We are going into our 4th year at Shirley McPhail School of Dance and our experience has been…read moreexceptional. Watching my girls dance at this studio has created memories that I'll cherish for the rest of my life. There's nothing like watching your daughter dance on a big stage in front of an audience in a beautiful costume! The instructors have been amazing to us. They have always made my daughters feel safe and well cared for. Everyone that we've met, from the owner, director, manager, instructors, and sales associates in The Dancers Den have been nothing but kind, welcoming, and helpful. My daughters are always excited to go to their dance classes. We also love the other dancers and families that we've met through SMSD! The directors of the studio put in so much work to make dance a wonderful experience for the dancers and their families. The recitals are phenomenal and they split them into 4 shows that are 1 hour and 15 minutes each, so you don't have to stay 3-4 hours to watch your child at a recital. To the wonderful staff at SMSD: we see how hard you work, and we appreciate everything you do for us! Thank you for fostering a love of dance in our children!

We have had the most wonderful experience at SMSD. Not only does our child talk about dance class…read moreevery week, we've really felt like we are a part of a family at SMSD. We've enjoyed every teacher and can't say enough about the management. I'd recommend SMSD without a doubt!

My soon to be 6-year-old has just completed her 2nd year at Dancers Workshop. They are an…read moreincredible organization, and my daughter has thrived under their direction. She absolutely adores her teacher, Ms. Naomi, and wants to be in all of her classes. We've done the ballet/tap combo class for two years and added the jazz/hip hop combo class this year, and my daughter always comes out of the class with the brightest smile. Watching these kiddos do the shuffle step in their tiny tap shoes or hot steppin' while Gettin' Jiggy With It is the embodiment of joy in human form! 10 out of 10, would recommend!

This studio has been such a magical place for our dancer! She has confidence, has fun, and learns…read moreevery time she comes to the studio mostly due to the amazing teachers and the environment they create. Ms. Lori and Ms. Kristi have been a source of positivity and guidance since the day she started two years ago, and we are beyond thankful for them both!! Thank you DW for a great experience!

It's difficult to find adult dance instruction in Austin geared towards the older dancer, but…read moreSynergy's Silver Swan ballet program does just that. Theoretically, one should be at least 55+ to enroll, but exceptions can be made! The instructor, Maureen Slabaugh, is certified by the Royal Academy of Dance to teach under their Silver Swans model and does an outstanding job of making the class work for both absolute beginners as well as dancers with some level of experience. Currently classes are offered two days a week. I enrolled two years ago and really wonder why I didn't find out about Silver Swans years ago!! I hadn't taken a ballet class in at least 25 years and I simply love it! Highly recommend.

I've been taking adult ballet (Silver Swans class) for 2 years and it has been a fantastic…read moreexperience all around. Maureen is a phenomenal teacher - encouraging and nonjudgmental when you need it, excellent with technical details and technique when you need it. It's not just a good workout, it's also REALLY good for our brains! Every class has something a little extra challenging to work our memory and keep us on our toes. The classes are structured like the ballet classes of my childhood - first the barre, then the center. Maureen is great at giving options for newcomers and experienced students, and making sure everyone is both comfortable and challenged. She is also really good at helping people modify if they are injured or need to take additional care. Synergy itself is staffed with cheerful friendly people and it's always a pleasure to be there.

We recently started at Dance Discovery with high hopes, but unfortunately, our experience so far…read morehas been quite disappointing. My daughter (age 3) has attended four different classes with different instructors as we tried to find the right fit for her. As a shy new student, I expected at least a minimal effort from the teachers to help her feel welcomed and included--but that has largely been missing. In most of the classes, there was little to no effort to engage her, encourage her participation, or help her feel part of the group. Even in the few classes that had student assistants present, they did not step in to support her or offer any guidance. In one instance, my daughter needed tap shoes (which are available in a shared bin for those without), and rather than assisting us, the student assistant pointed me toward the bin to figure it out myself--something that could have easily been handled more supportively, especially for a brand-new child. Another serious concern is bathroom access. My daughter is still potty training, and after a 45-minute drive to get to class, we often urgently need to use the restroom upon arrival. To access the bathrooms, however, you must walk through two active classrooms, which feels disruptive and uncomfortable. On one occasion, it took us over 10 minutes just to get into a stall, which meant missing a significant portion of class while awkwardly waiting in a hallway right next to an ongoing session. Overall, I'm very surprised by the lack of accommodations or support for young children and new families. It's disappointing because I had high hopes for this studio, but at this point, I'm not confident that it's the right environment for us and we have already put in our 30 days.

We have been with dance discovery for 5 years. I love the studio, the staff and teachers. If your…read morelooking for classes or even summer camps I highly recommend dance discovery. There's no other studio like them in Austin.

My daughter started at TTD when she was 3. After 7 years of dance, 3 on the dance team, she was cut…read morefrom the team. Throughout her time at Tarrytown dance, we were told she was doing great and was a beautiful dancer. Never did they say she needed help or was not meeting the expectations of the team. I understand not making teams and setting a high bar but she's a good dancer and at least should have seen being cut from the team as a possibility.

My daughter started at Tarrytown dance when she was 2 1/2. She is 4 now. We've done creative…read moremovement, ballet/tap combo, the Frozen summer camp, and a Barbie winter break camp. Basically, anything they offer, we sign up for. My daughter's dance classes here are the only activity she asks to do each and every semester (and even in the breaks between). Here are some of the things we love-- 1. The studio is the kind of place that builds community around it. I've made friends there. She's made friends. It's a warm and welcoming place. We didn't know anyone in town when we started taking here, and I feel so blessed that we stumbled into such a friendly place. 2. I love that the owner, Leigh, actually teaches classes. And she's phenomenal. Which I guess isn't surprising since she's been teaching dance since she was 16! Because she is a huge ball of energy and super fun, the girls love her, but she also is no push over. She keeps everyone in line. They learn a ton, even in the creative movement classes. She's found the balance we all strive for as parents and want from our kids' teachers. 3. At the end of the year they do a performance on the big stage at Westlake HIgh School. I can not tell you how special and cool this made my little girl feel-she was beaming like she was a movie star. There is not a kids activity in Austin I would recommend more. It's just a really special place that has clearly been grown with love by a kind, fun, smart lady.

A welcoming environment for adult dancers of all levels. My journey began ambitiously with a Level…read more2 Beginner Ballet class, which proved to be quite challenging for someone who hasn't seriously done ballet since high school. Recognizing the need to build a solid foundation, I transitioned to Basic Level and Beginner 1 classes. After about six months of dedicated practice, I experienced significant improvement, making each session more enjoyable and rewarding. While I still aspire to join the Beginner Level 2 class, I plan to continue refining my skills, possibly through private lessons, before taking that step. I tried hip-hop for the first time with friends, in a month-long series culminating in a showcase. but I've also done drop in beginner, hip-hop and cardio hip-hop classes. I made some friends here, it is often the same faces that are loyal to certain types of classes and teachers. I love the Austin Dance scene. During International Dance Week, they offered $10 classes in various styles, including West African dance accompanied by live drumming--a vibrant and immersive experience. Additionally, their annual Memorial Day sale provides excellent opportunities for discounted classes and workshops. I think if it is your first time coming, you can do a class for five dollars or get two classes for $28. they have a small parking lot, but they also do offer to our parking in the Google building next-door for three dollars. It's more convenient if you have cash.

Unless you live downtown, getting there and parking for a class is a bit annoying. There are…read moreworkarounds, though. I don't care. The Pilates (reformer and mat) options here are worth any kind of trouble. I've studied reformer Pilates with three other instructors over the years and Vlada Sheber, master instructor and Pilates Program Director for Ballet Austin, made aching parts of me feel invigorated and ready to move. She gets what happens when you have a tinge of arthritis here, there or osteoporosis. I'm addicted already. I didn't need help in these ways, but she is also trained in teaching people after surgery, breast cancer patients, and more. Private or group classes? Check. Pilates for physical therapy? Check. There are several instructors with different areas of specialties, and they are beginning a new-to- reformer group class this week.

A friend of mine recently signed up for a special student discount at Go Dance. I have passed by…read moreGo Dance many times and have enjoyed watching dancers practice. However, I never actually thought about taking dance lessons there. For reference, I been trained in Latin dances, hip hop and two-step. Well, I have not done partner dances in over a decade, I currently take masterclasses, when my schedule allows. Go Dance is right next door to Chaparral Ice on Anderson Lane. It is quite a large facility with two main dance floors along with studio and private dance rooms. Go dance also sell dancewear and dance shoes. Their current dance special is one student for 4 weeks of unlimited Level 2 or Level 3 classes and three private lessons with an instructor for $220 or for two people at $295.

I love dancing but rarely go and definitely need to brush up on my steps and learn some new ones. I…read moresigned up for several classes with their special offer to new members: Swing II, Country Western Swing II, and Lindy Hop II. Going to three classes a week is a lot, but I've enjoyed them immensely. This is getting me back out on the Dance Floor without having to go to a nightclub, and I'm learning so much! The instructors I've had are excellent, and the facility is nice and clean with beautiful hardwood floors. Other students have been very welcoming and friendly as well. If you like dancing but want to learn more and dance more, check out Go Dance!

We signed up for lessons at Austin Uptown Dance for our first dance…read more Jake (Jacob) was a great instructor. He was very patient with my husband who has two left feet. We asked for a simple choreography, but they can tailor all the moves to however comfortable you feel. An edited version of the music was also a part of our package. After a few lessons and practicing at home, we executed the dance flawlessly on our wedding day!

We were a little nervous about taking dance lessons for our first dance. However, Hillary and…read moreeveryone at Uptown made it so fun and so approachable! Our lessons were always a highlight in our week :) Looking back, we would encourage anyone to take lessons from Hilary before their wedding - we're so glad we had a fun, unique first dance that we felt comfortable with