*This review is for the adult beginner ballet classes* I've always wanted to take dance classes…read moregrowing up but never was able to. In my late 20s, I wanted to take the leap and try out a beginner ballet class. A lot of the other dance companies I looked at were either for people with prior dance experience, drop-in classes, or generally way too advanced (and intimidating for someone with literally 0 dance experience. I didn't even know what first position was). When I found Phila Dance Academy, I learned that their adult class was treated like a true course (just like how kids are taught!) where you start at the basics and learn more and more with each class. This was exactly what I wanted! I took a full year of beginner ballet with Miss Fallon. The class gauged each of our experiences/learning and really catered to not only help us grow as dancers but challenge us throughout the way. Miss Fallon was great at allowing the more experienced dancers to take on more challenging techniques or combos, while taking time to teach the inexperienced. The classes neither went too slow nor too fast, and every dancer was able to leave each class feeling like they gained a valuable experience. I absolutely LOVED how I was able to build on my skills week over week, and could physically see and feel myself get better. (I won't be joining the Philadelphia Ballet any time soon, but you know what I mean...) Further - when COVID hit, I was SO impressed with how swiftly PDA was able to pivot their business from in-person classes to virtual. They took maybe a week to figure it all out, and moved to completely online classes with our same instructors, at the same time, while maintaining a very personal class experience. I was so impressed with how Miss Fallon managed to tweak her lessons to fit smaller spaces, all while still teaching the lessons in a way where I felt like I was learning and building on skills (despite being in my kitchen using a chair as a barre!) I will admit when everything first transitioned to livestreams, my main worry with ballet was that I would lose that "coursework" feeling - how would I still build upon skills I practiced and learned all year without a barre, without a teacher physically present to correct my form, without a physical dance space? But I truly felt I hadn't lost that aspect of ballet at all - and I am sure the kids all felt the same in their classes! I highly recommend for any adult who has ever wanted to try ballet but may be a bit nervous to do so!

The PDA staff is professional, welcoming, and encouraging to my young ballet dancer who started at…read more3 years old and who has big dreams and ambitions of performing on stage when she's older.

Movemakers is both fun and empowering to kids. It's focused on team building, strengthening both…read morethe physical body and mind, and run by a team of excellent artists. I would recommend this class for any and all kids to try at least once in their childhood to experience, boys and girls alike. FYI, they also have adult classes for those of us who missed hip hop dance in our earlier days and want to shine on any dance floor.

Movemakers is great. My son has been taking Hip Hop for 4 months and he just performed in his first…read moreshowcase. He even performed his routine for my entire family. Mr. Vince is a great teacher. He is patient, he pushes just enough and he is very talented. Looking forward to the next showcase!

Our child danced here for the Summer Intensive. She had a great time with all the activities. Her…read moretechnique improved greatly over a short time. There is a great attention to detail in ballet. I highly recommend it and she hopes to return next year and audition for the year round program. A special thank you to Laura B who helped her dance more cleanly. We found the staff to be friendly and approachable.

Attending the Rock School is probably one of the best things that have ever happened to me. The…read morefaculty and staff are super approachable, kind, and generally helpful. I've seen that some of the other reviews here have given it a low rating because of bullying. The Rock School does not and has never tolerated this sort of behaviour, and it should have been brought to the awareness of staff. The Rock School's community is very friendly overall, and I've made great friends over the years. My technique has steadily improved and still is ever since I joined, entirely because of their amazing teachers. I plan on staying for the long run, and you should too. (Just coming for the summer is okay too ;) )

Love this place. My 14 year-old just signed up for her third year. What really sets Freestyle apart…read moreis that it's truly all about the love of dance. While there is a competitive dance team that students can audition for, the week-to-week class focus is on learning and dancing. We've tried other schools in the past and I usually end up feeling like the kids spend the whole year planning for a huge, expensive, loooong recital. Here, the year ends with a dance showcase that is warm and friendly and reasonably priced to attend and to participate in (no expensive costumes that your kids will only wear once). Colleen is an amazingly talented, patient, and enthusiastic teacher. Tony, the owner, is just a super great guy. The whole staff is very friendly and they seem to get along like a family. Give Freestyle a try!

Freestyle stands out not only for teaching technique, but for instilling the enjoyment of dance…read more Kids and Kids-at-heart can benefit from the confidence and social skill one can learn from dancing on a stage, in a gym or at a party. Just visit their beautiful new studio and you can feel the friendly yet casual atmosphere that makes you just want to bust a move, spin on your head, do leaps and pirouettes!!! Way to go FDA!!!

My daughter loves it here! Top quality teaching. Here you learn from former professional dancers…read moreand veteran teachers. They care about challenging your child, technique and continual growth.

a stellar performance by our youth! They were precise, disciplined and well mannered. The…read moreconservatory further proves that when parents and teachers work together, children will excel in anything they do.

disclosure: I vaguely know Scott the studio owner and am friends with one of the instructors and…read morethe studio manager. This is a smaller adult oriented studio that offers both group and private ballroom instruction for both social and competitive dancers (not so much standard though). I've seen group classes but not personally taken them and people look like they're having fun. They also do seasonal showcases for people interested in performing without the pressure of competition. The studio itself is L shaped with several walls of mirrors and is fine for latin and social dancing. It's not a great space if you need to practice full on ballroom routines on a normal sized competitive floor (this comment is geared mainly towards s/s dancers) because there isn't the square footage you might need. The studio instructors who I don't know already or am not taking lesson with usually ignore me- they're not unfriendly but they don't say hi either. Social dances are not crowded, and the last time I went there was a relatively high girl to guy ratio- but snacks and drinks were included, yay.

Dance Sport Academy is, hands down, the best dance instruction I have ever received. I have been…read moredancing swing for nearly ten years and ballroom for six years, I have taken lessons from national and international champions, I am a certified teacher in my own right, and let me say no one else has provided instruction of such high quality as I have received here. The instructors, in addition to being accomplished dancers themselves, have a phenomenal understanding of the teaching process and produce consistently outstanding results among their students. The past few months I have been at the Academy have produced some of the best growth I have ever experienced as a dancer. That said, there are three downsides. The first is that the lessons are the most expensive of any studio in Philadelphia (though they are well worth the price). Second, the group classes are often at inconvenient times and focus on a very narrow range of dances. Third, the parties are rarely attended by the school's better dancers and are seriously weighted towards inexperienced women, with very, very few unattached men in attendance. None of these downsides, however, has even remotely dissuaded me from taking lessons here, and I highly recommend you do the same.

I came here on a Saturday for the musical theater jazz class, and it was so much fun! The teacher…read morewas a sub since the regular teacher was out, but she definitely knew what she was talking about and was very sweet. We started with warm ups, then across the floors, and then into a fun combo. I liked that the class was an hour and a half, because it really gave us time to do everything and didn't feel rushed. The prices are not bad for drop in and the studio is very cute, though it does get a bit hot in there.

I stopped by Koresh for the first time to try out Noelle Martone's beginners adult musical theatre…read moreclass. I registered online (about 25 dollars per class) and headed over to the studio about 15 minutes for my class. While it's a bit nerve wracking walking into a studio for the first time, especially after not being in one for over a decade, the staff was so helpful and welcoming. The young woman at the front desk helped me check in and directed me to the studio. She gave me a heads up that another class was wrapping up and to hang out on the side and take a seat until my class started. Noelle's class was fantastic! She created such an inclusive and welcoming space. She encouraged making adjustments in the warmups and choreography to fit your abilities and comfort. The class started with stretches, then some across the floor warm ups, then learning the number and ended with an optional cool down. There was a nice mix of abilities throughout the class. The space is large and clean with room to leave your personal belongings in eyesight. Will definitely be doing this again soon!

I trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, along with my sister, from age 6 to age 17, when I…read moregraduated high school. I went on to dance professionally with several ballet companies because of the training that I received from Mr. and Mrs. White, Bryan Koulman, and Melinda Pendleton. The Whites have created a beautiful school in Narberth that so many dancers, and their families, consider a second home. The training is mainly in the Vaganova method, however, each instructor provides a slightly different emphasis. Bryan Koulman is a seasoned choreographer and his classes are both challenging and dynamic. There are several performance opportunities throughout the year, including the Nutcracker and a Spring showcase, which allow students to diligently rehearse and perform regularly. I always appreciated the active adult ballet program, which many schools do not offer, because I could continue coming back to take class long after I had stopped dancing professionally. My mom would even take the adult class throughout my childhood, which I loved. I highly recommend the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet for both children and adults. This studio strikes the appropriate balance between being a serious training school while also facilitating close friendships among the students.

This is a great school for anyone looking for methodical, serious training in classical ballet. I…read morehighly recommend this studio for children in the student division as well as adults in the adult program. You will develop a great foundation at this school. Exceptional and knowledgeable teachers. Pleasant and warm atmosphere. The studio has a long history for training many dancers who went onto professional careers in dance. It has a worthy and wonderful story - a gem to be cherished on the Main Line.

We've tried other studios for our daughter, but PSPA is home. Instructors are focused on giving…read morechildren a quality dance education while providing an environment that encourages fun and building healthy relationships. There is a feeling of community amongst the parents, and everyone celebrates each others' successes. It's well worth our 35 minute drive three times a week for us, because we know our daughter is part of a studio that is interested in her dance education rather than just our wallet. Shows are Broadway quality, costumes are tasteful and appropriate, and the choreography is outstanding. The studio itself is homey and gorgeous. You seriously cannot find better in the Bucks County area!

Great little ballet school. They approach their classes professionally and seriously, even though…read morethey're catering to little kids...and it's really affordable too. Just $80 a month! The staff has also been a delight to interact with. Apparently, come spring, the ballet year culminates in a mega performance consisting of all of their classes. There's supposed to be ornate costumes, majestic sets, the whole 9 yards. We're truly looking forward to that!

My son has taken lessons here for a few months, and we've been very happy. The teachers are focused…read moreon detail but also are easy going and relaxed with students. The studio has a great community, and we love attending. Another plus is that for siblings of dancers, the studio has books and a homework area so that they can occupy themselves as they wait, which has been very useful to us.

My daughter has been dancing at PDT for 8 years. The training, the staff, the performances are top…read morenotch. If your child wants to dance, look no further than PDT!