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

[Anonymous]

We're planning a move to the area (Bethesda) within the coming months. DD is 13 and a competition dancer, either interested in continuing in that vein or transitioning to conservatory-style training.

She specializes in ballet and hip hop.

We're looking to balance serious, high-level training with a positive, healthy studio culture. DD is talented, not necessarily on a pre-professional track, but loves dance and wants to be the best she can be. She dances 5-6 days a week and we're comfortable with that level of commitment.

Seems like the main studios in town are CityDance and Dawn Crafton? (We realize they are very, very different.) And Joy of Motion is better for beginners / younger dancers?

We'd like to stay in Montgomery County / NWDC -- Virginia seems tricky with traffic, unless I'm mistaken.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

You are so wrong with all of this. Literally all of it. Joy of Motion is great for all ages/levels. Not competition but great. 2nd DcDc is competition. She had been doing comp since the stone ages and has it down to a science. 3rd. Citydance if for the concert dancers. Think Juilliard. BCoD has ands down the best balance of healthy studio culture and training. The teachers are something special, No comp....see healthy. They are the Big 4 in town. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and call around. Very few will take you on mid-year.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

You should have your daughter audtiion for one of the Citydance summer intensives, as long as you will be living her by summer time. She can audition by videotape. DD has been at Citydance for several years. Some dancers come over from competition studios and do very well, as long as they have a strong ballet foundation. And, you heard correctly that many Citydance students go on to very good colleges, not just for dance. In the recent past, dancers have gone on to Julliard, USC, Yale, Duke, NYU, as well as trainee positions with ballet companies.

[Anonymous]

I recommend Dawn Crofton and BCoD over CityDance. Far less toxic.

[Anonymous]

PP, can you please elaborate on the culture at CityDance?

What about the Washington School of Ballet?

This is not OP, btw.

[Anonymous]

If you're open to two studios- Elements Urban Arts Collective is the best in the area for hip-hop training. It may be a good fit to balance that with either CityDance or one of the more conservatory style programs.

[Anonymous]

Pass on both.

[Anonymous]

well, which one would you recommend then? Why a pass on CityDance?

[Anonymous]

NP here. DD is at CityDance and loves it. There’s nothing toxic about the environment - it’s very supportive. DD was at Maryland Youth Ballet previously and chose CityDance because she wanted high level dance in multiple genres, not just classical. CityDance has extremely strong contemporary and classical programs, with jazz, hip hop, and world dance styles as well. I agree with the advice to have your DD audition for summer intensives. There’s always a nice mix of kids from CityDance and other studios so your DD could ask around and get a feel for the environment elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. DD is at CityDance and loves it. There’s nothing toxic about the environment - it’s very supportive. DD was at Maryland Youth Ballet previously and chose CityDance because she wanted high level dance in multiple genres, not just classical. CityDance has extremely strong contemporary and classical programs, with jazz, hip hop, and world dance styles as well. I agree with the advice to have your DD audition for summer intensives. There’s always a nice mix of kids from CityDance and other studios so your DD could ask around and get a feel for the environment elsewhere.

Also, CityDance is not all about Juilliard. It is a school and conservatory and students are grouped by ability and commitment. Only the most serious students who can devote 15-20 hours per week to training, plus rehearsals and performances, would be placed into the conservatory. Most students are not in the conservatory but receive lots of high quality classes at each level.

[Anonymous]

Pass. Not the right fit.

[Anonymous]

Ovations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pass. Not the right fit.

Is this OP? Pass on what, exactly? Use your words.