The Academy of Dance Arts

Review: Please do NOT send your children to this studio! The owner/only teacher is the most unprofessional dance teacher/owner I have ever met!! Not only did she openly admit to me that one of the worst behaved students in the class had a solo because "her grandmother paid for a solo", but she was very clear that that's how she runs her business. Instead of hiring another certified teacher to substitute for her while she had a medical procedure done, she just had a dance mom fill in for her. She openly insults the students.The final straw for me was embarrassing my child and when confronted about it she began screaming at me using completely inappropriate language. Sadly this happened in the presence of one of her students. When I pointed out the inappropriateness of such language in the presence of a child she stated that she's (referring to the child) heard it from her before. Really?!!! Completely unprofessional!Desired Settlement: I would like the recital/costume fees and the tuition for the weeks that the teacher was not present to teach refunded to me.

Business

Response:

Below is a chronology of events regarding the referenced complaint:• January 2015, complainant enrolled her child in a group class at the Academy of Dance Arts, after her child’s former dance studio closed business.• February 2015, complainant suggested that I hire her child’s former dance studio instructor. I refused, as I am the owner instructor at my small studio.• March - April 2015, despite the fact that the referenced complaint states problem occurred on February 2, complainant continued to bring her child to my dance studio until mid-May, and paid for the lessons and recital costumes. We communicated amicably, both in person, and via text messages on class schedules, etc.• May 17, 2015, complainant interjected herself into my annual dance recital group photo session.• May 18, 2015, complainant interrupted my last class, a private lesson for the student she references in her statement. Complainants interrogation of me and my business practices ensued in front of the private student, through the end of the lesson time, and subsequently into the parking lot where I was attempting to leave. The parent of the private student waited until I left the studio, then did likewise. The above referenced Revdex.com complaint, and multiple website posts ensued in the following days.• May 19, 2015, in a moment of generousness and always aiming to please my customers, offered complainant a full refund of all lessons and costumes, but she did not accept it.My studio offers group, duet, and private lessons for different fees. When a parent requests a solo in the annual recital, that requires a private lesson. Solos are normally requested at the start of the dance year, which starts in September and ends with an annual recital the following June.| very seldom need a substitute teacher, but if I do, I utilize my adult students with significant past dance experience. Due to a surgery this spring, I did utilize a former student of 20 years, for several times. This teacher also has a young child in the studio, and is the daughter and granddaughter of a prominent Santa Maria family, whom I have known all my life.In summary, my reputation as a dance instructor is unblemished, and l and my studio have agreat reputation in the community. My dance studio has operated in the community for 37 years without a single complaint. Former students now bring their children to me for instruction.V[redacted]Owner/Director Academy of Dance Arts

Consumer

Response:

Review: 10631865

I am rejecting this response because:Below is a response to the business' chronology of events regarding my complaint:• January 2015, complainant enrolled her child in a group class at the Academy of Dance Arts, after her child’s former dance studio closed business. This is true. I confirmed it with the owner/teacher that it would not be a problem for my child to join the class and participate in the recital even though it was late in the season. She assured me that there would be no problem with it. She did inform me of her injury and that she would still be teaching the class, but from the sitting position. I agreed to such terms. • February 2015, complainant suggested that I hire her child’s former dance studio instructor. I refused, as I am the owner instructor at my small studio. Because of her continued issues from her injury and the fact that she had stated that she was the ONLY teacher I made a suggestion of possibly getting some extra help until she was back on her feet. I did offer to get her my child's previous teacher's information if she wanted it. She was polite and said that she wanted to wait and see how things went with her injury. She did NOT refuse. • March - April 2015, despite the fact that the referenced complaint states problem occurred on February 2, complainant continued to bring her child to my dance studio until mid-May, and paid for the lessons and recital costumes. We communicated amicably, both in person, and via text messages on class schedules, etc.When my child began classes at this studio in January the owner/teacher pressured me for a commitment to the June recital. She stated that the costumes would need to be ordered ASAP if they were to be there in time for the pictures before the recital. So I made the commitment. Yes, I paid her tuition and costume fees on time every month because I believe that is the respectable way to handle business. My only complaints during this time were the fact that another parent was teaching the classes that the owner/teacher claimed to be the ONLY teacher for and that the student that was given a solo was very disruptive in class and yet still had a solo. The previous studios I have taken my child to offer solos as rewards for hard work and good behavior. The fact that this was offered as a private lesson was NOT disclosed to me. Instead she stated that the student's grandmother paid for a solo and that that is just how she runs her business. At this point I was shocked, but decided to keep my commitment as an example to my child, not fully knowing at the time the kind of person this owner/teacher truly is. • May 17, 2015, complainant interjected herself into my annual dance recital group photo session.I did NOT interject myself into anything! There were two other mothers helping with the set up as the owner/teacher sat in a chair verbally posing the children while all the other parents and students watched. When I realized that the "professional" recital pictures that I was supposed to pay for were being taken be the owner/teacher from a sitting position I was very confused. I am actually a photographer myself. While we watched her go round and round trying to get a certain pose to work I realized that one simple change would make the pose complete. I simply made one suggestion, that the child in the center kneel. In front of all the other parents and students she yelled, "No comments from the peanut gallery! I want it how I want it!" I very clearly got her message and did not say another word. I backed up and waited until it was my child's turn. When it was my child's turn, as a doting parent like all the other parents, I snapped my own pictures. The owner/teacher again in front of everyone made the comment "it's a good thing it's not five years ago!" Again, this being a new studio for me and child I did not know any of the procedures of picture day. All I was told was when to be at the studio and which costume was first. Nothing about how it was run or who was photographing. I then backed up and began talking to another parent about dance. I answered a question that the other parent asked me with, "I do not know how this studio works, but the last studio we were in the teacher did not allow her students to do pointe until they were 12 or 13. Because she said that it could harm their development." The owner/teacher completely interrupted the conversation, again in front of everyone, and stated, "Well I've been on pointe since I was six and I'm just fine!" I finally just stopped talking all together and waited for my child to be done. My child is very used to having her picture taken and is very cooperative, but was completely mortified when the owner/teacher told her to do a specific dance pose for her picture that she did NOT know because the teacher had NOT taught her this pose yet. Because the owner/teacher was incapacitated to actually show my child the pose she wanted she just kept embarrassing her in front of everyone. To the point where two of the older students jumped in to help my child. When my child was finished with her pictures, I asked when we were supposed to order and pay for these pictures because the owner/teacher did no answer another parent said that I should bring the payment in the next day. Which I did. • May 18, 2015, complainant interrupted my last class, a private lesson for the student she references in her statement. Complainants interrogation of me and my business practices ensued in front of the private student, through the end of the lesson time, and subsequently into the parking lot where I was attempting to leave. The parent of the private student waited until I left the studio, then did likewise. The above referenced Revdex.com complaint, and multiple website posts ensued in the following days.I went to ask about paying for the pictures. The owner/teacher didn't seem to have any problem talking to me when I was asking about paying her. However, when I asked if it was a requirement to purchase the pictures she instantly became very hostile. She stated that if I wanted my child in the recital that I would have to get the pictures. When I questioned that she then changed her statement into a question as to why I did not want to purchase recital pictures. I responded that I did not care for them and I also didn't care for the rude way that she had treated me in the presence of all the other parents and students. I asked if I has somehow offended her because I could not understand why she had been so rude to me. She instantly stood up and said that she didn't care for my "interrupting" her photo session. I apologized for offending her repeatedly. I stated that I was just frustrated with all the things that kept happening such as how rude she was, how she embarrassed my child, and the fact that on more than one occasion she was NOT even present for my child's lessons and did not bother to let me know that she would not be teaching that day. She then proceeded to tell me how this is her business and she will run it however she sees fit. That it was not her "f[redacted]ing fault" that she was injured. I was completely appalled by her vulgar language in the presence of her student. When I pointed out how inappropriate her language was she stated ,"it's nothing she hasn't heard from me before!" I didn't even know how to respond to that. I apologized to her yet again and to the student. I started to leave because I could see that this was going nowhere and was completely inappropriate. Her husband (I think that is who he was) came in and said that the bottom line was would my child still be participating in the recital. I said that I had made that commitment and really wanoted to fulfill it but this was unacceptable. As I was leaving she followed me out stating that out of the 42 other parents I was "the ONLY one b[redacted]ing about anything!" I was shocked and appalled! I left before she did. I did contact the Revdex.com, leave reviews on three websites, and post on my personal Facebook page about this business. Not to do anything, but warn other parents. If I had known or was able to read a warning about the type of business owner this individual is I would have NEVER allowed her to teach my child! • May 19, 2015, in a moment of generousness and always aiming to please my customers, offered complainant a full refund of all lessons and costumes, but she did not accept it.This "generousness" was presented to me by a call from her lawyer offering me the refund IF I signed a legally binding contract that would not allow me to speak of my experience. If I did, I would risk being sued. As I stated before I am only warning other parents. I never intended to get my money back, it would be nice, but not the point. My studio offers group, duet, and private lessons for different fees. When a parent requests a solo in the annual recital, that requires a private lesson. Solos are normally requested at the start of the dance year, which starts in September and ends with an annual recital the following June.This was NEVER stated to me.| very seldom need a substitute teacher, but if I do, I utilize my adult students with significant past dance experience. Due to a surgery this spring, I did utilize a former student of 20 years, for several times. This teacher also has a young child in the studio, and is the daughter and granddaughter of a prominent Santa Maria family, whom I have known all my life.From the very beginning she claimed to be the ONLY teacher. Why would I be comfortable having another mom teach my child when she is not listed as a teacher? It doesn't matter how prominent her family is, she is NOT the teacher. In summary, my reputation as a dance instructor is unblemished, and l and my studio have a great reputation in the community. My dance studio has operated in the community for 37 years without a single complaint. Former students now bring their children to me for instruction.The reputation of this business is very blemished to me and the other parents that have seen the unprofessional manner in which this business is run. In the community, this business is barely recognized. Most people in the community have never heard of it. I feel sad for the students that are still there. They have such great potential, but are not being taught. Instead, they're parents are paying for them to hear profanity and be belittled.

Regards,

D[redacted]