The S.P.A.C.E.

My daughter just finished her first year of musical theatre at the SPACE and had a wonderful experience. Linette is firm, yet kind which I appreciated. The dress rehearsal for the end of year show happened to be on my daughter's birthday and Linette did a lovely job making my daughter feel special at rehearsal, and put on a happy birthday song by new kids on the block. We initially signed up for only half a year to test it out, but my daughter enjoyed it so much she decided to stay for the full year. She got great experience learning some foundational dance, some singing and what she liked best was the acting and getting a real script. We liked the diversity of the musical theatre class. I was particularly impressed by the quality and polish of the end of year show, which was at a professional theatre with lighting, music, sets etc. The SPACE also attempts to foster a sense of community - inviting students to perform at various local parades and other events if they want to opt in. Class sizes are smaller than we've experienced at other studios which we also liked and it means you get to know the parents as well. Logistically, it's also well situated - a few doors down from Red Rocket, you can relax with a latte while waiting for class to be over! In reading previous reviews there was a mention of hidden costs. I didn't experience any and in fact was impressed by the fact that when we signed up, Linette pulled out a box of jazz shoes that people had donated to see if my daughter fit into any of them (which she would have let us have for free) before fitting her for new ones. Also, my daughter has danced at other studios before and parents were always asked to purchase the end of year costume and the price at the SPACE is on par with what we've experienced in the past. For young children, I find they like to play in the costumes after the show is over, so it's nice to own them vs. having to give them back - plus, it's a keepsake for future. All in all it was a great experience for our first year at SPACE and we are looking forward to next year!

Amina malden my granddaughter use to attend this acting school it was okay I guess but Lynette has a very rude towards the children sometimes the acting skills that she would teach didn’t really help I mean she didn’t really teach anything 💯 Just being honest!

The staff is incredibly friendly and supportive, you get to train with working industry professionals, which is an AMAZING opportunity, the classes push you but also are really fun. I started pointe at The SPACE last year and have taken Cecchetti exams for ballet and Stelio exams for jazz. I have been accepted to an extremely competitive arts school for dance, and the only place I have ever trained to dance is The SPACE. There are some negative reviews on here, but I have no idea what they are talking about, it’s like they’re describing a different studio. I have thoroughly enjoyed all 12 years of my training at The SPACE and I can’t wait to continue.

The space where the kids do the dance is very small. If they want to go to the toilet, the stairs are narrow and it’s very messy going there. The waiting area is very crowded. The owner isn’t friendly at all.

Petty, over-priced, owner picks favourites to the point where it is damaging for kid's self esteem. Took dance lessons here for 5 years with my siblings, spent thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars, danced for the studio's company (which exists only to promo the studio via free advertising) for free for years. Since this studio only offers one jazz class and one ballet class for EVERYONE between the ages of like, 12-18, I started taking classes at a different studio in order to prepare for an audition for an arts-based high school, while continuing my classes at the S.P.A.C.E. and continuing to provide free advertising for the studio via it's dance company. When my mother asked the owner, Linette, if she could write a letter of recommendation for my audition, seeing as she was my first dance teacher, only dance teacher for 4 years, and we had sunk thousands of hours of time and dollars into her studio, Linette flat-out refused because her studio wasn't the only one we were practicing at anymore, and instead told us to get a letter from the new studio where I had been training for less than a month. Ironically, my friend was auditioning for the same school, and Linette not only wrote her a letter, but choreographed her entire audition routine. When I was accepted into the dance school and attended the following year, I learned that all of the ballet technique taught at the S.P.A.C.E was not only incorrect, but had been causing damage to my ankles. I spent my time in arts school un-learning and re-learning the proper technique. If you're looking for a reputable studio in the east end that teaches RAD ballet technique (the S.P.A.C.E doesn't follow any one school of ballet, so it is impossible to progress through RAD levels), I recommend taking classes at The School of CCDT in Cabbagetown. Furthermore, there are many hidden costs associated with the S.P.A.C.E. For the year-end show every year, Linette forces every student to buy their costumes, spending hundreds of dollars on one-time-use costumes, whereas every other studio I have attended in Toronto rents their year-end showcase costumes at no costs to the students. If you are trying to get the best bang for your buck, learn proper ballet technique, take classes in multiple levels, and progress as an artist, avoid this studio and check out 509 Parliament instead.