Feedback on CityDance, Dawn Crafton? Looking for a serious dance studio (for teen)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pass. Not the right fit.

Which one? Ovations? DCDC? CityDance? Not OP but I’d like to know.

[Anonymous]

Schools I remember from a competition my DD did some time ago - Edna Lee Dance, Chris Collins, Dee Buchanan,

[Anonymous]

What about Washington Ballet for foundation? Obviously this is not a competition route but more foundational.

[Anonymous]

Also interested in this? Has the Washington School of Ballet improved?

[Anonymous]

OP here. The "pass" poster was not me. I appreciate all of the feedback very much.

If anyone has any experience with Dawn Crafton, I'd love to hear it. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Dawn crafton would be my choice. I’m a competitive teacher in NoVa - when we have seen them at competition their dancers a Have strong technique and a very friendly/positive attitude. The moms and girls have always been helpful and friendly, which can be rare in competitive studios.

Maryland youth ballet is great too, but clearly not competitive.

Dance unlimited is pretty good too, but further away.

[Anonymous]

How about C-Unit?

Not sure how they compare to Dawn Crafton -- anyone have any idea??

I understand they're good for hip hop but I have heard mixed reviews about the studio culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for your feedback, that is useful. It sounds like I got plenty of it right, actually.

We're aware DCDC is a competition studio. As I said, DD is a competition dancer, this is the world we're coming from. She loves it, but she also understands that that's one path, and conservatories lead to another, and Juilliard is probably well out of her range -- but she is serious about academics, and conservatory-style training seems to be excellent as part of a college prep path.

That said -- Do you happen to know anything about the culture at Dawn Crafton?

We are coming from a mid-sized studio with a very, very supportive teaching environment. The emphasis is on individual development and teamwork. The girls are encouraging. They compete against other studios but not against each other. I know this is a rare and would hesitate to place her anywhere too "dance moms."

As for J of M, I saw one of the Joy of Motion hip hop companies perform and it would not be a good fit for DD, just not at the level she's used to. I'm sure it's fun, that's lovely, just not the right fit.

Anyway posters here seem to think Joy of Motion is very hit or miss? Maybe their hip hop program isn't representative?

BCoD sounds interesting. Does the Bethesda Conservatory have some sort of program that would be appropriate for a teen who is used to dancing 5-6 times a week? I've only read here and from google searches, but it seems to skew very young and I don't see anything about a company or guided program for those who would dance after high school.

Thank you again for your feedback, it's very useful.

Joy of Motion is not a good studio. If your child is a beginning dancer and wants to do a lot of performances or is never going to be a good dancer and wants to perform---then Joy of Motion is for you. Doesn't sound like that is what you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also interested in this? Has the Washington School of Ballet improved?

Improved? It is basically the best for training. You must be a serious ballet dancer though. Kids will stand at the barre almost the entire time and technique must be perfect to move on. I will say that they do not allow anyone to move on without the previous skill being learned perfectly. So a competition studio will have students doing 6 pirouettes with hunched shoulders, no turn out, poor posture, etc but TWSB won't let you do more than 1/4 turn without perfection.

[Anonymous]

My daughter took a class at Dawn Crofton, but we are not regular dancers there. The people there were very friendly and welcoming.

[Anonymous]

C-Unit dance studio is amazing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:C-Unit dance studio is amazing

No. Just no. They are the worst of qhat dance has to offer. Look at the outfits the kids wear. It's exploitive. The training is subpar. Mean culture. No.

[Anonymous]

Dawn Crafton Dance Connection has been around for 72 years. They are still teaching generation after generation of dancers. They offer a warm and welcoming environment and the training they offer is top notch. I also like that their dances and costuming are always age appropriate.

[Anonymous]

DCDC is awesome! Highly recommend!!!

[Anonymous]

Dawn Crafton Dance Connection is hands down the best around!