Stage Door IS THE PINNACLE of dance in Sarasota. The word that comes to mind is "EXCELLENCE." My…read morechildren attend hip hop and mini flip hop classes at Stage Door. Their teachers are kind and patient. The staff in the front office is very helpful l, courteous and welcoming. The staff's professionalism is unparalleled. Upon spending any time at the facility, it will be evident that Stage Door Studios is a well-oiled machine. The viewing area is perfect for parents & families wanting to spectate. It is ample space with comfortable seating and screens for viewing dancers working hard and having fun in each studio. There is also a thoughtful children's area with child-friendly furniture and a tv showing children's programs. Every aspect of our experience thus far seems to have been carefully curated to cater to the comfort and enhance the enjoyment of the entire family. We LOVE Stage Door!

My children danced at Stage Door for 6 years (first recreationally and then competitively) and…read moreloved it for a long time. But 3 years into dancing for one of their competitive teams, my children were kicked out of the studio with just a month left to go in the season. They were unable to perform at recital, or at their final competition, and 3 months later the studio has still not refunded the money I paid for services unrendered (summer classes, a convention, unused recital costumes etc) and they will not respond to my emails. The reason for dismissing my 1st and 4th graders? I took them to a private lesson at another studio for additional training and the owner didn't like that. Dancers as young as 5-6 years old are made to sign a contract if they want to dance at competitions with the team. Initially I didn't think much of this but by the third year (and as my second daughter was entering the youngest competition team) I started to have concerns about the stifling nature of it. Essentially, I walked into Stage Door with a 4 year old child in 2016, and before I knew it I was locked into some kind of situation where they would be penalized for even looking at other studios . (By the way, I didn't sign the contract last year but they held me to it anyway.) We stayed a couple years longer than we should have because the kids made friends and didn't want to leave them. If it weren't for that we would have left sooner. As things often do, it all worked out for the best. My girls and some of their previous teammates have found a new studio which they absolutely love and I'm confident that this new studio has their best interests at heart. I'm so excited for their future in dance and it's a relief to know they're training with adults who care about them. Stage Door is a large studio that shows well. It's big, offers a lot of class times for young kids and when you aren't yet enmeshed in the dance world you don't see the red flags. I certainly didn't. My advice, if you're looking for a dance studio, is to sit down with the studio owner and really find out what they're all about. Ask questions. Talk to parents of older kids. Talk to the studio owner at length. I probably talked to the studio owner at Stage Door for less than 20 minutes combined in 6 years. At our new studio, I've talked to the studio owner for hours on end and we've only been there a few months. It's night and day. Just do your homework.

We had a disastrous experience with Art and Soul Dance over the last year…read more Coming from a great studio to Art and Soul, we had the following observations. The owners are not open to feedback. If you provide feedback, your child is likely to be cut from dances or have their role limited. The owners of this studio focus more on emotionally traumatizing their dancers than teaching them skills. It was not uncommon for dances to change at the last second before competitions leading dancers to be unsure and nervous going onstage. Calling out dancers in front of their peers to do better was also not uncommon. The owners will tell you whatever you want to hear to sign up including what classes they offer. This will change once the season starts. Teacher turnover is high here. The one teacher we felt was strong, the ballet teacher, has moved on. We have had to ask the studio multiple times for pins earned and judge feedback from competitions. They refused to provide them. We question the accounting at this studio. All payments are made out personally to the owner. This seems odd for a business and we were never quite sure of the accounting. If you are looking for a studio that builds up your child's confidence and love of dance, this is not it. If you are looking for a studio where the owners are approachable and open to feedback, this is not it. If you are looking for a studio that is chaotic, mismanaged and where your child comes home questioning if they want to dance anymore, this is probably the studio for you. I would caution anyone looking to put their child in dance at Art and Soul to do lots of research and look past the positive reviews that will be fabricated to bury this one.

All of the teachers and staff have been amazing since we joined the team this summer! As newbies…read morethey have been so welcoming! Even after hours of being at the studio, our daughter still comes home saying she has fun! We are so happy we found them!

I'm a pro/am dancer from Los Angeles looking for a local coach to train with for my frequent…read morevisits. This studio blew me away. Just open the door.. gorgeous studio, a dance floor you just want to dance on, smiling students and friendly instructors. Maks was exactly what I was searching for MORE! Everything you need is right here. Social dancing, exercise, shoes, attire, technique, joy and much more. Do yourself a favor and just stop by. I'm so thrilled to continue my dance journey here + can't wait for my next trip to come back + dance!

I started dating a wonderful woman that has a successful early career in ballet. Facing my fears, I…read moresigned both of my left feet and my girl for lessons. I come from the other side of the tracks so it was intimidating for sure. Getting there is the worst part. We were greeted by Evie, an expert in all respects, including teacher & professionalism. It's work and expands the neural pathways in the mind (synapses). Looking back and hopefully forward, it's been the best thing I did for the past few years. Thanks, Evie!

This Dance Studio is an awsome place to look at .They're amazing ,I never really got to meet the…read moredancers though. I live in Sarasota FL and discovered them a while back.I hope everything is alright with them

Save your money, steer away from this place. Wasted 8 month on training in this studio. Right…read morebefore the competition which I have paid $1500 for I was told that they have a new policy (which was never introduced to me) where I have to pay for 2 male partners/instructors. When asked if I could have a female as a second instructor the answer was NO, you can have a female, but there MUST BE 2 MALES. Refused to pay for 2 males, they have canceled my bronze program agreement with them (which violated my Student Agreement). Asked for refund of paid $1500 for the competition which they have canceled the entry to. As result, they have come up with bunch of paperwork excuses (also have been told that they will pay it over 90 days in 3 different checks). Received the paperwork for the refund which forces you to give up all of your rights holding them responsible for anything. If you value your time and money you will not get involved with this studio. Management are bullies, they do not respect Fred Astaire agreement they are signing with you, rude and unprofessional with questionable morals. The owner making remarks to me about using a cocaine infused tea on the trip to Peru (where another "competition" was to be held).

Buyer beware! My wife and I attended this location in 2018 to prepare for our wedding. The dance…read moreinstruction was solid, no complaints there. Unfortunately, they hard-sold us a package deal that included far more lessons than required. It was incredibly emotionally manipulative - either I ruined my bride-to-be's excitement or we overpaid significantly. It was so obvious and slimy, but you can guess which option I went with. Life ended up taking us out of Florida and nowhere near any Fred Astaire studios, so I called to discuss a refund for our unused lessons. Would you believe that it's not in their policy to refund unused lessons? Shocking, I know! The whole thing is so unethical and, sadly, predictable. If you're going to go, pay by the lesson! Don't let these crooks steal your money too.

Best studio in the area for master level guidance! Not to mention their amazing hearts. If you're…read morelooking to develop a new skill or revisit an old one, Tesci and Souhad are the answer!

Souhad and Tess are the nicest people. Souhad is an excellent teacher, my husband and I came in not…read moreknowing anything and now after a couple months we 5 dance types u dear our belt and have a great time dancing

I have been with AM dance studio for a year and I feel that not only have I been learning to dance…read morewell but it's such a great social environment that I feel like a part of a dance family. The instructors are fantastic. They have fun parties and events and there is always something exciting coming up.

A little over a year ago, I was a little hesitant to walk through the Arthur Murray Dance Studio…read moredoors. I was looking for a connection. Today, I'm glad I did. During my time here at ARMDS of Sarasota, I've seen a lot of advancements not only in myself, but with my peers as well. The ARMDS learning progression, allows for a strong foundation to be gained while moving up the various levels. A recipe for success. The ARMDS of Sarasota, allows for a conducive learning environment by providing a very warm and uplifting atmosphere for learning the various dances. A feeling of unity and family can be felt during before and after each session. Their set of instructors (Haley, Jose, Jasmyn, Darrell and Natalia) all elicit the best talents from each student working with. Their strong support for the students has been seen throughout our weekly events and sessions, specials events held throughout the year and with the higher seeking competitive students. In all, I think the Arthur Murray Dance Studio of Sarasota is a good find. A gem. Best, Robert

Bachata Group Class with Carlos…read more I had so much fun at Carlos's bachata group class! He's an incredible instructor--patient, upbeat, and great at breaking down the steps so everyone feels confident. His dance techniques and teaching style make it easy to improve quickly, even if you're new to bachata. The energy in the room was amazing, and I left smiling (and sweating!). Highly recommend taking his class if you want to learn real technique while having an awesome time!

Carlos is the best dance teacher ever! This class is so fun and a great new hobby to add into your…read morelife!

Welcoming atmosphere. Our son LOVES going to dance class. The instructions are fantastic. Flexible…read moreprogramming that fits any schedule. Adult and kid classes. We are so happy to have discovered this gem in Lakewood Ranch.

My husband got us 3 private classes for my birthday. We enjoyed our sessions and plan on continuing…read moreto the next package. The instructor was very patient with us and really took the time to explain the steps since we are very new to this. We really enjoyed ourselves and everyone is very professional.