As part of my bachelorette party, my bridesmaids scheduled a class for everyone to learn a few…read morebasic belly dance moves, and it was so much fun! None of us had ever done something like it before, and we all had a good time trying to learn together. Our instructor was very kind and helpful with questions but ultimately realized that we were there to have a good time, so she didn't force those free spirits to perfect the moves. I would strongly recommend scheduling a class with a close group of girlfriends! You will all have fun!

Working on our wedding dance with Analiese was one of our favorite parts of wedding planning! My…read morehusband and I are definitely not dancers, so we were initially pretty nervous about our first dance. But after taking lessons with Analiese, we went into our wedding day feeling so confident and our first dance ended up being one of our favorite moments of the entire night! Analiese is incredibly kind, talented, patient, and affordable. She made the whole experience feel fun and comfortable, even for two total beginners. Plus, the lessons were such a fun date night during the craziness of wedding planning! We couldn't recommend her enough!

Annalise is a fabulous instructor. She does a wonderful job explaining the various steps and…read moretechniques of whatever dance style I am learning. I always have a total blast!

This review is for the beginner adult ballet class that I took through SweatNet. The Grand Rapids…read moreBallet is the only professional ballet company in the state of Michigan, which is so amazing to me. I have only ever been to one performance at the ballet, but have always been interested in seeing more at this theatre. I grew up taking dance, including ballet, and have always been interested in dance. Plus Center Stage was one of my favorite movies in the early 2000s, haha. The Grand Rapids Ballet also includes a ballet school for students ages 3-19, plus adult and Adaptive Dance classes. The beginner adult class is open to anyone and you can request a complimentary trial class. Beyond that, classes are usually $15 for drop ins, or you can get a 10-class punch card for $120. Classes are on weekday evenings from 6:30-8 pm. They also offer adult intermediate classes. Parking is limited in their lot, and the night I went there were lots of parents picking up kids so I ended up parking on the street. The class was taught by Attila Mosolygo, one of the instructors at the school. We started with warm ups and lots of barre work, focusing on strength, lower body movements, and flexibility. There weren't a ton of modifications given but with my limited knowledge of ballet I made it through as best as I could. We ended with a bit of floor work, including practicing chene turns and lots of jumping. My quads were definitely working hard and I worked up a sweat. I had a lot of fun and would go back for another class in the future.

From the start, the entryway of Grand Rapids Ballet shows you just what you'll be experiencing! The…read moredoors are lively and inspirational, and, once inside, the soaring, light-filled space, decorated with a large-scale photo of a dancer, fills you with joy. That's just a taste of what's to come. The most powerful, moving, and extraordinary dance I've ever seen? Aquatic hypoxia, choreographed by Nicolas Blanc, and part of MoveMedia: handmade... 7 new, original works, all world premieres. If this is the caliber of GR Ballet's shows, this company will go FAR. The dancing and choreography talent is tremendous. There is a spacious coat room, a closer men's bathroom, and a women's bathroom at the far end (why? I wished there was a closer handicap bathroom for either gender). The seating is pleasing, with plenty of leg room and comfortable chairs. I sat at the end of the row, and perhaps 10% of the stage was obscured by the side curtains. Luckily, most of the dancing occurred in visibility. One very smart thing inside the theatre: the lighting on the stairs is very clever. It is covered, so not obtrusive, but definitely lit up the stairs if you needed egress during the snow. Thank you! There is a parking lot in front (with 2 handicap spaces, so get there early if you need it), and a city lot across the street. We attended this as part of an official Yelp event, and I am SO glad we drove from Kalamazoo in a crazy winter ice storm!

We started at a different dance studio where we felt like just another payment. My daughter has…read morebeen at CDMC for 3 years now and the staff makes all the difference, and my daughter is thriving!! We love all of her teachers- Olivia, Allie, Paige, Demi, Miles are so encouraging and I've loved watching her grow there! Her confidence has grown so much along with her technique. The entire staff is so friendly and helpful. Thank you everyone for being amazing people!

We first started at CDMC back in 2018. Although my oldest daughter has moved on from dance, my…read moreyounger daughter has been dancing, and thriving, with CDC since 2019. The staff at CDMC are welcoming and supportive. I'm witnessing first hand how true it is that dance builds confidence and character. We love all the dance instructors - Alli, Olivia, Paige, Demi, Nolana... and more I'm sure I'm missing. I can't choose just one but you can't go wrong with whomever takes your child under their wing. Thank you CDMC and staff for helping to shape my child into a little lady and, if all goes as planned, a young adult in the years to come.

I love dance and performance art so I was excited to check out Deos Ballet recently for The…read moreTempest. This professional ballet company is a nonprofit that has been around since 2018, with their first full time season programming starting in 2022. I didn't really know what to expect as I've never read the Tempest and honestly wasn't familiar with the story, but they had a synopsis in the program which really helped me follow what was going on. I was blown away by the performances -- the dancers were incredible and the emotions that were conveyed without any speaking were amazing. It was also very funny at times! The costumes and props added so much to the performance and I am still thinking about the show. I'm so excited to see more from Deos Ballet, including their adults-only rendition of the Nutcracker called Cracked Nuts! I love that we have so many options for fine arts in Grand Rapids and will continue to support Deos Ballet for years to come.

We enjoyed our time at Painting with a Twist in Grand Rapids. Our instructor was very talkative and…read morefriendly, Vinny. It was a class of 4 including us, so we wish there were more people in the class, but that's okay. That just means we have to spread the word about this location! The space was upbeat and there was music playing while we painted which was nice. There was also a photo op station. We would go here again for sure. I also love that it is woman owned AND a veteran! Thank you for your service

Painting with a Twist in Grand Rapids is such a fun, welcoming, and creative space! Whether you're…read morean experienced artist or just looking to try something new, the instructors make the experience easy, enjoyable, and encouraging. They create a relaxed environment where everyone can unwind, get creative, and leave with something they're proud of -- no pressure, just fun!

I grew up surrounded by music, from piano lessons to playing viola for six years as an adolescent…read more My former viola teacher is a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony and I always enjoy seeing her perform. The GRS is currently shut down due to COVID-19 but they have been providing videos of symphony members performing in their "From Our Home to Yours" video series which can be found on their Facebook page and YouTube channel. These performances are so beautiful and I love that we can still enjoy the music that they provide, even if we're all staying in our homes. Throughout a regular season, the GRS has so many fun performances for everyone, even if you're not a classical music fan. I personally love classical music, but their movie score play-along events are really amazing. I love the Home Alone performance they do every year. Picnic Pops is also a great concert series that takes place at Cannonsburg each summer. The arts community needs our support and if you have the means to do so, you can donate money to this treasure of a nonprofit.

My mom and me arrived just in time, I bought tickets to see the Snowman. I was excited because I…read morelove the Symphony. Our symphony was great and there was an interactive part that the attendees got to be partake. Adult and kids were able to partake in the concert. The words were on the screen and we sang lod and proud some Christmas carols. When I lived in San Diego, I went to see the Symphony at least every two months, so I was excited to see my new symphony play. I can't explain how I feel when I hear those talented musicians play their hearts out. The passion is so evident and every chance i get i will continue to attend. Thank you Grand Rapids Symphony!

We stopped by this place as part of the Artprize expedition. This particular location has a few…read morehundred pieces of art on display. Best of all, and unlike most Artprize venues, the prices of the art (assuming they're for sale) are listed next to the piece. Hallelujah! Moreover, they have a gift shop that has prints, notecards, etc. of the art on display. I love being able to afford a bit of artprize! The Women's Club also served lunch for starving Artprize goers. While the menu was limited, it was homemade and tasty. Hubby and I had pulled pork sandwiches, homemade potato salad (or coleslaw or chips) and a can of soda for a glorious $7 each. The potato salad was so good, in fact, that I plunked down a whole whopping dollar for another serving. Hubby opted for cookies, which were delicious. We will certainly be checking out this place next year!

A 'must see' venue on your Artprize tour. This beautiful historic home has an impressive collection…read moreof Artprize entries. There is a gift shop set up in the lower level of the house, coffee, food available in the dining room and restrooms.