A welcome change from our last Studio!
Our daughter danced from age 3 at another local studio. She was asked to be on their competitive team, and danced quite a bit with them. She is not the strongest dancer in the group and felt repeatedly belittled...being stuck only in the back, not pushed to advance, and generally spoken to like someone that didn't matter. At one competition, another girl forgot her poms. My poor kid was singled out and asked to give her Poms to the girl who forgot them, who was a stronger dancer. That is pretty indicative of the culture at that studio. This actually was how many girls felt. On top of that, it was clear when we went to competitions that the old studio wasn't teaching good technique and their choreography was stale and unimaginative. After six years there, we decided to leave.
We spent the months of the following summer with my daughter doing intensives, camps and tryouts at different area studios and talking to the leadership at each to try to gauge culture. Elite was the first studio we tried, and after attending several other studios, when it came time for us to choose, both my daughter and I were certain Elite was where she should be. My daughter did not make the competitive team at Elite, but has kept that as a goal to push her to advance. This last year she has grown immeasurably, both as a dancer and as a human.
While our kiddo loves all her instructors, she adores Miss Kayla, who teaches several of the classes she takes. Our daughter decided to participate in their Dare To Dance for a Difference Showcase (which benefits their scholarship fund and provides financial support to local schools...what other studio does that?!). Before getting to Elite, our daughter didn't have much in her dance "tool box" and certainly not the confidence to want to be on stage in a solo. There had been no emphasis on dance curriculum or self-expression/improvisation at her previous studio. Now, she was able to approach this showcase with ideas of her own, and the skills she needed to create and perform a routine that showed who she is. She met with Miss Kayla to clean up her ideas and add to them. We can't wait to see her perform this on stage! My husband commented after seeing the Spring Showcase, that our girl looked the happiest she has ever been, beaming on stage and loving every minute, while clearly showing off some newfound technique.
Elite's proposed mission is to develop great humans, above all else, while teaching solid technique and self-expression. The greatest testament to this that I can think of came last week. My kid came home from a private with Miss Kayla and said, "You know...when I am around Miss Kayla, I feel really cared for." It is clear to me that the owner of this studio has successfully created a culture of love, support, quality, discipline and respect. While our daughter may never be a prima ballerina or star of the show, she is becoming the star of her own life, and that's all we ever wanted. Thank you, Elite!