The Plano Dance Theatre

Reviews 3

BE

Betty Nieczyporowicz

Dear Google consumer, When reading reviews, remember that emotion plays a big part of why people bother to write reviews/opinions, both negative and positive. You may have read a spite filled review in the last few months from a former client of the Plano Dance Theatre. Before I address my response directly to her, I would like to ask you to kindly note that often people move from one dance studio to another, but in very few instances it is because the CHILD is unhappy. Cue up the theme to “DANCE MOM’s” the TV show, as an appropriate accompaniment to ‘Pat Ann’s’, lie filled and cartoonish tirade. While this TV show has nothing to do with the culture at Plano Dance Theatre, it represents everything the studio hopes to avoid in their dance family parents. I will proudly sign my name and not hide under a pseudo identity. I will address a few of ‘Pat Ann’s’ blatant falsehoods and leave the rest. I have never written a letter like this, but I cannot stand to see someone be cruel and bully others. MY prior review of the Plano Dance Theatre is below. Betty Nieczyporowicz, parent of 2 dancers. Dear Trish L. (“Pat Ann”), I am saddened at your obvious disregard for the feelings of those parents, teachers and dancers who showed your daughter nothing but love, consideration and compassion after you moved her from another studio you disliked. The Plano Dance Theatre coaches dancers in skill-level appropriate training, combined with allowing students stretch their skills by working with more accomplished dancers on occasion. If a 15-year-old dancer teaches a class, it is because that dancer has a skill set that far surpasses any level of the other students. And when that young teacher is one of only 22 females in the entire world selected for Julliard’s prestigious summer program that year, only a fool would question her integrity or talent. The only ‘drama...tirades... belittling and intimidation’ that occurred at PDT has come from overbearing parents trying to force teachers to cast their children in certain dances or tell the professionals how to do their jobs. Thankfully, parents like this move on to other studios, when they don’t get their way. As you recall, PDT has an integrated curriculum, one class builds and dovetails into another and many skill sets are taught in more than one setting. This allows for more personal attention to a dancer’s development and builds unity among the dance students. Dancers (and parents) who prefer to do their own thing, or don’t work well in a cohesive family environment don’t thrive here, it’s true. Trish, I cannot imagine what is so wrong in your life, that you must go more than a full year back in time and turn on these kind individuals who encouraged your daughter to grow as a dancer at her own pace, and showed her nothing but support. I do not speak on behalf of the owners, or staff of the Plano Dance Theatre. I wish your sweet children all the best as they grow and progress. I also hope you find the peace you continue to search for. Betty Nieczyporowicz, parent and supporter of The Plano Dance Theatre REPRINT of MY prior review: The Plano Dance Theatre is not your typical cookie cutter competition studio. This is the studio you want to take your child to when you want the staff to know your child by name (in a good way). This is the place to take your ballerina when she needs teachers who go the extra mile to ensure she is professionally coached, trained and prepared to dance at a college level or above. PDT works with your child to encourage confidence, strength and discipline in multiple dance and performance styles. There is NO CROWDING here. PDTs family-based staff, are all highly accomplished and trained dancers/performers. This is a more personable studio, all attention is focused on the children. My kids feel like a part of a special club. Many past students have earned dance scholarships under the tutelage of director Katie Miller. If you want something that will create special memories ...then The Plano Dance Theatre is worth a look. BN

PA

Pat Ann

Belittling and intimidation of students are common practices used by teachers at this studio. During performance season they circulated studio wide email critiques designed to humiliate performers in front of their peers. Students openly bully one another and teachers turn a blind eye to the situation while engaging in relationships with students that lack proper professional boundaries. While the schedule may show classes are separated by level it is common that classes are mixed together with advanced students as old as 18 being expected to dance with beginners as young as 8 years old. Advanced students make little progress in these classes and it creates high a student turnover rate as advanced students leave for other training programs. Students as young as 15 years old have been allowed to teach classes such as Leaps & Turns on a weekly basis while parents are paying for professional teacher expertise. The teachers seldom attend training and are frequently on their phones during instruction time. There is a high turn over rate of instructors as well. The studio lacks any organization and everything is done last minute including rehearsal schedules not going up until late the night before making it impossible for families to plan or have siblings in other activities. The studio refuses to use air conditioning or heat. They tell you the heat in the studio during summer (as high as 88 degrees) keeps the dancers muscles warm yet in the winter (as low as 60 degrees) they do not seem to mind that students are freezing creating the risk for illness and injury. Students were made to eat outside in the elements as well as when it was dark outside even though parents expressed safety and health concerns. One of the owners does frequently smoke at the studio and performance venues providing a poor environment for young dancers. Rehearsals are riddled with tension and profanity laden tirades causing parents of many children to leave the studio rather than expose their children to such displays. The studio is obsessed with the reality culture of "Dance Moms" to the point they put on an entire Christmas Show "A Crabby Lee Christmas" in which students were scripted to bully their peers and behave in inappropriate manners to include the singing of Christmas carols with profanity in the lyrics. They frequently reused music, choreography, costumes and this year even a solo from the previous year at competition. It speaks volumes when as a business all of your online reviews are written by the owners themselves, owners boyfriends, office employees, unpaid employees such as play writes and their extended family members. Dance is meant to teach confidence, work ethic, commitment and respect but our experience was one of nonstop drama, adults behaving poorly and watching the self esteem of young girls being diminished in a very unhealthy environment.

AU

Audra Yeck

I have 2 daughters that attend PDT, and we have SO many things that we love about the place My oldest daughter danced from the age of 3 to 7 at another studio, she is 9 now and we are coming to the end of our 2nd amazing year at PDT. Her growth as a dancer, a student, an individual have grown more than we could have ever imagined in the last 2 years. The amazing technique, discipline, work ethic that she has been taught is amazing, and it shows in everything she does. The teachers here truly care about each and everyone of their students, as if they were their own. My 9 year old was very shy and unsure of herself when we came to PDT, that shyness is no longer anywhere to be seen! She just competed her first ballet solo and shined! My 6 year old is finishing her 1st year at PDT and is about to be in her first show! She is also benefiting and loving all of her PDT classes so much! There truly isnt enough space to write all that we love about our dance family! If youre looking for a studio where your child is cared about, driven to do their best, taught amazing technique and a place that tries to give all students the same opportunities, come check them out! I know you will love them too!

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