We've been with VDC for 2 seasons and absolutely love it!!! The instructors are caring, patient,…read moreand extremely approachable. All communication is very organized and outlines future events and deadlines in detail, making parents' lives much easier! And the recital is always incredible!! Unlike most dance studios, that showcase various dance numbers, VDC produces an engaging, cohesive show. For example, 2024's production was Mary Poppins. Older kids, in higher level classes, have opportunities to audition for lead roles.

This is simply an outstanding studio. Very professional yet fun teachers. They take things…read moreseriously but they don't pressure the students into stressing themselves out over competitions, makeup, etc.. Their annual recital is very well done and a pleasure to watch. The teachers are top notch. One is a former Rockette; all are very experienced.

I attended a Swing Dance event at The Lasley Centre For The Performing Arts recently. A friend of…read moremine was teaching a Swing Dance lesson one evening, immediately followed by a Swing Dance with a local band named "The Silver Tones Swing Band" providing the musical accompaniment. It was $10.00 per person to get in the door. Bottled water, a few different beers, and one red wine and one white wine were available for $5.00 each. I had a cup of the red wine - was pretty good. I met the daughter of the owner - she was manning the bar. Very nice people! I don't dance - and I did not attempt to participate in the dance lesson due to a lower back problem. But it was sure fun to watch the lesson, and then later the dance. There was an interesting mix of older and younger dancers. During the lesson - Ben made everyone periodically switch partners - so you basically cycled around a large circle. The lesson and the dance was held in a rather large room that I guess is a dance studio. There is a smaller second room where Ben held some more lessons after the dance started for those who felt like they needed more instruction. The only two things I will ding them on is: (1) Not enough capacity and hangers for folks to hang their coats; (2) The price of the bottled water was a little steep! I hope The Lasley Centre For The Performing Arts does well!

When we moved to Warrenton, I set out to find a dance school that would foster the same love of…read moredance in my girls that I had growing up. I enrolled them in a program but was quickly disappointed in the quality of teaching and mentoring that they were receiving. As a former dancer--I took ballet for 5 years as a teenager--my expectations were high. I wanted my girls to have the same positive, nurturing, challenging and inspiring experience that I had. Unfortunately, my girls hated going to dance class. We finally agreed to let them quit, a decision that didn't set well with me or my husband, but I could see they weren't learning anything. I found out about The Lasley Centre a year ago and enrolled my 8 and 10 year old daughters. Now, they love ballet and I can happily say that we have found the dance community I was looking for. From the professionalism of the teachers to the excellence of dance skills to the fellowship of the students to the community of parents and families, The Lasley Centre is everything I had hoped it would be. They teach kids responsibility and commitment along with a solid ballet foundation. And, they don't do recitals, they give performances. I believe, The Lasley Centre is an outstanding addition to our Arts community.

If your child desires to work in musical theatre or attend college for musical theatre, this is the…read moreplace to dance. If your child wants to attend a studio where the leaders and teachers value every single child, regardless of the child's talent or number of classes per week, this is the place to dance. There is an authentic positivity flowing from every nook of the studio, modeled by the owners and practiced by every teacher.

Encore Performers has made me the dancer I am today. I am so grateful for both the support and…read moretechnique that my teachers have given me. Not only is the Jazz training like none other but the Ballet teachers are the best in Northern Virginia. Also, my Tap Teachers are Courtney Moran (42nd Street National Tour), Paige Williams (Holiday Inn Broadway) and Luke Spring (just look up his name in Google. You'll thank me later). You will not regret sending your dancer to Encore Performers. Technique, support, and SO much fun!

My daugher (now 8) started to dance at Showcase since she was 3. Her first ever dance teacher is Ms…read moreSarah (we love her). All are so very skilled and kind. You can tell their amazing skills, and her dedication to dance and to the kids. THEY ACCEPT BABIES IN DIAPERS - Showcase start their dance classes for 18 month old babies. Yes! This was my first concern for my daughter because she was 3 when she started but no other studio would take her because she wasn't potty trained yet. (i did went to 3 other dance studios around the area and they rejected my daughter because she was still on diapers). In only a few weeks, we don't need diapers as she copied her classmates and learned to potty eventually. PROFESSIONALLY PLANNED RECITALS- These kids are no dance professionals but if you have been to a Showcase Studio recital, you will feel how professionally they have prepared the kids' dances and the whole show preparation and presentation looks amazing. Also, in spite all the great dance numbers, they also have a parent and child dance number (although I never tried it because I don't dance, I enjoy watching kids dance with their parents during recitals) ORGANIZED MEMORY ITEMS- yearbooks, dance pictorials, dance apparels with Showcase is such an important factor of why we love how they value each dancer and create memories as the kids grow. For most parents, this is so very important. CLEAN, CHILD-FRIENDLY and SIBLING-FRIENDLY STUDIO- Showcase now relocated to the new and bigger studio at 11252 Balls Ford Road. And you will be greeted by kind and accomodating faces like Ms Meg, Ms Michelle and Ms Tasha. We don't have issues waiting in the lobby with a 1 year old. They even have books to entertain the dancers' little siblings who are waiting. LEADERSHIP TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES- Showcase Studio dance teachers facilitate leadership trainings for the bigger kids to become assistant dance teachers and eventually become dance teachers themselves like my daughter's ballet teachers Ms Blair and Ms Jenni. Very impressive because of the opportunities for the kids to hone their talents and skills. They also acknowledge the dancers with school awards. This encourages the dancers to do well both in school and in dance. I can go on and on but this is becoming too long of a review. :)

I had the privilege to attend Showcase as a very young girl under a different owner. Fortunately…read moreenough, the current owner not only used to dance with my older sister, but decided to reopen the studio and continue the legacy after developing and creating her own very fun career. She came back to her roots and has continued to do an exceptional job at making this studio feel like home and every dancer feel like family. Showcase has 100% become a part of my family's own legacy, where generations have continued to grow and learn technique that carried on throughout, as well as have a familiar place to reflect upon after 20+ years. I am grateful to say I was raised by such a strong team of dynamic teachers and always looked forward to rehearsals, wherever the studio may be. Showcase Dance Studio is a team I will wear and represent proudly for the rest of my life.

I signed up my toddler for Wiggletoes (aimed for 2-3 year olds) which met once a week for 8 weeks…read morefor this location. They offer the classes seasonly across all 3 of their studios (Fairfax, Mosaic, and Alexandria). Wiggletoes was a very foundational class and the teacher, Ms. Jennifer, made every week so fun! She was so warm and engaging. There was a different theme each week which went along beginner ballet moves, storytime, and acting out the story time. The class was only up to 6 children so it didn't feel crowded and each child had enough time for all of the activities. As the parent, you're also expected to be next to your child and engage in a few of the activities which made it fun for bonding. We didn't opt in, but they also host a seasonal recital as well. We were able to purchase the leotard, tutu, and ballet shoes through the studio, which made everything super easy. Unfortunately, my toddler didn't end up loving ballet but I really enjoyed our experience here and the quality time we had together through our weekly classes.

Every morning when we wake up the first question out of my daughter's mouth is: "Is it ballet yet?"…read more She is only three years old but ever since she started taking lessons at Tiny Dancers she has aspirations of becoming a hardcore ballerina. And guess what? Since it is a parent/child class, so have I! Their Wiggletoes class is aimed at 2-3 year olds and teaches the fundamentals of ballet in a really engaging and age-appropriate way. Our teacher Miss Holly is especially adept at dealing with young children, some who have never been in a classroom setting before. She rolls with the punches, makes things fun and the creativity she brings into each lesson is outstanding. Every class is incorporated with a story time + gorgeous, high quality costume. Seeing what they put together has become a highlight of my week. We unfortunately do not have classes right now because #socialdistancing but my daughter has still been applying what she learned at home. She loves to "tendu" all around the house and on our walks.

Prince Williams Dance Academy has been an absolute confidence builder for my daughter! My daughter…read morehas been attending Jazz classes for the last two years and I am thrilled at the positive changes that I have seen in her. I highly recommend PWDA !!

From the owner: "One Dance Shoe Can Change Your Life"; "PWDA is your neighborhood dance school"…read more Kim Teachout Thomas has been providing more than 38 years of expert dance instruction to young students.

With so many martial arts schools available in the Northern Virginia area that cover a wide…read morespectrum of styles and disciplines, Master Folta's Traditional Uechi-Ryu Karate stands out among them. Seriously, this is the real deal - this school is probably the closest opportunity outside Okinawa you'll get to learning authentic traditional karate from a master practitioner as it was originally conceived by Kanbun Uechi back at the beginning of the 20th century. This style of karate is practical for both self defense and physical fitness, and promotes self-discipline and a healthy life style. Progressing through the various ranks is well structured and meaningful, and you absolutely get a sense of accomplishment as you do so. The staff at Okinawa Karate and Cultural Center make learning karate easy and fun, for all ages and abilities, with hands on classes at the Okinawa Karate and Cultural Center and at various Parktakes rec centers throughout Fairfax County. My whole family signed up for karate classes during the pandemic on a whim, but it only took just a few short classes to realize what a gem of an opportunity we have right here in northern Virginia. I cannot recommend it highly enough! Give it a try and join a great karate community!

I've been a long time student of Master Folta since 2005. I started at Oak Marr Recenter, before…read moremoving up the ranks, and eventually teaching for his dojo. I'm very pleased to see that he finally was able to open his own independent dojo to celebrate traditional Okinawan Uechi Ryu Karate, as well as the rich cultures that Okinawa brings. The Cultural Center has many artifacts in a museum style in a side room. There's also many people from the community like the DC Okinawan Kai who utilizes the space. It is a safe and welcoming space for not just Okinawan people, but those interested in learning more about the culture and tradition. This spacious dojo has two kicking/punching bags ready for training, many talented instructors, and classes for children and adult alike! I am excited for what's to come for this OKCC! I hope new students can find their new karate home like it's been for me throughout the years!

Really great customer service. They've been responsive to emails and available for questions. The…read morecoaches are great with kids and seem eager to help them develop their skills and grow.

First, I just want to note that my daughter started gymnastics in NoVA at age 2. She's 9 now. So I…read morehave some experience with gyms in the area (she's attended three). My biggest priority with any gym is safety, for obvious reasons. There is a gym in NoVA where the owner had to step down because of allegations of SA and yet his wife still runs the gym. I would encourage you to research the gym where your child attends and make sure there is no history of improper conduct. Gym America is a safe place for my daughter. That is the top reason why I love it. Of course, even with background checks, you never know, so I regularly check in with my daughter to see how she feels. And she loves Gym America and her coaches. The next reason I love Gym America is because they have responsive customer service. When I returned to the area after living abroad, I emailed a few gyms, and one of the big gyms in the area never even returned my email. Laura, the owner at Gym America, responded the same day. My daughter is now a Level 4 gymnast. One of the things I didn't know until the last few years is that there are two competitive tracks: Xcel and JO. Some of the gyms in the area don't offer JO, which is another reason I chose Gym America. My daughter spends 15 hours a week at the gym and loves it. I think that speaks for itself. If you are reading through these reviews, you might want to weigh one like mine a little more seriously, compared to people who have only spent a small amount of time at the gym. I've had a lot of opportunity to see what the gym is actually like. I'm not saying it's perfect, but I am saying that 1) my daughter has been safe here and 2) that her skills have improved *substantially* since she started here a year and a half ago.

We were here to have a private horse riding lesson for our daughter's birthday:) She had such a fun…read morespecial time.

I can't say enough about our experience at Battlefield Park Polo. My sons have been riding here…read morefor 7yrs and went from timid riders to well trained polo players. They've learned horsemanship as well as sportsmanship. They have learned to care for the animals they ride. They have to make sure the horses are fed, given water and stalls are cleaned before they leave. This happens on a daily basis. No barn is perfect but if there's one place to bring a child who wants to become a good rider and polo player then it's here.

I am so disappointed to be writing this because Virginia National Ballet used to be such a…read morefantastic school. We were part of this community for a long time and truly loved the environment they provided, but things have changed drastically. It feels like the school has shifted its focus entirely toward profit rather than the well-being of the dancers. The atmosphere has become incredibly corporate and greedy. It is clear they no longer care about the students' feelings or their personal growth--it's all about how much money they can squeeze out of the parents. Decisions seem to be made based on the bottom line rather than what is best for the kids, leaving many students feeling ignored and undervalued. It's heartbreaking to see a place that once felt like a second home turn into a business that only sees its students as tuition checks. Save your money and find a studio that actually values its dancers as people.

I hope this business is run with more humanity than one of it's founders/managers teaches her…read moreprivate lessons. As an artist, I believe that art nourishes society as much as the singular soul. Because of its healing potential, I hold that its training should be taken seriously and rigorously. But I also know that it is possible to train with dedication and intensity within a culture of support, kindness and respect as my primary voice teachers include Benita Valente, Sharon Sweet, Barbara Honn, Virgina Zeani and Joan Lader--many of whom had major international careers at the Met and beyond or teach the leading singers of Broadway and Opera. For a brief, but very dark, chapter in my training, I had the misfortune of taking lessons with Ms. Catbas. Perhaps it was just her projecting her own career and life frustrations, but her insecurity led her to be abusive, manipulative and condescending. I and other students had to report her conduct to administration. Suffice to say, it took me some years to vocally, physically and psychologically recover from the abuse rendered in her studio. It ultimately made me stronger as a person, but I wouldn't wish it on any other young person as life is so precious, so short and the craft so long to learn. Young artists are sensitive and it's tough enough to pursue the arts; fascistic training need not exacerbate it. As I look back, I see she was desperately unhappy and unfulfilled and I do hope, indeed, she is a more content person today to prevent this kind of cruelty. Practically speaking, too, I think most students would be more behooved by teachers who have continued their education and can combine solid bel canto training with updated research on vocal anatomy and speech pathology. It doesn't serve a young singer to study with someone who lacks deep knowledge but postures otherwise. I am sure she is a competent administrator for the Ballet; I just hope she treats her staff--as well as any current students--better than has in the past. I feel compelled to share this simply as a public service announcement because I don't want others to suffer as me and many of my peers did. When she wants to be charming and kind, I'm sure she is for her own purposes. But over the years, many have suffered; suffered to the point where Alexander Teachers and other vocal instructors across Baltimore associated her name with abuse and pettiness. Art heals, art unifies, art cultures humanity: there was no art in Ms. Muscat-Catabas's teaching.