Dance Arts Academy

★★★★★Chris Roggen

I can't say enough good things about what this studio has done for my daughter. It's such a fantastic place. Very steep leaning curve as to what to expect when you become a dance dad/family but everyone is very willing to share and answer any questions. If you are looking for a place to call home and gives your daughter every opportunity possible.... We are going to a pre-professional intensive this summer in NY...... Do not hesitate or pass this studio. Sure, there is communication overload and tons of information to figure out but it has been so amazing to watch and learn. Do not pass this up if you want a professional environment with massive growth and opportunities.

★Bailey Evans

Very expensive. Rip off. I would enroll your child in the many other dance studios in Traverse City. After paying over $500 for the entire year, paying for the costumes, you are also expected to pay for each ticket for the dance Recital after paying for everything else. I had just paid a 300 bill just to have her in the dance recital to then have to pay for each ticket. And the tickets are not cheap. Communication is also terrible. Emails are very vague and I was very confused on when my child’s Dance recital even was because there were multiple different days and times of different dances on the emails and on the portal website instead of just sending me my own child’s dance schedule. No one ever answers the phone either to try to talk to someone about this in person. When you do call, it takes you to voicemail saying to send them an email where they periodically check messages. Never again. We plan to sign up elsewhere this coming fall.

★Charlotte P

Sadly re-envisioning my daughter's disappointment in her first ever dance performance, with tears streaming down her face and sobbing. Firstly, this class was not inexpensive. The recital costume you don't know she will need at sign up was $68 or something close to that, in addition to the $300+class.The distance to the location took half an hour one way...a 30 min class (an hour roundtrip drive) giving up Saturday mornings for months (I am a full time working mom). The Academy closes for two weekends during spring break, but expects you to be there Easter weekend. The rehearsal was what I thought would be the worst part...due to horrible (I can't stress this enough) communication. And I mean the absolute WORST communication I have ever had with any business. The dance rehearsal for the final performance...It was MID-WEEK, 3:30 pm and I had to leave early from work and take my child out of school early to get her across town. When I had looked a couple of days ahead of time to confirm the time, the email view of the schedule on my cell phone didn't show full screen layout, jumbling the magnatude of multiple classes/times/schedule on a cell phone email view, so I emailed the office to verify the date/time and was given the INCORRECT DATE. (No one was answering the phone although it's during business hours). Then after rushing and getting her there, having her ready and coming in the door to find a photographer set up, that was unexpected and unprepared for professional photos -there was ZERO mention of this ahead of time. I of course purchased a package to capture this time in her life, being her first dance experience. Was not given a follow up slip or instructions. Right now, I have no idea how I will even obtain the photos, how long to expect, nothing. THEN...the day of the performance...smack in the middle of Memorial Weekend...on a Saturday - I was told it was a 4 pm show (multiple shows that day) but to be there early and arrived at 3:20. The performance actually had started at 3pm....the rehearsal time was in error, what was given to me and I should have absolutely checked again because the correct time was on my virtual email tickets (which I had to order weeks ahead of time on a timed availability window for best seats available)...so that part in my haste of the rush of a holiday weekend I totally should have reconfirmed AGAIN but did not....and my daughter stood sobbing in the hallway for a performance she was dreaming of and so proud to show her family (that we also paid $60 for these performance tickets for)...to watch my 5 year olds heart absolutely break in front of me for the first time. She was inconsolable, and late at night tonight broke down again in tears. I am appalled at the lack of communication, inaccurate information given, holiday schedules, the months of commitment and absolute disappointment, not to even mention the complete waste of money spent for her not to even have her stage show...and be here wide awake reliving her pain and sadness at the end of what should have been a beautiful memory. Her class instructor was compassionate and let her get on an empty stage after everyone filed our just to be able to show her dance routine to just us, as someone was sweeping the stage. People called out to her as we walked through the crowd leaving, to try to cheer her up (tears still steaming afterwards) commenting to her- thinking it was stage fright "Awe, you did so great!" were kind but it made her sob even harder not getting to perform and we were just trying to get out of there. Then the lights faded and I hope to God my daughter forgets about such a sad day in her little life, because this certainly closed the curtains on having a good view or opinion on the company as I would never recommend it. The saddest day I've had as a parent watching the disappointment in my beautiful child's face. This will haunt me.

★★★★★Erica Piedmonte

My daughter has been dancing here for 8 years since we moved to Traverse City from out of state. She has been in Company for 6 years and we are so happy with the beautiful dancer she has become. I highly recommend this studio for all levels!

★★★★★Jen Snyder

Miss Sue was so nice and knowledgeable, she fitted my daughter for her first pointe shoes today. Such a fun day. 😊🩰❤️