Ravel Dance Studio & Boutique

My daughter has attended Ravel since she was 5. I will say that having also taken ballet, I was at first concerned, during the recital, the 5 year olds were doing what looked like beauty pageant performances and watching the teacher while they «performed» on stage. But then my daughter was invited to join the excellerated class, we have been with Ravel since. The owners are two women, Ms. Janet and Ms. Ursula, they are warm and kind and really care about these kids. My daughter takes ballet and jazz and loves it. The group of girls she is with are wonderful and they all work well together, I have been amazed at every performance. I will tell you that this school is not at all cheap. The school is non for profit. You pay for classes, costumes and performance tickets, shoes etc, but it is worth it for the discipline and love of dance that will be instilled in your daughter (or son-​I hope-​they need more boys at that school!)
Also, if your child is invited into the excellerated classes, expect to have to teach your young child about commitment. This school is NOT for the flaky child or parent. Saturday morning classes means skipping possible birthday parties and friday night sleepovers, your child is expected to attend class and commit to her lessons.
Plus: Having been through dance school and what it can do to body image, Ravel is not one of those schools that will insist that young dancers «lose weight» or put them on pointe before their time. A lot of the girls in the school are quite voluptous dancers with healthy bodies which is refreshing and Ravel really prepares these girls for the rigours of pointe by conditioning their feet and ankles. One school I visited (I wont name names) had a very young girl going on pointe-​she was at least 7. That same school had a mom complain that they told her tween to lose weight. Not at all good.