Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center453

I called Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center and inquired about a dance program for my 4 1/2 year old daughter. The person I've spoken to wanted to registered me over the phone. I informed her that I would like to come in and see the environment that my daughter will be expose to. She said, ok, could you come in within the hour. Yes. We (my daughter and son) arrived at Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center in about 45 min. The building is located on an attractive commercial district city block. I was impressed with outside of the building, very clean and well maintained. As we entered another parent was entering, I said hi, with a smile, no response, kind of cold and distant. Ok, just one parent. There was benches lining the waiting room area. There were about 3 other parents waiting for their children to finish their class. The atmosphere were unfriendly and indifferent. After about 10 minutes a lady came in the waiting area and mentioned fall saving, she proceeded to sit behind a desk and started typing on a computer keyboard. I said we are here to registered and we just spoke to a lady on the phone about 45 minutes ago. She did not recognize me or answer my question. This was the first dance school that we visited. The staff and parents were not friendly or helpful. I don't know about the quality of instructions, but if they don't know how to be friendly to children and visitors, I don't want to know.

My daughters have attended the GBDC for the past seven years. They study ballet intensively, as well as modern, jazz, tap and music theatre. The atmosphere is supportive rather than cutthroat. The student body is diverse and so are the teachers, many of whom dance in professional companies in Philly, including but not limited to Dancefusion, the company affiliated with GBDC. This is a wonderful dance school for your four-year-old who wants to "be a ballerina," all the way to pre-professional and professional, male and female, ballet and/or modern dancers.

My children have studied dance and theatre at the Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center year-round for six years. There, they have studied dance and theatre with some of the most talented teachers in the city, made great friends from all over Philadelphia and its suburbs, and been nurtured by the wonderful inclusive environment that only Gwendolyn Bye can provide. I recommend this program for all, whether interested in becoming a professional dancer one day, or for the enjoyment of learning to perform at your best. Some of Gwen's students can audition to become a member of the junior dance company of Dancefusion, fusion2, and some have continued on to study at college dance programs that include: NYU's Tisch School of Dance, Vassar, Barnard, Wesleyan, Penn, Fordham, George Washington, Goucher, and The University of the Arts. Dancers are also routinely are accepted to The Pennsylvania Governors' School of Excellence in Dance for both ballet and modern.