Guiding Light Dance Academy

What dancers say

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  The Missouri Boy

  Local GuideGoogle

  · 2y ago· 35 reviews

  I Can't Wait

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  Shannon Burke

  Local GuideGoogle

  · 2y ago· 10 reviews

  Great place! Best choice I've made for my daughter. Miss Jen took her at age 2 were no one else would. She and her staff have great patience with kids. The parents are awesome too. My daughter loves going to dance and we can't wait till September for our 3rd year. Update: Well I can say we're well past our 3rd yr working on our 7th. My daughter has grown a lot, as a dancer, as teammate,and a compassionate student. Where has she learned those skills from the great staff at Guiding light Dance Academy. As long as we've been apart of this Dance family I've never seen Miss Jen or staff treat anyone differently ever. My older niece danced 7yrs ago at GLDA and has a disability NOT ONCE did Miss Jen tell her she couldn't Dance. If anything they encouraged her. That recital was wonderful! I have no doubt in my mind that this year's 2024 recital will be any different! So come join Our Wonderful Dance Family will greet you with open arms!

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  Jennah Costa

  Local GuideGoogle

  · 2y ago· 22 reviews

  GLDA has been such a special place this last year and half. Ms. Jen is so welcoming and the environment is family friendly. It’s so nice to see a dance studio that uses appropriate music and costumes. We’ve made life long friends at GLDA and are thankful for the warm, welcoming, family friendly environment where our daughter can learn, have fun and develop friendships.

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  Lynn Cuomo

  Google

  · 2y ago· 3 reviews

  My daughter has been dancing at GLDA for 6 years. During our time she has learned to dance, been supported, cared about, made friends and learned to take instructions from others, work as a team and most of all had fun in a family environment! Ms Jenn is an amazing mentor and teacher to all that enter the studio. The focus on kindness, trying your best and building up each student is so heart warming. As a parent our ‘village’ is important and we are sure lucky to have the GLDA family as part of our village. We are blessed to be part of the GLDA family!

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  Erin Kelley

  Google

  · 2y ago· 1 reviews

  As a former dance student and teacher at the studio there prior, GDLA had a lot to live up to for me and big shoes to fill. Jen and her staff have gone above beyond any expectation I had!! My son has been dancing with Jen for 3 years and I started up again last year. GLDA provides classes suited for students of all ages and abilities. Classes are professional and fun all at the same time but most importantly, GLDA has given my son and I a second family. The bonds that are created at the studio are life changing, from the minute you walk in the door it feels like you've belonged from the start. My son and I are thrilled to be part of the GLDA family and I personally can't thank Jen enough for providing such a great environment to continue my passion for dance and pass it along to my son. We will be part of GLDA for a long time!!

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  Zoo Wee Mama

  Google

  · 2y ago· 1 reviews

  This happened over 10 years ago but it still bothers my family and I today. The dance studio before Guiding Light held a class for special needs people. When Guiding Light took over, they treated the special needs class very poorly and differently. During the first dance recitals, the special needs students weren't given a place to change. The changing rooms were reserved for her dancers only, so the special needs class was forced to change in the hallway/open back stage area. The dancers with special needs were segregated during the production, performing their routine before the show "officially began". In the program pamphlet, it seemed as though the mention of the special needs dancers was more of a shout-out rather than an inclusion in the proper order of events. It left a bad taste in the mouth of all the parents of the special needs dancers, which is why the special needs students went elsewhere not too long after.

  Response from Guiding Light Dance Academy

  Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We genuinely appreciate all comments as they help us understand areas for improvement. We are sorry to hear about your less-than-satisfactory experience over a decade ago. At Guiding Light Dance Academy, we strive to create a joyful learning experience as well as provide an excellent technical foundation. Our goal is to shape an environment of mutual respect and camaraderie. We focus on self-confidence, self-discipline, and poise. We encourage all of our students to achieve their highest potential to the best of their ability in an all inclusive atmosphere. As you stated, there was a studio prior to Guiding Light. When that studio closed, the owner asked if she could rent space and participate in the annual recital. Guiding Light welcomed all even assisting with classes, picture day, and even though the owner of the previous studio did not want to fit into the recital theme, Guiding Light offered them a 20 minute time slot prior to the themed recital beginning and included all in the finale bows at the end of the shows. While the backstage area often is tight on space, each class did have their own classroom for changing or waiting at the local elementary school used that season for the show. Again, we value you and your input and would like to assure you that we are committed to continuous improvement.