Riverside Dance Academy and Performing Arts, Riverside

Across the sun-soaked floors, toddlers twirl and scuttle, joyful in their imitation of ballet teachers who instill in them discipline and classic technique. Starting with students ages 2.5 and older, highly trained artistic directors Rachel Swinson-Jacinto (formerly of New York's American Ballet Theatre and San Francisco Ballet School as well as a former principal dancer of Inland Dance Theater) and Quincy Jacinto (former principal dancer with Ballet Pacifica and Philippine Ballet Theater) lead dance classes in their homey studio. Ballet instruction is set up for all ages—including one-on-one coaching for professionals—as is contemporary, jazz, tap, and hip-hop dance. The team also runs musical theater and acting classes, as well as yoga and Zumba to create more well-rounded performers.