Best gymnastics? Best dance? Elementary age, NW DC or Bethesda

[Anonymous]

And the other studios on the list have great reputations. Why so bitter?

[Anonymous]

Gymnastics - we are at Silver Stars which I love. I would agree that Dynamite might be slightly cleaner/newer BUT I love the coaches and staff at Silver Stars. I was worried going in as my daughter got more serious. She's a competitive gymnast in high school so we've been there a while. No body image issues. Constant challenge of the girls but they take injuries seriously and are on top of things. Plus, I love that the owner refused many years back to send any more of the elite girls to the Karolyis's ranch because she didn't trust them and felt they were limiting her access to the girls. And she caught the serial pedophile!

For dance...stay away from Washington Ballet. Sucked the life out of mine.

[Anonymous]

Not sure what type of dance but after trying quite a few for ballet, tap, modern - mine is finally happy at Culkin doing Irish step.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And the other studios on the list have great reputations. Why so bitter?

No bitterness, but the person who is returning from out of town should know how the Best of Bethesda happens - votes that are often solicited!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like sour grapes to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gymnastics - we are at Silver Stars which I love. I would agree that Dynamite might be slightly cleaner/newer BUT I love the coaches and staff at Silver Stars. I was worried going in as my daughter got more serious. She's a competitive gymnast in high school so we've been there a while. No body image issues. Constant challenge of the girls but they take injuries seriously and are on top of things. Plus, I love that the owner refused many years back to send any more of the elite girls to the Karolyis's ranch because she didn't trust them and felt they were limiting her access to the girls. And she caught the serial pedophile!

For dance...stay away from Washington Ballet. Sucked the life out of mine.

I'm the PP on the first page who had experience with both--Dynamite for 3+ years and SS for < 1 year (child is currently at SS). I agree that the Dynamite space is bigger and nicer. We've had experience with some "meh" staff at Dynamite and one really good coach (who got moved to teach another class). Overall, our experience with SS has been consistently better as far as coaches.

That is interesting re: the owner--didn't know this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like sour grapes to me.

Are you disputing that Best of Bethesda is based on reader surveys, and many top finishers across all categories send blast emails to all of their clients asking them to "please vote for us" ?

[Anonymous]

Thank you! I think silver stars is most likely. For dance, contemporary and hip hop. There are some places named above in Bethesda that I had no ideabout - so this is very helpful! Thanks )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! I think silver stars is most likely. For dance, contemporary and hip hop. There are some places named above in Bethesda that I had no ideabout - so this is very helpful! Thanks )

For hip hop, CityDance POP in Tenleytown has been fun for my daughter. They offer other dance classes too.