Tiny Dancers

UPDATE
If you get a good, friendly instructor who knows how to engage your kid, the studio provides all relevant info to you up front, and the location is the most convenient one to yours, TD is a good choice overall. There are some disconcerting practices to be aware of, though… (I would have changed my rating to 3 stars had it not been for that.)
I’ve heard similar sentiments expressed about a few of the staff by other parents, so it doesn’t surprise me that the owner judges our exchange as friendly and professional. (It seems our opinions differ on the subject. For example, I don’t consider revoking online access as a response to negative feedback exactly professional.)
My husband, who started taking our daughter to class soon after my review, agrees that there’s a mix of instructors — some better than others. At the end of the session, he said she definitely enjoyed some of the classes but didn’t enjoy others (typical for a toddler).
I never received a voice message, but it’s possible our system was acting up.
The email exchange seems to contradict some of the main assertions by the owner in her response here, but she wasn’t involved until I pointed out the lack of written notice about rescheduling. For example, I had in fact explained the circumstances regarding the rescheduling request. Their «exception» (rescheduling of a second makeup, not a third missed class): they suggested it was granted, in the end, due to their lack of policy notice not due to the circumstances,
After they revoked our access to online registration (a result of expressing dissatisfaction with their decision and posting a negative review, suggested the studio manager), I told them I was more comfortable wrapping up our exchange in written form although I agreed that phone would be much more practical. Another staff member reinstated it some time later, but I haven’t checked to see if it remains active.
Missed class policies are necessary. Their reasoning is they don’t want their clients to abuse the opportunity to make up classes. This strikes me as achievable while applying the policy on a case-​by-​case basis in a reasonable, realistic (remember: toddlers during flu season!), professional, empathetic way. A blanket approach, true enough, requires minimal effort. We’re not all out to take advantage of them! What a curious mentality for a small business offering a child-​centered service.
All that considered, it’s odd to read that, in effect, I could’ve prevented whatever this is by having requested an escalation. (I did ask them to review their site. Also, wouldn’t you think basic staff training should include protocol to escalate an issue internally when it goes outside the authority of the particular staff member?)
I’m a business owner with experience in service-​based industry and I couldn’t imagine responding like that.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
Pros
Fun props
Cons
Attitude
Absolutely inflexible policies, even in the case of medically-​driven situations
Teachers are hit-​and-​miss
Our doctor, with less than 24h notice, had to reschedule an appointment we made prior to scheduling my daughter’s makeup class to a time that conflicted with the makeup class. This meant that we couldn’t request rescheduling of the makeup class with a minimum of 24h notice. We submitted the request within business hours the day prior to the class in question. We received a smug reply informing us of a policy prohibiting them from granting such a request with less than 24h notice. I checked the makeup class section of their website, the source they use to publicize their policies, and no such rule is listed. Essentially, we were retroactively required to choose between a dance class and a medical appointment. Keep in mind that, despite actual availability, they grant no more than 2 makeup classes throughout a session. (We’re talking classes for toddlers in flu season.) Unfortunately for us, we had already missed two classes and used a makeup due to illness.
This should not have come as a surprise. There were other less than professional exchanges from them, including our very first class. Thanks to morning sickness, I was 5 minutes late to that class and the instructor made sure to lecture me on the importance of timeliness… in front of the class during and right after the class, under the assumption — with no prior familiarity with me — that I had no good reason for being tardy.
I gave them an extra star for their cute props and because one of the three teachers we came across seemed to engage my daughter pretty well. It hasn’t been ideal introducing a two-​year-​old to ballet in winter while feeling pretty sick, but TD certainly didn’t ease the process.

My oldest daughter has taken ballet classes here since 2010, and my second daughter since 2012 (as soon as she was old enough). All of the teachers are wonderful and do a great job of teaching ballet moves (and the names of the moves) while keeping the class fun and interesting, especially for the little ones!

I enrolled my 3 year old here to learn ballet, however I am not happy.
First of all, their waiting room is EXTREMELY small and with people standing it os very hard for to see my daughter on the monitor (parents are not allowed in the studio while class is in session, which I like)
Also, they use too much non-​classical music, which I do not appreciate. Ballet is an art form, and classical music is an essential part of it. I want my daughter to understand that and be familiar with classical music as a part of ballet, especially if she decided to continue to dance later in life. Also, they do too much playing around and waste a lot of time doing silly things. The class is not cheap, the time should be used more effectively to learn ballet. I understand that 3 years old need to have fun to learn better, but ballet is not a fun party, it requires discipline and focus, which should be instilled from an early age. I wish they were teaching just a little bit more if that!
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My seven year old asked me to find a cool dance place for him to take classes. I happened upon tiny dancers, which looks like, and is, primarily a dance studio for tiny burgeoning ballerinas. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to find that their hip hop class is fantastic! The teacher, Meghan, is fantastic with kids, really fun, and an excellent dance instructor. My little one breaks out in crazy moves and he’s only had three classes. The studio is in a great location as well, right down the street from Faccia Luna. While he’s bustin’ a move I wander over to Faccia Luna for a drink, and then over to Balducci’s for some great shopping and back to the studio to see my son calmly stretching for a nice cool down, post hip hop. The class is on Monday night from 5−6pm and is so much fun it has turned our Mondays into a day we look forward to! The cost is 90 $ a month and worth every penny to see my son start to move comfortably and confidently and enjoy himself so much.