The Dance Element 7211 Ogden Business Lane, Wilmington, NC 28411

"Stick with me on this. The dance studio and teachers are great. It’s very professional and clean. I’ve just been encouraged to leave my perspective in case our experience could help anyone else. My daughter struggled with the strictness of ballet, but that’s what she wanted to do. She had tried several of the classes throughout the summer program (wonderful, by the way!), but loved ballet the most. Halfway through the year, she wanted to quit, but I encouraged her to stick it out through the end of year performance. I didn’t want her to regret not trying harder. She felt like the teacher didn’t like her; I knew I wasn’t getting the whole story and was told she didn’t focus and was a distraction. In December I asked to meet with her teacher so we could all sit down and talk about what was going on in class. When we met with the teacher, her body language (the teacher’s) was not open or understanding. She stood with arms crossed. My daughter may not have understood the message that was conveyed, but I did. She agreed to keep trying. By the way, my daughter was eight yrs old at the time. A few weeks later, they began learning routines for the end of year performance. This was February through May. At no point was I told she was still a problem until days before the final performance. Teachers reported that she had refused to participate during the final few rehearsals. My daughter said when they were supposed to join hands and dance in a circle, she wasn’t able to reach her partner before that girl started moving away. She got upset and probably threw a small fit. My guess is that no one asked her why she stopped dancing or why she was upset. She doesn’t like to make mistakes and she was trying. She was kicked out of class. Idk what happened exactly, but I know I didn’t get the whole story from either side. My daughter did not deal with the stress and pressure well. She left classes upset and in tears many times. My biggest problem is that at no point did anyone approach me and tell me that maybe ballet wasn’t the best fit for her. She could have switched to a different class before final routines were begun. She had enjoyed some of the others as well. Being told she couldn’t be in the final show four days before the performance made me feel like we had just been a bank account. During those final rehearsals, I saw other little girls being silly and giggly… like little girls are but they weren’t kicked out of class. It made me feel like the teacher had labeled her a problem child, and hadn’t given her a fair shot since our talk months prior."

"The Dance Element has done wonders for my children. My daughter needed a way to focus her energy, and Dance has been the perfect avenue for her. My son was dealing with confidence issues, but since he started dancing and performing, his confidence has soared. We are so happy we have found such a family friendly place for our children to thrive!"

"Out of all the studios that I danced at throughout my years of dance, The Dance Element is by far my favorite. The friendly, positive environment truly allowed my technique to flourish. I became a much better dancer in the 3 years I spent dancing for Ashley Barnes than I had seen in my previous 15 years of dance. The instruction is amazing, but what makes The Dance Element special is the relationship that the dancers form together. I am proud to say that I met my very best, most genuine friends during my years here. It is very rare to find a studio where all of the dancers (especially the older ones) like each other, but at The Dance Element, that is honestly the case. I may have graduated last year, but I will continue to come back to my favorite place on the planet for many years to come."

"I have been dancing at The Dance Element ever since I was 10 years old. I can truly say this place is more than just a dance studio and has made such a positive impact on my life. I began dancing at a very young age but stopped as I got older. The Dance Element helped me find my love for dance again. I am proud to say that I have trained and grown up in such a loving warm community. The Dance Element has brought me years of laughter and smiles and is where I've made my closest friends. The Dance Element is not only a team but a FAMILY! I would not be where I am today without the amazing director Ashley Barnes and the rest of The Dance Element staff. They work selflessly to encourage and help us pursue our dreams. The Dance Element is a fun environment that promotes healthy minds and bodies!"

"As a parent of a dancer at The Dance Element I can say they offer a series of programs unlike any other I've ever seen. These instructors spark an interest in my daughter that makes her want to work and practice even at home, unlike she's ever done with anything else. There is a wide variety of styles to choose from, and she wants to try them all! They inspire a healthy work ethic and produce well-rounded and accomplished dancers. At the Dance Element, the focus is not so much on competition, as it is on results. And results they achieve! I couldn't be more pleased with the methods they've used to introduce and progress an art form as successfully with my daughter as they have. As they have classes for any walk of person, if you, or anyone you know has any interest in being introduced to the art of dance, this is the place!"