My daughter has been dancing at this studio for nearly 11 years now. I cannot be any more grateful to Leslie and her staff for helping her become such a beautiful dancer. CSDA has taught her to demonstrate grit, work hard and be disciplined! It's been such a beautiful journey!! read more

The past year my 9-year-old daughter has been attending "Center Stage." As she had no dance experience we enrolled her in an introductory Hip Hop class, which she loved. Soon after, she invited 3 of her school friends, who also attended Newcomb Academy to join the class. After the first year's recital they all decided to continue Hip Hop, additionally adding a Jazz class. Before I continue with this review, I must confirm we have had no issues with her dance instructor "Miss Emily." Emily was always kind, patient, fun and well equipped to instruct multiple dancers ranging in ages 7-9 years old. My daughter and her friends adored Emily and were very sad to leave her class. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago we had a very unprofessional, shocking incident occur with Leslie, one of the owners. When I picked my daughter up after class, I noticed that one of the dancers in her class was crying uncontrollably. Another mom from class was trying to comfort the girl while she waited for her mother. I walked over to see if I could be any assistance, but she was crying so badly she was unable to speak and tell me what occurred. Soon after my daughter and one of her friends who was trying the class to possibly join had no problem telling me what occurred. They let me know that while Miss Emily was changing the studio music Leslie took it upon herself to walk over to the classroom and reprimand, and yell at the class, and call out the student in tears for standing behind the studio barre. She screamed at the little girl to come over to her, sternly yelled in her face that she was "disrespectful, breaking the rules by standing behind the barre. She demanded that the little girl apologize to her. Additionally, she told the class "This was her studio, if they weren't going to listen, she would cancel the class, and they were all disrespectful." This resulted in the little girl running to the restroom, locking herself in the bathroom and crying for the remainder of the class. My daughter let me know that you could hear this little girl crying in the bathroom through the music the remainder of the class. Sadly, my daughter said Miss Emily, who was trying to comfort the little girl told her "Don't worry, Miss Leslie has made me cry before too." My daughter and her friends told me they feared the "old, mean lady" and felt so bad for their dance friend. Yelling at a child is NEVER acceptable, especially in a business setting. I have never once gotten complaints from Miss Emily, Leslie, or any of the other owners that this class had disciplinary problems or any other issues for that matter. Why Leslie thought it was ok to yell at the class, with empty threats and aggressive behavior I will never understand. Another mother that was present at pick-up admitted that she has seen Leslie yell at staff and dancers 2x prior to this incident. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! It's clear to me that Leslie has been getting away with abusive behavior for YEARS. I am truly disappointed that her behavior has been overlooked for so long. I started to re-read older Yelp reviews and realized she has several negative reviews. I am so sad I didn't investigate reviews further before taking my daughter and asking multiple friends of hers to join this studio. When I wrote the studio to let them know I would be canceling classes due to this incident and that I wanted a refund on my recital costume they responded with "Your check is in the mail." There was no apology, no explanation, nothing. We were clearly just a number to the studios pocket-book. Myself, and 4 other families have taken our children out of this school due to this incident. I would not recommend this studio! If you are ok with the potential of your child being screamed at or embarrassed in front of a class, this would be a great studio for you. It only took one incident for me to know this type of behavior is not ok. I really hope Emily realizes she doesn't need to put up with this type of abusive behavior and finds another studio to share her talent with.i read more

The best! Their longstanding reputation in the Long Beach area speaks for itself! Nice people, great teachers, happy students. Love it.

Wonderful dance studio in East Long Beach. Great teachers and administrators with lots of well priced classes in all areas of dance. My daughter loves it here. It's pretty low key chill with no bad "dance mom" vibes. They are also flexible with schedules for school and other life events. read more

Our experience at center Stage Dance Academy has been exceptional. The teachers are truly invested in the dancer's classes and their growth as learners. Corrections are made to meet the needs of each student. The system of leveling up has enabled my daughters to gain confidence in their learning ability. CSDA brings out the best in every dancers by tapping into their individual strengths, while creating an environment of kindness, responsibility, and leadership. I am so grateful for our CSDA family. read more

We have been with this studio for 8 years now and I could not imagine a better place for our daughter. I've been teaching for over 25 years and can tell when an establishment gives lip service to the growth of kids. CSDA truly cares about every child and their growth and success. This studio is simply the best in the area.​ read more

Accommodating, professional, caring, and motivating! After dancing for over a decade as a child, more than anything I had hoped our daughter would choose any other activity. After months of begging, I finally caved and allowed her to take "just one" class in 2015. Upon the recommendation of some friends, we chose CSDA. Our experience could not have been more different than mine was as a child. Communication is excellent. Advance notice is given for all recitals, rehearsals, and any changes. The entire team of instructors puts the needs of their students first and foremost, working to make sure each student reaches their best potential. Students are moved up levels when they are ready, and not a moment before. Those interested in joining more advanced groups audition for them by invitation, and I have personally witnessed the staff upholding ethics on more than one instance. Oh, and costumes are always appropriate. When COVID hit, we were honestly crushed. We feared the worst, since it definitely isn't one class any longer. Instead, the team of teachers pivoted immediately and found ways of reaching the kids, starting with Instagram, then moving more formally to Zoom. While we lost a season of recital and competition, the students gained skills and we're able to keep up connections. Once studios were once again able to open, they were incredibly accommodating, continuing to offer Zoom classes for students who could not attend in person due to health concerns of their own or family members. They have continued to require masks of all staff and of all students until vaccinated (as mandates allow for the flexibility, when masks are required for all it is followed!) During a of the uncertainty of opening and closing again, constant and informative emails were sent to all parents. I thought years ago we would be one year and done. One class and done. Instead, we are up to nine classes, and our only child has found an extended family. We will keep her at CSDA until she decides dancing is no longer fun. Given the staff and her fellow students, I have a feeling she will age out of the studio before she tires of the art/sport. read more

My 8-year-old daughter attended Center Stage for almost two years. My daughter and 3 of her friends started taking the hip-hop class; they enjoyed dancing together every Saturday and enjoyed their instructors. My daughter and her friends then added a Jazz class, and my daughter added a ballet class. In addition, my son started taking dance classes at the studio, beginners Hip Hop, on Wednesdays. The classes are an hour long. Most parents drop off their dancers and return when it is time to pick them up (especially when our kids are in the studio for 2 hours or longer). After feeling comfortable knowing that my daughter and her friends were together and in a safe studio with kind instructors, I, too, dropped off my daughter, ran some errands, and returned in time to pick her up. So I thought it was safe to drop her off inside the studio, until one day, when I came to pick her up and saw my daughter crying inconsolably, with two other moms trying to comfort her. My daughter could not get a word out when I asked her what was wrong. We went to the car, and she calmed down enough to tell me that LESLIE, the dance studio owner, yelled at her. I calmly went inside the studio and asked LESLIE to talk to me and tell me what happened. She said my daughter stood behind the barre when she passed by their class, so she "firmly spoke" to my daughter and the other children in the class. She said it was for safety reasons, and I, too, would have told her not to stand there. For safety reasons, that is what she kept saying. I know my daughter, and I know she is not one to disrespect a person or disobey her instructors, and not once has her behavior been a problem in almost two years at the studio. LESLIE told my daughter that she didn't know this would upset her so much that she hoped that after today, my daughter would forget about everything because she would forget about it. I left the studio. SURPRISE! I talked and texted with the two moms that were comforting my daughter. And my daughter finally spoke to me about what happened when we got home. Their story about what happened to my daughter and her class was not what LESLIE told me. AGAIN, I went back to the studio, walked in, and calmly told LESLIE, "I feel you omitted a lot of what happened." with a smirk, she said, "What do you feel I omitted?". Apparently, my daughter had cried for a long time; she even went inside the restroom and cried out loud. During their Jazz class, LESLIE told my eight-year-old daughter to "apologize to her for disrespecting her studio." She firmly told 7, 8, and 9-year-old girls that she should cancel the class because the instructors said this class sometimes gets out of control. My daughter mentioned her dance instructor, Miss Emily, told her, "It is okay (my daughter's name), Mrs. Leslie has made me cry too." I'm sorry, my daughter liked Miss Emily, but what kind of grownup tells an eight-year-old girl that it is okay when an authoritative person makes you cry? Also, as an adult and the person in charge of the class, how is she advocating for her class, for these little girls whose parents are trusting her during dance class? Needless to say, I told LESLIE I needed to be refunded for my daughter and son's recital money and that month's tuition. Again, smirking, she asked what she could have done differently. I told her not to yell at my daughter or her classmates. I told her if she had problems with that jazz class, why weren't the parents aware? She even denied ever making Miss Emily cry. When she asked again what she should have done, I said I was done talking and waited for my refund. I was LIVIT! Read other reviews about LESLIE before you decide to give this studio a try. One of the moms, whose daughter was also in the Jazz class, told me she had witnessed LESLIE behaving this way with children on two occasions. Don't be that parent who willingly keeps their child in an environment like CENTERED STAGE, where the owner feels it is okay to YELL and MAKE KIDS CRY. That day was my child and her classmates; it can easily be your child next. read more

Love this studio! Very family friendly. The staff is helpful and informative and they have GREAT instructors! I have 2 girls that dance here and they have learned not only technique but fun dances along with making lifetime friendships. I would definitely recommend this studio! read more

My daughter has been dancing at this studio for three years now and we love it! The teachers are so talented and really connect to the children. My daughter has really blossomed at this studio and made the sweetest friends. The studio's dance recitals are phenomenal too. read more

My daughter has been dancing at this studio for 11 years and loves every minute she is there. She has developed great friendships with the other students and looks up to the teachers, who are amazing instructors. She is joining her high school dance team this fall and the studio is so understanding about school commitments and always is flexible with us when needed. At the same time, they produce a professional looking recital every year at the Carpenter Center, a holiday show and offer multiple levels of competition teams. All of the parents, kids, and teachers are down to earth too, while still providing excellent instruction. read more

This dance studio is horrible. They are only focused on their company dancers and unless you are willing to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, no joke, your child gets totally skipped over. They charged us $225 to watch the recital and our daughter was in 1 dance! At the recital they even kicked out an Autistic boy while the performance was going on. I do not at all recommend this studio! read more

I just want to say that my daughter's teacher, Ms. Andrea is the best! She continues to amaze me. Despite having to teach virtually, she still manages to keep her class engaged. She is also very loving but demanding. She ensures that all of their 4 and 5 year old voices are heard, but when she needs their attention she has it!! I am so grateful! read more

I brought my daughter to this studio prior to COVID for about one year. I agree with the past comments posted regarding the owner Leslie being rude and unprofessional. I personally saw her treat one of her employees as she belittled her in front of other parents saying she was going to fire the employee. She has no professionalism and I don't want my daughter around her uncensored mouth/ behavior. She really needs to treat PEOPLE with respect and kindness. The teachers are good but I know I will not be giving Leslie my business. read more

Rigid non-caring rude cold unprofessional owner & office staff We've left this studio for above reasons read more

This is by far the most awful dance studio I have ever been to. The staff is unorganized and moody, the owner is beyond rude and their quality of Instruction is poor. They "practice" one number for an entire year yet the recital is terrible. For the amount of money spent on tuition and time spent there throughout the year, those performances should be impeccable but they weren't. It's a complete reflection on the way the teach. They are also very selfish and schedule the big recital on FATHER'S DAY, apparently every year. We just left the recital and will not be going back. We had no Intention on going back but today sealed the deal. My daughter had to catch a flight with her dad and his family at 4pm and they did not want to release my daughter to me so she could make her flight. After basically scolding me and treating me like a child, they said we could never return to CSDA, made me sign a handwritten paper stating that, and released my daughter to me. IT'S THEIR POLICY THAT THE KIDS BE ON LOCKDOWN until the 2-3 hour show is over. These people think dance is life but it is not. They take it way too serious but don't deliver the talent to match it. 2 other families from our dance class are not returning either for the same reasons. I'm sure we're not the only ones. This place is awful. Who punishes a 9 year old girl and tells them they're not allowed to come back if they leave with their parent before it's over? No class at all ! Zero stars from me. Do not waste your money here. There are a ton of dance studios around that will be much better to go to than this one. read more

My daughter has been dancing here for 4 years. It is a very well run and professional dance studio. They will push your daughter/son to best of her ability. THere is definitely a time commitment but when you se the performance in June every year it is all worth it. read more

Our experience at Center Stage Dance Academy has been wonderful. My daughter has been with the studio for 13 years, since she was 4 years old. This will be her last year, since she will be graduating High School. As I reflect back on her time at CSDA, I am so grateful for all that she has gained. Leslie and her amazing teachers have given my daughter a tremendous sense of confidence in all aspects of her life, not just dance. She has been supported and encouraged along the way. My daughter has been in tap classes with Leslie most of her 13 years there. Even spent many months working with her on a tap solo for competitions this year. She had a fun time working with Leslie and improving her tap technique. The annual recital in June is beautiful. Leslie works so hard to make sure that everything runs smoothly. It is such fun to see all levels of dance at these performances. From the tiny first time dancers to the advanced dancers who have been with the studio many years. The ballet is wonderful. Fun themes each year and beautiful costumes. It is an amazing experience for the kids to be able to perform at The Carpenter Center. My daughter has made so many nice friendships at CSDA. They have been together for many years and I love to watch the bond and support they have for each other. I have been lucky as well to become close friends with the parents. Even taking a dance trip to New York City with 5 students and their moms. I so appreciate all that Center Stage has given to my daughter and our family over the past 13 years. read more

Our daughter has been dancing with CSDA for 5 years & we have zero complaints. The office staff is always friendly and helpful. The studio owner, Leslie is kind and encouraging. All of the dance instructors are knowledgeable and genuinely care about teaching the kids not only the art of dance but also the gift of self-confidence and sportsmanship. They share their passion and it shows. CSDA has awesome annual recitals and the whole process is well organized and communicated. read more

I can't believe how much money I spent at this place. Ridiculous for a 4 year old. Then I'm told I can't have my kid after she's done performing at the recital. I'll be kicked out if I come and get her early. They act like they're the only dance studio in LB. Plus I couldn't record my daughters recital even though I also paid for a DVD. We won't be back. read more

Not sure what reviewer Vala means by "real kids" Aren't all kids real? Aside from that, in my experience with Leslie led me to the opinion that she is in it strictly for the money, and does not genuinely care about the kids. read more

My daughter attended this dance studio this year and we found the staff and the owner to be rude and did not seem to have the passion for the children or the art of dance. Every Time you turn around all they wanted is more money for everything, they are very greed and money oriented and are very rude while taking your money. I do not recommend this place as a new customer I asked a couple of simple questions and the staff responded with a rude attitude and treated us like we were bothering them. They do not treat parents or students with any care or compassion. read more

My daughter has been dancing here for 9 years. We love the studio, the instructors and Leslie. While it is a commitment to be in a performing group, I have found them to be realistic and supportive of other commitments - school, sports, scouting, religious obligations, etc. This is a studio for real kids. CSDA performs at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center for their recital. The kids perform at a real theater with beautiful costumes & make-up, attends dress rehearsals and the finale of the big performance. I appreciate the life experiences she is getting and the friends she has made through dance. Her fellow dancers are her team and she takes very seriously her attendance when we have scheduling conflicts. I have also been impressed by the heart of this studio, they include children with disabilities and make every effort for them to shine in the recital. (There are many options that don't include as much of a time commitment if that's what you prefer.) read more

I'd keep looking into other dance schools.... I've been debating if I should keep my daughter at this school. She's been a student for three years now. The teachers have been great. Strict when needed. But the one person I'm not a fan of is Leslie, the owner. She's not friendly with the students or the parents. My daughter didn't want to do tap anymore because she had Leslie for a teacher. Told me she wasn't fun at all and kinda mean. I'm at the dance recital rehearsal now and she completely embarrassed one of her students for not having the right shoes. I understand wanting to teach responsibility but really??? It's a dress rehearsal for a reason. Also, why do they insist on having this recital during Father's Day weekend? Dad's like to celebrate their time too. It's also not the cheapest of dance schools. I had to buy jazz shoes for my daughters voice performance. She's wearing those shoes a total of three times! I'm now having my daughter take a jazz class somewhere so she can get more use out of those shoes. Oh and they also told my daughter to be careful not to gain any weight or she wouldn't fit in her costume. Thank you for giving her body image issues! They take the measurements for costumes in nov/dec and they have them delivered in April. I'm pretty sure kids grow in height and size in that timeframe. read more

I really like this place. My grand daughter dances here. All the people are very nice and my daughter in law loves it also. No drama just a good place for a kid to learn something and give them some thing good to do. read more

My daughter has danced here for 6 years and she loves it. They teach kids to be responsible, respectful, and to have good sportsmanship. The front desk staff, teachers, and studio owner have been kind, helpful, and understanding especially in regards to my daughter's other activity. I am always excited to see what they have put together for the recital every year and I am never disappointed, there are some very talented dancers and choreographers at this studio. read more

My daughters have been dancing here for 13 years and love being a part of CSDA! Very professional recital once a year that is beautiful to watch! read more

My Daughter has been at CSDA for the last 11 years, we cannot be happier. After my daughter taking an almost 2 year hiatus, she was asked back and welcomed with open arms. The studio owner couldn"t be more welcoming and the students along with the parents love her. The teachers give the students a challenge and they welcome it. In comparison to other studios they are very professional and age appropriate. I would recommend this studio to anyone and everyone who is looking for a family oriented dance studio and to make long lasting friendships. read more

My daughter has been with CSDA since 2010. She loves her classes, respects her teachers and has made many friends there. The annual recitals are amazing. The amount of time and work that goes into every recital by the staff is very impressive. We plan on being part of CSDA for a long time! read more

I want to shed some (hopefully) positive, light on this studio. This is not to take away from other's experiences, but to add to them. Our family has been a part of CSDA for over 13 years now, and I felt this year's recital was a success! How many other studios can boast a professional quality production for their children to perform in, such as they have at the Carpenter Center in LB every year? One of my daughters performed in the voice class (which she LOVES with Ms. Anne!) and I thought the quality of vocal production and the harmony were just lovely. She has been a student of Ms. Anne's for several years now at CSDA, and we plan to enroll her again next year. Highly recommended for any child who wishes to learn how to sing. Although I didn't have any dancer performing this year, I was impressed with the Performing Company Jazz and Tap dances, and with many of the dance numbers. The costumes, props, music, level of technique, and performances were very exciting to watch. The ballet was fabulous! I think the level of ballet technique is impressive. I loved the creative ballet numbers - dancers pretending to be horses, acrobats, magicians - that was so unique and very entertaining. It is so cool to watch dancers who started as preschoolers develop into mature, talented performers. My eldest daughter danced at CSDA for 12 years, graduating from the studio last Spring - she had her share of ups and downs (We were unable to keep her enrolled in the Company classes consistently and I think this contributed to some personality conflicts between her and other students and teachers), but she learned enough technique to earn her a place on her high school's Advanced Dance Team. She also developed confidence on stage and a life-long love of performing. It was always exciting to watch her perform in the CSDA shows and competitions. My interactions with the staff have been, for the most part, positive. I have found Ms. Leslie to be very direct and to the point. She has a lot on her plate running a studio with several hundred students, many of whom compete. I imagine there are a lot of hoops she has to jump through in order to keep this kind of program running. My hat is off to her, in this regard! She also supported my family during our homeschooling years by becoming a vendor in our charter school, which was at a considerable expense on her part to get all of her staff fingerprinted. That shows she has a good heart as well as business acumen, by adapting and trying to expand her business while trying to make her customers happy. The front desk gals have always been nice and helpful to me. We have had many great conversations over the years, and I felt supported. I will say, if you have a dancer who is motivated and wants to compete, and you have the resources to fund the costumes, competition fees, and a trip to a National Competition, etc., this may be the studio for you. I have seen many other students earn places of distinction on high school & college dance and song teams after being part of this studio for many years. More than one student has gone on to study at OCHSA. There are also many non-company classes for those who just like to dance for fun. The teachers have a well-developed method for teaching technique in the various traditional styles of dance - ballet, jazz, tap & lyrical - sometimes at the expense of choreography, but the past few years I have seen the teachers really step up their choreography to keep competitive. Hip-Hop is really coming along, as well. We have discovered there is a bit of a glass ceiling in terms of getting solos for those who simply like to dance but who are not in a company class. One note - I also, witnessed the shoe incident at the dress rehearsal. Although it was uncomfortable to watch, and I understand the Yelp-reviewer's concern, this happened to one of my own dancers before (over-sight on my part), and it made me be more careful to follow the costume instructions for the next show. If Ms. Leslie was a little frustrated, I feel it is because she tries so hard to prepare the parents/dancers to avoid this exact problem. With so many students, dances, parents waiting, clock ticking on rehearsal time at Carpenter Ctr, It takes precious time away from the dress rehearsal to have to fix those kinds of small problems. But, hey - in the long run - there is always next year to try and do better. RE: another review - I do not know why they could not have allowed an exception to the other child who had to catch a flight with her dad, but it is clearly stated in the recital packet that a dancer will be excused from the studio if they leave the recital early. They can't say they weren't warned. But I do sympathize! This has become a book, but I would like to finish by saying any hobby or sport that your child enjoys will most likely become expensive and time-consuming in the long run if they truly wish to improve and succeed. read more

I danced here for 13 years and when I finally got the courage to quit all they had taught me was how to hate myself. I learned absolutely nothing and the abuse coming from the owner and teachers caused me to become suicidal and to develop eating disorders. do not, I repeat DO NOT take your child here. its a waste of time, money, and energy. the teachers were only nice to me when I was taking private lessons (which means extra money for them) and I was told twice by Amanda that I "was the reason she didn't want to have kids." The first time I thought about committing suicide was in the bathroom of studio A, I was 10 at the time. at age 7 I was told by a male employee that I should "start working on my bikini body because summer is right around the corner." again I WAS 7. snide comments like this caused me to become bulimic. My mom tried for years to get me to quit, but because of the toxic relations that Leslie and the other teachers built with me I was too afraid to leave, I thought they would badmouth me to everyone who stayed. the reason I stayed for 13 years were my friends. my friends and I became so close because when we were at dance it was us against the mean girls and the mean teachers. This awful place left me with horrible injuries, I broke my toe and tore a ligament in my foot but after I was threatened by my teacher who told me that, "if I don't dance he would kick me out" I ended up dancing on it and injuring it further. I also ended up with three bulging discs in my spine because of this place. I cannot stress how bad this place is. The way the teachers treat the students is mentally abusive and I can only hope people see this and choose to look elsewhere for dance. personally Onstage and Elevation would be a much better choice. read more

My daughter loves dancing at CSDA! She has really enjoyed being part of a performing group. We are looking forward to another exciting year at CSDA. read more

Csda has been an amazing place for my twins. They have been dancing here for 11 years. There is a set curriculum at each class level. All the instructors have degrees in dance. The studio prepares their students for auditions through dance conventions. Which has been helpful as they have auditioned for their high school performing groups. One of my girls has special needs and she has been included in all classes and competitions. She feels like one of the team. The studio has an inclusive, can-do policy where every dancer is allowed to shine and be part of the recital. My girls have learned what it's like to be a part of a supportive team. The studio also allows their dancers to be involved in outside activities and they allow make-ups. My girls would be happy if they could spend each and every day at Csda. We fell so lucky to have been a part of the Csda family. read more

I danced here for a number of years and my sister danced here for longer and has been a teacher here now for 20 years. YOu will not find a better dance teacher in the world. She truly cares about teaching not only dance but giving kids the self-confidence and self-respect they need to be successful in anything they do. She fosters an environment that is encouraging rather than competitive and judgmental, focused on developing the strengths that each individual dancer has. Best studio and teaching staff around. read more

My daughters have been with this studio for 11 years and we love it! They love dance! If you're interested in a studio that cares about your kiddos and focuses on technique and strength along with forming great friendships and a family like environment, this is the place for you! From the start, they welcome you, they inform you on all their policies and procedures and help you find the right fit for your child! The instructors are encouraging and motivating! My children love and respect their instructors, not only because they teach them dance, but because they genuinely care about their students and their growth. Center Stage has a recital every June. It's always an amazing show! I would definitely recommend signing up for it. It's a great opportunity for your child/children to show off what they have been working on in class. It's a great family outing to enjoy and make new memories. Center Stage is, and will be for many more years an important part of my children's lives. I am happy with this studio because they make my children happy and they have taught my girls not only lessons in dance, but also lessons in teamwork and dedication, My girls have formed friendships that they'll carry on for many years. read more

This is my 8th year at Center Stage dance Academy and I love every minute of it! The teachers are great and fully educated in their area of knowledge! Mrs. Andrea, for example, is a fantastic Ballet teacher who can make a hard step fun and easy for us to understand! But Ballet isn't the only thing our studio has. We also have Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Lyrical, and even Voice (singing) classes! The office people are always helpful when you have a problem. For instance, if you need to know where you can find a good dance store, they can always recommend one that they know is good! The youngest your child can be to join is about 3-4 years old and after their last year of high school, their dance career their is over. Every year, students participate in our annual recital. We have a new theme for the recital every year (This year is School Dayz, for example) and we have a new Ballet every year (We're doing Grease!!!). Teachers and students work together to create a dance for the recital. Costumes are paid for by the students and are chosen by the teachers. After all our students have recieved their costumes, we organize the school'd Picture Days. "Days" is plural because pictures are taken over a course of 3 days. Students do not need to buy any pictures but they can if they want to! Sorry if my review is pretty long but I really love Center Stage Dance Academy! I would recommend it to all dancers who want to improve their technique and those who wish to learn our ways! (By the way, their is no gender discrimination: both boys and girls can join) read more

Darla - I believe what the reviewer "Vala" meant, was that this is a studio that understands that kids have other commitments and the studio is willing to work with the girls when they have those commitments. I know of other studios who CHARGE for kids to miss their classes and in my experience with Leslie, this has never happened. Quite the contrary actually , she understands that kids will miss occasionally and offers make up classes for the girls so they get the training they need. I personally think Leslie is an amazing person who works really hard for the girls and her studio. If she were out for the money only her costs would be higher ,she would sacrifice her ideals in order to make a buck. I keep my daughter in this studio because I respect Leslie, the instructors she hires and the caring showed by all. There is a lot to be said for a woman who runs her business her way, the right way. You may not agree, but that's the wonderful thing about living where we do - the right to choose what you want to do and who you want to do it with. For the record, my daughter has danced at this studio from the time she was 3 and I couldn't be happier with what she has learned, the friends she has made and the people she has met. read more