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.

Such an unprofessional atmosphere created by the director and her mother that we left voluntarily…read moreduring a competition and subsequently walked away from over $2000 as we had paid in full because of of the verbal lashing given to us by the director in front of the hotel staff and dancers. We were guven our hotel $ back which was greatly appreciated as they witnessed this horrible event. If I could give a "zero" score I would....too many other wonderful studios to consider in our town.

We have been at this studio from the time my daughter was 4 years old. She is going to be "10" and…read moreshe has learned such wonderful things here. More than just dance she has learned how to love and respect her body, how to be dedicated to what you love. How to work hard for the things you want and how to be an athlete. How when you work hard it will show and it might take longer. When the girls compete they are all SUPER encouraging to each other as well as the parents. This studio is for all kinds of students.... Beginner, intermediate, and advance.

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!

Wonderful dance studio for all levels of dance. The instructors are top notch professionals who…read morehave been a part of the dance world for most of their lives. Dancing is fun at all ages and no partner is necessary! Treat yourself to a world of happiness!! I love this studio.

A hidden gem of Dance studios located in Lakewood Ranch. Staff and instructors are great and it's…read morea positive, fun atmosphere! Highly recommend

Love classes and socials. Always Having a blast. Highly…read morerecommend. Learning something new every class

I can't recommend Bachata Journey SRQ enough! With Aaron as our instructor, every class is a…read morefantastic experience. He is patient, knowledgeable, and has a way of breaking down even the most complex moves into something approachable and fun. The group classes are awesome--there's such an encouraging atmosphere, and it's a great place to meet others who share a love for dance. Beyond the classes, the socials are a highlight! They provide the perfect opportunity to practice what we've learned while enjoying great music and a welcoming vibe. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, this is the place to be. Thank you, Aaron, for creating such an amazing community!

Will return. A town…read morewith 54,842 residents, their ballet company is quite exceptional. Although they perform at various sites, including their Opera House, this venue, next to Ringling Museum, is their main home. Many patrons do dress up for the occasion. This ballet company was founded in 1987 by dancer Jean Weidner-Goldstein (Your observer; Tribune). The current director Iain Webb (1959-) was once a dancer, started out with Royal Ballet (1931-) of UK. Tonight's performance P4 Quintessential has three individual segments: Rococo Variations | Choreography by Renato Paroni | Music by Tchaikovsky Brandenburgs | Choreography by Paul Taylor | Music by Bach World Premiere | Choreography by Gemma Bond | Music by Rachmaninov Modern ballet with classical music - a good combo. The Tchaikovsky piece is in light blue tutu; the second and the third are modern costume, skimpy skintight. I enjoyed the first two, especially the second one by Rachmaninov. Reportedly many come to see the third. Oh well, I'm not a Bach fan -:) Rachmaninov's music sounds tumultuous, struggles, pathos but this ballet interpretation is beautiful and well done. I also like their costume the best, simple clean line is aesthetically pleasing. All dancers are more or less of the same physique, with good skill. I don't really follow ballet but saw Misty Copeland once. No one in this ballet company is of Misty Copeland's fame but the dancers are very enjoyable to watch. Out of curiosity, I googled the following annual budget: $102m The New York City Ballet's (NYCB) 2024 $45m The American Ballet Theatre (ABT) where Copeland dances $9m Sarasota ... oh well - someone is doing well with less

The Sarasota Ballet is a treasure which delights with every fresh viewing. The venue is gorgeous…read moreand offers wonderful sight lines from a variety of seats. I am from out of state and always enjoy coming here when I am in town. Most recently I went to see the Mark Morris Dance Group show which included his works Pacific, Ten Suggestions, Candleflowerdance, and Going Away Party. All four pieces were exquisitely done and evocative in vastly different ways. The dancers were top notch. I especially was moved by Candleflowerdance. The performances here stay with you for a long time. I found the audience here to be respectful and quiet. That is always a pleasant occurence in public art spaces. Well recommended. Sarasota should be proud of their amazing arts offerings.

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.

This is my first opera since moving down here from NYC 11 years ago. In tonight's case, we have…read moretickets for Il Trovatore (Giuseppe Verdi). Even though downtown Sarasota is a total conglomeration of small and poorly laid out streets, it was easy to get here. I lucked out and found a spot on Central Ave right around the corner. Just $2 to park until 8pm, after which it's "free parking," to borrow a phrase from Monopoly. They refurbished this place not so long ago so it's quite nice in the auditorium itself. It kinda has a Spanish colonial feel both inside and outside. When I hear "opera house," I think of the Metropolitan Opera House and Lincoln Center. This place is quite small and more closely resembles a theatre where one would expect to see "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" or "Hello Dolly." I purchased orchestra box seats, which come 4 to a box, two rows per box. No one right near us but two couples front of us in the next box forward. I'm tall enough to have seen over Madame Blue Hair, so I had to switch seats with my dear Queen Bee. Sight lines could be better, IMHO. Meantime, I even received a personalized thank you letter from the Opera House "Powers That Be" upon entering our "box." Two free drinks were ours for the taking..."does not include spirits." Still a nice touch though. Free Diet Pepsi/Coke awaits us in the future! Woo Hoo!! Acoustics seemed okay rather than too loud, too muffled or too tinny. As I said above, sight lines are rather mediocre but at least one isn't totally packed in like a tin of sardines. Both our seats (stand alone moveable chairs) and standard row seating seem comfortable enough.

Stopped into this hundred year-old historic Opera House in the arts district of Sarasota. The…read moreSarasota Opera House is a historic, beautifully renovated 1,119-seat theater in downtown Sarasota, known for hosting opera, ballet, concerts & film festivals. Originally opened in 1926 as the Edwards Theatre, it features a restored auditorium with excellent acoustics and is part of a larger complex that includes a pavilion for events. The venue is on the National Register of Historic Places and offers a variety of performance and event spaces.