Reviews of Backstage Academy of Dance (Dance School)

37 Ann St, Newington, CT 06111

Average Rating:

DESCRIPTION

Here you have all the reviews of people who consume the products of Backstage Academy of Dance (Dance School) in Connecticut.

At present the business receives a score of 3.8 over 5 and this score has been calculated on 43 reviews.

You may have noticed that it reaches an reviews average is very positive, and it's based on a high number of scores, so we can think that the assessment is quite accurate. If many people have bothered to rate when they are pleased with the business, it works.

You know that we do not usually bother to give tatings when these are positive and we usually do it only if we have had a problem or incidence...

This Dance School corresponds to the category of Dance school.

Where is Backstage Academy of Dance?

REVIEWS OF Backstage Academy of Dance IN Connecticut

Mike Frank

Pay the teacher you've been stiffing the $700 you've owed her for months. Stop dodging her calls, ignoring her emails, and bouncing the checks you send her.

Kayla Maciejewski

I am a former student of BAD and have been an instructor for the past three years. BAD welcomed me back with open arms and love. Kim is the most incredible teacher, boss and person I've worked with in the dance studio community. Kim is a creative genius and passionate about every performance number she puts onstage. Even more than that, she is compassionate, understanding and completely self-less. Kim cares about each and every one of her students and staff members. This studio is a family. Each instructors looks at the students as their own children. It is more than just wanting them to learn our steps or getting paid. I want to see each student flourish, not only in their ability and skills, but to grow as a person. I want to see each of my students gain self-confidence, self-love and grow outside their comfort zone. Kim allows each instructor to express themselves freely and trusts in their creative process. We are always an open ear for these kids and are always there for them. As a family the students support each other. We all cheer each other on. We all want to see each and every person succeed. It is not about who can do the most turns, who has the highest leaps or the best splits. This is a place for everyone. Everyone is welcomed with open arms. The owner, the teaches and students create a positive environment I would recommend to anyone.

Jennifer Morgenthau

My daughter has danced at BAD for over 9 years and we have loved the experience so much! This studio is truly a family, Kim is so supportive, the teachers are wonderful and my daughter has learned so much. Not just choreo and dance moves, but about fitness and healthy habits that she will take with her beyond her dance years. She has also learned so much about teamwork, commitment, work ethics, humility, perseverance and so much more. This dance studio is like her second family. Highly recommend to anyone!

Mændy MacFarland

Tony Vasi

Thomas Green

Great place for my nieces to learn dance! Highly recommend!

Ella Vumback

Alyssa Henriques

I love this studio! It’s amazing!!!! ❤️❤️

MICHELLE AULETTA

My daughter has been dancing at Backstage Academy for four years now, and I couldn't be more pleased with how Kim, Laurie, Cindy, and all of the great teachers work together to create a fun and welcoming environment for her. Kim, her teachers, and her proteges have helped her to feel comfortable and supported in all of her classes, and I have watched her skills and confidence grow each year as a result. We also chose to celebrate her birthday at the academy, and Miss Crissy did an amazing job hosting, keeping all the kids active and engaged with dance games and activities. All of the parents enjoyed watching their children have so much fun on the dance floor, and it was my daughter's favorite birthday party memory. We're looking forward to another year of dance at Backstage Academy. Thanks to Kim and her staff for encouraging my daughter's love of dance!

Nikki Peyton

Grace Gunning

Jennifer Giannettino

Kim is fabulous. We had a really positive experience when my daughter danced there.

Chloe Cleveland

LOVE LOVE LOVE this studio!!! Absolutely amazing

Mikayla V

Kristina Guzzardi

Kimberly Larson

Lucy Campbell

Loraine Kreshnia

My niece has dance at this school now for two years. This is very good dancing school. The owner is very talented at dance and choreography and all of the student want to be taught by her. The staff is very kind and always willing to help. I forgot to pay my niece tuition due to situation In my family. I spoke with assistant and she was so kind and understanding and not charge for me a late fee. Everyone is always hugging and smiling. We come to this country not know anyone or where to dance and just find this school by chance. I am happy that we did. She will not dance anywhere else

Tina Fichera

Wonderful dance and learning environment.

Evelisa Mayette

Lauren Wusterbarth

I’ve been dancing at this studio for around 11 years now and I love it. I’ve made so many friends and everyone is so nice there and all the dance styles are amazing this studio is basically my family and my home.

Claire Creighton

I have been on staff for the past year and have had nothing but the most incredible experience at this studio. Kim, the owner, is one of the most compassionate owners I have ever come across. She puts her students and staff above herself 10 out of 10 times. There is a family comraderie which makes you feel welcome the second you walk through the doors but also the most detail oriented and professional business management. The class sizes allow us to give specific student focused training. We as teachers never have to worry about being treated or compensated fairly or on time. There is a clear cut system and schedule for payment that is always consistent and on time. We are constantly supported and encouraged which makes us work even harder and WANT to go above and beyond for the kids and for Kim. As choreographers it is so important to work in an environment which gives us artistic freedom. Kim is so supportive to the creative process giving us space when we need it but also a sounding board when we need assistance to create the best possible product for the students. I can't say enough about this studio, the ownership, and the business practices. I have been teaching dance for over 10 years and have seen the good and bad of these types of establishments. The most important indication of a successful dance studio is prioritizing the students and that is the entire foundation of Backstage Academy of Dance. 5 out of 5 stars - absolutely - YES!

Stacey Sheno

Camella Mollica

Backstage has been a home to my kids for the past 7 years. It’s a place that makes you feel like family. In the past couple years I have become a volunteer parent. I couldn’t imagine my kids dancing anywhere else. Kim and her staff treat every single one of the kids like they were their own.

Kulka Kielb

Lori Levesque

My grand daughters just love this studio !!!!

Olivia Chomko

Backstage Academy of Dance is a wonderful studio. I’ve danced her for 13 years and it has honestly been the best expirence ever. The staff is so supportive and is always there for you. You make great friends here. This dance studio is great place to learn how to dance in a safe and supportive environment. 10/10 recommend!

Marissa Rose

I love it SOOOOOOO much!!!!♥️♥️♥️♥️♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. It is the best studio every, and everyone is super nice there. The en fuego company is like a family, and this is my 5th year there.

Laurue Montano

vlogsbycrispy

Bruce Peter Morin

It really pains me to do this, but if you are an instructor you may wish to think twice about this place. If you are a parent just know that instructors may or may not get compensated and by frequenting this studio you will be contributing to this and harming the hard working people who love to teach dance to your kids! We have known Kim for several years and until today I always liked her and thought she provided a great environment for kids, and that still may be true but earlier this year they had a teacher that needed to step out and asked my wife to fill in. My wife who loves to teach dance was thrilled with the opportunity and to work with Kim. I guess Kim liked her too and they offered my wife a position to work next season as well. Again my wife was thrilled by the opportunity and so was I, as finding really good dance studio for instructors is difficult. When my wife started working there they told her that she would only be paid once per month, this was a pain, but not a show stopper. She received a schedule of when she would be paid by Kim's partner so we planned our budget accordingly. Two weeks ago my wife was supposed to paid for May and when she asked if she could pick up her check, she was told no one was at the studio as they are now on summer hours. They told my wife a week after the check was due that they would put the check in the mail. The partner had the check book and she would mail it out that Thursday. Friday, Saturday and Monday went by - no check. So my wife reached out once again and was told now that the accountant sent it out. So my wife asked for his email address, no response. My wife reached out again to Kim's business partner and was told the check was mailed from Rhode Island and she called the post office and they told her it could take up to ten business days, which is completely false - the USPS website states that first class mail takes 1 - 3 business days and this has been my experience as well. So my wife asked for them to figure out how to get her the money they owed her over the next few days and the bottom line is they won't do anything until the next pay period a month from now. So my wife won't be paid for part of April and all of May until July. They are treating my wife as if she is an independent contractor and after a phone call with the Connecticut Department of Labor - she is not. They dictate the schedule, they dictate what she teaches, they dictate when classes are cancelled and they dictate when she will be paid. Further I have seen other reviews by teachers who have experienced similar things and have reached out to them to get more information and one has already been in touch and yes it's the exact same thing, she had to wait months to get paid and needed to get the police involved because they kept giving her checks that bounced. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, it pains me to leave such a review. The kids seem happy here but I think it's a much different ball game for the the instructors. ***Update - so after a lengthy back and forth between the supposed CPA, he claims that the check got lost in the mail and there were certain procedures that needed to be followed in order to get a replacement check. He further claimed that the check was handled by a payroll company. Yet no check in the past came from a payroll company. They all were handwritten and drawn on a local credit union. So then Kim finally gets involved and apologizes for the entire episode and says she is waiting for the stop payment and once that processes she will issue out a new check. Then next day she tells us that a check is in the company mailbox for us to pick up. We were away for a funeral and I had my inlaws drive to Newington to pick it up. We arrived home a few days later and my wife goes to the credit union that the check is drawn on and wouldn't you know it - they couldn't cash it. NSF! ------ Update July 8th: My wife was supposed to receive her final check on July 5th. We were told that it would be sent certified mail. It is now July 8th and no check.

Terri Wusterbarth

Jordan Howe

Pamela Morel

Robert Levesque

Jose Espinosa

I have worked for Kim on and off throughout the years. Dealt with both her and Cindy and I can say from personal experience I have never had an issue with payment or anything else. Look forward to working for Kim again.

Andrea Weber

My daughter has never felt more comfortable or soared so much. An amazing team and staff. Thank you so much for all that you do and we look forward to many more years to come

Amelia Murphy

This was amazing company! We had fun and found so many skills I didn’t know I was missing from other dance companies. They were detail oriented and offered me opportunities that I didn’t know existed. I support and encourage everyone to keep with and come check it out! The choreography Was on point and winning at every point ! Thank you for all that you do for us and for many years to come.

Kooper Levesque

amelia murphy

Rich Nowak

Edit: Concerning Christine J’s review, regardless if a teacher wasn’t meeting the studio owner’s “standards,” you still pay your teachers for the time they worked. When someone works for you, you pay them. It’s the law. I’m sure she’s great with the parents and kids but she’s a very shady person business-wise. Oh and as for not meeting her “standards”, my partner is thriving as a teacher at studios that appreciate him, and the kids also love him, so maybe she did him a favor. At one of the competitions that I attended last year, his choreography won over hers. So, if you ask me, he surpassed her standards. Original review: I had previously posted a review and it somehow “magically” disappeared. I’m not sure how but I’m guessing the studio owner had it removed. At the time it was the only review posted and thus it gave the studio a one star rating. But lo and behold after my review was removed this page was flooded with positive reviews, all on the same day and all by students, parents and staff. The studio owner even gave herself a five star review. Hmmmmmm? Kind of fishy, huh? The reason I left the negative review in the first place is because my boyfriend was a teacher at the studio over a year ago and the studio owner, Kim, owes him over 1,000 dollars for his time and we’ve heard of similar accounts from other teachers at the studio. In fact, if you look through this page you will see similar accounts of teachers being owed money peppered in with all the fake reviews. So keep in mind when taking classes at this studio that some of the hard working dance teachers here aren’t getting compensated by the owner.

Makenzie Connors

I am a dancer at this studio and i can say that it is such a positive place. we are like one big family here, i couldn’t ask for a better studio. love going to Worlds every single year it’s been around too:)

Christine J

When I Googled Backstage and saw some of the one star reviews I was quite surprised especially since most didn't bother to give an explanation. After reading the review in regards to a teacher supposedly not being paid it wasn't hard to figure out what was going on. I'm nothing more than a parent whose children dance at this studio and have nothing to gain from writing this review. I (my child) have experienced a teacher who worked there who was not teaching and/or choreographing to Kim's standards and so at the end of the season she let that teacher(s) go. I know this wasn't the first time. As a paying customer I'm happy Kim makes these difficult decisions and wants the best for her dancers. I find it disturbing that a former employee's family members & friends would then give her one star ratings because they are disgruntled. My children have danced at Backstage for ten years. When I moved to this area I looked at several different dance studios. Having been a dance teacher myself I was very picky about my choice. I chose BAD because Kim is an amazing choreographer/teacher and her dance recital is phenomenal which was important to me. Kim has a gift for pulling the child's personality out. She is also an extremely kindhearted person who puts in the extra time and effort to make her dancers feel special. One way you'll see this is at the separate awards ceremony she holds at the studio in which she puts in a lot of time to make it very special and personal for her dancers. Several years ago there was a discrepancy between my two daughters recitals and when it was brought to Cindy and Kim's attention they accommodated us immediately. Although they had to do some last minute juggling they wanted to make us, their customer, happy. This was not the only time they went out of their way to help us with a discrepancy when they really did not have to. They did it because they wanted me to be satisfied. They do what they can to accommodate you. Another important aspect to me and something I was very impressed with was that Kim had the Newington Police walk through her new studio to give her pointers on how to make it the safest possible for her dancers and to learn what procedures should be taken in the event of a crisis. I doubt many dance studio owners have thought to do that. She really cares for these kids!! Both of my children have loved dancing here and yours will too!

Donald Corcoran

Business Hours of Backstage Academy of Dance in Connecticut

SUNDAY
CLOSED
MONDAY
4–9PM
TUESDAY
4:30–9PM
WEDNESDAY
4:30–9PM
THURSDAY
4:30–9PM
FRIDAY
4:30–7PM
SATURDAY
10AM–12PM

PHONE & WEBPAGE

Backstage Academy of Dance en Connecticut
View Phone Number
View WebPage

PICTURES






Others also saw
Turning Pointe Dance Academy
Turning Pointe Dance Academy
Dance School - Connecticut

Dance school

Studio of Dance Ballet School
Studio of Dance Ballet Sc...
Dance School - Connecticut

Ballet school

Cheshire Dance Centre
Cheshire Dance Centre
Dance School - Connecticut

Dance school

Rhythm-N-Sync Dance Studio
Rhythm-N-Sync Dance Studio
Dance School - Connecticut

Dance school

Stage Left Dance Studio
Stage Left Dance Studio
Dance School - Connecticut

Dance school