The Ballet Barre Dance Academy

My daughter attended Summer Camp at the Ballet Barre 2 years ago (2010). By the end of the Summer, I was unhappy due to the fact that the music/​costumes/​dance routines were not age-​appropriate and the program lacked basic organization. I declined to return for individual classes. The Ballet Barre subsequently closed (most likely due to the circumstances described in the other reviews — much of which I was fortunate not to have experienced).
NEW OWNERSHIP…
At the beginning of Summer 2012, the Ballet Barre was taken over by new owners. While the «Ballet Barre» header remains, it is now Miss Melodee Studios. After a lengthy discussion with the new Owner/​Artistic Director, Melodee Bridges, I enrolled my 6yr old and 3yr old for Summer camp. I am extremely pleased with the program and my children love it. See my review of Miss Melodee Studios for more details. I felt compelled to post something here because I almost didn’t try the new studio after reading the Ballet Barre reviews. I can honestly say that the prior complaints no longer exist.

NOW UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP! NOW A THOUSAND TIMES BETTER!!! The name of the studio will soon be changed to MISS MELODEE STUDIOS. Actress/​Singer/​Songwriter/​Dancer Miss Melodee, an absolutely FANTASTIC dance and musical theatre teacher who taught at another studio in the San Fernando Valley, bought the Ballet Barre Dance Academy in 2012, and will be changing the name to Miss Melodee Studios. Miss Melodee is a sweetheart, has a heart of gold, and is like a Disney Princess come to life. She has a magical way with children and gets the absolute most out of them. She is NOT out just for the money like the previous ownership. She does this with love in her heart for all the children. My daughter recently enrolled in Miss Melodee’s Summer Musical Theatre Camp, and by the end of the one week program, she and her classmates learned so much that they put on a spectacular musical for us, they performed «A Chorus Line» and they were wonderful! Miss Melodee brought in a choreographer and musical theatre actress from New York who actually worked on Broadway alongside the likes of Patty Lapone and Catherine Zeta-​Jones, and performed the same magic that she performed on Broadway with my child and the other children! My quiet little daughter actually got the nerve to sing a powerful solo in the musical thanks to Miss Melodee and this wonderful Broadway theatre veteran. I strongly recommend MISS MELODEE STUDIOS to everyone!

Terrible, dishonest, dirty, my daughter couldn’t use the bathroom it was so dirty. Bad customer service. They charge your card and then close for the summer. Will never go back. Overpriced and short classes, no talent

My 5 year old daughter took ballet lessons for a month and she seemed to like it because she was in a class with two of her friends. However, I don’t think she learned any proper ballet steps. I gave this place 2 stars because they take your credit card information and run the credit card automatically every month. We told them ahead of time that we were going to be of town for 2 weeks straight so that we would not be coming to classes for that month and they automatically ran the credit card through. Then I stopped bringing my daughter and they still ran the credit card! It has taken them 4 months to credit my account and they have only successfully credited for one month’s worth of services. I’m still going after them for the other month that was charged erroneously. The manager at the site said that the owner is hard to get a hold of and the owner is the only one that can approve a refund. It is been a headache chasing after them for MY money! I’m sure there are other places that I can spend my money on than this place which clearly does not put the customers first.

This studio is absolutely adorable! We’ve been to several different dance schools and this is by far the best. The environment is so warm and welcoming and the teachers are amazing. They are all so kind, patient, and enthusiastic about dance. My daughter can’t get enough of this place and asks to come everyday! Can’t wait to put my younger one in the mommy and me ballet classes! I highly recommend the Ballet Barre for all parents looking for a great studio, with great instructors and great classes!

My daughter has been going to classes here for about a year. The teachers are ok, not the best instructors I’ve seen. They recently had a recital where parents had the option to purchase a dvd for 35.00. I thought this was a great idea, but trying to get the DVD is nearly impossible. I would think that they could at least mail it out to you for less than a dollar, but that would be asking too much, I suppose. Since the studio is closed for the summer there was only one saturday to pick up the dvd between a 4 hour time slot. I spoke to the owner myself on arranging a time to pick up the dvd. She said she was not going to be available until September and that picking it up was my only option, when it was convenient for her. I felt that this business owner really could care less about my business. I still haven’t gotten my dvd, but I will be sending my daughter somewhere else. I know plenty of places that will provide more customer service and appreciate customers better.