Baby Take a Bow

This place looked adorable, and I signed up my 2 year old for ballet, we were so excited. Too bad we showed up to our first class to NO ONE at the studio, no one picking up any phones or emails. We then learned that the class was canceled and NO ONE decided to tell us. Imagine a sweet toddler in a tutu ready for dance, standing at a locked studio, pretty disappointing! We are still waiting to be refunded, but again no one responds, worst customer service ever.

Wow I was surprised by the low stars by some of the other reviewers and then realized 9 of the 5-​star reviews were filtered. Very Unilocal.My daughter has taken about 3 sessions I believe at BTAB and just finished a weeklong Cinderella camp. I was nervous since she just turned 3 and you drop them off for 3 hours but the owner set me at ease the first day and I looked forward to having 3 hrs to myself for a whole week! They’re organized with all the different kids and had a boot camp system going which was necessary for the attention span of a couple dozen 3 – 5 yr olds. I think the whole ballet experience has been enjoyable– yes I put tutu’s on her and take pics. It’s not the Joffrey Ballet School. And yes it’s pricey– it’s Roscoe Village & it’s ballet. It’s a socialization experience and introduction to ballet. My daughter had her first little recital today and I was extremely satisfied with the whole experience & thought to come on here to recommend!

My older daughter (now almost 4) has been taking classes at Baby Take A Bow for over a year and my younger daughter (almost 2) has been taking classes over the summer. The studio itself is very warm and welcoming, as is all of the staff — from the owner, Kristen, to all of the instructors. They are very very patient, as well! This is especially key for first-​timers in the «child only» classes. Kristen and all the instructors make sure that the class is a truly enjoyable experience for the girls and the parents. An added plus is that there is a camera set up so that parents can watch the class from the front, without disturbing the girls by peeking through a window.
Now that my younger daughter is in the parent-​tot classes, I’ve also been able to experience the classes firsthand. For the younger set, it’s more movement than ballet, but there is a fair amount of learning moves — first position, plies and arabesques are favorites around our house now.
For the older kids, the classes themselves are beginning ballet and go through basic movement and positions. My older daughter has gotten a lot out of the classes and really enjoys ballet. I like that there is real ballet being taught and that the classes aren’t glorified dress up sessions.
And, I love supporting local businesses that are really part of the community. BTAB fits that bill for sure. Some of the items in the shop are expensive, but that’s because they are handmade by local artists and craftspeople!

I couldn’t ask for a better place for my two daughters to take ballet. The teachers are amazing. They are knowledgeable, kind, fun and energetic! There is a TV outside the ballet studio where all of the parents wait showing the class that is in session. It’s genius, because the kids can’t see us watching so they don’t have the urge to cry out for us to come in, yet we still get to see everything that is going on! Kristen, the owner, is so accomodating with make-​ups and really wants all of the girls to continue to love ballet. Did I mention the retail section for this ballet studio is unbelievable?! You can’t go in their without smiling the whole time and have the urge to buy something. There is no better ballet studio in the city.

My 3 yr-​old daughter began her ballet experience at Baby Take a Bow a year and a half ago when they opened. I have been very pleased with the program so far.
When my daughter first began the class she did go in the room with the instructor without me okay, but was still a little shy and unsure. After only 4 — 5 classes I saw a wonderful change in my daughter… one that even the instructor noticed. She became more social and more confident and participated in the class on all levels. We just finished BTAB’s first recital session (so fun to see them perform on a stage!) and she cannot wait to get on that stage again. Amazing.
I feel the length of the classes are age appropriate. Some days I wish the classes were a little longer (so I can continue my conversations with the other parents in the front room: o), but I think 30 mins in a class that is not attended with a parent, for 18 month olds to 3 year old’s is perfect considering their attention spans.
In my experience, they have been very accommodating when working to reschedule makeup classes.
This is also a super cute place to pick up a birthday gift! They have great tutus and other fun ballet themed gifts.
We will certainly be back for another session this fall.

I enrolled my 18 month old daughter in the ballet class, and although she’s a little too young for this class, I initially thought it was overall pretty good. But then I realized the price you pay is way too steep for what you get. The class seems very rushed. It lasts only 30 minutes and just doesn’t feel like long enough to warm up and get started. I think a 45 minute session would be much better. The teacher was ok, she was peppy and cheery enough, I guess. My biggest gripe is the make up policy. I had 2 classes fall through completely because, although they do offer make ups, good luck getting into a class. All the classes were full. And I just found out that the first class fell on Good Friday so they cancelled it, and I believe we still were charged for it. I would look elsewhere for a better experience.

Having attended another local dance studio for over a year, we decided to try out Baby Take a Bow, which is nearer our home. We signed our two and a half year old daughter up for a 9 week session, and after three classes, decided that we could not in good conscience continue to take our daughter back. We were used to a very nurturing and friendly early ballet experience, and this was not to be found for us at Baby Take a Bow. The teacher did not take time on the first day of class to introduce herself to the new parents, or ask us our children’s names. The class structure was rigid and did not embrace certain levels of toddler fun. While some children were permitted to cry throughout class, others were singled out to not jump around or giggle. The class could best be summarized as age-​inappropriate in its expectations.
As a mother, I was so upset by the end of the third class, that I could not get my daughter back to a more friendly, genuine, and nurturing environment fast enough. My husband called the owner and explained our concerns, asking for a refund for the remaining sessions, which we were denied. After further correspondence, the owner informed us that she was «in disbelief» of our concerns. Her only solution was to have our daughter transfer to another class with a different instructor. Our child has loved ballet since she started over a year ago, and giving her a positive, motivating, and rewarding class experience is important to us as parents, especially at such a young and impressionable age… things not to be found at Baby Take a Bow.

Wanted to like this; got a Family Find coupon. Thought about using this place both for the 2 year old and a «next step up» class for the 4 year old. Went to store: not open despite during stated biz hours. Returned and spent money; sales person was misleading about an item and pushed a dancing skirt that was the wrong size. Unhelpful on the return; didn’t call back when they said they would, and the next day seemed like they were doing me a favor while all along the item was the wrong purchase. Won’t shop there again and will find a different studio. Too bad. Wanted this to work and be a great place.

We signed our 2+ year-​old for a session of the hip hop class. The place is so cute and the owner is friendly and approachable. Their prices are somewhat steep, but the service is great. I guess you pay for the look of the studio and the location! My daughter had a wonderful experience there, but I am not sure how much she learned. On the plus side, I loved the little waiting area, with free coffee for parents and the fact that there are great lunch/​brunch options in the area. I would go back, but for the price.

It’s a wonderful clean and nurturing dance studio for little ones. I can’t say enough for the kind and wonderful instructors we met and hope to continue with BTAB for the years to come.

My daughter has taken ballet at Baby Take a Bow since it opened last winter. She absolutely loves going to class and even practices what she learned that week at home on her own. We have taken quite a few other types of classes and my daughter really has not been as in to those as she has these ballet classes. Additionally, the teachers are so patient, kind and really enjoy what they do. My daughter has loved all of her teachers. Kristen, the owner, has been so fantastic with helping us attend/​makeup classes after I had my second baby. I highly recommend this studio to any family.

The nicest dance school I’ve found in the chicago area for kids! The space is clean and welcoming and the teachers are so nurturing. The class size is small enough so that it is not chaotic but still fun for the kids.
I can’t say enough wonderful things about Baby Take A Bow! I’ve recommended them to all of my friends!

My daughter has taken BTAB’s hip hop classes 1 & 2 and loved every minute of it! The teachers are wonderful and the moves are SUPER CUTE! The studio space is clean and cheery and Miss Kristen is very accommodating and helpful.
WARNING:Don’t be surprised if you find yourself purchasing adorable tutus and leg warmers for your little ones while your there – it’s so hard not too!

The studio is very cute and has lots of cute and expensive things in it. Classes are a bit pricey but that is not really my issues. The issue that I have is that my child didnt learn anything. This really is a studio for parents who just want their child to dress up and take pics. There is nothing wrong with that but for the price they are charging I want my child to learn something. As someone who used to teach preballet for 18 months and up I know that they can at least learn the feet positions.
— We didnt learn anything: Children between 18 mon– 2 ½ years are very smart and now is the time to teach them. We should have learned all the ballet positions and how to stick our arms out when we dance, run, etc.(which would prepare them for holding their arms out in dance)
— Music: now is the right time to introduce them to classical music. I could do miss puffy at home for free. I dont need a teacher to sing a long with miss puffy. especially for the amount we are paying
–I missed a make up class (granted that was my fault) and wanted to try to reschedule but she wouldn’t let me. For the amount that we are paying and the fact that I have to do the class with bella and that their are only a few kids in each class she should have been very accommodating.
I feel that putting my child in a studio that completely focuses on dance and the art of dance will teach her more. A studio where they want you to take classes there forever (even if we wont).