This is a Style Shock Dance Review.
GET YOUR BIG BOY CHECK BOOK OUT!
My child WAS in their dance program. Which is clearly not their main focus. It's my opinion that Dance is really an afterthought at this place. Cheer is where they are more focused, and it shows when you step inside and see how the owner highlights all his trophies. So my review is on their dance program and not the cheer program. Oh yes...we followed the cheer program all over the place and sat through a number of cheer performances. And even at those cheer events, it seemed like the dance routines were there more for filler between cheer routines. With that said...at the dance competitions, where there was no cheer, we were definitely entertained by some groups that were clearly having fun and learning all kinds of different styles and techniques. They were having fun and it showed.
As a parent of a young lady aspiring to regularly learn new techniques and styles, and have a great time doing it, we were initially encouraged by what appeared to be a step up from her previous experiences at other dance studios. And at first...this is how it was. But once the competition season began, she began complaining that the instructors were not fun and seemed to always be mad at them. 50 pushups if your 5 minutes late...cmon! 12yr olds don't drive, so how can they control traffic or... be held accountable when other circumstances occur. But that's another story.
As to go with my first comment. SHOCK stands for how much this place cost us. We added it all up and with travel (fuel and airfare), travel expenses (hotels & meals), uniforms, competition fees, banquet fees, choreography fees, oh and the Style SHOCK dance program fees, it ran me $90 EACH AND EVERY time my daughter walked through that front door. Twice a week and my grand total for LESS THAN 1 YEAR was over $6800.00!! NOT KIDDING!
And they're making my daughter do pushups if she's late? But hey..that's another story for someone else to tell.
Listen, at 12 she's not in this for a career. This is recreation and fun. For this kind of money, she should be learning something new EACH and EVERY time she walks in that door. But once the competition season begins...it is 1 routine, that's it. Those skills, those moves, over and over and over and over again until they get it right with the other girls on the team. And if they don't?... they get in trouble, the teacher openly shows disappointment in them and makes them do even more pushups. but hey...that's someone else's story to tell.
As parents we do the best we can to support our childrens' hopes and desires for learning and enjoying new and exciting talents...whether it be hockey, soccer, baseball, gymnastics, dance...whatever. But we also have to stand up from time to time and let each other know when they need to beware of those activities that can suck you in and bleed your savings. Style Shock did that to us in 9 months(ish). Don't let that happen to you!
Yes this is a harsh review, and it was intended to be so. I never had a problem with the people there, (other than the fact that they were unable to finish the season with the same dance instructor) or its owner. I had a huge problem with 3 things....our child felt it became more a chore than recreation, dance is NOT their core competency, and it is BEYOND overpriced! NO HAPPY ENDING here folks!
Want to see for yourself? Here's their contract that you HAVE to sign, and then do the math yourself. When you finish reading...then ask yourself if this is more about the kids or about Style SHOCK!
http://styleshockcheeranddance.com/wp-content/uploads/StyleShockDanceAuditionsPacket2013-14.pdf read more