I waited awhile before I wrote this review...
I waited awhile before I wrote this review but today sealed my opinion of this studio. My Daughter attended for a few years and there were so many rigid rules, that it became almost like another job trying to make sure all criteria was met. While it is a pay what you can, you're essentially punished on the back end because of the extravagance selected for recitals that we the parents are forced to pay for. Overall, I felt like the teachers were great and the studio was really clean and organized. My Daughter was enjoying it and so I as a single parent did what I could to keep her in. What prompted this low review was when my daughter broke her foot in March of 2026. A few days after notifying the owner and she absolutely understood, I get a text asking if I would be participating in their fundraiser or paying their $50 opt out fee. I'd never heard of an organization charging parents who could not participate in a fundraiser, and I would suggest if the studio could not afford a large venue like The Fillmore for their recital, then to maybe select a different venue. I was again taken aback as my daughter was on crutches. Who asks a parent for money days after their child is injured?? I'd paid the $100 costume fee for the recital, and the break was enough that she would not be able to participate and had to be removed from classes. I submitted medical paperwork and asked for an exception for the costume fee and for 2 months, I was told the owner just could not get the fee returned. So, essentially the studio keeps the costume, and I am out money which means they can resell it to another parent and will have made double, all while I have a 10-year-old currently in physical therapy. The owner did explain that their company they use was the reason I could not get the money returned, so I asked to reach out to them myself and was told I could not. I thought my daughter could come back, so I asked (it was not offered) could a credit be given and while she did agree, I now find out she will need physical therapy for longer and cannot return to dance activities for some time. All of this has changed my mind about this studio, and I would take heed of the costs and above situation before considering. I explained that the money back would greatly help me cover my daughters care and that we WOULD be returning after she was healed, but this mattered none. They have my money and the costume. I won't be returning when she is healed.
