North Central Ballet

My daughter was at NCB for 10 yrs, as an apprentice & company. We’ve had good memories & friends but I feel a responsibility to share honest concerns for other families considering NCB. Communication is an issue. Rehearsal schedules change or are last minute — sometimes after announced studio closures. In example, Memorial Day weekend a closure was announced, the next day a rehearsal was announced. Thanksgiving week & Spring Break families need to stay flexible in case of late information. Missing last-minute rehearsals, even for valid reasons, reflects poorly on dancers. Paid class time is used as rehearsals — limiting instruction or technical development. When my daughter asked for feedback to improve, the response was vague & unhelpful: “You know what you have to do.” A staff member has commented to young girls about their weight, including things like “I can see your lunch in your tummy” directed at healthy 5–10 year olds. Dancers feel unable to speak up for fear of being treated differently. The fear is not unfounded. After receiving permission for some missed dates, my daughter was removed from a show without discussion. This happened after we had paid costume fees, met ticket sale quotas, & fulfilled other financial obligations. This is not the first time she was removed from the cast with no chance to talk through the situation or make it right & no explanation for removal but others allowed to continue. There seems to be a yearly pattern where 1 or 2 girls find themselves “on the outside,” without explanation, while others are given more grace. Financial: fees are a part of ballet. I take issue with the messaging. The studio markets performances to the girls as “professional productions,” but only the director is professional. The students pay to audition, perform, rent costumes, sell tickets, & solicit or pay for program ads — all under the guise of participating in a professional company. That is fine, but it should be communicated honestly. Ultimately, my daughter’s love of dance remains, but her confidence was impacted. She tried to improve & prepare for specific roles, asked for coaching & received little support, only abrupt decisions with “there’s nothing to talk about”. To be fair, NCB is a positive studio for many dancers. But if you choose NCB, family often comes second, you get last-minute decisions, & there’s a style that can feel punitive, inconsistent, & unaccountable. If your dancer wants constructive coaching, especially in the upper levels, I’d recommend researching more. Update after owner's reply... I can appreciate the studio’s reply, I stand by my claims. This is public because private requests were met with “no discussion”. This is not a quick decision & we talked with other families with similar experiences. I’m disheartened that the director would claim “limitations” after years of positive feedback — but it supports my belief that she’d landed on the wrong side of the director with no way to recover. Absences were discussed in advance & my daughter felt she had the approval. Importantly, my daughter was removed from the show before those absences occurred. When we tried to accommodate rehearsals, we were told “the decision is final, there is nothing to discuss.” It made no sense to attend future rehearsals. As for communication, the examples are visible on the studio’s private Facebook group. The studio communicates to dancers that performances are “professional shows.” That language is visible on the Nutcracker Facebook posts. I don’t dispute the existence of guest artists or deny that many families accept the structure. We always paid the fees. I question the messaging when dancers fund so much. Lastly, no complaint about tuition or intensives. Pointing out fees are due regardless of participation. I stand by my post & intent to share it: honest feedback so others can make informed decisions. The studio has been a positive experience for many, but our experience deserves to be heard without being reframed as a refusal to accept accountability.

Our daughter has been with Les and his teaching team for 7 years and it has been great. Watching her grow as a ballet dancer with this school has been beautiful. Its a family orientated school and everyone gets involved and lends a hand. Parents and students make new friends. The nutcracker show is the highlight of the school's performance and really boosts the joys of Christmas. They also do many other shows. Les and his team of teachers and volunteers do a wonderful job.

North Central Ballet has been such a loving, supportive dance family for my daughter! We moved to the area a couple of years back and my daughter was so sad to be leaving her other studio, but as soon as she started at NCB, she felt right at home immediately and has grown so much both technically and artistically! If you are looking for a ballet home, definitely give North Central Ballet a try!