Unfortunately I would not recommend this studio. We paid $285 for the recital package and there…read morewere only 3 practices total. Communication and organization were poor throughout the session. At one point parents were texted only 10 minutes before practice (cancelled), even though we live 20 minutes away. Costumes were handed out only two days before recital, leaving almost no time to address sizing issues. No measurements or sizing confirmation were done beforehand, and my daughter's costume was extremely oversized and unwearable. The only solution offered was pinning it, and a refund was declined despite the costume not fitting at all. After being with the studio for over a year, this experience was disappointing enough that we decided to withdraw our daughter from future classes. I would also like to add there was one practice my daughter left her water tumbler and I text the teacher immediately and asked to grab it the following class and we were just ignored completely.

Tap n Toe school of dance has always treated my daughter so well in her journey for performing…read morearts. They offer a variety of classes from tap, ballet, hip-hop, jazz contemporary and free special-needs dance. They work with the children each session to memorize several counts of eight that end up into a dance performance at the end of the season. The dance performances have been everywhere from malls to downtown at ballet Austin where they put on a beautiful production for all the children. My only wish is that they would work harder to traditionally refine each movement.

It's difficult to find adult dance instruction in Austin geared towards the older dancer, but…read moreSynergy's Silver Swan ballet program does just that. Theoretically, one should be at least 55+ to enroll, but exceptions can be made! The instructor, Maureen Slabaugh, is certified by the Royal Academy of Dance to teach under their Silver Swans model and does an outstanding job of making the class work for both absolute beginners as well as dancers with some level of experience. Currently classes are offered two days a week. I enrolled two years ago and really wonder why I didn't find out about Silver Swans years ago!! I hadn't taken a ballet class in at least 25 years and I simply love it! Highly recommend.

I've been taking adult ballet (Silver Swans class) for 2 years and it has been a fantastic…read moreexperience all around. Maureen is a phenomenal teacher - encouraging and nonjudgmental when you need it, excellent with technical details and technique when you need it. It's not just a good workout, it's also REALLY good for our brains! Every class has something a little extra challenging to work our memory and keep us on our toes. The classes are structured like the ballet classes of my childhood - first the barre, then the center. Maureen is great at giving options for newcomers and experienced students, and making sure everyone is both comfortable and challenged. She is also really good at helping people modify if they are injured or need to take additional care. Synergy itself is staffed with cheerful friendly people and it's always a pleasure to be there.

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!

The teachers allowed bullying behavior and my daughter was constantly a victim by older girls. They…read morealso tried to charge me after I am no longer enrolled, and not once they ever replied to my emails asking about class change or any other emails. Some teachers are very patient and trying. Their recital outfits are very cute and nice quality, and I love their recital program. That's the only star I would give. But I had to pull my daughter out for her mental and physical safety. The moms of the bullies are usually on their phones and they don't care. Much bigger girls were constantly pushing my daughter waiting patiently in line. When the teacher told my daughter her dress is so cute, a girl who looked around 5, my daughter is 3, looked red in angry face, then kept pushing her wherever she tried to sit, and tried to smack my daughters head with a wand. Teacher wouldn't do anything. They never say where each should sit or how to take turns or what it means to be graceful other than talking about dancing moves. I had to finally step in after happening at almost every class to stop bigger kids from bullying. They act jealous when babies or younger little girls come in a princess dress. During recital was ridiculous one time by obnoxious parents too. I was pregnant, with 2 toddlers. I kept asking people if I could sit down because we are holding 2 small kids and I'm pregnant. Everyone in front seats said no, that they came to get the seats to watch their kids. Told me to sit on floor. One guy had a seat next to him and said it's open. So I tried to sit. A mom sitting on the floor yelled at me "that's my seat! Stop trying to take other peoples seat. You are so weird." I said "you are sitting on the floor, so how would I know this is your seat. And you don't need to talk to me like that. Calling me weird for asking for an open seat as a pregnant woman is uncalled for." She said she's sitting on floor with her son now, but once he's up there, she's planning to sit on that chair. Teacher told me that my daughter's turn was next, that's why I just needed a seat near the stage quickly, so I could sit down. I have never denied a seat as a pregnant woman before. Especially with 2 year old and 3 year old me and my husband were holding. The type of people that goes here are not someone I would ever be friends with nor comfortable to be around my kids. Appalling parents, kids, and teachers who do nothing about it. If your child is gentle, caring, waits turns and shares, and pretty, this is not the place I recommend for them.

I recently did a 'tour' of demo classes for weekend activities I could do with my 18-month-old…read more After doing demo classes at 3 different activities, Tutu School was the clear winner for our weekend fun. What I really loved about the class is that the activities changed quickly, used lots of props, and were mostly active - all great qualities for this age group, especially my little one who seems extra wiggly. I've been to other classes/activities where the kids were expected to be seated for more than half the time which doesn't feel age-appropriate. We did stretches, ballet moves, and dances - all in fun, approachable ways. For example, rather than telling the kids to lift their legs with pointed toes repeatedly, the instructor blew a bunch of bubbles into the room and encouraged the kiddos to try to pop them with their toes. My little one mostly tried to capture them in her hand but there was lots of movement and silliness so I didn't feel like her normal toddler behavior would be viewed as 'bad behavior.' Overall, we had a ton of fun and my kiddo smiled often. I also appreciate that certain shoes or attire aren't required. They just need to wear something comfortable and be barefooted (if not in ballet shoes.) Keep in mind, for this age group (1.5 - 3 years) an adult needs to participate. It wasn't hard. In fact, it was enjoyable to just run and jump and spin with my kiddo. But, if you have some injuries or are differently abled, it might be worth talking with an instructor ahead of time to see how you might best participate. I'm also SO SO appreciative that they offer classes not just on Saturdays but also on Sundays. So many kids activities are limited to the week and it's tough for us parents who work the standard 9-5 with kiddos in daycare. Even the ones that have weekend hours, many are closed on Sundays. Logistically speaking: parking was easy, the space was clean, and there was a changing table and sink stool in the bathroom. So excited to attend again!

Danca Coracao! You get not 1, not 2, but 5 ... Yes 5 (that's…read morea whole hand worth) of qualified unique badass (hopefully I can say that word) teachers in one lesson. Every dance level is catered to in one class. Each of the teachers is so individualistically themselves that you get a taste of all the flavours w/o an overwhelm of too many cooks. Dance is all about style & w/each: Diana; Sarita; Robbie; Alex & Dan the styles vary. Technique abounds & so much is learnt each time. The teachers are diverse & so are the students who attend. I have a brill time w/every session. If you want a well-rounded, fun, jam-packed real taste of kizomba ... Come Here! Other groups are good; but if you crave some wicked knowledge & the best then come take a class w/these stellar humans ... Danca Coracao all day!!

I really love dancing kizomba with this group! I've been taking classes now for over a year and I…read morekeep coming. Their teachers are excellent, with strong dance backgrounds, and I appreciate how they share about the roots of both authentic kizomba and newer styles, staying true to the history and technique. And they're super affordable! At $40/4 class pass you can actually go every week. Which I do. It's my happy place :-)

Dance Institute is an outstanding place to send your kids who are interested in dance! I moved my…read moredaughter to DI b/c of its ballet program. Having danced for many years, I was looking for a studio who would take ballet seriously. Ballet is the foundation for all dance genres and without proper instruction, a student will not master the proper technique to perform at his/her best. My daughter has improved tremendously under the instruction of Linda Holland. Her love for dance has exploded and now she dances with the Dance Institute Performance Academy, one of DI's award-winning competitive dance teams. DI also has a hip hop dance team called Street Heat. Its many talented hip hop dancers have also competed extremely well. The facilities and resources available at DI are not found elsewhere in Austin. If you are looking for a great studio to grow your child's passion for dance, Dance Institute is the place! Check it out!

Nobody puts Baby in a corner…read more Really, that's all you need to know. That and... come on guys, do you want to be Johnny's cousin manning the record player (excuse me, Ipod) again, or would you rather be Johnny singing "She's Like the Wind"? Er...ok that came out totally wrong. This is the Dance Institute, a beautiful brand new school built from the ground up specifically for the purpose of teaching you to shake your maracas or for your children's pointe preparation for Julliard. You might not think this is too special, what with dance schools all over the place, and Austin still not widely considered a bastion of dancing, despite the fact that Ballet Austin is the 4th largest ballet company in the U.S. But typically dance schools are constructed in preexisting spaces, and they do the best they can. This place is, well, bangin', from the design standpoint. Some pro dance folks have shown up here from out of town already to give workshops, and say it is one of the most killer dance spaces they have ever been in. Open, airy, that sort of thing. So if you care about that, voila! A very nice space to learn in. The Dance Institute's logo incorporates a couple doing a hot salsa or ballroom type number, and it is the partner dances that DI is primarily designed for (at least in terms of sheer physical space and adult classes), if you ask me. Their space is huge though, so really they can teach anything they want in there. In addition to the ballroom dance classes that start you on your way to Dancing With The Stars type stuff, and social dancing classes like salsa or two step, they also teach pilates and yoga. I am not familiar with their fitness classes, so I cannot comment on them, but they do have them. They also have regular social events (with byo beverages, last time Monichacha O and I attended) which are preceded by mini lessons in a variety of social dances that you can choose to pay for, or not, if you are already skilled in that sort of thing. On my 5 year journey to learn how to do some ballroom dancing here in Austin, I have taken lessons from many people, and at most of the schools in town. As I have improved, this has led me to become a picky picky bastard about my teachers. DI has several of the finest in partner dancing that Austin has to offer. And imho, Austin does not offer a whole lot of fine partner-dancing teachers (though I believe their number is slowly increasing). Teachers I like at DI: my faves there are Sabrina, Kat, and Denis. I do tend to favor the Latin dances, though, so these are the folks I have had experience with who I like, who do latin. Sabrina, the Ballroom Director, has had years of dance training, and uses a lot of crafty plain language descriptions to help you figure out why you can't seem to do a box step after 50 attempts Edison. Kat was a professional ballet dancer and not only teaches the ballet program for kids (I do not think there is an adult ballet program there now) but is a superb salsa dancer and instructor as well. Often she will get folks to go out to salsa dance at local clubs in town. Denis is a former U.S. 10 dance champion (this means that he and his partner competed against other people in ALL the dances they do on dancing with the stars, really really well) from Russia, yet despite being from a country that churns out seriously hardcore ballroom pros sorta like Bela Karolyi makes gymnastics champions, he is quite nice and caters to your ability without making you run through the snow like Stallone in Rocky IV. Additionally, you can take private lessons from all their folks rather than group classes, and they do lessons for couples getting ready for dancing at their weddings. Ok, so why not the 5 star? 1. they are located in BFE for a big chunk of Austin - you can see from google maps that Sitio Del Rio is near 2222 and 620. If you don't live close by, you are going to be burning a lot of gas to become Johnny Castle or Baby. 2. they are probably the priciest in town, though with the current state of the economy, perhaps they've got some deals going. 3. The number of truly intermediate to advanced dancers that are available at this point in time, in Austin, who frequent their classes there (or anywhere in town), to do Latin Ballroom, is still pretty low. This probably doesn't apply to most folks in the universe, but it does to me, so. The Dance Institute is pretty sweet. If they were closer to the heart of Austin, I'd say there is no good reason you shouldn't give it a shot to get your dirty (or Fred Astaire & Ginger Rodgers' style) dancing on.

Ever went well with professionally trained instructors and happy, well trained dance students.read more

Very bad my children hated it its SO crowded. Would NOT recommend.My daughter told me her teacher…read moremade her hold her splits for a whole song! And she told her she doesn't care if she makes you cry.

For the past nine years, the Austin School of Classical Ballet (ASCB) has been an integral part of…read moremy 14-year-old daughter's life... a second home if you will. As a naturally reserved and serious individual, ASCB has profoundly shaped her, building her confidence, poise, and integrity. Ms. Jennifer, the studio's exceptionally knowledgeable director and teacher, has been a constant guide, witnessing and fostering my daughter's growth every step of the way. From a mother's perspective, I cannot overstate the immense impact that both the studio and Ms. Jennifer have had in shaping not only her dance technique but also her character. ASCB maintains a high standard of technique, which Ms. Jennifer skillfully balances with patience and kindness. And to anyone wondering whether this is the studio for your dancer... I can't emphasize enough that your dancer will find a home here where they will be both challenged and nurtured...where they will grow! Here's a quick list for "WHY ASCB?"... * This is a serious ballet studio. Classical technique is taught with a high standard and with care and kindness. * The classical ballet technique taught at ASCB fosters a strong, flexible, and coordinated body and nurtures discipline, focus, and expressive movement. * Ms. Jennifer is highly knowledgeable and effective. * It's a smaller studio which means more individualized attention, increased guidance, and stronger teacher-student relationship. * Once dancers hit a certain level, the dancers are invited to attend the studio's summer intensive w/guest teachers. * The schedule works nicely around school schedules. * I absolutely love seeing all the dancers perform at the studio's recitals. The work put into them by Ms. Jennifer and the dancers is incredible! * OH! Aaaaand the studio is right by Movin' Easy! Did your dancer forget their tights? No problem, just walk a couple of doors down and boom!

ASCB is the premier ballet studio in the Austin area. The care and dedication Ms. Jennifer gives to…read moreall of her studies is evident in their progress and improvement. If you want your dancer to learn from one of the best, this is the studio for you.