This is my daughter's 3rd year of ballet here. She started in Music and Motion lessons at this studio at the age of 3. She is having fun while learning in a warm environment. This year, she added tap to her schedule and really surprised me with the grit needed to keep up with the experienced students (she is the youngest in this mixed experience Level 1/2 class). My daughter looks forward to dance classes. Her love for dance comes naturally, but has been nurtured in the very wonderful culture that the teachers create at Berrend Dance Centre. Last Spring was her first recital with the broader studio (the prior year she had a mini-performance for parents in her classroom - which still required learning a routine and prepared her for participation in the bigger recital). In the Spring Recital, she and other classes combined to create an Enchanted Forest ensemble and it was so lovely to watch. My daughter and other younger students were able to sit in the front of the audience and watch a lot of the recital performances when they were not required behind or on stage; she was clearly very inspired by the experienced dancers! You can tell a lot about a studio with the quality of the dancing at a recital and for me it was heart-warming to watch and to know my daughter is blessed to learn at such a wonderful studio. My daughter's eyes lit-up watching the performers and she told me right away that she wanted to learn tap as well; that's why I enrolled her in the Fall, even if I was hesitant to put her in with a mixed level class. To build her confidence, I worked out a few private sessions to help her feel more confident and able to keep up with the experienced dancers and after only two she was doing remarkably better. When she is standing around outside class or waiting in lines, she is shuffling and practicing her steps... showing she really is dedicated and enjoying herself! This winter, my daughter is thrilled to be part of the OBT Nutcracker performance, even with a very small part as an angel. As a parent, this is really the introduction to the broader community at this studio. I already grew to enjoy getting to know moms of my daughter's classmates, but that has opened up even more. I look forward to supporting my daughter for years to come as she continues to pursue her love for dance at this studio. The pre-professional dancers are so impressive to watch -- they are diligent with their practice and you can see teachers careful about the students' safety. I'm not sure if my daughter will excel at the level of some dancers at this studio, but she certainly is enjoying and learning, demonstrating passion, grit, and dedication at such a young age. I danced for several years when I was a child learning the Cecchetti method (which was very focused on progressional development with a focus on technical skill mastery, musicality, and style). In looking at other studio options locally, I landed on BDC because it seemed to have quality teaching with a small community feel that nurtures the love for dance. I can't see my daughter learning better anywhere else. I highly recommend this studio! read more

I danced at this studio from 4 until graduating high school at 18 years old. The teachers, students, and other affiliated individuals feel like a family to me, and have taught me so much, not only about dance, but about the professional dance world. The instruction here is unmatched by even bigger company summer intensives and classes I've been to, and I feel that they can take a student at any level and completely turn their technique around for the better. I currently attend SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, and can attest to the edge having a classical ballet background can have on any style of dance. I love coming back and taking class with the students, they're just as good, if not exceeding, the talent level of some of my classmates at school, which is inspiring to see. You can feel the love and passion everyone has for ballet, and for each other. Come check it out out! read more

I practically grew up at this studio, attending for 14 years. Three years later, I still visit the studio every chance I get. BDC provided age appropriate, rigorous, and professional training which paved the way for a professional ballet career for me. The studio provides performance opportunities, strong technique in various styles, all within a welcoming environment. I truly belive I have made friends for life at this studio and would highly recommend BDC for anyone who is interested in professional dance training. read more

Amazing quality of dance instruction with truly professional dancers (and by professional, I mean dancers who actually dance professionally in very well respected arenas). Kids learned more here in a few weeks than the years at other studios. Loved it!! Thanks, Pat Berrend!! read more

Wonderful instruction and focus on technique and building in proper form. My daughter started when she was 4, transferring from another studio that thought freeze dance was instruction. She has really grown and loves the studio, instructors and other students. They run it like a ballet company even for the younger set, so you aren't purchasing tutu costumes to wear once. It's also her favorite camp with Ms Robin. Even in the shabby studio, after being at highly rated summer camps in the area, this is the one she looks forward to and asks for. Our younger daughter is starting at camp this summer and in the fall and we can't wait! read more

I cannot say enough positive things about this studio. I was not a dancer, never took classes myself. I currently have one student there. She has been attending for 5 years, and is on pointe. Due to the instructors (all former professional dancers) attention to detail and corrections given she has been given high praise and placement when visiting other programs for summer intensives. We have been very lucky to have found a studio of this caliber, which teaches not only ballet, but also teaches tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, although no lyrical (which I am fine with). The director does not believe in being a "competition school", but rather focuses on good technique. Due to the training given here, I have another daughter which was able to receive an invitation to join the School of American Ballet in New York. The director has taught many hundreds of dancers, of which multiple dancers that have placed with national companies, Miami City Ballet, New York City Ballet (including current corps members), Boston Ballet and others. I myself take adult ballet classes there and they are a sweaty challenge each time! Good technique is always stressed in adult classes as well. I recommend going in and trying a class, which you can do for free (one class) to see if your child enjoys it as well as to discuss which will be the correct level for your child. Another reviewer left a scathing review regarding the summer "camp" but the camp is not part of the studio, nor is it part of the summer intensive. As a parent who supposedly had so much experience, she should have known better and should have asked about the level of experience prior to signing up her experienced dancer for beginner level "camp". Both my daughters took the summer intensive at Berrend Dance Centre from age 10-12, approximately 2-3 years each, until the Director felt they were ready to go away to a summer intensive to get a different experience. In each case, they were greatly challenged by the Berrend Dance Centre program and made great progress. Again, when they finally went away (my youngest just went away this summer for her first time), they were placed in top level classes based on their technique and capability because of the training they have received here. The Director, Patricia Berrend has won numerous awards for her teaching. She only hires teachers who have had the training and experience as professional dancers. She also gives the students of the studio and the area the opportunity to perform with professionals in a professional production of The Nutcracker each December. This studio is a treasure! read more

My daughter has been dancing here for 4 years, she loves it and so do we! She has also participated in the summer camps and loves them! The teacher who runs the camp has taught my daughter since she was 4- we think she is amazing! We think so much of the teachers and director we have followed them to their new location. There are several studios that are now more conveniently located to our home but leaving was simply not even a thought. read more

In response to Carri W., the "camps" are advertised on their website, held at their studio and taught with their instructors\students. How then, can you claim the camps are somehow not affiliated with their studio? The summer "intensives" are not offered to 7 year olds. I *did* in fact speak to the studio about my daughter having already danced for several years and was assured the level of difficulty would be appropriate. Had I been told the camp would be glorified day care and they would be grouped based on their height and the shorter dancers would only be taught by fellow students, we would have passed. Is that scathing? No, it's the truth and it might save someone else from having a similarly negative experience. It is disappointing when people use Yelp as a forum to critique fellow reviewers whom they have never even met. Our experience with BDC was clearly different than yours. While I would certainly post a positive review if I felt it was merited, I would never consider trying to demean other reviewers in the process simply because they disagreed. Congrats to your daughter, it sounds like she enjoys dance and is off to a promising start. I would recommend the Washington School of Ballet or Maryland Youth Ballet as alternatives for anyone contemplating a rigorous and reputable pre-professional training program. read more

Outstanding instruction. I've experienced a not so good studio once and learned to look deep when selecting a dance studio. This studio has excellent instructors who are not only renowned in their craft but very good at teaching students at all levels. Attention to detail is stressed in instruction. This is a studio that is strong in ballet technique and often students come from other studios just to work on their technique. Every dancer longs to go on pointe, but one of the many strengths of the owner, Patricia Berrend, is that she will not approve those pointe shoes until the students feet are truly ready and strong enough to handle them. She also checks all new shoes before students use them. The dance instructors for Tap, Jazz, Modern, and Hip Hop are wonderful as well. My daughter came from a gymnastics background and the teachers started her in a lower level and moved her up a class each week until they found the perfect fit. While we were looking at other studios, she decided she liked the students at this one and enjoyed the opportunity to audition for the professional production of the Nutcracker even as a young student. This will be her 5th year in the production and she has grown into new roles continuously as her technique improves. Although she has reached a level to go to summer intensives at Carolina Ballet Theatre and Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York, she still dances some part of the summer intensive classes at her home studio here. If you're looking for a new place to dance, call and go take a look at a class. I'd even ask to watch a class a level higher so you can see what's in store for the future dancer in your life :) Don't let the small size of the studio fool you....the experience is huge! read more

My daughter has been attending for about 4 years and is very happy. This studio has given her a passion for dance like I would have never thought she could have. I really like all the opportunities that she is given (end of year performances, Nutcracker, etc). I would not change studio for anything in the world! read more