Center Stage Dance Academy

My daughter loves Center Stage Dance Academy. We just signed up for the 2011 student recital and are looking forward to another fantastic show. We are so proud to participate in such a great performance that is held in an amzing theater. The show is fun and professional, our family and friends look forward to coming each year. Thank you Center Stage, can't wait for June! more

My two sons danced at Center Stage Dance Academy for several years. They took a variety of dance classes, as well as acting, and singing. Though neither of them participated in competition or performing groups, they were never slighted in any way. They advanced with all of the other students in their classes even though they chose not to compete or be in any performing group. When my family ran into some serious financial struggles, the studio owner Leslie Clifford, worked with us so that our children would not have to quit their classes. The level of discipline and commitment that my children gained from Center Stage Dance Academy and it's teachers played a part in the young adults they are today. I look forward to my grandchild starting her first combo class there this summer. Pros: Good level of discipline and classes are very structured. There is also a monetary break for families. Cons: Parking is a slight problem on certain days of the week. more

I do not recommend this dance studio for many reasons; in a nutshell, the ""vibe"" there is very negative. The owner Leslie Clifford is extremely rude and unapproachable and the office staff follows her lead by being unfriendly and are often rude to customers AND to students. My children had danced there since 1999 and year by year it has gotten progressively worse. The teachers are average, but most of all the place is just negative and no fun. Their business practices are extremely antiquated as they do scheduling by hand instead of having it computerized. Instead of using an online ticketing system for their recitals, they encourage people to line up outside the studio (often a day in advance) to get their tickets. In addition, their recitals are too long and the dances are often repetitive. Lastly they place too much emphasis on the performing companies and on competitions which they typically never win. If the student doesn't agree to participate in competitions, then they either are assigned one of the worst teachers or if they happen to get a better teacher, that teacher treats them poorly since they haven't agreed to participate in competition. All in all, there are MUCH better dance studios out there that provide good dance instruction and who also manage to treat the students and their families with the respect they deserve and in the process, make the classes and experience fun. Cons: Horribly rude and unapproachable owner and front office staff; bad parking; favoritisim to certain students/families; I could go on and on....read the review more