I originally went to St Paul Ballet when I had ambitions of being a dancer at age 11. I had just…read moremoved from Sri Lanka where they followed the British dance philosophy to the states where it was different. I really liked the school and the instructors but the distance from the suburbs to St. Paul proved to be too far for continued attendance. Jump to 30 years later and I am finally putting dance shoes back on to take adult beginner dance classes. I am huffing and puffing by the end of class but I don't mind since I had such a great time! I highly recommend it!

We tried three ballet education institutions, then choose st.paul ballet. My daughter loves here so…read moremuch. Thank you!

I took a free class here after a 13 year break from being a semi-professional dancer, and I was…read moreVERY impressed. This is the only studio outside of downtown that I will actively be returning to for more classes. The adult options aren't great, but the up and coming girls I took class with are all very well-trained, very talented dancers. The real benefit to this studio is the owner: it is obvious how much Ashley loves dance, and how passionate she is about doing what is best for her students.

We love this studio! My daughter took classes and participated in the Nutcracker this year. It was…read morewonderful. The teachers are kind but disciplined, and the girls give it everything they have. An excellent and yet well priced studio!

I love it! I have been dancing here for 10 years, the students are great, the teachers are amazing!…read moreThis year, for Hip Hop, I have Mrs. Kirby Hagen(we call her Mrs. Kirby), she's the best! In my first years, I had Pat Alesso, than I had Charity Hall(who is no longer here, Mrs. Leslie Seabeck(we called her Mrs. Leslie), who is no longer here, and than I had Mrs. Julia Rose Larson(we called her Mrs. Julia), who is no longer here, than I had Maren Lundgren(we called her Maren). Then, for six years, I have Mrs. Kirby Hagen(we call her Mrs. Kirby). I love this place!!!

The school year is coming up, and it's time to enroll kids in all the activities. Mine are grown,…read morebut I was fortunate to live across the street from here. My oldest is not the jock type, but being an artsy family I got him into this from age 9 -17. He started out in jazz, and wanted to get into tap. That's where this school really has it down. Dancers always participate in a recital at St. Catherine's auditorium, and it's a reaaaly big show. Beautiful costumes, very professional. Dancing is serious here, and the kids love it, and they love the teachers. They are very good with the wee ones. The adult show is a spectacle. You'd think the students were preparing for Broadway, and when this schools done with them, they can.

A place for all ages and abilities to dance. Love that they have adult classes too! The boutique…read moreis so convenient for all our dance wear needs. The recitals are well organized and professional. Awesome place to dance!

My daughter did a summer dance camp - 40 minutes long, jazz/tap basics. One of the classes…read moreconsisted of a 7 minute long 'free stretch' while the instructor watched and played music. There was also a 'musical dots' (think musical chairs but dots on the floor) game that was played for 5 minutes, and the last 5 minutes of class was a free/freeze dance. That is nearly 1/2 of the class time not being taught. Maybe classes during the regular season aren't structured this way? Regardless, we won't come back, and I wouldn't recommend it.

Our daughter has been part of the dance program at Ballare Teatro for over 13 years, and it has…read morebeen such a positive and formative experience for her. The teachers are professional educators, dancers, and performers who are well trained, knowledgeable, and invested in their students' growth, both as dancers and as people. One of the things I appreciate most is the thoughtful structure and pedagogy of the program. My daughter has been trained in a way that truly prepares her for the future--her plans are to dance in college and to continue beyond. The instruction is serious and high-quality while still being encouraging and supportive. The studio also offers opportunities built into the program, including performances and audition workshops that help students gain real-world experience and confidence. Additionally, the Repertory program for the higher levels allows dancers to work with well known choreographers in multiple dance styles and perform in a professional atmosphere. While these opportunities are unique and come with high expectations, the environment remains non-competitive, inclusive, and encouraging, which creates a healthy and joyful place for kids to grow. As a discerning parent with a degree in dance, myself, I can honestly say this studio has been an incredible foundation for my daughter's dance journey. We're so grateful to be part of this community.

Our family has been part of the Ballare community for over a decade now. We have had dancers from…read morefundamental classes to adult and at every level we have been so impressed with the caliber of dance education. In addition to the phenomenal teachers, Ballare truly is a healthy community space for our kids and me. The atmosphere is positive and inclusive. As a therapist, it was extremely important to me that any participation in dance be body positive and focused on healthy movement, strength, and wellbeing rather than any particular size or dance aesthetic. In 10+ years, I have never once had pause that Ballare is not the place for us. Our eldest has made some of her closest friends within these studios and additionally has been mentored by adults we have grown to love and respect in our time here. We have watched them demonstrate tremendous care for our community during COVID, finding ways to keep kids dancing while also keeping them safe. We have watched them support kids transitioning into the fullness of themselves with loving acceptance. As dancers age, we have been impressed by the way in which constructive feedback is given, helping them develop to their fullest with compassionate honesty, which in our experience of youth sports is not always something that happens as well as it does here. As an adult without a dance background, these classes have been empowering, good for my body, soul, and spirit, allowing me space to try new challenges without shame. Ballare is truly a special spot in the Longfellow community.

We had a great experience at VDP. They take it seriously but have a blast doing it. I look forward…read moreto every week.

We cannot say enough good things about Victoria Dance Productions. Our daughter has been dancing…read morefor 10+ years at VDP and she still loves it today as much as she did on her first day. The teachers are extremely talented, nurturing and yet tough. She has learned so many life skills thanks to VDP - discipline, confidence and how to support one another. It's truly life changing, and I would encourage all parents to seriously consider setting their children up for a life of success thanks to Victoria Dance Productions.

Dancexcel is entering their 5th year and will have a NEW Fresh and Clean studio this Fall!! New…read moreLocation off of 494 And Robert Trail South, more Easily Accessible to more people located in Inver Grove Heights, but very close to Mendota Heights, West St. Paul and South Paul! This smaller studio has a lot of Heart, very welcoming atmosphere, and something for everyone! From the little Hip Hop boys and girls classes, post dance team, (Girls who want to participate in a recital and/or compete at dance competitions after the team season.), or EXceling in the competitive dance. WE LOVE it here and welcome other families to join us in the Fun!! Be a part of something Awesome!!

DanceXel is such a wonderful studio. My 3 daughters have been dancing there for 2 years, and my…read moreson started his very first year of dance here. The owner and teachers have made my kids so special. We truly feel like DanceXcel is a part of our family. Each class my kids gain confidence, and improve their dance skills. My daughters have found their best friends here. The studio has classes for every ability, and the owner is so welcoming of everyone.

Love this place for my kids! Its like another home for them because the community is so warm and…read moresupportive, but they still are pushed to take chances and be brave!

I was very active at Blue Water throughout middle and high school. It was a positive experience at…read morefirst, but then there was a change in leadership. The company started oozing money, the new artistic director only hired her artist friends that were unemployed, along with her boyfriend, who was a raging alcoholic. There were instances where contractors would yell at children and make them cry, and the staff that actually cared, along with other students, would be left to console them. Along with this, the artistic director was unable to manage the administration/office work aspect of her job, and began to complain and give many of her responsibilities to students who were eager to help. This was in no way, shape, or form the faults of the students. They were taken advantage of by an adult they trusted and cared about, who was tanking the business that they loved so deeply. This director ended up being fired due to her making political statements in the 2024 production of Les Miserables (it is a BWTC tradition to produce this show every four years). Because of this, there was a mass exodus of the staff/contractors, and the new AD brought in a pretty much new staff to the theatre. However, the theatre has not recovered financially, or in any other way. The building has some charm, but is falling apart due to how old it is. There have been some problems with ticket sales as well, especially for high school students. All of the kids are aware of this, and many of us would feel disappointed when we would go to perform a show, only for the audience to be 10 to 15 people. I did have some positive experiences at BWTC, and met some people I am still very close to today, but the negative impacts outweigh the positive. If you or your child are looking for theatre programming, try Stages, Children's, or another theatre in the area. They cost the same, but they actually have qualified contractors and staff who know about theatre.