Reviews of Theatre Dance Centre (Dance School)

Margaret Camara

I'm surprised to be the 1st to leave a Review. After having studies many years at different school, including RWB, Contemporary Dancers, Mireille Grandpierre and more .. Kathleen is a wonderful teacher. Her classes are technical and friendly with just enough strictness to inspire betterment. I will recommend Theatre Dance to anyone seeking ballet (and more). Looking forward to other classes (choreography, acting)

Kristin

I started taking ballet at Theatre Dance last year after 20 years away from dancing. I was out of shape and couldn't remember any of the steps. Kathleen is very patient and since the beginning I've felt welcome and safe. If you don't understand, she'll explain it again. She makes corrections verbally, and if you're okay with it she makes physical adjustments. I take 2-4 classes a week and have progressed significantly. The classes are the same format and technique I learned as a child at dance schools in the East and I live the consistency. She focuses on a good foundation, and having fun while you build on what you've already learned. She pushes you to acceptable limits and opens your mind to new possibilities (who knew I could lift my leg that high??) Safety is always a concern, and she says multiple times every class to modify the exercises if you have an injury (which is especially important as we age and heal slower!) Kathleen always ensures we are thoroughly warmed up before doing anything strenuous, especially jumps. The new jazz class for adults is a ton of fun! With a mix of new, seasoned, and in-between dancers, we all have fun in a safe environment. The class includes warmups, stretches, across the floor practice, and then we learn a routine. The music is upbeat and suits the class very well. I've watched the end of a few children's classes before mine start. The children are having a grand time and all have smiles on their faces when they leave. She incorporates fun dressup/props and they absolutely love it. I love Kathleen's creativity and positive attitude!

Chris Shewel (KrudlerTheHorse)

I attended the free introductory Jazz class and it became apparent within literally minutes that the "instructor" Kathleen is either not skilled enough and/or not qualified enough to teach dance movements, or any kind of stretching/exercise. She gave us almost no verbal instruction and told us to mimic her. What she did instruct the class to do through her movements, started with a series of random neck twists and whips which she desribed as "isolations". These kinds of movements were not strung together in any semblance of a routine, and were dangerous... They strained knees, neck, shoulder and spine, and to my knowledge would not be recommended by any qualified physical therapist or trainer. From that "warmup" we randomly flopped around with her as she jabbed her arms in different directions and did angled leg thrusts with pointed toes, while for some reason we were being asked to wiggle just the upper part of our rib cages back and forth. The words "What about this qualifies as a dance class?" echoed in my mind. I left after 10 minutes. My ex wife was a semi-professional dancer that studied extensively with world-class dancers and Masters across North America, in Montreal, and even in Turkey. I personally have attended wide variety of different classes I will generalize using the term "graceful body movement classes". I know what dance is, and what dance isn't. And whatever Kathleen did in that room was most certainly not dance in my view. A completely unpleasant experience and waste of time.

Owen Bradshaw

Our kids have been involved at Theatre Dance Centre for several years now. They have been involved in musical theatre productions and dance classes. The instruction is top notch, but my appreciation for TDC goes well beyond excellent instruction. Over the last year and a half TDC has been a safe space when in-person learning has been possible and something our kids have looked forward to every week even when classes shifted online. The efforts made by Kathleen and her instructors to care for kids, to help them find joy in the midst of a pandemic, and to teach them have been nothing short of remarkable. Our kids can’t wait for the 2021/2022 season to start!

Lorenz Brucal

Safe and fun environment! Great place to have your kids take dance classes and be in theatre even if you think you're too old.

Carolyn Minor

My children have had many positive learning experiences and theatre productions here. I would not send them anywhere else.