Very positive experience this past year with my 4 yr old daughter in their preschool…read moreballet/tap/tumbling class. My daughter's teacher is the best of all dance teachers we've ever had. She is fun, enthusiastic, and diligently teaches them real dance moves; they are not just having fun movement and play time. We came to jwsd a few years ago with my older daughter for a month and I was not happy with the teacher, who I later discovered was a permanent sub and not a regular teacher, or the waiting area, which was dark and difficult to see the dancers. However, all that has changed since then. They have made improvements to the waiting area so that there are TVs showing both dance rooms and comfortable seating. My younger one appreciates the side playroom and outside playground as well. I love the family feel of this hideaway dance studio and am glad we gave it another try! Don't be dissuaded by the notices to wear a coverup or the dismissal outside. The positives of the great dance class far outweigh the small inconveniences, and I appreciate the commitment to dance etiquette, even though it was something new to us.

Still at JWSD and still loving it. I truly feel part of this family... actually we are family…read more They are our dance family. My girls love the teachers and they have all been taught by the same teachers, because staff remains loyal. They don't leave. That's why i love this studio. Worth the 30 minute commute one way for me. Don't let a ugly review change your mind. Take from someone who's girls have been here since 2008!

I can't believe I forgot to write a review of this guy's class. Guess I was trying to forget the…read moreawful treatment and lack of professionalism I received from the instructor. Tony was incredibly rude toward me when I attended my first dance session with him. The other students were more helpful and polite than the instructor himself. I'm not the most coordinated person. I'll admit that and appreciate any person's patience when teaching me a sport or activity that requires a decent amount of coordination. I believe I was learning Polka or foxtrot at his class, but I was struggling with getting the coordination down since I was a first-timer. Tony was going about making sure that the students were on the right track. He looked frustrated that I wasn't getting it, and finally started to berate me. He asked me: "Why don't you understand how to do it correctly? Can you not understand English?" I was stunned and furious to say the least. He wrote me off as a foreigner unable to understand English based on looks instead of being patient like a teacher should be. I'm a native English speaker and was born in the US, unlike him, but saying something hurtful so casually like that wouldn't be acceptable even if the person wasn't a native English speaker. I've heard that South America had horrendous racial tensions, so I could see that Tony brought its racism with him when he came to the United States. If you're not an Anglo or Hispanic person, and don't have any experience with dancing, then expect Tony to say something rude when you don't understand his dance lessons on your first try. I excused myself and went to cry in the bathroom for a few minutes for the poor treatment. Then discreetly left the building. Lo and behold, the man had the gall to follow me to my car! He even positioned himself so that I couldn't slam my door without hitting him. He started advertising his other classes, and gave half-hearted encouragement since I was a beginner. As far as I'm concerned, the "encouragement" was too little to late when he burned a bridge by criticizing my English listening skills. I won't try learning how to dance again thanks to this man even if it's for my own wedding.

Tony has been a great dance teacher. I have been taking group lessons and private lessons for…read moresalsa for one month now and I have learned a lot of new steps and the technique of how to do the steps properly. He is very detailed in explaining how to do the moves in the most efficient way, starting from the very basics. The Sunday class where he teaches salsa, swing and country two step and Argentine tango is so much fun! I also like the Wednesday Batchata and Kizomba class. One of the best parts is when we go out dancing after class as a group to practice. I feel much more confident when I go out dancing then when I did before I started. I appreciate that Tony is patient and kind with all the students, no matter their dance level. Sometimes the more difficult or advanced moves take a lot of repetition, but he never makes us feel rushed. I have learned a lot in class -- even more than just dancing! And I recommend Tony's classes to anyone with an interest in learning partner dance.

My partner and I have taken multiple lesson packages with Ace over the last year and a half or so…read moreand they are awesome! Super patient and kind (especially with our wacky work schedules), and very knowledgeable about multiple styles. We've learned some slow dance, foxtrot, rumba, cha cha, etc. and are now learning our first dance choreography for our wedding. It's a very beginner friendly place, but Ace won't let you get bored either! Always ready to match pass with however much you are comfortable learning in a lesson. Definitely reach out to Ace if you have been itching to try something new, or want to add some flair to your first dance!

We are so glad we chose to take lessons with Ace for our wedding. My partner and I had never really…read moretaken dance classes before and were *very* beginner level to say the least. But in only four lessons Ace took us from barely being able to do a basic 2-step to twists, dips, and even a lift! Ace was patient and encouraging and tailored the lessons to our level, gradually helping us build up our skills with each class. Our guests were so impressed when we whipped out our moves during our first dance--they couldn't stop raving about it! It was definitely one of the highlights of the night. Don't hesitate to book Ace if you're looking to learn some skills for your first dance (or any dance)!

This place is such a gem. We are so lucky to have someone of Ms. Marquez's caliber in NW Austin. My…read moredaughter has really enjoyed learning ballet and dance in her studio this year. Since Covid hit, Ms. Marquez has done an incredible job moving classes online. It's been a seamless transition, and we love doing ballet from our living rooms! If you're considering taking a class here -- DO IT!

I've been taking Ada's adult Ballet class during Covid via Zoom and she is so motivating during…read morethis crazy time. I love her class! She caterers to all levels, is mindful of injuries/injury prevention, is incredibly paitent, and is articulate in her explanation of technique. Her positive energy is infectious! I definitely get a workout in class. I can't wait to take class again! Also, class is half off during Covid!

This is our daughter's 2nd year there and she's had a great experience. I think she's grown a lot…read morein her ballet, tap and jazz skills.

This is our first year with GADA, my daughter is 3 and in the 2's class with Miss Sarah. Y'all, I…read morekeep saying it, I'm blown away by them. We love Sarah and all of the couple of subs we have had have been amazing! I love how they keep us informed and communicate everything with us. We always know if there will be a sub, if anything special is coming up and Sally responds to emails almost instantly. At Christmas time they did a tea party for the littles where the bugs put on a little nutcracker performance and did crafts with the kids. I cried y'all, cried. I can't believe it's come to this for me to finally come rave about them but here I sit, stuck and isolated during the covid 19 pandemic where everything is closed. Within days Sally and her team had a plan, we received a link to online classes. I was so impressed they were able to implement such a program and so quickly especially for such a large studio. So yes, I was immediately thankful but then completely blown away by what Miss Sarah did for us. She personalized it for our class using their names and interacting throughout the video. Again, I cried y'all. Not only is this a great studio these women are incredible, incredible y'all. They aren't just teachers and Sally isn't just an owner these women love our kids and their jobs, they seem to go above and beyond in every aspect. So the answer is yes, yes I would recommend GADA! Yes we will be returning (when we ever get to lol) and yes we will stay for as long as we dance.

We are going into our 4th year at Shirley McPhail School of Dance and our experience has been…read moreexceptional. Watching my girls dance at this studio has created memories that I'll cherish for the rest of my life. There's nothing like watching your daughter dance on a big stage in front of an audience in a beautiful costume! The instructors have been amazing to us. They have always made my daughters feel safe and well cared for. Everyone that we've met, from the owner, director, manager, instructors, and sales associates in The Dancers Den have been nothing but kind, welcoming, and helpful. My daughters are always excited to go to their dance classes. We also love the other dancers and families that we've met through SMSD! The directors of the studio put in so much work to make dance a wonderful experience for the dancers and their families. The recitals are phenomenal and they split them into 4 shows that are 1 hour and 15 minutes each, so you don't have to stay 3-4 hours to watch your child at a recital. To the wonderful staff at SMSD: we see how hard you work, and we appreciate everything you do for us! Thank you for fostering a love of dance in our children!

We have had the most wonderful experience at SMSD. Not only does our child talk about dance class…read moreevery week, we've really felt like we are a part of a family at SMSD. We've enjoyed every teacher and can't say enough about the management. I'd recommend SMSD without a doubt!

I'm an adult student. I've practiced dance my entire life, but took a break in college after a…read morenasty injury resulted in a torn MCL and inflexibility. Most dance schools in the area (Ballet Austin is somewhat of an exception) that offer "adult programs" assume that their students are 1) total beginners, 2) only trying ballet for the fitness aspect. This is frustrating, especially for a college graduate who wants to *continue* their practice, not start anew. Ballet Arts of Austin is the first studio I have ever encountered that gave proper attention to their adult students. Ms. Tiffany, who teaches the Adult Beginner classes, gives corrections with the same thoroughness and empathy that she provides to her school-age students. Ms. Lori (who danced professionally in San Francisco Ballet and Corpus Christ Ballet, and still has the flexibility and grace of a 20-year-old) is challenging but extremely accessible. Neither of the teachers will hesitate to stay after class to answer questions or work on a particular technique. Most importantly, Ballet Arts stresses all three important aspects of dance - the physical technique, the fitness benefits, and the artistry. It is rare to find a studio that emphasizes the artistry and performance aspects of ballet (not just the technique) to the extent that Ballet Arts does. As an added plus, Ballet Arts of Austin draws primarily from Vaganova (Russian) technique. This was what I was trained in, and what I truly believe is one of the most amazing, virtuoso techniques of ballet. Many American dance studios (competition studios are quite guilty of this) usually teach a conglomerated mix of Cecchetti (Italian) and American (SAB/Balanchine), so it is hard to find pure Vaganova schools. This is, of course, personal preference ;) As a forewarning: the adult intermediate/advanced classes actually meet with the teenage advanced students. This means that this is usually far beyond the level of the typical adult class, so be prepared for a challenge! Ms. Lori will not hesitate to demand from you the same work ethic and technique that she does from her teenagers ;)

Our family followed Ms. Tiffany to Ballet Arts of Austin after our former studio's teachers were…read morereplaced by under-qualified instructors. Ms. Tiffany is not a prima ballerina; she is a teacher. We love her because she is down to earth and encouraging. After more than five years of her instruction, my daughters are both strong and confident young women who believe they can do anything, both in ballet and in life. Their ballet form and knowledge is far superior to their peers' in other dance studios, and, most importantly, they both LOVE BALLET. There is no pressure at this studio to be professional ballerinas or to look a certain way, and all of the older dancers encourage the younger students to do well in school and to be kind to one another. I have never before seen camaraderie like I have at Ballet Arts. Of course, the rigor and quality of instruction, especially from Mrs. Bodine-Benold, is probably the best in Austin. Those looking to pursue dance professionally will be able to challenge themselves with the variety and pace of Ballet Arts' classes. They will also be met with kindness and encouragement. We were also pleased with the studio's first recital this past June. It ran like a well-oiled machine, and it actually seemed like the studio had been having recitals for a decade or more (the instructors have, at other studios). The costumes were especially fantastic, and the oldest dancers were met with audible gasps from the kindergarteners. The entire affair was professional and encouraging. We look forward to another great year!

We signed up for lessons at Austin Uptown Dance for our first dance…read more Jake (Jacob) was a great instructor. He was very patient with my husband who has two left feet. We asked for a simple choreography, but they can tailor all the moves to however comfortable you feel. An edited version of the music was also a part of our package. After a few lessons and practicing at home, we executed the dance flawlessly on our wedding day!

We were a little nervous about taking dance lessons for our first dance. However, Hillary and…read moreeveryone at Uptown made it so fun and so approachable! Our lessons were always a highlight in our week :) Looking back, we would encourage anyone to take lessons from Hilary before their wedding - we're so glad we had a fun, unique first dance that we felt comfortable with