When I told the owner (after years of classes at adagio) that we are going to Washington ballet school, believe or not, she got very mad with me, and she told my daughter that else will never make it there!!! Very fuzzy, Bulgarian attitude...stay away!!

Our older daughter has taken ballet class at Adagio for several years.

We did summer classes one year. It was similar to the school year classes, but instead of having one teacher, the teachers rotate every other week or so. Otherwise the format was the same as the school year. Our class was even smaller in the summer than during the school year, so there was plenty of attention from the teachers. At 6, they still do a story and dress up, but the class has transitioned away from the games they start with at 2-3. I agree with the others. The summer is so short, that you can always switch in the fall.

While I think the owner acts at times as if Adagio is training the next dance phenoms and takes herself too seriously, the reality is that the classes are fun and that's what the girls get out of it. The staff is pretty responsive. I'm not trying to get my daughter to be a professional dancer. My daughter simply loves to dance, and this has been the perfect outlet for her. She has learned quite a lot and has loved her teachers.

What about Perfect Point??

We thought that ballet Addagio was good only for up to age 3

Ballet nova classes for young kids during the school year are pretty fun. My 6yo loves it. We haven't tried the summer camps/classes but I'm assuming it similar. Teachers are low-key and friendly. We've had a great experience over the past 2 years.

22:23 poster here. - at perfect point each month has a focus - team work, props, happy healthy dancers international dancing etc that they incorporate into each week. No dress up pr anything but sometimes musical instruments or something else connected t the theme which my dd likes. In the camp they did a craft Camps at both adagio and perfect point were a lot of fun and I'd def do a week at both, but the weekly classes are a little different since they are shorter and more focused

Thanks! How would you describe the learning/take away experience outside of what they are actually doing (the curriculum itself)?

Both my girls have done some half day or full day week long camp at Adagio. Ballet for the younger one because that's what she really likes. The older one has done some ballet and some that are mixed styles. They both have a lot of fun there.

BalletNova is definitely the strictest of the three. Adagio focuses on ballet primarily and then other styles. Perfect point offers a mix - including combo classes ( ballet, tap and sometimes jazz ) at that age and then specific classes after about age 6 when kids can choose what to focus on. I found perfect point to be a better fit for our family as there is always someone at the desk to answer questions and everyone is easy to get ahold of. My daughter is also joining their performing troupe next year which she is excited about. We do see ballet Novas shows - they are the perfect length for kids ( mini nutcrackers etc) but my daughter liked all the different styles at perfect pointe

Any one will be fine. Summer classes are shorter sessions so if it doesn't work out, you can switch to another stuido for the Fall. At the age of 6, they all emphasis "fun".

OP -I should add, at the same time that I'm not interested in some sort of super strict place where the goal is to get the girls to become professional ballerinas, I'm also not interested in a place where it's all about how pretty they are and how they can try on a princess costume (not that I think the two things are on the same spectrum, but you get the idea- I just want some sort of confidence-boosting, fun experience for my daughter that isn't about her being pretty but using her body in a way that is fun and empowering).

We are considering summer classes (camp in the morning) for our 6 yo at either Ballet Nova, Perfect Pointe, or Ballet Adagio. Our goals are for her to have fun and have fun learning. Any thoughts?