Dance Studios

The comments and recommendations on this page were made by members of the Framingham Community e-mail list or other Framingham residents. The comments on these pages represents the opinions and experiences of the individuals who made them, not necessarily the person composing the page or the people maintaining the Wiki. Add a recommendation or comment.

Contents

Dance Studios

The Ballet Space

2 Watson Pl
Framingham, MA 01701-4109
http://www.theballetspace.com/
info@theballetspace.com
508-877-8510

I ... wanted to pass on my recommendation for The Ballet Space in Saxonville. My 17-year-old dancer has been studying ballet for 13 years, along with modern and jazz. She moved to The Ballet Space three years ago and loves it! I think it has a great balance between serious technique/dance foundation and a supportive, positive, and non-rigid atmosphere. Their focus is mostly ballet, but they also offer modern, jazz, and creative movement (for younger dancers). Micheline Cacciatore (owner and former Walnut Hill teacher) and Meghan Powers (co-artistic director) are absolutely fantastic. My daughter adores her teacher(s) and has learned a lot. Their beautiful studios are in one of the refurbished mill buildings in Saxonville and, for those with younger children, their family sitting/waiting area is far and away the most welcoming and comfortable of the four dance schools we've attended. ("How trivial!" you may say. But I assure you, that you'll spend a LOT of time there and not freezing, being trampled, or told to wait in your car becomes really important!)

Jane Eyler 26 Aug 2009

I can't say enough positive things about the Ballet Space.

My daughter is 5 and has been dancing there for 2 years. They encourage discipline, "dancer's manners", and foster creativity. The teachers at The Ballet Space are wonderful and understand how to effectively work with young children. The studio has a wonderful waiting area with a play area and toys for siblings.

The Spring Demonstration (for all levels from the Young Dancer Program to Pre-Professional) is just that, a "demonstration" of what the children have been working hard on all year. It is not a show or performance with fancy costumes and sets. I'm sure some people would prefer that kind of culminating show, but the "Spring Demonstration" is a wonderful way for children to show how proud they are of their accomplishments. I just get goose bumps when I watch my own daughter's class, as well as the older children.

Nancy D'Amato 25 August 2009

Brandi Rae's Dance Studio

Brandi Rae Lochiatto
116 Cochituate Road (Rt 30)
Framingham, Massachusetts
http://www.brandiraesschoolofdance.com/
(508) 875-2723

Absolutely contact Brandi Rae's Dance Studio on Cochituate Road, across from the KFC. My daughter was with Brandi Rae from 1st grade through 12th, and you will not find anyone more passionate about dance than Brandi Rae. She is absolutely fantastic. Please tell her that I sent you.

Tony Siciliano 25 Aug 2009

I notice you already got a recommendation for Brandi Rae. My foster daughter took a hip hop class at that studio. They offer lots of types of dance, at many levels and at many times. My daughter didn't like her class, because, according to her, "It was the wrong type of hip hop." She was not able to articulate beyond that, why she hadn't liked the class. I thought the class was fine and she and I both agreed that the teacher was good.

Sigrid Shiotani Paddock 26 Aug 2009

Dancing Arts Center

9 Whitney Street, suite 2
Holliston, Ma. 01746 USA
508-429-7577
http://www.dancingartscenter.com

My daughter attends the Dancing Arts Center and loves it. It offers a solid, comprehensive dance education. This year they are also offering a boys/men only curriculum with classes from creative movement to ballet to modern. Also check out the website. If you are interested in signing up, feel free to contact me. There is a 25% off printable coupon for a trial 6 week period.

Best, Raffaella Agostino 8/27/09

Walnut Hill School

12 Highland Street
Natick, Massachusetts 01760
tel: (508)-653-4312
fax: (508)-655-3726
http://www.walnuthillarts.org
508-653-4312

My bio daughter was a serious ballet dancer, having started ballet classes in Japan at age 6. We returned to this country in order for her to attend the Walnut Hill School. Walnut Hill is a unique arts high school/boarding school, but I know that they also offer community dance classes, taught by some of the same faculty that teach the high school students. These young dancers perform with the high schoolers in the yearly production of the Nutcracker (I highly recommend Walnut Hill's Nutcracker - or any of their other performances! They offer a truly professional calibre show in our backyard!)

I have had foreign homestay students with me over the years, and one high school girl took a modern dance class at Walnut Hill, which she enjoyed tremendously.

I don't know how Walnut Hill's prices compare with other studios, and I think they may focus on ballet and modern dance, without offering jazz, hip hop, etc. But I love everything about that school and their faculty, so, if your daughter is interested in ballet, I would check them out.

Keep that school in mind if you have a serious budding dancer or artist of any kind.