CityDance

[Anonymous]

I’m considering a move from my daughter’s dance studio. I’ve read mixed reviews on CityDance here and wondered if anyone has recent experiences to share (since Covid). My daughter is in middle school with a background in classical ballet and wants to learn different styles of dance. We live in NWDC. TIA.

[Anonymous]

Run, don't walk from CD. Where are you moving from and we can help you find options.

[Anonymous]

Are you coming from Sabre or WB? Are you looking for competitions?

[Anonymous]

CityDance is a large, impersonal, chain. Think of it the same way you would Little Gym, unless you are prepared to home school and join the Conservatory. If that is the case your daughter better be amazing or she will be completely ignored. There are much much better schools around if you know what to look for.

[Anonymous]

OP, CityDance has two separate entities: (1) CityDance Studios, which is probably what the PP was referring to as a large chain -- tons of classes but mostly just recreational; e.g., kids are put in classes based on age, not skill. (2) CityDance Conservatory, which I think is what you're interested in. It's a selective program for kids who are serious about dance; there's a cohort of pre-professional students who are in a full time day program, and all of the students are at the studio many hours a week studying across genres.

My daughter moved from another dance studio to the CityDance Conservatory in middle school because she wanted to expand from ballet into other genres, and it's been a terrific experience for her. She's not one of the superstars, but she's not ignored either -- it's been a warm, supportive environment for her with high level instruction and lots of performance opportunities. If you want to check it out without committing, your daughter could try one of the intensives this summer.

[Anonymous]

I can't recommend either version of CityDance. Large, impersonal, competitive, and expensive. We moved to the program when the one we were in closed. Just no. We left and have been very happy elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

My daughter has been at CityDance in the conservatory for many years. She came from another serious ballet school and it’s been a great experience. She’s not a super star either but has been challenged and supported. She’s made lots of friends and loves it. There are truly exceptional dancers in the day program and while my daughter will never dance at that level, she’s gotten much stronger as a dancer at CityDance. There are a couple frequent posters on this board who are extremely vocal about their hatred for CD but that hasn’t been our experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you coming from Sabre or WB? Are you looking for competitions?

She’s been at MYB and taken intensives at TWSB. She loves ballet but is stronger in contemporary. She wants high level training in jazz and modern. Does not want competitions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you coming from Sabre or WB? Are you looking for competitions?

She’s been at MYB and taken intensives at TWSB. She loves ballet but is stronger in contemporary. She wants high level training in jazz and modern. Does not want competitions.

OP here. She’s been en pointe for 2.5 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you coming from Sabre or WB? Are you looking for competitions?

She’s been at MYB and taken intensives at TWSB. She loves ballet but is stronger in contemporary. She wants high level training in jazz and modern. Does not want competitions.

I'm one of the happy PPs above, this sounds like my daughter who is thriving at CityDance -- if you can fit one of the CityDance summer intensives into your schedule this summer, that will be a great way to figure out whether it's a good fit. You could also purchase a ticket for the recording of the end-of-year performances yesterday to get a sense of the level of dance and types of genres:

https://www.citydance.net/sac/conservatory/performances/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you coming from Sabre or WB? Are you looking for competitions?

She’s been at MYB and taken intensives at TWSB. She loves ballet but is stronger in contemporary. She wants high level training in jazz and modern. Does not want competitions.

She sounds like my daughter that wilted in the CD environment. Try ovations or Bethesda Conservatory of Dance. We are happier there.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is now in college, so we are an alumna family. She loved Citidance, thrived there, and is continuing to dance in college recreationally. She was a conservatory dancer. In middle school, she was a bit of a star, but we could never afford to put her in YAGP and similar competitions. She won something local.

She then decreased her dance commitment in HS because she got into an intensive math and science program in the county. Citydance was amazing for her with all the changes, and the owner was thrilled when she got into a top college.

The contemporary program at the Conservatory is special and unique at least regionally, and honestly nationally based on the level of contemporary dance we are seeing in my daughter's college, a HYPSM university. We highly recommend CityDance for a serious dancer who is looking to grow into the art.

[Anonymous]

HPYSM are not known for their dance programs. This is not the ringing endorsement you think it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HPYSM are not known for their dance programs. This is not the ringing endorsement you think it is.

Rude

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Run, don't walk from CD. Where are you moving from and we can help you find options.

Do you have direct experience with CityDance? If so, please share specifics.