Will the show go on?

I am so sorry to hear about this, as a studio owner I do feel for these children, if there is anything we can do to help, please just contact us. We are looking to see if we have any space for them to practice in. I have a few rooms and weekends available. Our recital is already set, if I could work some of the kids In I will try. Or if we can get contact St. Peters City Hall they have an auditorium, that maybe they will let you use. Pleaes don’t hesitate and give us a call and we will try to help you as much as we can.

Concerned Studio Owner
Jackie Williams
Dance Connection PAC

I am so sorry to hear that this has happened. As a dance teacher, who does not have a studio at this time, because I just moved here, I would love to help you out! Please let me know if I can step in as a teacher to this girls and get some fundraisers going to make up for some of the lost money. I know dance is an important thing in these girls lives, and it is expensive for the parents. I would love to help you in anyway that I can. Please let me know what I can do for you!

I think that dance/stage moms are always going to be part of the dance world and yes, sometimes their behavior can take the fun out of dance. That’s just part of the entertainment industry.

However, in response to “I stopped taking my daughter when I had to spend $100 on recital costume and do her hair and make-up when she was three years old.” I am so sick of hearing people say things like this. You NEVER heard people complain about costumes, hair and make-up when I was a student. What did you expect? That is part of being in the dance world. You can’t expect to be allowed to participate in soccer playoffs without the proper gear, correct? Costumes, make-up, etc are part of the “gear” that goes along with being a dancer in most studios…..even if the dancer is three years old.

Not to mention, there are plenty of fantastic studios in the St Louis area that don’t ask you to pay for costumes and they also don’t have recitals, therefore….no hair and make-up required. Parents need to do their research and ask questions before signing their child up for dance classes to make sure they agree with that studio’s mission and policies. I would even try checking with the Better Business Bureau to find out if there have been any complaints. Ask other people that have children that dance how they like their current dance school. If you don’t do the leg work from the get go to make sure that particular studio is right for you and your family then you can only blame yourself for being shocked by that studio’s requirements.

My studio advises parents at the time of registration of the approximate costumes costs for the year (which can vary greatly depending on how many numbers the child is in). Also, parents receive and sign policy sheets at the time of registration that lists all of the other expectations/requirements. I agree that costumes are expensive (and they keep climbing like everything else these days). I’m sure there are some, but I personally don’t know of any studios that profit from the costume orders. I know that at my studio, we can only add enough to cover shipping costs as the wholesale costs are already so high.

There is a studio for everyone out there, but you have to do your research before you sign up.

I am owner of Studio J located at 2091 suite B Old Hwy 94 S. If we can help you in anyway, please contact me at 636-939-0499. We will be open this Saturday and would be happy to have your dancers join us. We also compete and are getting ready for a competition next weekend. I would be happy to speak to you and work out class time for the dancers.

Jane Wilson

To the parents of Dance 4 Life, We are currently working with several of your instructors and have rescheduled many of your classes at our dance studio off Mid RIvers Mall Drive. We are activley trying to contact everyone and we have secured a date and a location for your recital.
Please call our office at 636-970-3203 or 636-279-2790 for more information. Thank you Kathy Martinez Owner - St. Peters Academy of Dance

I have three children who dance at St. Peters Academy of Dance — one girl, two boys. Their levels of achievement are varied but I just love to watch them up on stage. I marvel at the things they can do and the self assurance that they have developed from dancing.

I would encourage anyone looking for a new dance studio to contact Kathy Martinez the owner of St. Peters Academy of Dance. We’ve been with the studio for 13 years now and my kids consider it their home away from home. Kathy makes every effort to keep the price of costumes reasonable and more than that…she makes sure that the costumes are age appropriate and that the dances are more than the bump and grind gyrations that I’ve seen from several other studios.

If your only goal is to win and to win big, then maybe it’s not the studio for you. Don’t get me wrong, our kids like to win and they do win. We’ve got some great dancers at the studio, but the emphasis is on doing your best and having fun.

We here at STAGES ST. LOUIS are also very sorry to hear about this turn of events. Please let us know if we can do anything. We have studio space that could be available and we would be happy to try to match some teachers from our dance and musical theatre programs up with students in need of instruction. The STAGES Performing Arts Academy is located in Chesterfield on the property of Chesterfield Mall, our phone number is 636 530 5959.

Rob Grumich, Director of Education, STAGES ST. LOUIS

My name is Laurie Stream and I am a studio owner in Kirkwood. I was so upset to hear what happened and would LOVE to help out if I could. I am more than willing to lend you my studio for classes and also my teaching assistance. I’m sure I can find the music the kids were using for their routines. I have a stage already rented if you want to have your recital in kirkwood. If someone would please call me (314) 822-3623 I’m sure we could get going by this weekend so the kids won’t miss a beat.

The Corral Performing Arts Center is offering their dance studio FREE OF CHARGE to these dancers so they can finish rehearsals towards the end of year recital. We are in the front corner of the same building where Dance 4 Life is located. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you, Steve Dettmers Owner - The Corral Performing Arts Center. 636-928-6300 http://www.inthecorral.com

My daughter is 4 years old and dances at Dance4Life. This is the first I have heard of this closing. I’m just appauled! She loves her dance class so much, and we already spent money on the dance recital tickets and her costume. I have no idea how to go about getting this money back. I am just susprised that the closing couldn’t just wait another month to let these girls dance. I can’t imagine having to tell her that she can’t dance anymore. She was so proud showing me her little routine, and I was looking so forward to seeing it. Especially since we are a bit strapped financially, but I danced growing up, and wanted her to get to dance as well, and even though the tuition went up this year and was hard for us to come up with, I continued to pay it for her. A little warning would’ve been nice. If any Dance4Life Mom reads this, please don’t forget about the little ones’ class if you are able to go on with a recital. They may not compete but they have worked hard this year too. i have contacted St. Peters Academy of Dance to ask if her class will be resuming in any way. is there a way to get the lists of all the students so that none are left out?