Although it has an overall positive reputation, I would not rate Anita's Dance Center as the best in the community. I attended classes here for 13 years and taught for two years. Most of the teachers are high school students, some with very little dance experience. Ten years ago, there was much more individualized attention, but as the studio grew in size, this diminished quickly. Class sizes have grown to upwards of 20 to 25 students, which is especially detrimental to younger children who need the extra attention and patience. Many of the younger students enjoy their time in class, but the older students get put by the wayside if they do not join one of the three performance-focused dance companies. Membership in these companies is costly and time consuming. Students must attend class two to three times a week and also must pay for missed weeks, regardless of the reason for the abscence. Also, they are expected to buy multiple costumes at over $80 apiece. If these expenses are not met, students are not allowed to dance in the recitals. The pressure to be in the companies is so great that many older students quit and find other studios. Since there is no method for evaluating teacher performance, there have been many incidents of inappropriate teacher behavior that goes unnoticed or ignored, resulting in the continued reputation for ""good values."" I am disappointed to say that the standard of excellence at Anita's has been quickly diminishing, and I would highly suggest researching other studios for more individualized attention and better quality instruction.
Pros: Great recitals, variety of class offerings
Cons: Big classes, unskilled teachers, little personalized service
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