About 4S Dance Academy
4S Dance Academy is a well-established and highly respected dance studio that has been nurturing young dancers for over 9 years. The studio boasts a team of immensely patient and dedicated teachers, who guide students through a diverse range of dance styles, including ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and even Pilates reformer. The studio's ballet-based program includes a pre-professional track, designed to support students with professional dance aspirations or those who simply want to excel in "club-level" ballet. These dedicated dancers can be found in the studio 2-3 times a week, with the older students (12/13+) attending up to 4-5 times a week for multiple hours. The studio's artistic director closely monitors the progress of these pre-professional students, conducting annual assessments to ensure they are on track to achieve their goals. Many of these students have been invited to prestigious ballet summer intensives, including PNB, PBT, SAB, and ABT. In addition to the ballet program, 4S Dance Academy offers a growing musical theater program and a variety of fun, recreational, and non-competitive class offerings. The studio's annual productions, such as "The Nutcracker" and a shorter storybook ballet, showcase the exceptional talent of the classically trained students, who fill all the roles except for a few adult male parts. The studio's family-owned and operated nature is evident in the kind and helpful demeanor of the employees and dancers. The owners, Shay and Jason, are praised for their passion and love for their students, and the studio's commitment to maintaining a positive and nurturing environment is evident in their refusal to allow revealing costumes or uniforms. Overall, 4S Dance Academy is a wonderful dance studio that caters to a wide range of students, from those with professional aspirations to those who simply want to enjoy the art of dance for the pure love of it.
Still a wonderfully nurturing dance studio with immensely patient and dedicated teachers and staff. It's been 9 years, and the studio has grown in space and homegrown talent, which is evident in the ambitious goals the studio successfully executes each year. This is a ballet-based studio with a growing musical theater program, and fun recreational/non-competitive class offerings in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop and even pilates reformer. The ballet side includes a pre-pro program that is intended to nurture students with professional dance aspirations or just want to be in "club level" ballet (i.e. your young 9 year old kid will be there 2-3 times a week and your 12/13+ tween will be there 4/5 times a week multiple hours a day. Dancers participating in shows will have Saturday rehearsals). The AD has an annual assessment (for pre-pro students) to assess goals and steps needed to achieve them. Recently, many of these students have been invited to well known ballet SIs, including PNB, PBT, SAB, and ABT. The AD further supports their school/ballet balance and many of the pre-pro dancers have been waived out of PE through OCIS (Off Campus Independent Study). Annually, the staff presents "the Nutcracker" where all roles (except 1-2 adult male roles, which are professionally filled) are casted by their classically trained students. Over the last 3 years, they've also presented a shorter storybook ballet of similar caliber. Every year we've been here, there has been an end of year recital series, which is the main opportunity for the non-ballet students to present what they've learned in choreographed pieces. The studio has grown to include a musical theater program, which also provides opportunities to shine in "Mini Musicals". Yes, the hallways can be a little "extra", but that's what happens when students love the place so much that they are there for multiple classes in the afternoons, and on rehearsal weekends. And yes, dance can be pricey, but my experience is that the rec level classes are comparable to any other rec level activity my other kid has done with *professional* teachers, it's obviously more expensive than little league or soccer which are volunteer coached. Further, pricing is on a tiered structure, where "the more classes you take, the cheaper your 5th, 6th, 7th, etc class is." And yes - sounds nuts, but many of the pre-pro kids love it there enough that they're there for that many classes. Lastly, I didn't realize how grateful I am for this until my daughter got older, but the owners refuse to allow revealing costumes and uniforms. You'll find the students in leotards/tights, athleisure wear, and tasteful recital costumes - not a booty short or bra/crop top in sight, as I wish dance culture would be. Overall, a great place to be for those with professional ballet aspirations (and who want to be challenged appropriately), or who want to learn other styles for enjoyment without the expectation to compete.
I just can't say enough good things about 4s Dance Academy. We have tried several in the area but this place is just the best! Great instructors, the owners are so kind, and it is so well run. So happy we found it as a place to call our dance home.
This is a family owned and operated dance studio. All of the employees and dancers are so sweet and helpful. The girls really follow the leadership of the owners and operators Shay and Jason. They run this studio with passion and love for its students. They allow drop in trials so sign up on their website if you want to check a class out. My daughter does the Musical Theater classes and is just starting to try ballet.