(If you don't want to read this whole thing, scroll to the bottom for the Pros/Cons.)
I am a ballerina at heart even though I don't look like one anymore after 4 kids! But seriously, I wanted my only daughter to be introduced to the grace and beauty of dance but with the technique that I had learned at California Ballet School. I also knew that even though my daughter LOVED to dance, she probably wouldn't do so well in the traditional schools due to her, shall we say, focus issues! That also meant the price had to be right, (i.e. affordable for our one-income family.) So, I went on the search...what I found was impossible standards (for her) with way-too-high prices (for me)! So, I gave up!
Then, early in 2011, my friend told me about this church that offered dance classes for $5! Even better, the first class was FREE! So, how could I resist trying ballet/tap out on my daughter?! (She was 4 at the time.) Well, long story short, she had her first dance show that June and remembered her WHOLE ballet dance, didn't have stage fright and enjoyed it so much that she begged me to go back the next season! She really LOVED "Miss" Cassie and I was impressed with the kind yet direct approach that I saw on the monitor located outside her beautiful, professional dance room. So, the next year rolled around...
We had another wonderful year of dance with patient teachers/substitute teachers. I noticed my daughter trying to focus better and listening the first time more often because she wanted to please her teachers. She learned all the basic positions of ballet and was learning the vocabulary of the more difficult steps she was now practicing. The classes began to grow so new classes were begun so as to maintain a reasonable class-size for proper instruction. She enjoyed another awesome performance in June, showing off her ballet skills!
When it was time for the next year to start, she was allowed to move into the novice group (6-8 years old) even though she wouldn't be 6 until the middle of the year. (She had become a leader in the younger group.) She kept up fine! This was also the year that her brother decided to join her. Well, they both added on tumbling class with "Miss" Jennifer. They LOVED it even though it was right after ballet; I LOVED it because they came home VERY tired and took a nap! Then my 9 year old son began the new class, break dancing with Mr. Ben, at the same time as ballet. He was very happy to have something to do other than wait for his sister to finish ballet! I need to share that my son is NOT a natural born dancer...as a matter of fact, I'd say he's more of a natural born klutz! (This is coming from a loving mommy who knows her son's strengths and has helped him through numerous speech/medical/scholastic therapies.) However, this kid blew everyone away when it was time for the show in July! He knew all his steps, did them well, had fun and I could even say, actually danced! Of course my daughter did her normal...a WONDERFUL job tap dancing!
On a personal note, I actually attempted ballet again, even though MY dress-code was sweat-pants and a big shirt, unlike most of the very fit women in the class. I felt nothing but acceptance from the crowd of ladies in my 13-adult class! I was trained just like everyone else, LOVED the workout and was sad when I sprained my ankle so badly that dance class went on hold for the rest of the season. I look forward to participating in the class again this year and hope that someday, sooner than later, I'll be wearing at least tights again! :o)
So, PROS about Blessed Feet Dance:
*Only about $20 a month, instead of per class!
*Take as many classes as you want! Tons of variety to choose from.
*Patient, kind teachers who are knowledgeable in what they're teaching. (I mean even during dress week there has NEVER been yelling, and anyone who's been in a show KNOWS that's a miracle!)
*Professional, beautiful studio: real wood dance floor, monitor for parents to view, H2O provided, bathrooms very close, ballet barrs, one whole wall is a floor-length mirror, cubbies for stuff, plenty of chairs for waiting parents, etc.
*Flexibility and understanding with life-circumstances (Cassie has had to let me pay late, or pay costume fees whenever I could, because I had no money certain months due to life happenings; classes/shows were never canceled due to this fact. She has been SO genuinely loving of my children in this way!)
*Amazing end-of-the-year dance shows! (They just keep getting better!)
*Opportunity for professional group/personal photos taken of your dance star for a great deal!
*Lovely, yet modest, costumes offered for a small rental fee during show-time
*Moral behavior, conversation and music is expected...never have we had any problems with bad examples.
CONS:
*Not your average dance studio!
*Parking can sometimes be tricky but there's plenty to go around. read more
