Cascade Dance Academy

We moved here from California where we had top notch ballet instuction. We weren’t expecting much in our new little suburb town but since some neighbors had good experiences with their very young children we decided to enroll our middle school daughters. I knew within a couple of weeks this studio wasn’t going to work for us. I observed the class on a number of occasions and the focus on technique just isn’t there. Pointe classes are almost laughable. The teacher appeared bored and she must have checked her makeup in the mirror 20 times throughout the lesson. Girls are regularly checking their cell phones during class which is something that was not allowed in our previous studio. The teacher seemed oblivious to what was going on at least a half a dozen times and she certainly wasn’t interested in her students. Parents commented on several occasions that our girls appeared to be «way ahead of this level of pointe» — ya think? The overall feel of the studio is friendly but way too casual and not for the serious dancer. Our girls have been dancing competitively since age 5 and I was shocked to learn CDA does not even have a competitive performance team nor do they compete at Starpower, Starquest, Celebrity, Spotlight or any other nationals. Bizzare! That’s okay if you don’t want to be a competitive dance academy but then you’re really not an academy after all. Why on earth are they charging the same prices that studios who are teaching competitive dance? Maybe they now have performance teams since we left but they definitely wouldn’t stand a chance at competing. We stayed through their one little silly recital and then we moved on to a real dance studio. A nice little place for creative movement, tap and pre pointe. After that, offerings are extremely limited and amteur.

My girls have been attending CDA for several years. Most of their classes are close to 10 children. I find that they are receiving quality instruction from caring teachers. They are given lots of personal attention and are learning in a safe and positive environment. I find the office staff friendly and helpful as well as the teachers. I love watching them develop self confidence as they perform at recitals. The recitals themselves are well run and the dances show off the teachers abilities. I enjoy numbers that my kids aren’t even in which says a lot about the teachers and their great choreography.

I have no idea what Kathleen from Seattle is talking about! CDA is AMAZING! The owners are so good at what they do, all of the instructors are highly trained professionals, and they are GREAT with the kids. Katie, the original owner, was my daughter’s first dance teacher when she was three — and we followed her to Snoqualmie when she opened CDA. She did a great job in opening and running the Academy. Though we miss her, I have to say that Brittany and Kelsey have taken that greatness and built it even more in the past years since they took over ownership. I couldn’t be more happy with the Academy and the instruction that my daughter has received there. She has grown so much in dance, it is her passion in life, and that’s because CDA is what it is. CDA Staff– THANK YOU for doing what you do. My daughter is happiest when she dances, it bring her pure joy! And it bring me pure joy to watch each and every performance. These kids grow in dance more and more every year — it’s beautiful to be a part of it.
Looking forward to many more years with you all!
Kylan and family

The original owner (Katie) was wonderful and incredibly talented. I miss her deeply. Since the new ownership the quality of instructors and overcrowded classrooms left me no choice but to leave this studio after 6 yrs. I feel ever so slighted after giving my business to this studio for 6 yrs only to show up a month after the take over with 18 kids in a class. I don’t think you can provide decent ballet instruction to children in tiny little studio with 18 kids in a class. When I asked the studio why the sudden bump in class ratios, I was told they now allow 18 in a class and will later expand. I waited a good amount of time and nothing changed. It was obvious the new owners (sisters) were clearly in it for one thing; money! My daughter felt as if this studio was family as she had formed some close friendships with the girls at the studio. Suddenly she started to complain after class about the cramped quarters and rude teachers. It was clearly no longer the same studio. We went through one recital with the new owners and due to the poor quality (compared to recitals with Miss Katie) we decided to pull our daughter out. The recital was so amateur it was embarrassing. I was honestly embarrassed for the family and friends I invited to this poor quality recital. There are so many decent dance studios in the area but Cascade Dance Academy is no longer a contender. I would not recommend this studio.

Phenomenal dance center located on Snoqualmie Ridge. Katie and Sean are the owners and are wonderful. Katie’s background of ballet and theatre is a great mix if you daughter or son isn’t sure what type of performing he/​she wants to do. The new larger studio is great — My daughter went there for a few years and absolutely loved it. Great great great!