Perfect Pointe in Arlington

[Anonymous]

Anybody else ready to leave the studio? I have a preschool aged daughter and was so frustrated by several things with the recital that I am ready to pull her. Does anybody else think that a 2.5 hour recital for 3-5 year olds is a bit much? I'm wondering if other studios force the children to stay backstage, thus missing the entire show. 36 acts was just too much!

And after sitting through the entire show I was shocked at the level of dance going on there. The choreography and musical choices seemed horrible to me. I understand it is a new studio, but you can still get an idea of the instructors based on the older girls choreography and it seemed old-fashioned to me. And don't even get me started on the studio owners inability to take constructive criticism or suggestions on how to make the entire experience better. If you even try she is snide and sharp with her responses.

Am I the only one who is pulling my daughter because of all of the above? She really loves ballet, but I just can't stomach another year at this studio. Arlington Center for Dance here we come!

[Anonymous]

I don't know anything about Perfect Pointe, but in addition to Arlington Center for Dance, you might want to check out Balance Ballet in Alexandria. My DD much preferred Balance Ballet; the teachers are truly excellent and really understand children. We found teacher quality at Arlington Center for Dance to be really hit-or-miss, and found them to be too strict for my DD. Balance' Ballet's recitals are wonderful, too, and the children get to sit in the audience and watch each of the other classes dance on stage.

[Anonymous]

I just finished a toddler mom class at Perfect Pointe and really liked the teacher ..Miss Jaime. I am sort of dispointed to hear about the reicital stuff as I am signed up for next year (I did a smaller session which didn't have the reicital stuff and I agree that having kids backstage for a long length of time doesn't work esp. when you are talking about little kids. Maybe before leaving have a talk about some sort of compromise esp. with little kids who make freak out for mom if they are left waiting in a room for too long. I am actually going to bring this up myself now that this is out there. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

My DD, 4, does ballet through the Falls Church Community Center. We had Sue Culpepper as our teacher and loved it. It's also really, really cheap. The recital was about 45 minutes and the kids sat in the audience until they were about to go on and then they sat on stage behind the girls who were dancing so they could still watch the whole thing.

[Anonymous]

I am absolutely leaving Perfect Pointe after what happened Saturday!
So are all my friends who were there. It was way too long a day for the little ones; on top of too many administrative screw ups. It was such a mess.
I am glad to hear of people putting their money where their mouth is. Nine months of work and pay for a big mess.
I talked to Kendra about it before I left, she gave no apology, nothing. I told Jaime that she was a great teacher and we are not leaving because of her.
If there is a good teacher, the teacher will find a job elsewhere, no problem. There are SO many good studios in this area, I at least expected an apology. Instead Kendra lost a BUNCH of miffed clients! She didn't seem to care.
Never again with Perfect Pointe. I feel an obligation to tell everyone I know!

[Anonymous]

I took the mommy and me class there and did not have any complaints. The director is usually pleasant, but is a little snippy at times. She did manage to get DD to loosen up and smile on her first day. I haven't been to the season performance, so have no grounds to comment on that, but I do think there are many good instructors there for both kids and adults. Both DD and I enjoy going there.