HDS Ballet Review: A Journey Marred by Neglect and Rigidity
The initial signs of trouble at HDS Ballet were subtle yet indicative of deeper issues. As a dedicated patron, my journey started with enthusiasm for ballet. I enrolled in classes, purchasing a bulk dance card, expecting a structured and enriching experience. However, the reality soon diverged from expectations.
Early on, there were hints of administrative disorganization and communication gaps, with classes frequently rescheduled last minute. The teaching quality was concerning; the owner often arrived up to 20 minutes late, unprepared, and without apology. Classes were unpredictably canceled, and the owner's wife, leading intermediate sessions, disproportionately focused on stretching.
The approach to teaching was stagnant, recycling routines and consistently neglecting the left side in center work. My feedback was either ignored or dismissed, citing time constraints. Additionally, classes consistently overran by at least 30 minutes, and the studio’s condition reflected similar neglect: dirty floors, damaged barres, and inadequately maintained bathrooms with no privacy in shared areas.
The situation deteriorated when the studio abruptly changed its schedule from three classes a week to just one, combining beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels into a single class. The owner justified this by claiming it was to provide 'the best instruction,' but it rendered my dance card effectively unusable before its expiration. My efforts to negotiate a reasonable solution, such as extending the dance card's validity or converting it to credits, were met with an unwavering 'no refund' policy. This intransigence was a stark departure from the customer-focused approach I had expected. As a result, my ballet journey, which began with hope and enthusiasm, evolved into a challenging ordeal of asserting basic consumer rights and seeking respect.