About Us
Silicon Valley’s premier dance studio established in 1975
- Group and private classes in Jazz, Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Acrobatic Dance
- Combination dance classes for children
- Age-appropriate classes, choreography and costuming
- Private lessons in piano, flute, guitar, ukulele, and voice
- Highly trained instructors with college degrees and/or professional recognition
- Established dance curriculum
- Student growth progression built into the program
- Family friendly environment
- Annual 40 Season session and a 6 week summer session
- Annual Productions and Showcases
Learn About Us
East West Music and Dance is a family-friendly studio staffed with teachers that engage our performing arts students of all ages in a fun, positive learning experience. Ensuring that each student gets the personal attention and individualized instruction he or she deserves is a key part of our program. We are a premier dance studio that has been turning out beautiful, classically trained dancers in Silicon Valley for over 48 years. Our facility features three large, state of the art dance studios with multiple rooms upstairs for private music lessons. We are conveniently located near Highway 85 and De Anza Boulevard bordering San Jose, Cupertino, and Saratoga. Serving San Jose, Cupertino, Saratoga, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Los Atos, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, and Campbell since 1975.
Our instructors are professionals in their artistic discipline and/or have college degrees. The Juilliard School, University of California Berkeley, Royal Academy of Dance (London), San Jose State University and Cornish College of the Arts are a few colleges which our instructors have attended. Many instructors have been with the studio for 10 to 20+ years. This allows our studio to offer continuity and consistency in our curriculum and provide better progression for our students. Students of all ages and levels greatly benefit from our top quality and inspiring instruction whether they are taking one dance class or music class or 15 classes a week!
We are committed to providing top-notch dance and music education to our studio families which is why our families keep coming back. If you are looking for a positive, balanced and nurturing dance and/or music studio, East West Music and Dance is the right choice!
-Pam East
Co-Directors
Pam East has been dancing and singing since she was four in Southern California where she grew up. She continued training and performing through high school and college. She received the “Outstanding Dance Award” her senior year in high school for her work in the Modern Dance Program. She went on to attend UC Berkeley and San Jose State University where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Dance. After she then completed her secondary teaching credential, she taught Physical Education and started the Orchesis Dance program at Westmont High School. Pam has been an active performer in Musical Theatre and has choreographed for many local theatre groups. Throughout her dance career, she has performed with Ken Berry, Joanne Worley and Chita Rivera.
Pam “lives to dance”! These are the words she uses to describe her love of dance and music. Her enthusiasm is infectious and her dedication to her students unlimited. She is proud to have served on the Board of the local modern dance company, sjDANCEco and she continues to support dance endeavors throughout Silicon Valley. Pam has been blessed by two talented daughters that also teach dance and yoga. Pam and her husband, John, love to travel and enjoy spending time with their grandsons, James, Parker and Liam.
Erin East began her dance training at her mom’s studio as a Tiny Tot and danced at her mom’s studio through 8th grade when she moved on to training at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, Idyllwild Arts Academy in Southern California, Dance Aspen, and the San Francisco Ballet. She went on to study intensely in the BFA program at The Juilliard School in New York City, and her Broadway debut was in the original cast of “Swing!”
When she returned to the Bay Area, she was a part of the local modern dance company, sjDANCEco. She went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from SJSU with a B.A. in Dance and a minor in Accounting. Erin is currently the Director of EWMD’s Performing Company. Along with teaching, she provides creative direction for the studio and is also in charge of accounting duties for EWMD. Erin loves everything to do with Jazz and Lyrical dance which is evident when you see her teaching. She also is an RYT certified yoga instructor and a certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Erin is grateful to share her love of Dance with EWMD and we are lucky to have her!
Jena Wijtman is our current EWMD Performing Company Director. She trained at EWMD from age 8 through high school. She continued her dance training through various dance programs including California State Summer School for the Arts (CSSSA), The Joffrey Ballet School, Jacob’s Pillow and Dance Life Teacher Conference. Jena graduated from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. While at Cornish, she performed in works by Amy O’Neal, Vivian Little, Paula Peters, Gerard Theoret, Wade Madsen and Donald Byrd. Jena danced as a company member of Caroline Liviakis Dance Company (San Francisco, CA) and DVDance (San Jose, CA). She is a certified Degreed Member of Dance Masters of America, Chapter 13 and certified as an Acrobatics instructor through Acrobatic Arts. Jena has been on the EWMD teaching staff since 2018. Her enthusiasm, creativity and love of Dance are very apparent to all.
Mission
Our mission is to teach skills that enable students to experience and express the joy of life through dance and music.
Vision
Our vision is to inspire and create confidant, disciplined dancers and musicians.
Values
- Family friendly studio
- Passionate about dance
- Committed to students
- Inspiring and fun classes
- Respectful atmosphere