The Movement Center Dance Studio

I signed my 2 year old daughter up for Mommy and Me classes this past April/​May. I was glad to find a class on a weekend since I am a working mom. The teacher was very energetic and really tried to get the kids to participate. As it is with 2 and 3 year olds, you can really only offer guidance because they do whatever they want! They had fun props (teddy bears, maracas, scarves) and child-​themed music.
There were however, some cons.
Our class was the first on a Sat morning so the Center did not open until the teacher arrived. She often arrived right at 9:30 or even a couple minutes late and always seemed kind of hectic (perhaps it was her energetic personality). The parents and children would be waiting outside and more than once I wondered if she was even coming at all.
There was some question as to whether there would be class over Memorial Day Weekend of which myself, and other parents, asked numerous times over the first few weeks. The answers varied from «I think so» to «I don’t think so,» «I will check,» «I called the owner but she didn’t call back.» Finally when really pressed she checked her schedule and said yes.
So the Sat of Memorial Day weekend all the parents and kids are waiting outside and no teacher to be seen! Again as we were the first class, there was no answer at the Movement Center because they were not open. Finally the teacher rolled up and came limping out because she hurt her ankle. The owner was on vacation and told her to still teach the class in a chair. !!! I realize this is not a professional ballet class but as a class where there is movement and activity, I did not think it was fair to the teacher or the students to hold a class that week.
The other parents seemed to go along with it and the class went fine but I think they should have added a class at the end or refunded us for one class.
I signed up through Acton Boxborough Community Education which indicated for the child to wear ballet slippers. It was not until the classes were almost over that I saw on the Movement Center website they are supposed to wear leotards and tights. No one ever said anything but I suppose I would have liked to know even though I think it’s silly to require a dress code of 2 and 3 year olds. Have you ever tried to put tights on a 2 year old?
The Movement Center website is also quite confusing. One link has all the classes they offer but then you have to click another link to find when the class is offered (if even) and then another link for the class attire and then ANOTHER link to find out how much it costs. Also for the holiday it did list Memorial Day Mon but nothing about the weekend. I took that to mean there was class but since the teacher was so blasé about it, you just couldn’t tell.
The facility itself is fine. Definitely a bit of wear and I wish they could pick up the discarded clothes/​shoes left week after week and at least put them in a Lost and Found box or throw them out.
I have not tried any other dance centers so I can’t compare. For now I have signed my daughter up for gym classes elsewhere. Perhaps I should try the Movement Center as an adult as the other reviews seem a lot better for those classes!
I’d give 2.5 stars if Unilocal let me but I guess I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for 3 stars.

This studio is amazing! I have only been dancing there for a little while, but I am already impressed! I taking privates there every week, and my teacher is very dedicated. She works me very hard, but it is very rewarding and it makes me feel very good about my skills. I have improved so much from the time i have joined, and I love dancing so much more now! I am so thankful that I have joined this studio! I would highly recommend this to anyone of any age for dance classes, privates, or birthday parties! It is slightly expensive though, but not too much.

Zumba with Sue at The Movement Center is one of the highlights of my week. One hour of shaking your booty while listening to fun latin music — what could be better? You burn ridiculous amounts of calories and walk out of there a sweaty, hot mess. Despite The Movement Center’s reputation for being a dance studio, you don’t need to know how to dance to take Zumba classes, so don’t let that intimidate you (if dancing — or learning how to dance — IS your thing, they also offer a wide range of adult dance classes, too.) The attendees in our class have all ranges of fitness levels, and Sue shows modifications of moves to meet all fitness needs.
What is also great about The Movement Center’s adult program is you can either purchase individual classes or a «class card» which gives you 10 classes at a discount. A major plus of the class card is that it can be used for any adult class and at any time. I have a very hectic work schedule that requires late hours and the occasional travel. Similar programs will often require that you pay in advance for six straight weeks of classes, and if you miss one, oh well. That’s not something I can commit to. I like that this provides flexibility for my schedule.

I went on what must have been an off-​season day (Thursday night) because based on the one other review, I expected a packed class. Only me and one other student showed up, and the place smelled like a sweat-​fest (those ballerinas before us must have been workin’ it).
Teacher was casual, a very talented choreographer, and hungry because she kept going to the side of the studio to eat her dinner in between instructions.
I didn’t sweat (again, I think my body was tricked by the studio’s aroma into thinking it wasn’t necessary) but I did feel challenged by the routine.
Only about ¹⁄₃ of the class time was dedicated to dancing; the rest was warm up moves, funkywalking across the floor, stretching, and ab exercises. The music choices were contemporary which was a plus. I would have liked to learn a longer routine than three counts of 8, but its all good.

Want to see a group of men and women ranging in age from 18 — 60+ try to show off their hip hop moves?
If so, drop in to one of the hip-​hop classes here on Monday night.
The adult classes here are great, and you can sign up for a full session or just drop in and try out a class. I tried the hip-​hop class for a few weeks, would have loved to continue going but school got in the way.
Once you get over your initial fear of looking like a fool, this is a TON of fun. There was such a variety of people here, from a younger guy who was adding his own flair to every move, to a woman in the grandmother age range who was learning to drop it like it’s hot.
For the cost (approx $ 10/​class), the exercise (I was dripping with sweat by the end), and the experience, I highly recommend checking out a class here!