In response to DanceMom+, thank you for your loyalty to Center Stage. I am glad that you can see the passion that the teachers have for what they do. We really are passionate about what we do!\r
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I am sad to hear that you feel we are biased in the treatment of the students though. I know that from the outside looking in to the studio room, it's hard to know what is actually going on inside the studio. For my own class that my daughter is in, she happens to be the tallest kid in her class which usually puts her in the center for formations. Look at any high school dance team line and you will see that the tallest kid goes in the center because it just looks right that way. She is usually in the back because she is tall, and in that class, the front row and back row often switch lines in the dance so that all students can be featured in the front row at some point in the dance. As for other teacher's kids, the only other one you can be referring to is my niece who I also teach. If you look back at recital videos, you will see she was not in the center of her dances for the past couple of years because she is not the tallest in class. There were some times that she was lifted because she was the lightest. I spend a great deal of time choreographing, and when I do so, I don't think about spotlighting certain dancers, I think about what will work well and look best for the group. If anything, teachers are harsher on their own kids for this very reason - because we don't want anyone to think they are getting preferential treatment. Sometimes it goes to the point that our kids are being unintentionally left out. We have a hard time choosing them as a ""smile winner"" or ""graceful winner"" in class even if they are deserving because we don't want to be seen as unfair. What's unfair is that they don't get to be chosen as often as the other kids. In addition, I would never save the best choreography for my own kids. Each time I choreograph, I give my best effort to make each student shine. All of my choreography reflects both me as an artist and as a studio. I only give my best. Again, I am sorry you feel this way, and I would be happy to discuss anything that you feel is unfair in person. Please feel free to contact me any time.
Pros: fun classes, nice teachers, great recital
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