My husband and I decided to take a few dance lessons prior to our May 2023 wedding and realized we…read morewere sleeping on this gorgeous dance studio located conveniently in Wilmington's Independence Mall. After reaching out to discuss the available options, we were directed to consider a group class to learn the basics, followed by private lessons, both of which were a great experience. We initially took a four week group course of Hustle/FoxxyTrot, taught in their larger ballroom. We were initially feeling anxious and self-conscious, but quickly realized that many of the other couples were also beginners, though there were certainly more-skilled participants that were clearly "regulars" at the school. Most in the class signed up with a partner (at a slight discount!), though there were a few individuals who had to partner with each other or the instructor. Generally, we were divided by gender to be taught the initial steps, then came together with our partners to practice while the instructor rotated to offer individual suggestions. Overall, it was hard to learn a ton in four weeks, but we definitely learned a few basic steps that came in handy for our private lessons. After our group class, we signed up for five private lessons taught by Tania, who took the time at our initial class to get to know us and understand the layout of our wedding venue. While our intention initially was to learn a few steps and feel more comfortable on the dance floor, we wound up learning a full, 2-3 minute choreographed dance for our first dance. Though neither of us had much dance experience (and one of us barely understood the concept of a rhythm), Tania guided us with patience and ease, providing encouragement when we needed it and incorporating our feedback and requests to build a routine that we felt comfortable with. To our surprise, we were able to learn and execute our first dance nearly flawlessly, impressing all of our friends and family on our big day. As a thank you / wedding gift, the studio gave us a discount for a future group class --- we're very much looking forward to using it for another group class!

When I lost my husband I was lost too. BlueBallRoom gave me the opportunity to begin the next…read morechapter of my life. I have learned the wonderful dances, enjoyed the social dancing and the art of performing. I have many new friends including the wonderful professionals who are amazing. You can turn the page too. ​

We attended the presentation of Henry V at the Delaware Shakespeare Festival at Rockwood Park this…read morepast summer. Wow, it was really fantastic. You bring your own drinks and snacks, and enjoy the Shakespeare. The woman that played Henry V was truly talented, and the entire show was very well done. Looking forward to next summer!

Saw the Delaware Shakespeare Festival's "A Comedy of Errors" last week outdoors at Rockwood Park,…read moreon the lawn in front of the manor building. It was a marvelous performance of a fun play. The stage is relatively long and narrow, with lawn seating on both sides. (Bring your own blankets or lawn chairs). The cast was excellent, with high energy. The sound quality was good, which can sometimes be tricky for outdoor shows. This play is not one of Shakespeare's longest, so you get out at a decent hour. Arriving early means you'll have more choice in where you sit. Also, there are fun performances on stage before the actual play. You can bring food, beverages, etc and have a picnic dinner before the show. Bring bug spray. They sell soft drinks, beer & wine, food, and some dessert times, as well as t-shirts, etc.

I love a good night at the theater and any excuse to be outdoors in the summer, so the Brandywiners…read moreoutdoor performance of Beauty and the Beast was the perfect summer night! $30 ticket gets you admission to Longwood Gardens, a theater show, and don't miss the fountain light show afterwards! It's pretty incredible that most of these people have full time jobs and dedicate a summer to this. They do an awesome job with sets, costumes, and singing! It's cute how excited kids get and they often have a meet and greet with the actors after the show. Pro tip: wait till the week of and check the weather before you buy tickets because if the show is rained out you can't get a refund and they might not decide until a half hour after the show, after delaying it several times (this happened last year) and you might not be able to make the rain date. Also, bring bug spray and a sweater, it can get chilly.

Saw the Brandywiners perform the musical "Shrek" at Longwood Gardens last weekend. What a fun…read moreshow! I went with a friend, and was impressed with the show itself (more fun and hip that I'd assumed) and the performance of the very large cast. The whole show was good; some of the individual peformaces were outstanding. Some tips: You can get dinner ahead of time in the Longwood Gardens cafeteria-style restaurant, about a two-minute walk. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, and outdoor jazz on Thursday evenings. Your theater ticket also gets you admission to the entire Longwood Gardens, if you want to arrive a few hours early and stroll around. The show is outdoors, so bring bug spray. Stick around for the fountain and lights show, starting about 10 minutes after the show ends.

The greatest place for taking a class or workshop for art, music, theater, or dance. There's also a…read morepreschool and summer camp sessions on site. The music program is excellent. I can't say enough good things about the teachers. They are very welcoming!

We went to the Darlington Arts Center last night because our daughter was a participant in the…read moreCongressional Art Competition that was held there (it features the work of area high school students). We had only ever been there twice before - once for a children's birthday party and once for an art class. It was a bit crammed last night since a lot of people were there, and the building just isn't really set up to accommodate a whole group at once, but it worked out okay so I won't complain. P.S. My daughter won 2nd place in the Mixed Media category. Proud Momma right here! :)

It makes me sad to see a ridiculous negative review. DDC has been a great place for my daughter to…read morelearn dance. Miss Jane is wonderful and has the patience of a saint. I love that my daughter is learning the fundamentals and not just what she would need for a recital.

We love taking lessons here. Both instructors are great, very friendly and encouraging. Vibe is…read morerelaxed and fun.

We've been taking lessons from Bill and Alex for about four years now, and it's a highlight of our…read moreweek. Low pressure, fun atmosphere. Lessons are aimed at giving you the ability to get out on the floor to have fun no matter what music is playing or how much space there is. It does not matter if you've never done it before - that's why you take lessons:) We were pure beginners when we started, and in a few months we had enough to dance all night at a New Years Eve event. Now it's as much about having a weekly date as it is about improving and picking up new steps.

@cityofwilmde The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival returned to Rodney Square in Wilmington, DE for its…read more35th anniversary and did not disappoint! There's a lot to be said about a city that hosts a free multiple day jazz festival, especially during these economic times. Kudos to the mighty City of Wilmington. It was invigorating sitting outdoors with mature music lovers and listening to great artist. I'm grateful the opportunity was available. #cliffordbrownjazzfestival #cliffordbrown #jazz #jazzmusic #wilmingtonde #Wilmington #wilmingtondelaware #rodneysquare #greatmusic #musicllovers #maysa #stokely #festivalfood #festivalfoodtruck #greatfun

This week long FREE festival sponsored by Dupont is a GEM that Wilmington, DE should be proud to…read morehave. The artists for the festival this year was a treat. I attended two nights, Wednesday and Friday. On Wednesday, I saw the following artists: Ray Drummond - BassSharp Radway - PianoShirazette Tinnen -DrumsJermey Pelt - TrumpetJason Curry - SaxLeon Jordan, Jr - TrumpetDaniel Bauerkemper - SaxWayne Escoffery - SaxJason Marshall - Barritone SaxRobin Eubanks - Trombone and on Friday I saw: John "Sax" Williams - Main StagePoint Blank and Main Stage- Leela James - Main Stage. Anyone who knows Leela James should know - She Slayed The Show!! Outstanding Performance!! The street near the stage was blocked off and had food and beverage vendors. I had cheese and crackers along with water in my cooler, but alcohol was served outside the venue if you desire. What made the experience top notch was the crowd. Everyone was mellow as most jazz festval goers tend to be, but it was especially cool because security was present, not overbearing and everyone had the same goal - have a good time - I made sure I did!! I will definitely keep this in my range for next year. Enjoyable time.

Amazed to find that the DSO hasn't shown up on Yelp yet - one of the hidden gems of the Delaware…read moreArts Community. Having had various professional affiliations with this organization over the past ten years or so, I've seen this orchestra experience remarkable growth in recent years, due in large part to the energetic and artistic leadership of conductor David Amado. I suspect most people don't even know the DSO had a national release (Telarc, I think!) recording last year with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. (Which was nominated for a Grammy!) They're that good! The DSO has been progressive in their programming with a nice mix of the standards, and a few out of the box productions like the orchestral scores to the Bugs Bunny cartoons - performed live WITH the films. But most importantly, the orchestra is composed of first rate musicians, performing in the historic, beautiful (though admittedly - a bit dry) hall that IS the Grand Opera House. (Worth going to a concert just to catch a glimpse of Wilmington, circa 1900!) As one who has become increasingly passionate about supporting local enterprise, be that the nearby, sustainable farms or family owned fine dining establishments, I hope more Delawareans will come to realize that they have this fine orchestra right here in town. These are difficult times for orchestras all over the country - hoping this one continues to thrive!