AND, on March 1 we launched our updated Teen/Adult program which will now be on a card system.  There is no impact on our pre-professional dancers who choose to take these classes.  If you are interested in this program, ask for more info at the front desk or head to the Teen/Adult page on this site.

 We were happy to discover that we were listed first in a Yahoo! article for top dance schools.  Here is an excerpt from that article:

Best Children’s Dance Schools in Houston, Texas
Sally Ann Murphy, Yahoo! Contributor Network

Enrolling your child in classes at a dance school can offer many benefits, including more self confidence, poise, new friends, and a great sense of accomplishment. Dance classes are a good introduction to tumbling and cheering, and often dance schools will offer these type of classes as well. Plus they look so cute in those little costumes. The following are some of the best children's dance schools Houston, Texas has to offer.
Studio of Dance, Champion Forest Dr.

The Studio of Dance begins teaching children at age two and a half, and offers classes in ballet and jazz. This Houston, Texas school has classes that emphasize proper form, gross motor skills, and musicality. If your child develops a real interest in pursuing dance training, this is one of the schools to look at, since they offer classes for the advanced dancer as well.

As this demonstrates, many of us have begun using the web as an electronic "word of mouth" tool with more and more new students finding us on the internet.  We welcome you to rate us on your favorite search sites - Yahoo, Yelp...

Also, please remember our referral policy.  Any new students that sign up for classes get $10 off their first month's tuition and so does the family that referred them!

Robert Underwood and Jill Oliver of Studio of Dance are working with the foundation to bring this opportunity to train with some of the world's finest instructors in a city that is at the heart of ballet to students in the U.S. The studio is holding auditions on Sunday, February 17 at 2 p.m.

For more information, visit www.openworlddancefoundation.com .

Some characteristics include:

• Type of Training - Is classical technique training important to you? Is your focus on basics with option on specializing later on or are you looking for a particular style of dance (drill team, ethnic...)? We offer a unique combination of classical ballet focus and training in a wide variety of other disciplines. Many studios that have a ballet emphasis discourage training in other styles. We believe it creates a better, more well-rounded dancer. Other studios that offer a variety of training will tell you the importance of ballet technique training. We are happy to be a solution.
• Experience of Teachers - What are the credentials and experience of the staff? We have a unparalleled level of experienced staff. Mr. Underwood, a former dancer with ABT, Boston Ballet and European companies was trained by one of the grand dames of dance, Mia Slavenska. Through him, you are one degree of separation from many of ballet's greatest including Baryshnikov. Cece White was part of the beginning of dance competitions and jazz companies. Jennifer Hutchinson has an extensive resume as an actress and dancer. Ms.Cynthia has a wealth of ballet teaching experience and will join Robert in being certified in the ABT National Curriculum this spring. Shizu Yasuda dances with Ad Deum, one of Houston's premier modern dance companies, and Ms. Laurie Claypool is qualified to teach and design teaching programs at an advanced level but chooses to help our youngest dancers get started.
• Facility - In a dance school things you may look for include - studios with adequate space, enough studios to offer the range of classes and times you want, quality dance flooring (sprung floors protect joints, marley is typically preferred surface for ballet and jazz, wood flooring for ballroom).
• Location - Is it more important that the studio be nearby or that it offer what you are looking for? Our studios are just over a year old, designed and built for training. They are located in the Willowbrook/Champions area near FM 1960, Hwy 249 and Beltway 8.
• Opportunities - With dance studios you could be looking forward to classes only, classes and a recital, or dance companies with opportunities to enter team dance competitions? Some schools (like ours) offer competition as an option for others it is their focus. We also have a resident, pre-professional ballet company and are proud of our affiliation with Open World Dance Foundation. Each of these organizations provides a variety of experiences an supports those dancers wishing to pursue dance as a career.
• Atmosphere - Does the studio "feel" like a good fit? Come take a free trial class. We offer these classes as the best way to decide whether this is the right choice for you.

What is most important to you?