Reviews of Port Perry Dance Academy (Dance School)

Lise Deschenes

The dance instructors and the young dancers helpers are always helpful. Helping young dancers develop their strengths/ motor skills and flexibility for dance.

Jillian Edwards

I love this studio for several reasons. The owners of the studio are wonderful, approachable and have the kids interest at heart. The instructors have great skill and an energetic, positive demeanour, something that has helped my girls flourish and strive to be better dancers. I feel a sense of community at this studio and the moms there are always so helpful and friendly. Highly recommend this studio!

Cynthia Bartlett

NOTE: This review is related to the SR. Competitive Team/Program experiences. Not the Recreational program. If this review was based solely on dance training at PPDA, it would be 5 Stars. Amazing top-level training is taught here in all disciplines of Dance. Especially by Ms. C. We came to PPDA in 2018 after making a difficult decision to leave our York Region Dance Studio home after 16 yrs. My 15 yr. old daughter needed higher level training and a new home for the last 2 years of Studio Dance. We felt like we had indeed found a great home and exactly what my daughter needed. Supportive team mates and excellent training. We supported every Team activity and loved feeling like we belonged. The Grey Team (SR) was amazing and pushed my daughter to be her best and beyond. The Grey Team won many awards together and my daughter did as well as a soloist. Being awarded top scores, multiple overall soloists' placements and awards for the Team at every competition. When COVID hit, her last year of dance was cut short. Like everyone else in the world, everything changed, uncertainty was everywhere, we were exploring what to do with this odd year, including the opportunity to dance another year. Imagine our shock when we were TOLD my daughters team position had been GIVEN to someone else for the 2020-2021 season. GIVEN to someone else, without even asking, talking or consulting with us first. How does this happen? Stories/rumors were told to the team members and circulating through the parent group that obviously got back to us. None of them true. I sent emails out to correct the false information spreading, but the girls and parents were silent. They were told to be quiet and not discuss. Even during the dance year, more stories/rumors were said about my daughter, again all false. Truly disgusting and shows a lack of consciousness to whoever was telling these lies. The studio directors did NOTHING to correct or stop these stories. They instead allowed a toxicity to build. A parent with the power of an owner, other parents afraid of parents and repercussions, Team mates told to not support other team mates and peers, for fear of repercussions, and instructors doing the same. Not a healthy studio, truly toxic leadership with David/Lynn and self- proclaimed parent/owner. Wrong life lessons being taught here. We teach our children to stand up for themselves and others that are being wronged, self advocate in life to succeed. Not be silent. Not be bullied. Yes, we could have challenged it more, but honestly, my daughter was sickened, embarrassed and thought her team did not want her, after she was told she had been replaced. My daughters mental health was more important to walk away from any team/studio that would allow/support that behavior by their silence. Was it worth it? -Sibling added to team at the expense of an existing team member. -Self esteem, mental health, confidence and love of dance of my daughter all damaged. -Fractured team, parents and team mates. -Studio reputation -No "family of winners" are actually winners when you stoop this low. Losers cheat to succeed. I sure know that all the damage caused by this, was not worth it.

Sharon Boyle

My daughter has danced at this studio for the last 12 years. I remember the day she started dancing here like it was yesterday. She wanted to dance like the "pink ballerinas" she saw when attending her Kindermusik classes. So, we started out with 1 class per week. Quickly followed a couple of years later with adding more classes to her repertoire. With the encouragement of her teachers and other staff at the studio, her love of dance and confidence in herself has grown to an amazing level. Little did I know that 12 years later, she would be helping these little ballerinas in class. The studio is like her second home - she has grown from a quiet, shy, little girl to a confident, young woman who loves to dance. Thank you to the staff of Port Perry Dance Academy! It truly is "The Place You Start, The Place You Stay".