Truly professional. I had nothing but the best experience from the second you walk through the doors and get into the class. It's nothing short of the best read more

We had a terrible experience with the kid class at this school. The teacher known as "miss Jen" has singled out my daughter in her first class because she was not following. This experience has totally traumatized my daughter and ruined her interest and self-confidence. I won't recommend this school to any of my friends and family. read more

We attended the BBS from 2010 to 2021 or so - about 10 years. I must say that we started at the Boston school, and loved the early childhood program- it was amazing- the teachers truly love what they are doing, and my daughter loved every second of it! My daughter developed such a love of dance - and we remained committed to the program, moving to the Newton studio when she turned 7 or 8. The Newton studio was good for a while, but I did notice a pattern of harshness, even for the classes for youngsters - admonishing students rather than coaching them. It is hard to see your child come home with a sad face, and not a joyful one. I write to report that it gets worse as they enter into puberty - not all of the teachers, but the ones who teach with kindness are largely in the lower age classes. My daughter was a serious and hard working student. When your child is expected to spend the lions share of their free time (15-17 hours a week) in a studio as they get more advanced, their teachers- and the spirit in which they teach becomes some of their strongest mentorship. Why would they have to get used to criticism at a school, when there could be a spirit of community or self improvement? It became unhealthy. The criticism was not balanced with encouragement, there was favoritism, LOADS of perfectionism and not enough joy. I decided to put a stop after a year of hearing crying in the shower after classes. There was definitely body dysmorphia afterwards as well. The environment at Boston Ballet did this. It took me a while to write this review because I felt ashamed, like there was something wrong with us - but I decided to put our experience out there. We have learned that the dance world is big, and there are other organizations and opportunities that provide education with huge doses of positive connections with teachers, healthy self-image, creativity, joy and love. My daughter is going to be a professional dancer - she has said that since age 10. But the ballet world is still toxic- even at this org that I love and supported with my time, energy and resources. I hope that the BBS can figure out how to teach with kindness and love. read more

This review is specifically about the Boston Ballet Newtonville studio. If you have an older (high school) serious ballet dancer, this is not the studio for you. This is a recreational studio and the advanced level classes are made up of dancers that the Boston Ballet downtown has passed over for moving up to their more rigorous, pre-professional program. In other words, the advanced dancers at Newtonville are going nowhere and just bidding their time in this very expensive, money-making school for the Boston Ballet. Yes, the facilities are nice and they offer a variety of teachers, but virtually no real performance opportunities for their students. They offer a small show for "families and friends" at the end of the year but it's not even on pointe for the older girls - very disappointing. This is the only parent observation for the older dancers. The director of the school is not focused on the needs of the students and rarely communicates with the parents - actually, she avoids parent contact as much as possible, hiding behind "assistants" who she has return her calls on her behalf. S Thus, questions answered from the staff can be equally frustrating, as you often hear "I don't know" or get different answers, depending on who you ask. The director is very unprofessional in talking about different students behind their back - especially if they are absent in a class. Apparently, singling out individual student to criticize (in their absence) is acceptable and a good teaching method? I think not! Students say this makes them feel awkward and "fearful" to miss class, worrying what will be said about them...this is a very unprofessional teaching/ adult role-model and so unhealthy for dancer's self-esteem! If your dancer really wants to pursue ballet seriously, she won't get any resume building opportunities here. Nor will your dancer be challenged to break a sweat...and you, as a parent have to deal with a poorly managed studio that does little to develop a dancer for a professional or semi-pro future in dance. What a waste of time and money!! Forget this studio. Find a studio whose director and teachers will nurture your dancer and will help them develop their technique in a positive and encouraging atmosphere - but, it won't be at the Boston Ballet Newtonville studio. read more

This review is for the adult summer dance program, something for which I could find no information before enrolling. The gist of my message is: Caveat Emptor. The studios are gorgeous, the locker room is spacious with a wonderful 'performing arts' feel. The staff is very friendly and a lot more casual than the Boston staff. The location is a challenge from downtown Boston, be sure to note that the commuter rail does NOT return after the program, but it is a good option for getting out there. The technique class was wonderful, and interesting to all levels, which is good because all levels are present in the intermediate/advanced class. No one should feel intimidated to attend, all felt welcome. I'm giving it three stars because 'advanced repertory' is a misnomer, it should correctly be called 'welcoming repertory for all levels', which is an excellent program but not what I paid for. Also, they said there would be a performance for friends and family but that was closed to the public and the performance was for other students only. I believe lawyers call this situation "mutual mistake" and in theory the contract should be voidable. In practice, of my $380 registration I got $280 back, and I got two technique classes before leaving, which at a value of $28 means that this advice I'm giving you Yelpers cost me $72! And my advice is to attend several classes in Newton before committing to the non-refundable summer program. Talk to some instructors about their philosophy teaching adults and dance with the other students. If it works for you then it's a wonderful program. Do not be misled by the "advanced" label. Do your homework and best wishes to you. read more

We love this studio, especially the Newton one. Cute and quaint spot, yet modern. Love the hand in hand program for kids. The customer service is usually great and everyone is pleasant. Wifi available Vending machine Private lot Near dance store (dancers image) read more

Great classes for adults. Teachers are very knowledgeable about ballet fundamentals and technique. However, classes for children are overly large. Ample parking helps in the winters! read more

This review is for the Newtonville location only. I am an adult dancer, I used to dance when I was quite young and returned to dance after a long hiatus. I have been taking the open beginner class here once a week throughout the past year and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and feel I have progressed very well. I have just completed the adult summer intensive program which was 2 weeks long and loved it! I did read the not-so-great review of the intensive program that was posted in 2010 and I really believe they must have revamped the program because it was wonderful! I went into the Elementary technique and repertoire and although I had only been in the beginner classes, I really enjoyed the challenge and being surrounded by dancers that were slightly more experienced, more flexible than I was, it was encouraging, not scary. besides my own personal experience, which was great, the faculty are extremely nice and supportive, they will come around and change your positions, correct you, but not in a downgrading manner, they only want to help you improve. I thought the two weeks progressed well, adding more and more challenges as the days went on. The performance at the end of the program was open to all friends and family on a Friday night. My mom and boyfriend came to watch and I was surprised how many people did show up - cameras in hand! It was a great experience to show our hard work over the past couple weeks and all the faculty expressed their sincere gratitude to us dancers and commended us on our progress. I must say if you are just starting your ballet classes, or have taken them for years, the faculty and staff all treat each dancer professionally and seriously, in my experience, you never feel less-than just because you are a beginner and slow to pick up the technique. This is something I have not found at other dance studios, which is why I love Boston Ballet so much! For an adult dancer trying to get back into ballet, and still being quite a beginner at it, I really enjoyed the program and I think I have really progressed over the two weeks, it was well worth my time. Although the program can be pricey, it was worth my money as I feel I got a lot out of it personally and am excited to continue my classes throughout this coming fall. I highly encourage adult dancers to pop into an open class and try Boston Ballet out! read more

I am the parent of a dancer who attended Boston Ballet School for many years, first in Newton, then in the pre-professional program in Boston. Do your homework before enrolling your dancer in the PPP at Boston. This program is designed for SERIOUS dance students who want a professional career in ballet. As such, traditional academic schooling is not highly valued. As students progress in the PPP program, they have the choice of attending ballet class or academic school. Many ballet students have opted for online learning to complete high school. I suspect that others just drop out of high school. If your dancer makes it clear that academics are a priority, she or he will be passed over for various performance and other opportunities. The Boston studio is a highly competitive environment. Don't expect to make friends with the parents or for your dancer to come away with a sense of "team". Professional ballet is highly individualized and becomes "dog eat dog" as students progress. If this seems right for you and your dancer, the actual ballet training is excellent. If you want to broaden your dancer's horizons and expose him or her to life beyond ballet, stay in Newton. There is community in the Newton studio, and dancers feel connected to each other. Parents also are much more friendly and supportive. And the principal is far more educated about children as a whole, including some of their developmental needs. The Boston studio is all about ballet. Period. read more

This review pertains to the Boston studio. The school appears to be in a rut of not addressing the true needs of the students, some of whom have studied there for years. There is no real attempt to give meaningful feedback on their progress, there is no description of the curriculum, there are no discernible benchmarks, the evaluations are superficial and vague, virtually no direct communication, and the kids do not get much in the way of individualized attention. There is no support, really. Some families make big sacrifices to be able to attend this school. If your child is there for a real ballet education, the quality of what happens is dubious. The quality of the teaching is spotty. Some teachers appear genuinely interested and others do not. This is a very expensive program and it does not feel good for a teacher to prioritize the needs of pre-professional students such that classes are ended early, missed (with substitutes), and the final week of classes missed entirely without telling the students or saying goodbye if it is their last week in the studio. There are opportunities to bring closure to the year that involve minimal effort on the teacher's behalf, that can leave the kids feeling positive and good about themselves. This was not the case which is sad and disappointing. The message that sends is that these kids do not matter. Perhaps the school could do an in-depth look at quality measures and performance of their teachers, and evaluate policies and procedures. What's happening now is unacceptable, regardless of the non-trivial expense. read more

My daughter has only ever taken classes at this school, and after this year, she is leaving. At the elementary and intermediate levels of the classical ballet program, there have been several instances of bullying, which have resulted only in the students bullied who leave the school! Teachers have become indifferent to student progress, and many students do not receive proper corrections. Classes at all levels are too large. So disappointed at what the school has become! read more

This is a review of the Boston Ballet School for beginners. I signed up my young daughter for this program. We ended up going for three months instead of a year. The program is very very serious even for 4-5 year olds. Parents are not allowed in the hallway or room. It is very strict and disciplined. My daughter did not enjoy it all all. They were very professional from the beginning. None of the kids seemed to be smiling at the "drop in" in December. So that said it for me. It is probably a great place to go if you are a serious student. For little kids, go local. Otherwise, you will turn them off to dancing. read more

This review is for parents wanting to send their young children to ballet classes. The program at Boston Ballet is very structured, however, I think this is a great learning for children. They learn so many things. Some parents believe it's too much structure, but I think this will help them in the long run. We've been doing it for two years and love it. read more

Hi! I actually just got back from class there. This is a FANTASTIC place to start discovering ballet. I first came here a few years ago for the Adult Summer Dance Program (ASDP-Beginner level). The facilities and faculty are great, and I have always found the people at the front desk to be courteous and helpful. It is very clean, and the studios are filled with natural light. They have adult classes covering the entire gamut of levels: Beginner, Beginner-Elementary, Elementary, Intermediate and Intermediate-Advanced. In addition, there are pilates classes and other forms of dance, like modern and character (although these are much fewer in number). Every student I've seen there has been super-nice, and they're all very encouraging! They have a bunch of ballet junkies, who are very welcoming of newcomers; all you have to do is ask! You'll be going to see the pros soon after too. It's kind of a must! It's easy to make new ballet friends here for sure. If you've never taken ballet, or are afraid to because you think you're too old/out of shape/too far removed from it/not flexible or graceful/etc. you can be sure there are people here now that are in the same boat. You don't have to wear tights if you don't want to (although it really does help the teacher, and you, see your form). The beginner class teacher in particular is utterly wonderful in every respect. She assesses skill acutely, and adjusts classes accordingly -all with patience, humor and care. I cannot recommend her enough. The beginner class is semester based in its tuition, but I see that as good thing if it keeps you attending. Our class advanced quite well that first year, and they extended that class into the Summer due to the demand! I remember that after the third day of ASDP, I was more flexible than I had ever been. I had been doing yoga for four or so months prior, but this is something different entirely, yet complementary. In all honesty I am longer, especially in the midsection, because of applying the skills learned through ballet. You become much more in tuned with your body in time and space. If there are any downsides, it's the parking. Sometimes you have to orbit around a couple of times until the kids' parents clear out to find a spot... So, I feel that this is a gem of a place. I think you might too. Check out their top notch troupe while you're at it. Best, :) read more

The Boston Ballet school is a very strict, serious school for students who want to be professional. A good age to enter students is about 6 years old, but even students who enter as late as 16 years old can excel if they have a passion for the art. The Boston Ballet School exhibits correct technique and provide students with the background they will need in order to dance professionally. They have a no-nonsense attitude about the art, but at the same time make students feel comfortable in their abilities. read more