Garri Dance Studio

09/27/09

My kids are elated!

by Rick G at Citysearch

My kids think they have died and gone to heaven. We just moved out here last year from out of state and thought we were leaving the best studio behind, until we found this place. We felt the same warmth from the staff at GDS as we were used to back home. My son and daughter are both in love with their dance teachers and my wife and I have had the greatest experience with every single person we've dealt with so far at Garri. The whole family is counting down the months until the recital in June. If you are looking for a great dance environment for your young kids to learn dance- look no further.

• Pros: Awesome teachers, great variety, prime location!
• Cons: Wish we had time to do more...

06/01/09

Unimpressed

by Anonymous662 at Citysearch

Teachers don't pay attention to proper form, the classes are crowded so you only dance 3/4 of the time. Not worth the time and the money.

• Cons: Poor teaching , crowded classes

03/12/09

great teachers!

by gypcdancr at Citysearch

We have had our little boy in the studio for just over a year. We are very happy with his progress and he has grown to have a true love of dancing . Sophie is AMAZING! She has an ability to make him believe he can do anything with enough practice. Amanda has been a strict but fun ballet teacher and has pushed him to progress I did not know he had in him. The girls at the front desk ROCK! They are friendly and open to questions.

• Pros: staff
• Cons: no discount for multiple classes

03/12/09

Just Dance! (but not at Garri Dance Studio)

by glico at Citysearch

While the faculty is upbeat and friendly, this dance studio will take every opportunity to weasel extra money from you once you agree to register. First there is the registration fee ($20) to even begin attending classes on a regular basis (This basically pays for the "free" trial session permitted per new customer). Then there is their make-up class policy (please note that the only excusable absence is illness. Therefore, if you injure yourself in or outside of a class, that is no excuse for missing the next class. Try tap dancing on a sprained ankle!! Garri Dance encourages you!!!). Of course you can always make-up a class - but only within 30 days of the missed class and ONLY IF YOU ARE AN ACTIVE STUDENT. So theoretically, Garri Dance can easily make money off of classes you do not attend. It's like a gift card that expires. You pay $100 for a gift card, but if the person does not use it within 30 days, that money is good as gone. Except this is worse. Because at Garri Dance, the expiration date may not apply. YOU MUST BE AN ACTIVE STUDENT within the next 30 days in order to make-up that class. So if you get sick and must miss the last class in February and you have your account on hold for the month of March, you can never technically make-up that class. **Also important to note, if you plan to cancel your class, you must give the studio THIRTY (30) days notice as they charge for the classes automatically through your debit card/checking account at the beginning of each month.** The issue that really made me lose respect for this company however, was the hidden fee associated with the annual dance recital. The dance recital is $125 and includes the costume, alterations, and two complimentary tickets (yeah, the tickets not so free, huh?). However, they tack on this hidden fee for the mandatory dress rehearsal. They charge this as an extra class (because you know, the staff has to be there), but nowhere in the recital packet does it mention this extra fee. The packet denotes the mandatory dress rehearsal, but they do not mention the cost and they do not include this in the recital fee. And they won't charge you until the month of the recital - and at this point, any recital refunds are out of the question. Their shady business practices have turned me off to this studio. Highly NOT recommended!!!

• Pros: Friendly staff
• Cons: Hidden fees, poor class policies

03/10/09

My daughter loves it

by priyabradfield at Citysearch

This is our first year at Garri and my daughter loves going to her ballet and tap class. We will be continuing again next term. I'm looking forward to the end of the year dance recital. And better than that - my daughter is excited about it too!

The staff there are very thoughtful towards the kids. They send holiday cards to them in December, birthday cards during their birthday month. My daughter was excited that her dance teacher remembered her birthday! Its the little things like that that make the difference.

One thing I would mention - on Monday classes, you get a break on the prices due to all the holidays throughout the year that fall on Mondays. We tried that this year, but I think we'll switch to another day next year so that its more consistent for my daughter. But I've never heard of another place that gives you a break because of holidays!

• Pros: Staff attention to kids, teacher enthusiasm
• Cons: Only one tv to view two classes