Reviews of Karin Hobby Dance Academy (School)

Alysa

Karin Hobby Dance Academy is such a fantastic studio and I would recommend it for everyone! this is only my second year at the studio but ms.Karin has provided me with so many different opportunities already, I've learned lots over the past year and am still learning more. When I first started here, ms.Karin offered me a position assisting the younger classes. There are so many opportunities for performances throughout the year, two of them being travelling shows to different schools. Parents are always welcome at the studio, and the studio that the younger ones dance in has a large viewing window for visitors to see their kids dance.The floors at my last studio would turn my shoes black and the floors here leave my shoes clean for months and months; everything is spotless. Ms. Karin is always very accommodating with classes, at the beginning of every year she does her best to do what works best for everyone and it always works out very well. Overall, I would highly recommend this studio to anyone and everyone who's looking for quality teaching and an enjoyable atmosphere.

Vicky Luo

Awesome dance studio. Love the people there. Karin is a great teacher whose passion for dance translates to everything that she does.

Laura Craven

I started ballet when I was 18 years old under the instruction of Karin Hobby and I have loved every minute of it. Her dedication to her students and love of ballet shines through every class.

Mike Rickman

Our daughters have been dancing with KHDA since they were three years old. The studio does an excellent job of balancing a relaxed family atmosphere with the necessary discipline of dance training. Karin and her staff are very talented and they provide an engaging and effective program. Our girls love dancing at KHDA!

Quentin Rogers

My name is Jocelyn Rogers and my daughter has been a student at Karin Hobby for 6 years. As life tends to have a way of throwing us curve balls from time to time we struggled to make a large amount of classes and as such our daughter fell behind. With the kind gesture of assistance from Karin to make a plan to get her on track i new it deserved an outstanding review. Louise showed care when it came to our family and Karin and Stephanie worked to get her back on pace for the upcoming r.a.d exams. It is with great pleasure that our family is able to be a part of her experience thus far and the future. Now i am able to put it in writing how much the support they have given our daughter has been nothing short of exceptional.

Lucy Lou

Very disappointing place! Like some one said earlier it’s just money generating business, no care or attention for girls’ passion for dance!

Gilly Harrison

I cannot thank Karin and her team enough for all the kindness and support that my family have received. Such professionalism and dedication. I thoroughly recommend KHDA to all dancers of any level. Thank you!

Liz

I was lucky enough to find Karin Hobby while I was on a Co-op term in London this summer. I strongly recommend this school to anyone in London, the facilities are great (good sprung floors, spacious studios, very clean) but more importantly Karin is an excellent and knowledge teacher. Her classes were well structured and she TRUELY cares about the technique and development of her adult dancers. Good ballet teachers can be hard to find these days so it was a blessing to find Karin and her studio. If you are looking for quality ballet training in a friendly environment then this is definitely the school for you!

Kayley Perfetto

Our experience with Karin Hobby Dance Academy has been positive and I would highly recommend this dance academy. My daughter has been dancing at this academy for 2 years, starting in the mini dance program when she was 3 years old. She has enjoyed it very much. The teachers at the this school are professional and caring, and their love of dance is apparent when working with the children. Their dedication to the students is evident by the many hours they put in, creating costumes for parades, and for the Christmas and Spring show. We plan on being part of this school for many years to come!

Andraena T

We have been at Karin Hobby Dance Academy for two years now and it has been great! The atmosphere has always been warm and welcoming and the staff very attentive to the children. I often sit and catch up on my email while my daughters dance and I enjoy being able to sit and relax in the waiting room until they are ready to go home. We will be back again next year.

Kristyn EP

I couldn't agree with Amanda's post more. My daughter was signed up with KHDA from the time she turned 3 until she was 8 and a half and just this September we "decided" to leave. It really just is not a well run studio at all and I don't know if it's because Karin doesn't have the time to devote to it with her competing priorities (regular job) or what but for the money you spend you do not get good value. Karin has put another dancers Mother in charge (Louise) and she's been at it so long that she acts like it is her studio. She always has an attitude unless you are one of her pets or the parents of one of her pets. If you bring little kids with you to wait while their siblings wait be prepared for the stink eye every week. There are constant false promises made about all sorts of things (when parents can watch, special things certain girls can do, volunteering opportunities) and when you try and inquire about these both women get very annoyed as if you aren't able to question why plans have changed. When you are there a few years and paying good money it gets very annoying to be treated as an annoyance. For example, my three year old was to also start dance this year and my older (in grade 3 dance) was very excited to help the class out (help hand out the ribbons, turn the music on, little things like that). Her friend who was a year older had done it the previous year with her sister and the teachers said in June my daughter could help in the fall (now). So we arrive to the first class last week and my eldest is ready to help and Louise, the part time secretary, says in the snobbiest way in front of my children "no no no no no no no no that's not happening" and she gently pushes by my daughter in a dismissive way to show that she's not even entertaining the idea. We were all confused, my daughter was upset (she was excited ALL day and ALL summer to get to help her little sis) and I try to find out more and why. Louise dismisses my husband over and over and have to ask for Karin which really ticks her off (that someone wouldn't just do as she says). My daughter is crying and my younger leaves to start her class. Louise talks to Karin first and tells her goodness what and by the time we get to talk to Karin the two have buddied up like we are the bad ones. Karin is a very meek person and so she's never able to stand up to Louise (her secretary and just another mom of a dancer like the rest of us) and so she just let Louise decide that indeed my eldest will not be able to help out. Very upset my husband and 3 kids decide to leave and cool off and my eldest misses her own first class of the year. We call back a few days later and Louise puts us on endless hold. We try again she hangs up. We try again she won't take our calls (the SECRETARY is refusing to take our calls to a place we have been members of for SIX years for multiple classes, tap too!!). So after days of this immaturity my husband goes in person last night. Louise tells him to wait and she will get Karin. She makes him wait for twenty minutes (just to be annoying because she can) and when Karin finally does come the two refuse to talk to him and they tell him our two daughters are kicked out of the studio permanent. Are you serious?!?!??!??!?!?!?!? This is literally for real. They kicked an 8 year old who has been there for six year and a 3 year old out of the program because they did not like that their parents were upset that they lied to the 8 year old. REALLY they couldn't just let her be in the room and help? 10 months earlier she had helped at the Christmas pageant which is a really big show and they said she did AMAZING and she had a year of practise since then, her friend did it and they said she could and then they kick out two little girls when we question their (or Louise the secretary's) decision? It's insane. So we are going to see it as a blessing in disguise anyhow: the floors are disgusting, Louise is SO rude and it's true the never let you watch or take photos. There are many great places - go somewhere else.