West Valley Dance Company - Bascom

West Valley Dance Company – Bascom is located at 1226 S Bascom Avenue in San Jose. The studio offers a wide selection of dance classes year-round for all ages, from 18 months to adult.

The studio's roots run deep. The first dance class took place on April 5, 1976, in a small classroom on Moorpark Avenue, when a dance program was introduced at Action Day Schools to serve families whose mothers had entered the workforce. By the late 1990s, the dance academy had grown to over 800 students and was presenting an annual recital at the Center for the Performing Arts in downtown San Jose. From 1976 to 2009, more than 15,000 dancers passed through the studios, many continuing to dance through college or perform professionally.

In 2009, the West Valley Dance Cats team was founded with 20 dancers eager to compete. By 2015, this had evolved into the West Valley Dance Company, with teams for various age groups including Dance Kittens, Tom Cats for all-boys hip hop, and high school All Stars. In April 2015, WVDC opened its first independent studio at the Bascom location—described as a beautifully designed space with Tiffany Blue accents, crystal chandeliers, and plush seating. The company later expanded with studios in Willow Glen (2016) and Mountain View, and added ballroom dance classes in 2021 and an Acrobatic Arts program including Tiny Tumblers for toddlers.

The studio runs performance teams whose choreography is performed at holiday events and the end-of-year recital. Competitive teams focus on Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical and Hip Hop technique and compete February–July at local and national competitions. An annual recital—titled Toy Story! for June 2027—showcases student talents. The studio also hosts an Open House on August 22, 2026. Birthday parties are available, including options for dance, cake, and food.

Classes range from Tiny Tots (18 months–2.5 years) using exciting dance activities and props, to adult options including drop-ins. You'll find instruction in Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Contemporary & Lyrical, Tap, Acro & Tumbling, Musical Theater, and Ballroom & Latin. An Open House is scheduled for August 22, 2026.

The studio is led by Cathy Jelic, Owner and Executive Director, who founded the West Valley Dance Cats in 2009. Shannon Claude serves as Regional Director and has taught and choreographed since 2002. Shiyo Yamamoto is the Mountain View Studio Director with training at the San Francisco Conservatory of the Arts and San Francisco Ballet, and competitive experience in Tokyo, Beijing, and Shanghai. Traci Colons is the Willow Glen Studio Director with over 25 years as a teaching artist in the Bay Area. Anna Buonomo is the Action Day Schools Dance Director, an Italian-born contemporary choreographer with 20+ years teaching experience. Rebecca Aguirre holds Acrobatic Arts certifications and the highest level certification in the Alixa Flexibility program, plus ISTD qualifications in Tap, Modern Jazz, Imperial Classical Ballet and Street & Hip Hop. Miranda Baclig trained in tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, and hip-hop, competing and performing throughout high school.

Classes are designed for all ages and skill levels, with foundational instruction in Ballet as the base for all styles and Tiny Tots classes for the youngest dancers.