As a former student who quit in 2018, this place first had a professional atmosphere to it. Teachers were actually nice. Before I quit, though, several conflicts occurred including drama in Nutcracker dress rehearsals. Got body-shamed, was excluded, and I found out that other dancers were body-shamed too. I've talked to former dancers who went here, stayed there for years, and had experienced self-esteem issues due to Mrs. Irina's unnecessary comments. I wish I could have rated this place higher because I came out as a decent ballerina, but the training all of us had to go through felt nearly abusive. read more

My daughter attended ASCB for several years and danced in several of the school's performances. Unfortunately, I cannot in good conscience recommend this school. Found the owners belittling young, impressionable girls. Irina, in particular, often body shamed girls. Both owners failed to provide promised private lessons even after these were paid for and no refund provided. Extremely shady and unprofessional business practices frustrated their employees. Contracted instructors have complained that they went unpaid. By all means, if you want, send your young, impressionable girls to a school were they are shamed, abused, and ridiculed by these hot-headed narcissists. read more

I have been going to this studio for almost 7 years and my experience has been amazing! The teachers here are very loving and supportive! Ms. Irina is an amazing teacher for contemporary, ballet tech, and pointe! And Mr. K Is AWESOME with partnering, ballet tech, and pirouettes! The studio is a very positive environment with no toxic dancers. No body shaming or any of that nonsense! It's a little small but that's good for kids who want more attention on their technique. Overall the best studio In the valley!!! read more

Arizona School of Classical Ballet - Performing Arts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This review is months overdue and we could not agree more with the other reviewer. This school used to be good years ago. Now one must run! Fraud and illegal business practices are taking place here. Privates that have been paid for are not honored. The website is deceiving since most of the teachers listed haven't been there in years. The owner's wife leaves for months at a time bc of whatever reasons. Then she appears again for a few months and disappears again. Others leave bc they don't get paid. The one teacher that has been a constant is Miss Sabina. She is the most dedicated person and they are lucky to have her. Instead of celebrating good people, the owner is a narcissist and despises anyone who is good or better than him. He is upset that kids leave and follow teachers. As a wife of a business owner I understand that his employees are his greatest assets. They bring in business. If they deliver it shows and they must be treated with respect. If you don't they leave. Simple. This place is always on the verge of closing. A notice was already on the door once before. The front office is another issue. Many times no one is there to represent the place. Also, the school is lacking grace and educational value for a classical ballet school. Children can show up late, with a messy bun, holes and ripped tights as well as face paint. Saturday mornings are a zoo. Younger kids run around, scream, play and disturb classes. At times a dogs is seen in the waiting room without a leash. Intermediate kids hide in costume room. Nothing matters. No discipline. Owners daughter gets mad at times, calls her mother names, leaves the classroom and gives her mother the finger. No respect in the home as in the school. Classes are multi level. You pay top dollars and end up with all different levels in one class. They don't have enough older kids to divide classes accordingly. Owner shows up late and is completely disorganized. The entire place is dirty and antiquated. How does learning take place? Well, it does not. So you better invest in privates bc if you don't you are overlooked and no one cares about your child. Children are just pushed into the next level. No one evaluates the child. Higher level = more money. In the last few years, children as young as 8, go on point bc that's how it's done in Russia , according to the owners. ( owner's daughter was one of them ) Older children end up leaving bc the owner just repeats the same things and never pushes them. He is upset with a former teacher who demanded discipline and poise. Like every other teacher who had integrity she left. Older students who require a certain training followed her which enraged the owner, calling her names in front of students. Even miss Sabina's daughter left to take classes there. This alone should be a red flag. Owners, and front office staff are charlatans. They know how to sweet talk you and tell you whatever you want to hear just to get $$$. However, as soon as you question things and are not subservient they turn and call you crazy. However, they want you to volunteer for them even if they previously paid people to do the same work. Work that takes up your week. Should you ask for some compensation they are shocked. Spring shows. They haven't had spring shows for years. Promises but no follow through. Nutcracker should be called nutcracker express. The show hasn't been updated in years. Main roles are given to staff or friends that are brought in. Children don't audition. Roles are given to favorites. You can walk in weeks later ,after so called audition for outsider, and still participate. Costumes. Don't worry about catching any diseases. You will be immune after wearing costumes that haven't been cleaned/ disinfected in years. All these children sweating and dancing in them and they have never been cleaned. This place might be good if you can't make it at Masters or another reputable ballet place or just want chaos for a lot of $$$. Of course this is only the tip of the iceberg. read more

After seeing a recent negative review, I had to stand up for these business owners. My daughter, who hopes to dance professionally one day, has attended ASCB for 5 years. As someone who practically lived at three ballet studio growing up, I can tell you several things. The training is top notch and is in the Vaganova method. With this comes rules, which I support because ballet requires a level of discipline and commitment, as well as respect for the art and the teachers. Unkindness among the girls is not accepted, and a family-feeling is promoted. A previous reviewer talked about body-shaming. I never witnessed any body shaming by the faculty or staff. However, I will say that ballet has a certain aesthetic and has for decades. Girls that may seem "normal or healthy" to the outside world might be considered "thick" for the ballet world. Those girls might not get as many roles as others. This is the reality of the dance world, and like anything else in life, not everyone is made for it. The recent reviewer sounded angry and appeared to air dry laundry that didn't belong to them. I was incredibly pleased when I found ASCB for my daughter, and the amount of growth I've witnessed in her and other girls at the studio is impressive. I'm thankful to Mr. K and Miss Irina for helping her reach her dreams. read more

I was compelled to write this review, after a frustrating experience with another ballet school Master Ballet Academy. My daughter attended the Master Ballet academy for 6 months, and was in tears almost every day. She is a very driven girl, and her frustration was based on the fact that she felt that the teachers were paying attention to the top 20 percent of the class. The classes were about 25 girls, and the teachers were making majority of corrections to the top 5 girls, when I confronted Ms. Irena about that, I received a rather stern speech, explaining to me that it is physically impossible to make the correction to all of the 25 girls. Did I see her class? If my daughter needs personal attention, she needs to take private classes Well I saw her class, and I felt that there must be something better out there. Now after attending the Arizona School of Classical Ballet for over a month, I am pleasantly surprised by the radically different approach of Ms Nadya and her staff. They make you feel like a family, my daughter enjoys every lesson and feels that finally someone takes time to explain to her the details and nuances of the technique. We can't be happier. I watched the way that the lesson was taught to the girls (by the way the classes are much smaller), I was very impressed with the degree of professionalism of the teachers. One more thing - when my daughter forgot her leotard at home, the school let her use some that they had!!! Can you believe that! Thank you Ms Nadya read more

My daughters have attended Arizona School of Classical Ballet for several years now. They teach every level from children to those who are ready to be professional. The instructors achieve excellent results at all levels. Each year they prepare two amazing performances, one in December and one in May. Watching these performances I have always been impressed with the level of perfection these youths attain. To achieve results at this school does require a high level of commitment of both time and effort from the dancers. Some students at this school train every day. If you are looking for a place to receive the very best instruction, I suggest checking into the Arizona School of Classical Ballet. read more

Best Ballet School in town This is the best ballet school in town for any child -whether you are dreaming of a professional dance career for your kids or just like them to have the opportunity to study ballet and receive classical dance education (Ballet+Modern+Jazz+Character+Flamenco) Don't trust anyone's word on it - just attend any of their performances and you would see why. See more reviews at http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3709858633/arizona-school-of-classical-phoenix read more

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We found this school 6 years ago for our older daughter when she was just three. We loved the Russian classical ballet and discipline. Right then the first year she was a part of their Nutcracker cast as an angel. Our second daughter joined Nutcracker as soon as she was old enough. Both girls are still attending classes going up level by level happier then ever because of the quality yet fun and passioned teaching of the most professional teachers. The two real performances a year are cherries on the cake for them. They feel professional. At their age they have already danced as swans in Swan lake, musicians in Sleeping beauty, sweets in Nutcracker with several beautiful costume changes and so many other wonderful roles. I love the fact that our girls get to experience the hard work and rehearsing followed by performing classical ballets or amazing new contemporary choreographies with phenomenal guest ballet dancers. They love it! We look up to older girls as they are succeeding in YAGP and graduating school joining ballet companies. This small yet big at heart school is a way to go for all those that are looking for the best classical ballet training and amazing performing experience for their kids. The three week summer intensive is a part of tuition and it gives them all a huge improvement going into next levels after summer. All teachers are amazing!!! Thank you! read more

Arizona School of Classical Ballet - Performing Arts Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This is the best ballet school in town for any child -whether you are dreaming of a professional dance career for your kids or just like them to have the opportunity to study ballet and receive classical dance education (Ballet+Modern+Jazz+Character+Flamenco) Don't trust anyone's word on it - just attend any of their performances and you would see why. read more

Ballet taught in the classic Russian tradition. Great technique and wonderful teachers, absolutely age appropriate...if you are serious about teaching a child ballet, this is a perfect fit! read more