My daughter has been dancing here for almost 2 years now. We started with a summer program and she has been loving it ever since! My daughter finds her classes as the highlights of her week. She seemed like she was going to be shy, but when I saw her preform last year, she was beaming! Dancing here and with the amazing staff has really helped her with her confidence, among other things. She started when she was 5. She does Triple threat and Debuts and loves all of her teachers. I was very impressed with the Triple threat program last year and the Debut program and been a great warm up to competitions if she decide to audition. During shows, or rehearsals or competitions, the staff has been beyond helpful with letting the parents watch the shows, and taking care of the young girls backstage. They have answered all of my questions in such a timely manner, no matter how silly the subject manner is or if they had actually already told me the answer and I missed it. They have always been polite, friendly and professional. I can't express enough how grateful I am to this studio for helping my daughter start an active and healthy hobby as well as gain some confidence! Backstage has truly helped her find a love for dance! I would highly recommend this studio! read more

Quite honestly I'm surprised by the negative reviews. We've had such a positive experience since moving from California to Washington and joining this studio. They are professional. They are organized. Everything is communicated electronically which I appreciate, including billing. Also their spring show 2019 was the best student show I have ever seen. Very impressed. read more

Let me preface this review with my dancers' background: I have 3 girls - aged 21, 18, & 13. My 21 year old started dancing at Backstage Dance Studio when she was 6 years old. My middle & youngest started taking ballet when they were 3 years old. Yes, we have been at Backstage Dance Studio for 15 years. My oldest was in the competition team for 9 years. My middle child is on her Senior year and last year in the competition team (started team when she was 9 yrs old). My youngest has been competing for 4 years. Unfortunately, this is our last year at Backstage since we are moving out of state. I am hoping to find a dance studio like Backstage, just as great, for my youngest. Why do we love Backstage Dance Studio? Why are we recommending it? In our 15 years at Backstage Dance Studio... 1. Very organized. We get our schedule months in advance (for competition team). If there are changes, it is normally due to something out of their control. 2. Responsive. My questions are always answered in a timely manner. 3. Teachers are great. There is a balance between compassion and strictness. Disciplining with respect. 4. Great environment. 5. Dance instruction is awesome for young dancers. 6. For the competition team... The owner/director of the studio expects a lot of her competitive dancers. If your dancer is lazy and doesn't do the work expected from a competitive dancer, then your dancer is kicked out of the team. Plain and simple. My girls know this. The competition contract states it. If you miss so many classes, you are kicked out. "Present day Adolf Hitler" is a stretched and a strong description of her, but she is strict. My girls have the utmost respect and LOVE for the owner. As a parent, who is spending thousands of dollars over 15 years, I expect the owner/director to discipline and follow-through the contract. If my girls are lazy, not putting in the work, and not taking the team seriously, I want them kicked out of the team by the owner/director. I expect it. And she is true to her word. But if you want your dancer to be treated like an entitled brat, you need to take her/him somewhere else. The owner/director of Backstage Dance Studio will not tolerate it. For the past 15 years, my experience at Backstage Dance Studio has been positive. My girls are thriving at school. I attributed their successes to their dance training at Backstage Dance Studio. It taught them time management, handling conflicts, respecting/following rules, and be a good person. Backstage Dance Studio is not just a dance studio. It is my girls second home. It's family. We will miss all the dancers, parents, & teachers. I hope this review helps. My girls highly recommend Backstage. read more

Backstage Dance has taught me so much in the little time that i have been there. the teachers are nice and funny, and do an amazing job of teaching. read more

Backstage is awful. It's a dance factory; dancers are rushed into classes, instructors barely talk to them, then it's time for the next class. When I needed to talk to my daughter's instructor to ask her why she refused to turn around and talk to the class so my daughter could participate (my daughter is hard of hearing and needs to see what someone is saying), I wasn't allowed to contact her and she was always running into the class at the last minute and there was just no way to communicate. My daughter, who is 11, said her teacher ignored her. It was the worst experience ever. read more

Was looking for a dance class for my youngest daughter and found this studio through friends. Was perfect for kids just starting out. Don't know that she would benefit from being here long term but it got her some experience in the basics. read more

The instructors at Backstage Dance are amazing dancers, but if you are looking for a dance studio to excite your son and ignite his love for dance, this is not for you. From my experience the studio caters to girls, and doesn't quite know how to work with boys. My son was part of a Hip Hop class. Although he went to his class weekly from September until May, his teacher barely said anything besides hello to him and the other boys in the class. His teacher did not connect with any of these boys on a personal level. On the contrary, it seemed like his teacher was focused on the T.A.'s in the room as well as the girls who waved to him on a regular basis outside his class. This was not an isolated experience, this took place each week. After 34 weeks, my son does not know how to dance Hip Hop any more than he did last summer before he joined this class. As an after note, we saw the year-end dance recital which was beautiful. I noticed that the boys in the program were marginalized and not as confident. read more

Our daughter looks forward to her Creative Movement class every week. Her teacher, Rachel, is very patient, and does a great job managing her three and four year olds. We plan to stay here for dance as our daughter gets older. The studio is well-kept and clean. read more

We've missed Backstage dance a LOT since moving to Phoenix 2 years ago. My daughter took Hip Hop, Triple Threat and Jazz classes here for several years (ages 8-11) and it was a very positive experience for our family. From my experience, the business is run very well. The website is kept current, they email parents regularly about deadlines/news/etc., the front staff was always available to answer my questions, and the Spring Shows are run very smoothly. Special shout out to Miss Stephanie who was just an excellent and fun teacher who took the time to encourage and work with my daughter. She made such a positive impact on my daughter and I will forever be grateful to her for that. read more

Very impressed with their Triple Threat Acting - Singing - Dancing program. The kids love it and the teaching is a very high caliber.

I love Backstage! Friendly teachers, kids who are enthusiastic about dance and a wonderful supportive atmosphere. What more could you want from a dance studio? I read the previously posted review and it seems totally out of character for this dance studio. I've been to a lot of studios in the area and Backstage is my favourite by far. I would happily recommend this great studio to any of my friends and family members...and frequently do! read more

My kids had done dance for four years at a dance school in another state. We tried this one because it was one of the few with a boys hip hop program. A program that's taught by a middle aged woman with absolutely no funk at all. It was embarrassing. It was a free class to try to get boys in and even that was too expensive. We quit after a month. My littlest did the creative movement class and it was like a boot camp. It was not fun at all. That lasted for a month as well. Thanks, backstage for thoroughly turning my kids off of dance forever. read more

My son has been taking hip hop and loves this class. the teached is excellent. he has good control of the class and the class has fun!

My daughter and sons have danced at Backstage for over 7 years and my daughter has even been on their team for 4 of those years. We have spent thousands of dollars and referred countless families to their studio over the years. Needless to say beware before you sign your child up for their programs. Most all of the teachers that have any clue how to choreograph a dance or teach dance have all left due to the way things are run at the studio. They have belittled, embarrassed, and been flat out rude to my daughter and from what other families tell me their kid too. The owner reminds me of present day Adolf Hitler and runs more than what I would call a tight ship. She has her daughter do all of the dirty work when making decisions and letting families know bad news and a lot of times those communications are done hiding behind email. The sad thing is that doing dance at a young age should build self confidence and teach the dancers valuable life lessons that they can take with them as they move through life and instead Backstage Dance just leaves my daughter in tears and leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth about a dance studio that is more about the bottom line than it is about building well rounded dancers. Good luck read more

Backstage Dance is a great studio for kids and teens to take classes. I took classes there when I was a teen from Marty and Rhonda and they are great. The teachers are friendly, imaginative and instructive. Also, they actually have a STORE for all your dancewear needs. Backstage Dance sells ballet shoes, tap shoes, jazz shoes, leotards, tights, leggings, shrugs, T-shirts, and other clothes, shoes, and accessories. The dancewear store is right next to the studio and this is great because they might be one of three stores in the Seattle Greater Eastside and the only store in Bellevue, WA that I know of. I believe there is one other store in Kirkland. There used to be one in Issaquah but it's either gone or moved. Backstage doesn't sell ballet pointe shoes (yet), but they sell everything else and this is really important and convenient, especially for brand new beginning dancers who can't just buy online because they need to have their feet fitted. read more