St. Augustine Dance Academy

★★★Amanda K C

The owner and front desk staff are wonderful, and the instructors are kind and welcoming. We attended for a full year of combo ballet when my daughter was ages 4–5. While the studio clearly prioritizes a gentle, low-pressure environment, I was disappointed with both the use of class time and the overall level of dance instruction. A significant portion of each class was spent transitioning, changing shoes, or winding down which left limited time for actual dance practice. As a result, my daughter did not feel particularly engaged or have much fun, and after a full year she was unable to identify basic ballet concepts such as first position. The recital reinforced this concern, as many dancers from various ages appeared unsure of choreography. Almost every single performance had some kind of follow the leader/dance in a circle portion of their routine, which lasted about a fifth of their choreography. I hope they have ongoing mentorship and support for all their younger teachers because it is hard to teach dance well. I respect studios that emphasize comfort and enjoyment, but I believe confidence is built through competence, even at a young age. Families seeking foundational dance education or hoping their child may eventually transition to more structured or technique-driven programs may want to ask detailed questions about instructional goals and class structure before enrolling. There is excellent communication around enrollment, classes, recital, ect. This studio may be a good fit for families looking for a very casual introduction to movement, but it was not the right fit for us.

★★★★★Ellie Schnellbacher

I love this studio! the teachers and staff are the best and I love the girls. I’ve made some of my closest friends here! If you join it feels like your family. Also, if you join company it allows you to get so many amazing dance opportunities! I highly recommend this studio if your thinking about joining!!!

★★★★★Danielle Weinshenker

I have 2 kids dancing at SADA. My oldest has grown so much over the last 5 years at this studio and being on the Performance Company. We love all the teachers and staff! They treat my kids as if they were their own. It has also been amazing to watch all of the amazing friendships that my kids have made dancing here! We 🩷 SADA!

★★★★★Cindy Jeffords

My daughter loves this studio, she has the time of her life and the teachers are the sweetest people ever. Everyone is incredibly helpful and happy to help, especially the owner ms Tasha. Every one at the studio makes you feel so welcome. Love coming to sada 💜

★★★★★Amy Graff

My daughter Ava has been with the St. Augustine Dance Academy since it opened its doors almost 10 years ago. We love our dance family and have remained loyal to this studio for so many reasons: The owners are professional, extremely organized, and always finding new ways to keep both of their locations and classes creative, up-to-date, and fun! Both locations offer a wide variety of classes in all genres of dance. The teachers are nurturing, creative, skilled, extremely knowledgeable and most importantly, they love what they do! My husband and I have watched Ava not only develop her technique and skills as a dancer, but she has learned life skills from this studio family that will remain with her for years to come. She was part of the Performance Company for 7 years. The bonds she has made with her dance teachers and studio peers still continue to this day. Her self confidence soared as a result of being part of this dance family, and that is what this studio has become for my daughter, a second family! I love knowing the teachers are knowledgeable and skilled in the art of dance, but I also love knowing that they continue growing their teaching skills with workshops and training at the studio. This means Ava is getting the BEST dance experience possible! While she has loved the WGV location and formed many life long bonds there, Ava now dances at their “newer” location in Nocatee. We made the switch 2 years ago to Nocatee when it opened because it is closer to our home and Nease High School where she currently attends. The transition was easy and fluid. Both studios provide the same classes, excellent teachers, and she gets the added benefit of attending dance classes with peers from Nease. As a parent, I love the spacious lobbies with plenty of seating and TV screens so I can observe Ava’s classes without any distraction to the dancers. Both locations also have merchandise such as leotards, tights, shoes, etc which makes my life much easier when Ava needs something for class. The studio owners, Dr. Tasha and Jason Wells, continue to find more ways to improve their studios. Not only are there plenty of dance classes to choose from, but the Performance Company gave Ava the experience of being part of a dance team on the competitive side. This year, Ava will be dancing in her 10th recital with this studio. We are grateful for the love and support she has been given, the nurturing environment, and of course all things dance that St. Augustine Dance Academy has given her. We cannot wait to see our daughter and all of the dancers on stage again!! I highly recommend St. Augustine Dance Academy for the dancer in your life!!!