Inside the WestSide Art Studio before it opened. Owner Marisa Gregory on the left
with building co-tenant Scott Silverberg of Keltic Designs.
This past Saturday, West Side Art House at 540 Balboa officially opened for business. Part dance studio, part art gallery and part community center, it was started by Marisa Gregory, a trained yoga instructor.
But unlike other yoga or pilates studios you may have come across, WestSide offers something a little different – donation-based classes. In other words, pay what you can when you attend one of their yoga, dance, art or music workshops.
Their philosophy behind the donation-based model is printed on their class schedule. “Because we believe that the world would be a much better place if art, ideas and education were shared amongst everyone.”
The studio operates in the front half of 540 Balboa while fellow tenant, Scott Silverberg’s Keltic Designs, operates in the back.
Marisa says the walls in the studio will soon be adorned with artwork from the classes, while the new wood floor – laid by Marisa herself – will be ground zero for the various classes that the studio offers, including Mommy & Me Yoga, Breakdance 101 with Mischief, and Art 101 with Valerie.
Classes are offered 7 days a week at various times throughout the day. Check out the February schedule.
The studio’s website is a work in progess; you can also follow them on Facebook or on Twitter.
Welcome WestSide Art House to the neighborhood!
Sarah B.
This looks great, I’ve been looking for yoga that’s more like $5-7 instead of $15-20/class. Thanks!
I was just coming to see if this blog has a story about WestSide yet! I loved my first class there earlier this week and looking forward to more~
This sounds like a great thing to have in the neighborhood. I will definitely be checking out the class schedule and hoping to attend some yoga sessions!
Best idea and addition to anyones life. 2011, a year to expand yourself in all ways. West Side Art Galley is a facilitator. 😉
What kind of Cheapo would offer $5 per class? doesn’t he realize what rent and food costs these days? Lets lose this mentality of living off someone else and pull our own weight. I will gladly pay $30. per class just to support this well deserved effort towards promoting the arts.
Suggested donation is $7 to $17, but everyone is welcome to pay what they can afford and/or what they think the class deserves. While $30 would help tremendously in our continuous efforts, no one will be turned away for lack of funds.