My daughter has danced here for 5 years. She takes ballet and pointe. They excel at making sure the…read moredancers have excellent ballet technique. They have a company dance ensemble that dancers are invited into to further their performance skills. It feels like a family there. We wouldn't go anywhere else.

Our daughter has taken ballet at the Pointe Academy for four years, and we are extremely happy. The…read moreowners and their staff focus on the mechanics, beauty and fun of dance, not on costumes or makeup. Their fees are extremely reasonable, the class scheduling is flexible, and the every-other-year "showcase" is fantastic. We couldn't be happier with the dance education and fun our little girl is experiencing!

​"I am deeply disappointed with the lack of transparency and professionalism at AT&Co. Management…read moreabruptly discontinued the enrollment of only one of my children without explanation. Because of this, I was forced to unenroll my other child as well, as we could no longer support a business that treats family members differently and refuses to communicate. ​This happened in the middle of costume distributions with the recital quickly approaching. When I reached out to understand the situation, management refused to provide documentation or engage in a professional dialogue. I even requested a copy of the handbook to understand their policies, and they refused to provide one. Instead of addressing our concerns, they shut down all contact, stating: 'All applicable information has been provided, and this matter has been closed. We will not be continuing further communication.' It is incredibly dismissive to disrupt a family's schedule and commitments, then explicitly refuse to share the policies they operate by. Between the lack of clarity and the struggle to get answers regarding tuition and fees, this has been an exhausting experience. I would caution any parent looking for a program that values families and professional accountability."

From the owner: To teach, inspire and ignite a work ethic and self respect that comes from within from each of our…read morestudents. By example, we Will lead each dancer through kindness, Respect, And dedication so they may find their own hearts journey. So when it’s time they may let go and fly.

Both of my girls started weekly classes at Chow's in October, and seem to like it…read more Turnover seems to be a little high, as one of my girls is now on a third instructor. However, I will say that each instructor seemed to do a pretty good job leading the kids, assisting and encouraging. I've had my eye on the instructors that teach the classes of girls older than mine, and I look forward to them teaching my kids next year! The ladies at the front desk are super nice, helpful, and really go out of their way to not rush you through anything. Even when there is a line waiting and the phones are ringing, they take their time with every person and never act too busy or frustrated. I like that Chow's has an upstairs and downstairs viewing area for parents, so that we can watch our kids during instruction without being too visible or in the way. Parking is ample, and I have never had to worry about not getting a convenient spot. I've noticed that all of the kids (and parents!) who come here are all very friendly, polite and courteous. When you have to be somewhere every week, surrounded by the same kids and parents, it helps when it's a pleasant experience every time. What I'm not super jazzed about is the odor of dirty feet that hits you as soon as you walk in. It is a gym, and I know there's not a ton that they can do about it, but I have been in many other gyms that don't seem to have this issue as much. Maybe a charcoal air filter would help? The facility is also just a little bit run down and could use a good deep cleaning or a fresh coat of paint. However, all of their gym equipment looks to be in very good shape! It is also a very large gym with tons of space and variety in equipment. Side note: they have a bouncy house that they sometimes blow up for the kids to play in at the end of class, and that is a major plus. My kids still think bouncy houses are the shit.

Dear Chow's, one big ask. Can you please, PLEASE renovate and deep clean? The entire place is old,…read morerun down, dirty and just plain disgusting. Benches, carpets, gym mats, and even the foam in the foam pit is beat up and needs replacing. Where are all our fees going? Every week my 3 year old daughter leaves the gym we go home, we put her straight in the bath...afraid what cooties are hiding in those filthy mats. I'm not sure we're coming back for another session. Either clean up the act or start loosing actors. 3 stars for the coaching. Most are good, a few could benefit from additional training.

My experience with Cirque Wonderland was not a positive one, and it has been frustrating to process…read moreover time. What was presented as a welcoming and inclusive space did not always align with my personal experience there. When I spoke up about my concerns, I felt they were dismissed or minimized, which made it difficult for me to feel heard or supported in the space. This came after I shared that I experienced what I perceived as confrontational and inappropriate verbal behavior from a neighboring business owner at the time. I was told the cameras in the building were not working at that time, which added to my discomfort with the situation. I rented a room in the space for four years, prior to its expansion. In April 2023, I was told via phone call that a change in my massage clientele to better fit the space would be something to consider to fit the gym more, or that it might be best for me to leave. Later , I received an email stating it would be best for me to leave, along with a move-out timeline. I asked to have a conversation in person or by phone to try to come to a more mutual agreement, especially since I was there regularly, but that request was declined. I then received formal communication via email, which felt abrupt and uncomfortable, and reinforced my concerns based on my experience about how situations like this were handled compared to what I had understood when I first joined the space. In private conversations, I've heard perspectives that echoed some of my concerns around a disconnect between stated values and lived experiences. I understand that others may have different experiences, and I can only speak to my own. One example of that disconnect, from my point of view, was messaging like "any body can do aerial" not always feeling fully reflected in practice, particularly when some policies felt like they created barriers for people with different needs in my experience. For me, what started as a business misalignment became more personal over time. I'm sharing this to bring awareness and to encourage better alignment between values and action. I also always wondered why they seemed they were the only aerial arts place in des moines when they werent I do want to acknowledge that there were coaches I appreciated working with, including Bonnie, who I felt did embody the values that were expressed. This is being shared in the hope that it encourages reflection. My experience was disappointing, both as a business owner and as a person navigating the situation. TO CIRQUE AND FELICIA IN RESPONSE TO THEIR COMMENT AND RESPONSE Thank you for your response. I understand that your perspective may differ. What I've shared reflects my personal experience , my records and how I was approached and was impacted by those interactions at the time. I'm not interested in continuing this conversation privately, as I've already attempted to have direct discussions in the past without resolution.

I signed my girls up for the intro classes so that they could get a feel for what they're…read moreinterested in and to learn the basics. Right away I was impressed by the background of the owner--one of the first people to bring circus and aerial arts classes to Iowa. Clearly this person has a passion for sharing the art form. After day one my kids were hooked and couldn't stop talking about how much fun they had. I love that class sizes are kept very small, and that the structure of membership and future classes leave a lot of room for scheduling flexibility. I am super excited that my kids found something that they want to keep doing--something that leaves so much room for personal growth and experimentation!

Love this ! Even when o don't feel like going I go b/c I always feel better after restorative…read morePilates session, either as a group class or a 1:1 highly recommend!

From the owner: We are YOUR neighborhood fitness studio. Our private fitness studio creates an inviting, motivating…read moreatmosphere for each training session or class. We strive to get to know each client as a person and ensure a positive experience. We offer private training, Pilates Equipment and strength semi-private groups, and Strength/ Core/Flexibility/Fitness 101 classes.