I'm baaaack!!! Question about dance studios in Dallas area (Plano: fit in, rental)

[RobertsGirl]

Hi y'all! I was very active on this board at the beginning of year, when we were thinking of moving to Irving (or environs) from the Los Angeles area. We decided not to, but it's back on the table. Finances are beyond tight, and about to get worse (The Governator has big plans for our money, and so does Obama; bad combo for us).

Anyway, it's looking even more likely than before. One of my big concerns is dance classes for my 14yo daughter. She is wanting to make dance a career, so I need guidance, people! She is en pointe in ballet, but also takes jazz and musical theater dance. Does anyone have some guidance? We would need a studio that offers advanced dance classes, since many just cater to those who just do it for fun...though it is fun, she's very serious, kwim?

We were thinking of moving to Irving because we have friends there, but we're now looking all over the Dallas area; I like Lewisville, for instance. The plan (so far) is to sell here, bank the money and rent there for awhile, to be able to scope out different areas. Then, the hubby (who is very talented with the power tools *get your mind out of the gutter*) wants to buy and re-furbish a home for us, and as rental properties. I know, I know, a lot goin' on here.

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

[pfw]

If you are interested in the Lewisville area, you're daughter would have plenty of dance studios to choose from. Here's the ones that I could think of...
The Dance Space - Highland Village
Ballet Conservatory - Highland Village
Turning Pointe - Bartonville
Dance Reflections - Flower Mound
LifeSong - Grapevine

I've had experience with both LifeSong and The Dance Space but I can't speak about advanced classes as my daughter is at the very beginning of her dance career - she's 3yo. It wouldn't hurt to possibly call the dance departments at University of North Texas, TWU, TCU or SMU. You could ask them about studios in the area that offer more of the advanced level classes as I'm sure quite a few of their students come from the area or even teach at some local studios.

[kacvb1974]

Way back in the day I trained under Lyndette Bader who is now the principal here: Texas Ballet Theater School -Dallas Campus (http://www.texasballettheater.org/tbtschool/TexasBalletTheaterSchool-DallasCampus.htm - broken link) It was rigorous 4X a week R.A.D. training, and this was even before I was en pointe... so it definitely qualifies as serious. LOL, perhaps a bit too serious as the R.A.D. program is graded with an annual exam. But there are many great studios around, as pfw says. You shouldn't have any problems finding a place to fit in--at any skill level. At an advanced level, some of the better studios will require a placement audition and some accept very few new students. The standard stuff.

I've also heard good things about this place
Royale Ballet & All That Jazz - Home

And an early "Welcome to town", too.

[skyblu]

My sister used to dance professionally for many years, now she is Rehearsal Director for a company in Colorado. She said some of her best training in Dallas came from (Kathy) Chamberlain's if it is still around, and then she attended Booker T. Washington/Arts Magnet High School. She was able to go to New York and dance professionally after that. Also, I've heard from others that Tuzer (sp.?)Ballet which I think is in Plano or Richardson is very good.

[skyblu]

It's now called Chamberlain School of Performing Arts in Plano and Tuzer is now called Tuzer Dance in Richardson. I think she'll get what she's looking for at Chamberlain's. Advanced and Intermediate classes are by audition there, so they're pretty serious at that level. Best wishes to her--it a long, hard road, but extremely rewarding I understand.