Anonymous
Post 07/11/2020 13:34     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
TWSB great for serious ballet. Seems to have lost its way under new leadership. Only plus is getting to be in WB Nutcracker.

MYB also great ballet training. Heard it now has a serious contemporary dance path, but am not familiar with it. School is also under new leadership. ( Side note - do not like the new Nutcracker. Choreography is very repetitive. Students did not look as polished this year. Also, not sure what has changed in the training but the girls musculature looks much bulkier than in the past. Not saying they look heavier. MYB always had fit healthy looking dancers, just bulkier, particularly in the legs)

City Dance is run by Lorraine. She used trained at WSB when Mary Day was still teaching. Lorraine taught modern at WSB. She has also managed to secure some pretty hefty donors who used to be at WB. Seems to be attracting the serious students unhappy at WSB and MYB. Appears to have a ballet focused, but not necessarily ballet centric program.

Also might want to consider CityDance Pop in Tenley in looking for one or two fun dance classes a week. Teeny, tiny studio but great teachers. Seen a couple of the good teachers from JOM turn up here.

Joy of Motion. Great place to take class for fun. Horrible training since all the good teachers left. Financial disaster and in the verge of closing.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2020 10:11     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
Perfect for Ballet only. A well rounded dance education will be found elsewhere.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2020 09:54     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
Anonymous wrote:I think the studio directors have much better things to do than trash other studios on a gossip board. You get that most of the owners/directors know each other a speak regularly. There is no behind the scenes quibbling. That is simply fantasy. What I do see on this board is the inability of posters to accept that others disagree with their assessment of their preferred studio. "I love studio x. If you disagree and call out their very real faults then you must be competition."

There is a very real difference in the quality of dance schools here. CityDance and BCoD are at the top. Joy of Motion too if they reopen. The rest is dance moms stuff or utter nonsense.


So where do you see TWSB in this?
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2020 09:51     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
I think the studio directors have much better things to do than trash other studios on a gossip board. You get that most of the owners/directors know each other a speak regularly. There is no behind the scenes quibbling. That is simply fantasy. What I do see on this board is the inability of posters to accept that others disagree with their assessment of their preferred studio. "I love studio x. If you disagree and call out their very real faults then you must be competition."

There is a very real difference in the quality of dance schools here. CityDance and BCoD are at the top. Joy of Motion too if they reopen. The rest is dance moms stuff or utter nonsense.
Anonymous
Post 07/11/2020 09:21     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
I agree with the statement about CityDance and the favored, home-schooled students. But some of them are truly amazing dancers. (Ballet star CH for example) It depends what you want out of life, right?

If the OP is coming from TWSB and wants to branch out to other styles, however, I think CityDance is the only school in the Bethesda area on your level. It has the artistic mission, not just "dance school"

But in general, do take what is posted on this forum with a grain of salt. Mostly, it is parents sharing experiences, but there is (obviously, from the number of studio options) so much competition for dance students that some studio personnel have taken to this board to bad mouth other studios. Not kidding.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2020 21:19     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am going to add Dawn Crofton if you like competition. Agree with BCoD and City Dance. They are the best around.


I'd be interested to hear from City Dance Moms. It seemed like a mess when I went. My dd is very good. We went to an audition and afterward they said the artistic director wanted to talk to me and could I wait. I said sure. After 30 minutes I asked when she could talk and they said in TWO HOURS would I mind waiting. Um, no.

I told her to call me.

Then I get a list of what classes she could sign up for. It made no sense to me. Several different level were available. Like level l3, 4, and 5. ?? What level is she?

The artistic director calls and she tells me more levels that dd can be in. Then she tries to get me to home school so that dd can dance all the time and says she should probably quit playing the cello. On top of that she says dance is going to be around 10k a year.

But then I hear that it is great. I don't know. Who goes there? What do you think?


Haha, yes, we went through this a year ago. A lot of initial enthusiasm. It's a good studio if you can actively manage it. There is a sizable group of kids who take some online classes, spend many, many hours in the studio, and a lot of time preparing for competitions. The expectation is that they'll work in companies or become dance majors. Academics fit around that. I'd be concerned about their education, but to each their own. The problem is that these kids get the most attention, generally speaking, so that is what you're up against. If you do not take that route, you can find some outstanding teachers and some so-so ones. The good thing about CD is that it's so loosely managed that you can create your own path if you have the time and energy, the drawback is that you might not receive that much attention from the institution if you are not one of those kids. Some teachers are political about who gets the attention, others a lot less so. It takes a while to figure out whether you can make their structure, or lack of one, work for you.


Yeah, that doesn't sounds like it is for us. We are at the TWSB. It doesn't cost anywhere near what she quoted me. Dd can also play cello, take tennis etc. Although, there will be less of that as she advances. One thing I do like is that in class everyone gets the same amount of attention. I've watched the teacher go around and correct each child. We've been in classes before where only the favorites get corrections and everyone else is just there.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2020 19:48     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am going to add Dawn Crofton if you like competition. Agree with BCoD and City Dance. They are the best around.


I'd be interested to hear from City Dance Moms. It seemed like a mess when I went. My dd is very good. We went to an audition and afterward they said the artistic director wanted to talk to me and could I wait. I said sure. After 30 minutes I asked when she could talk and they said in TWO HOURS would I mind waiting. Um, no.

I told her to call me.

Then I get a list of what classes she could sign up for. It made no sense to me. Several different level were available. Like level l3, 4, and 5. ?? What level is she?

The artistic director calls and she tells me more levels that dd can be in. Then she tries to get me to home school so that dd can dance all the time and says she should probably quit playing the cello. On top of that she says dance is going to be around 10k a year.

But then I hear that it is great. I don't know. Who goes there? What do you think?


Haha, yes, we went through this a year ago. A lot of initial enthusiasm. It's a good studio if you can actively manage it. There is a sizable group of kids who take some online classes, spend many, many hours in the studio, and a lot of time preparing for competitions. The expectation is that they'll work in companies or become dance majors. Academics fit around that. I'd be concerned about their education, but to each their own. The problem is that these kids get the most attention, generally speaking, so that is what you're up against. If you do not take that route, you can find some outstanding teachers and some so-so ones. The good thing about CD is that it's so loosely managed that you can create your own path if you have the time and energy, the drawback is that you might not receive that much attention from the institution if you are not one of those kids. Some teachers are political about who gets the attention, others a lot less so. It takes a while to figure out whether you can make their structure, or lack of one, work for you.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2020 18:58     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
Anonymous wrote:I am going to add Dawn Crofton if you like competition. Agree with BCoD and City Dance. They are the best around.


I'd be interested to hear from City Dance Moms. It seemed like a mess when I went. My dd is very good. We went to an audition and afterward they said the artistic director wanted to talk to me and could I wait. I said sure. After 30 minutes I asked when she could talk and they said in TWO HOURS would I mind waiting. Um, no.

I told her to call me.

Then I get a list of what classes she could sign up for. It made no sense to me. Several different level were available. Like level l3, 4, and 5. ?? What level is she?

The artistic director calls and she tells me more levels that dd can be in. Then she tries to get me to home school so that dd can dance all the time and says she should probably quit playing the cello. On top of that she says dance is going to be around 10k a year.

But then I hear that it is great. I don't know. Who goes there? What do you think?
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2020 18:54     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Once things open up again, I'm looking for dance classes for my 12-year-old in Montgomery County, preferably in area around Bethesda. She has been taking classes for several years, but would like to find a new place. (She likes lyrical/modern/jazz type). She would be happiest in a class that is fun and low key, with nice teachers, but excellent training. (In the meantime, Zoom classes have been a disaster, and she's not interested in attending any.)


You don't say where you are currently, but here are some options where we have take a class or thought about doing so over the years. Some places will continue on Zoom in the Fall, and others will limit their enrollment to offer live class. Due to the size limits you probably need to enroll early to secure a spot:

C-Unit - DT Bethesda, Competition Studio, Best Known for Hip-Hop, but has solid instruction on all areas. Reputation of a parent community that is hard to break into and a little competitive. You may not get the red carpet if you're not into the competition scene.
Joy of Dance - DT Bethesda in the Air Rights Basement. They offer everything. We didn't love it at a younger age, but maybe your daughter would at 12.
Bethesda Conservatory of Dance - They are in Bethesda near Imagination Stage. Has a super nice floor. Parents who go there seem to like them. Owner/Director is a dance therapist or something like that.
Imagination Stage - Offers dance classes in specific styles and a dance institute for older kids. Probably not doing as much in Fall due to Covid.
Rock Creek Dance Academy - Cechetti Ballet instruction, and a full compliment of jazz, lyrical, and tap, too. They provide very solid technique training and a supportive environment, which develops a love of dance from young ages. Note that they not trying to get kids into Julliard. Nice parent community - not Dance Moms.
CityDance at Strathmore - The place for true pre-professional training in the area. They also instruct at less elite levels, but they really love their ballet grande prixe kids. YMMV with the parents.
Ovation Studios - this is the Ballet Petite spin-off. Nice Nutcracker and they've expanded into offering a teen performance company. Nice parents.
Dawn Crofton Dance Connection - in Rockville Town Center. Nice studio space. Offers the full compliment of styles. You won't be in the "in crowd" if you don't compete, but they appreciate all of their dancers and have a nice environment. No parents in the studio this year b/c of Covid, so no worries there!
Maryland Youth Ballet in Silver Spring and Maryland School of Dance on Nicholson/Parklawn
One more plug for Knock on Wood Tap studio. Exclusive to Tap and they teach in a manner that helps students fully appreciate the art form. In Takoma - Not that convenient to Bethesda, but a great place for a Tap lover.


Wow. How do you know all of that?
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2020 12:24     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
Op, have you checked out this article from CityPaper: https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/performance-dance/article/21139609/how-the-pandemic-has-impacted-local-dance-schools-and-the-next-generation-of-dancers

There is a good reason why they writer spoke with these schools. They are the local (and in some cases National) leaders in technique and ethics.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2020 11:53     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
I am going to add Dawn Crofton if you like competition. Agree with BCoD and City Dance. They are the best around.
Anonymous
Post 07/10/2020 11:51     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
Salsa with Silvia is a Latin teacher that tries to teach other genres to kids to pay the bills.

My favorite, and I am a in the industry, are Bethesda Conservatory and city dance. Rock Creek is poor training more dance entertainment. C-unit has been a bit provocative in costumes and movements for my taste, plus heavy competition. Joy of Motion is closed.
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2020 22:35     Subject: Re:Dance Studio recommendations?
Salsa with Silvia just opened a studio in Bethesda. They have an active kids dance program (not just salsa). they also have summer camp for the younger set there open right now.
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2020 14:59     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
Anonymous wrote:Once things open up again, I'm looking for dance classes for my 12-year-old in Montgomery County, preferably in area around Bethesda. She has been taking classes for several years, but would like to find a new place. (She likes lyrical/modern/jazz type). She would be happiest in a class that is fun and low key, with nice teachers, but excellent training. (In the meantime, Zoom classes have been a disaster, and she's not interested in attending any.)


You don't say where you are currently, but here are some options where we have take a class or thought about doing so over the years. Some places will continue on Zoom in the Fall, and others will limit their enrollment to offer live class. Due to the size limits you probably need to enroll early to secure a spot:

C-Unit - DT Bethesda, Competition Studio, Best Known for Hip-Hop, but has solid instruction on all areas. Reputation of a parent community that is hard to break into and a little competitive. You may not get the red carpet if you're not into the competition scene.
Joy of Dance - DT Bethesda in the Air Rights Basement. They offer everything. We didn't love it at a younger age, but maybe your daughter would at 12.
Bethesda Conservatory of Dance - They are in Bethesda near Imagination Stage. Has a super nice floor. Parents who go there seem to like them. Owner/Director is a dance therapist or something like that.
Imagination Stage - Offers dance classes in specific styles and a dance institute for older kids. Probably not doing as much in Fall due to Covid.
Rock Creek Dance Academy - Cechetti Ballet instruction, and a full compliment of jazz, lyrical, and tap, too. They provide very solid technique training and a supportive environment, which develops a love of dance from young ages. Note that they not trying to get kids into Julliard. Nice parent community - not Dance Moms.
CityDance at Strathmore - The place for true pre-professional training in the area. They also instruct at less elite levels, but they really love their ballet grande prixe kids. YMMV with the parents.
Ovation Studios - this is the Ballet Petite spin-off. Nice Nutcracker and they've expanded into offering a teen performance company. Nice parents.
Dawn Crofton Dance Connection - in Rockville Town Center. Nice studio space. Offers the full compliment of styles. You won't be in the "in crowd" if you don't compete, but they appreciate all of their dancers and have a nice environment. No parents in the studio this year b/c of Covid, so no worries there!
Maryland Youth Ballet in Silver Spring and Maryland School of Dance on Nicholson/Parklawn
One more plug for Knock on Wood Tap studio. Exclusive to Tap and they teach in a manner that helps students fully appreciate the art form. In Takoma - Not that convenient to Bethesda, but a great place for a Tap lover.
Anonymous
Post 07/09/2020 13:47     Subject: Dance Studio recommendations?
Once things open up again, I'm looking for dance classes for my 12-year-old in Montgomery County, preferably in area around Bethesda. She has been taking classes for several years, but would like to find a new place. (She likes lyrical/modern/jazz type). She would be happiest in a class that is fun and low key, with nice teachers, but excellent training. (In the meantime, Zoom classes have been a disaster, and she's not interested in attending any.)