East County Performing Arts Center Dance and Performing Arts Programs

East County Performing Arts Center Dance and Performing Arts Programs offers dance classes, musical theater classes, acting classes for kids, and vocal lessons. Students can take tap dance classes for kids, jazz dance lessons, ballet classes for beginners, lyrical dance classes, contemporary dance training, hip hop dance classes for teens, acrobatics classes for children, musical theater classes in Brentwood, vocal training, show choir programs, drama classes for teens, singing lessons, and theater workshops for children. East County Performing Arts Center is home of East County Children’s Musical Theater and produces six full-scale musical theater productions each year.

• Ages: 2–18 years old

Nina Koch is the founder of East County Performing Arts Center, and the founder states that the studio has stayed true to its principle over the last two decades. The mission of East County Performing Arts Center is to teach life skills and foster lifelong friendships through the performing arts, and the program states that it does not just teach kids to be great dancers, but teaches dance to make great kids. East County Performing Arts Center is the only dance studio in Brentwood, Oakley, Antioch, and other surrounding areas to have earned a More Than Just Great Dancing affiliation, and it is working on Youth Protection Advocates in Dance Certification. The program is affiliated with More Than Just Great Dancing, a licensed affiliation of dance studios that subscribe to a higher standard of instruction and management principles.

All teachers and staff at East County Performing Arts Center are background checked, and many are CPR certified. All of the teachers are adults, and entry level classes are taught by teachers with years of experience. The staff includes teachers who are certified through professional dance associations like Dance Masters of California, teachers who have danced professionally, and teachers who are university trained. East County Performing Arts Center focuses on safety and wellness for every student, has secured facilities, and has professional floating or sprung floors in all dance rooms. Dance rooms have either a large viewing window or a closed circuit TV system so classes can be viewed on TVs in the lobby, and the studio also provides live video classes. The program offers a complimentary class pass, and new students can try a dance class for free. East County Performing Arts Center has a customer service team available Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 and serves the communities of Brentwood, Oakley, and Pleasanton. The organization partners with local schools, supports scholarship opportunities, engages in community giving and community partnerships, and describes itself as a second home and a safe place to grow for students.

One parent, Ashley Wilkins, a BUSD teacher, states that ECPAC dance has helped develop and unlock her daughter Brooklyn’s inquisitive 4-year-old mind into a confident 8-year athlete, and she describes Brooklyn learning life skills like teamwork, practice, and dedication, as well as athletic skills such as body control and footwork, which she says have translated to success in the classroom, on stage, and on the soccer field. Another parent, Jen Heinz, a LUHSD teacher, states that being a part of ECPAC has given her daughter Hannah growth as a dancer and as a person, mentions the TA program, and describes Hannah gaining confidence, resiliency, and strength, being surrounded by an amazing group of kids and teachers who instill work ethic and lead with love while setting high expectations, and looking up to older girls who serve as strong mentors.

Last updated August 9, 2026.