Ballet classes in Orange County · San Clemente & Rancho Santa Margarita
Real ballet training
in a nurturing environment
Classical technique, joyful classes and real stages for dancers ages 3 to adult, taught by former professional dancers.
Award-winning · Our dancers have trained with
San Clemente Hall of Fame
Segerstrom Center for the Arts · National Dance Day
Find your class in 10 seconds
How old is your dancer?
Tap an age to see where they’d start. Every new student can try a class free.
Parent & Me
A gentle first taste of music and movement, side by side with you.
- Parent & Me classes at our Rancho Santa Margarita studio
- Songs, props and simple ballet steps
- The perfect step before Petites
Petites & Level 1
Our Baby BAMers build coordination, musicality and confidence through imaginative, story-filled ballet.
- Petites (ages 3–5) and Level 1 (ages 4–6)
- Small classes with a warm, patient teacher
- Their first time on stage in our productions
Level 2 Ballet + a second style
Real technique starts here, balanced with the fun of jazz, tap, hip hop or musical theater.
- Level 2 ballet for ages 6–8
- Jazz, tap, hip hop and musical theater
- Nutcracker and spring production roles
Level 3 Ballet & Contemporary
Stronger technique, turns and jumps, with a path toward our performance and company programs.
- Level 3 ballet for ages 9–11
- Contemporary, jazz and conditioning
- Company and competition by invitation or audition
Level 4, Pointe & Company
Pre-professional training for serious dancers and supplemental ballet for team and theater kids.
- Level 4 ballet and pointe
- Company, competition and summer intensives
- Never danced before? Teen beginner classes too
Adult Ballet, Pilates & Gyrotonic®
Graceful strength, flexibility and a lovely hour just for you, at any level.
- Adult ballet and stretching
- Pilates and Gyrotonic® sessions
- Beginners genuinely welcome
Programs
Ballet at the heart, every style around it
A classical foundation first, then jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, musical theater and more, so every dancer finds their voice.
Swipe to see all programs →
Performance & competition
For dancers ready to take the stage
Our Company is a group of dedicated performers selected by audition. Company dancers train in ballet, contemporary, jazz and repertory, perform throughout the year and compete at regional and national events, always with our culture-first approach.
- Advanced technique, repertory and choreography
- Productions, community performances and competitions
- Company summer intensives at both studios
- Students who have gone on to train with The Royal Ballet, ABT and Stuttgart Ballet
Meet our founder
Taught by someone who has lived it on stage
Ballet Academy and Movement was founded by Amanda Cobb, a former professional ballerina, with one simple belief: how a dancer feels in the studio shapes how they move on stage and in life.
Every member of our faculty has danced professionally. That experience shows up in every correction, every class and every performance, delivered with patience, warmth and real joy.
“Real ballet training in a nurturing environment.”
Why families choose us
Where confidence is choreographed
Culture first
Joy, kindness and growth come first. Every dancer is seen, supported and celebrated.
Former professionals
Founded and taught by dancers who performed professionally, with decades of stage experience.
Small classes
Personal corrections by name, every week, so technique builds safely and confidently.
Real stages
The Nutcracker, a spring ballet and community performances across Orange County.
Swipe for more →
Performances
The Nutcracker 2026
Our beloved holiday production returns with dancers from every level of the studio, from tiny angels to our Company.
Saturday, November 14 & Sunday, November 15 · 11:30 AM & 3:30 PM
Every year our dancers also perform a full spring ballet (Sylvia in 2026) and appear at community stages including Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Casa Romantica and Pelican Hill.
From our families
“We found BAM and realized we were home”
“The teachers are professional, very skilled, consistent and kind. They put on a beautiful Nutcracker every year and it’s always an event we look forward to.”
★★★★★
Lindsay J. · Parent
“Our daughter had zero dance experience at 8. In two years I noted confidence and poise. She has made lovely friends and adores her teachers.”
★★★★★
Carli C. · Parent
“She started ballet at 11 and I worried she was starting late. BAM welcomed her, she joined the comp team, and it’s her home away from home.”
★★★★★
Heidi T. · Company parent
“We tried three studios and finally found a home here. Professionally trained teachers who mentor with positive encouragement.”
★★★★★
Allison H. · Parent
Swipe for more →
Two studios · South Orange County
Dance classes in San Clemente & Rancho Santa Margarita
400-C Camino De Estrella
San Clemente, CA 92672
In the Sprouts shopping center, right across from Crumbl Cookies. Serving San Clemente, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel and San Juan Capistrano.
30372 Esperanza, Ste A
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Our newest studio, serving Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Ladera Ranch, Mission Viejo and Trabuco Canyon.
Live class schedule
See every class, day and open spot
Browse current classes at both studios and register online in a few minutes.
Questions parents ask
Good to know
Children can start ballet at age 3 in our Petites classes, and Level 1 begins at ages 4 to 6. For little ones from 18 months to 3 years, we offer Parent & Me classes at our Rancho Santa Margarita studio.
Yes. Every new student can take a free trial class so your dancer can meet the teacher and experience the studio before you register.
We have two studios in South Orange County: 400-C Camino De Estrella in San Clemente, in the Sprouts shopping center across from Crumbl Cookies, and 30372 Esperanza, Suite A in Rancho Santa Margarita.
Ballet Academy and Movement was founded by Amanda Cobb, a former professional ballerina, and every member of our faculty has danced professionally.
Ballet is our foundation, and we also teach jazz, tap, hip hop, contemporary, musical theater, cheer, Pilates and Gyrotonic for ages 3 to adult.
We offer competition and Company programs by audition, but culture always comes first. Most of our students train for the joy of dance, technique and performing.
Yes. Students perform in our annual Nutcracker and a full spring ballet, and our dancers also appear at community stages across Orange County, including Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Yes. We offer adult ballet and stretching plus Pilates and Gyrotonic sessions, and complete beginners are welcome.
New students
Your first class is on us
Tell us a little about your dancer and we’ll recommend the perfect class and save them a spot. No commitment.
Prefer to talk? Call San Clemente at (949) 229-0846 or Rancho Santa Margarita at (949) 736-5025.
2024 Casa Romantica Nutcracker