8 in a class would feel crowded.  Tried 3 different classes and they were fun.  Instructors were patient with newbies, other classmates were nice. But, they were working on an upcoming show and coming in midway makes for confusion as they were well into their routine which left me feeling lost and left out.  So it seems like either you need to commit to the whole series or not just drop in, which is what I do.

Photo of Scott G.

 

16

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Scott G.

Oakland, CA

5 star rating
7/16/2007

ShoeBox studio is a wonderful place to go for yoga, dance, bodywork, and wellness classes. The atmosphere is vibrant, while comfortable and inviting.
Cera is an amazing artist and has some extremely talented people working with her.

Photo of Sam Z.

 

6

5

Sam Z.

Oakland, CA

5 star rating
7/16/2007

Cera is an amazing teacher, blending bellydance, Dunham modern, pilates, yoga, and many other techniques and principles into a seamless and unified whole. The Studio is warm, welcoming, and comfortable, very convenient to get to, and well-equipped for all of the classes I've attended. My relationship with my body has been radically changed, and my ability to just get out there on the floor and shake my thing has totally opened up, thanks to Cera and the ShoeBox crew!

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Photo of Charlie D.

 

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Charlie D.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
2/8/2008

Dear lordy, how I love SBS.

Cera is amazing, and sweet as pie. I adore her to pieces. Also super responsive--I told her I would really love it if they offered Capoeira, and lo and behold, it's starting on Monday (and I am SO there).

The studio is gorgeous, and I love the fact that it is *not* a huge studio--that way I can get much more personalized attention, but at the same price I'd be paying where I'd be just 'one in the crowd'!

They offer a wide variety of classes, and my only sadness is that I don't have the time to take all of them!

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Photo of icka b.

 

48

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icka b.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
9/20/2007

Cera is a remarkable teacher. She taught me how to get down and dirty on the dance floor, which can be challenging for those of us who spent years in toeshoes and tutus. A busy schedule has prevented me from taking any classes at the Shoebox as of late, but I highly recommend this studio.  I can only speak for Cera, but I hear wonderful things about the other instructors.  And it's a mere 3-minute jaunt from BART!

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Photo of Darien W.

 

1

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Darien W.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
2/1/2008

Just went here today for my first episode of Champagne Pilates, and it was great!

Cera is a great instructor, chipper and supportive, but not like annoying chipper, just nice and friendly. Everyone was very sweet and relaxed, and it was still a good workout. I haven't done Pilates in a while and she kept that in mind, going easy on me until she properly asessed my level. I didn't feel judged, which can happen when you are the "newbie" who's been out of the game for a while.

And then after 45 minutes we drank some champagne, so what's not to like?

She also has kids classes and is planning a dance summer camp....

Photo of ally o.

 

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ally o.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
2/7/2008

shoexbox studio is quite lovely.! i've taken a few hip hop fusion classes so far with cera and she is awesome! she's a refreshing burst of contagious energy. i dig that there are classes for beginners or expert dancers. i haven't danced in years and i've felt comfortable taking these classes remembering yoga poses and jazz steps from long ago. one thing that is cool... is for people who work 9-5 jobs in the city.. that's there plenty of classes to choose from to swing by after work. a nice change of pace from a gym routine. dancing here is quite a workout and will get you stretched & movin' all in the right places!

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