Reviews of Donita Ballet School (Dance School)

Callie B

Donita ballet school has been my home away from home for almost 30 years. The studio has been for me a place for exercise, training, creative outlet, and a place to see my friends all at once. Donita's teaching is tough and disciplined... She has very high expectations for technique and stage performance, but also fills the class with her love of dance and good humour. Her show is a highlight, a great experience and opportunity to participate in a professional quality production. But what has always set DBS apart from any other school for me was Donita's caring for her students. Over the years she has been a teacher, job reference, advocate, mentor, and friend. She has spent her private time giving to students in need, be it through rides, choreographing and training for school auditions, opening her home if you needed a place to stay, and even at a hospital bedside in a time of need. There honestly is no other studio in Toronto (probably in the whole country) who offers as high a quality training, as beautiful a choreography, or as caring and generous a teacher as Donita Ballet School.

emma hsu

I have been a student at Donita Ballet School for almost 14 years and it has been nothing but a positive experience. The class environment is very welcoming and Donita is hands down one of the most passionate and dedicated teachers I have ever had. Her personal experience and ballet skill make her critique constructive and she consistently sacrifices time and energy for the success of her students. I consider it a privilege to be able to call myself her student as she has not only taught me dance skills but has also fostered the importance of hard work and consistent dedication, which is applicable to academic and professional life as well. If you are looking for a place to learn to truly enjoy and appreciate the art of ballet, her school is the place to be!

Evelyn Heung

Donita's passion for getting the correct technique and finding the most biomechanical and flattering way to execute choreography is unsurpassed. She is very dedicated to training dancers of all ages and abilities. I have been dancing with Donita for 15 years and she is a constant source of inspiration.

Sophie Hagens

I have danced with Donita for over 13 years and it has only given me a positive experience. Donita Ballet School has taught from a young age to be a disciplined, dedicated and hard working person. Donita has not only taught me ballet and great posture, but life lessons that I have used and will use for the rest of my life. Thank you Donita <3

Mariya Manoukian

I have been coming to Donita Ballet School for over 15 years and I have enjoyed every second of it! Donita is so dedicated to her students in making sure that they are knowledgeable with the skills and techniques that she teaches in class. She makes sure to prepare them for her yearly shows starting from the choreography to the costumes. I strongly recommend bringing your child to her school if you want quality ballet dancing.

Golnesa Amani

I have been attending Donita Ballet School for over ten years because Donita Nahon is an excellent dance coach. Her choreography is foundational yet challenging. She always uses correct ballet terminology. Class sizes are small so that she is able to give personalized technical corrections to each student. I have never gotten injured from Donita's training. My dancing has improved immensely since attending her school! This recreational dance school shows results! Not to mention, students at DBS are friendly.

Tiff Manankil

I have danced with Donita ballet school for over 15 years. I started dancing with Donita at age 9 and I am now a professional dancer dancing in a professional ballet company because of her. Donita's useful corrections and eye for details is what make her students succeed. Even as a professional I still come back when ever I can because no one has an eye like her. No other teacher has ever challenged me and cared so much about me in and out of the studio. She really takes the time one on one to help you with your weaknesses even if you are a beginer and finds the root of the problem. She has such a big heart towards all her students and the love of ballet. It is because of Donita why I love to dance and made this my career. I will be forever grateful for what she's done for me. I wouldn't have become the dancer and the person I am today because of Donita.

Ali Mag

I've been a student of Donita's for 4 years and I can only speak positively of her. She is funny, kind, and gives me the corrections I need to become a better dancer. In class, she teaches as a group and one-on-one if we need extra help with steps. At the end of June, we hold an annual recital that all of my family and friends enjoy. All I can say is, I am very proud to be one of Donita's students because she helped improve my technique and made dancing much more enjoyable for me. SIDE NOTE: As a student of hers, it's important to know that you should always call ahead or let her know beforehand if you are coming to class or not. Donita personally cares about your well being and this way, she would be aware of your absence rather than wasting her own time to wait for you.

Jiji M

Mrs Donita is a dedicated and lovely ballet teacher, she is friendly and warm with the kids and she makes ballet fun . Every week I take my daughter and the girls have a great time With her everytime .

Katie Williams

I’ve been taking lessons from Donita for 32 years. This is a fantastic family school for people who want to learn proper technique, stage presence and interesting choreography. I’ve learned a lot from Donita: discipline, hard work, focus, commitment to my classmates, and an appreciation for the artistry of ballet. This school is also amazing for another reason. Donita is completely committed to her students. She has become a lifelong friend of mine, and I know there is nothing she wouldn’t do for her students... they are like family. Don’t get me wrong - she’s tough, she has high expectations, and she will yell sometimes! But it is because of her passion, her dedication both to her students and to her craft. If you want empty flattery and platitudes, try another school. If you want quality instruction and honest feedback, you found the right place.

N Jimeno

I attended Donita Ballet School starting from age 2 and into my 30s. Donita is a warm and devoted teacher who provides personal attention and one on one corrections like no other teacher I've met. She runs a wonderful school with talented and welcoming students who range in all abilities from recreational dancers to aspiring professionals. I’ve taken ballet classes across the city and Donita's are by far the most fun, challenging and satisfying . Go see her annual shows to see what I’m talking about! From her young dancers, adult dancers, and advanced-level dancers, you can see the high quality of technique and choreography that Donita prides herself on. Don’t believe any of the negative reviews written about Donita or her school! It’s heartbreaking to see anyone talk badly about this woman who loves her school, her students and ballet more than anything!

Sou And kids

Donita only cares about money. She teaches from her experience not from the heart. She accused my daughter of being pregnant at age 14 where she was a little bloated, causing her to be anxious every time she ate something . My kids danced with her just over 2 years but abuses and demands Donita made making kids cry amongst my own - she tends to lash out at kids when no parent in room. Donita having has no kids herself to understand kids sleeping hour and accommodating earlier hour of class for younger kids . Donita lost few hundred dollars I paid and she said she had no receipt to give me - then she forget payment when I demand receipt and insist I repay or she pull my kids out knowing we had paid and my kids worked hard for the season recital. Dealing with Donita is a nightmare . She then ask me to help her fund raise for her show in France as she did not get national funding , having lost my money I ask her to allocate my payment towards my kids class first . She then hand a package to my daughters to go door to door to raise money , I pointed out she is not s non profit agency to be asking kids to raise money for a show they are not even involved in. She did not ask any other classmate in their age . Last when I told her I’m not paying until the credit is applied, she say I should write her a reference letter first . When I did and she ask me for term payment , I remind her of credit pending - she then involve another mother who has no involvement in this to try to insult me to saying its my fault money is lost carrying to heights to imply telling me she is from France and I’m a nobody . Donita is crazy , for the price she charges and location delivery of abuse she should not have permit license to teach at all .

Karla M

I enrolled my daughter at Donita’s Ballet School when she was 5 1/2 years old. My daughter is now almost 15 years old, which means that we have been with Donita for close to 10 years. My daughter has made great, great improvements over the years, and she, along with Donita’s students who have been taking ballet classes with her for years, are now part of Donita’s solid group of top-tier students. Now that my daughter has started high-school and is one of the senior ballet students, my daughter helps out with the beginner class of 3-5 year olds every Wednesday. The little girls love their ballet class, and all of them have improved vastly, from the ones who only started this year, to the ones who have been coming for at least two years already. I am one of the parents who help Donita out year after year. I see first-hand the enormous dedication Donita has for her craft, the hours she spends honing each of her student’s skills, and the time she spends planning and teaching the beautiful choreography for the end-of year recitals. I have also been witness to how Donita ends up extending the class hours, without charging us extra for the extra time, in order to ensure that all of the students learn their choreography really well, and in the process improve their technique considerably. The end result are the high-quality end-of-year recitals that always receive praise from anyone who attends the shows and sees them on YouTube. I could not have asked for a better ballet teacher for my daughter. Thanks to Donita’s excellence in teaching ballet, my daughter was accepted to both of Toronto’s top arts high schools: Earl Haig Secondary School and Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts. I am very proud of my daughter, and I will be forever grateful to Donita for being such an amazing ballet teacher.

Valerie Buzaglo

There is no other teacher like Donita. She is the most devoted and talented teachers I have ever had. She is relentless when it comes to perfecting technique and strives for excellence. Even though she is strict, which is what we need to succeed, she is so kind and loving. If you want to learn ballet the proper way, she is the best!!! I also recommend her for young kids who are starting. She knows how to connect with each and every one of them. All her students look up to her and love her!

Amanda Sarfati

My daughter and I have taken classes with Donita for two years. Donita is totally committed to Ballet. Students receive the individual attention they need to develop a strong technical foundation. Donita is passionate about the beauty and joy of performance, and stages a lovely theatre performance at the end of each dance year. As with any quality ballet school and teacher, Donita does not hesitate to be straight forward with her students in areas that need improvement, and expects the commitment to excellence from her students that she brings to the school.

Steve Woolf

All ages welcome, familly like atmosphere, excellent teachers, many styles of dance, musical theater, ballet, and others, non competitive recital at the end of the year.