Review: Long Island Academy Of Dance

[Just keeping it real]

This is a decent school. You will learn to dance. There are a few issues about this school that need to be addressed.
I am being totally honest, my daughter danced there for many years. When it comes to dance, style is very important. Technique is stressed in this school but style is defenitely missing! The dancers are very robotic. It can be quite boring. It seems to me that the style is still 80'ish. If you are big on ballet then this school is for you. Ballet is very important there, and it should be. The ballet classes are very good. If you like hip-hop then stay away! Their hip-hop is horrible!! At the recital, I saw some pretty good numbers but I had never seen a good hip hop number. Hip hop is pretty popular and they really need to work on it. Jazz is ok. The tap that they teach is pretty old school and they need to start teaching the newer styles. If your daughter wants to learn acro(tumbling mixed with dance moves) then don't go there, there are no acro class. Acro is great to learn if your daughter wants to eventually do cheerleading. It also helps with flexiblity, control and strength. It is pretty popular. A lot of dance studios offer it. If you like flashy costumes, then you might be disappointed. The costumes you get there are nice but they do nothing extra to them. Many studios rhinestone the costumes to give them extra sparkle and flair onstage. It can make a pretty costume absolutely beautiful! They don't do this and it really is a shame. It can be really important especially if the number is competing at a competition. Speaking of competitions they do pretty well. But on the other hand if you are serious about competing and want a top school, check the competition websites and you will see what schools get the top scores. This school is not one of them, but they do a respectable job. The staff there are very nice. The directors can be pretty challenging. DO NOT miss class or do anything to rock the boat because they can be down right nasty!! If you read other reviews about this school then you can see I am not the only one to say this. At every dance school you will find that there is a certain degree of competition between students. Kids can be downright nasty! You will see that to a degree at this school. There are a few kids and moms that will really get under your skin. The best thing to do is ignore the politics and stay clear. Within a few months you will know who they are.


The end of the year recital is nice and they do a good job. The one thing that they could do to improve is props. Many schools have the "dance dads" get involved as well as the students and build props for some of the competition numbers and recital numbers. It can really make a number cool and exciting. They don't ever do this, all you get onstage is just the dancers. It is really fun when everyone gets together to design and build a prop. Some schools really get into it and they can be really beautiful! Dance can be extremely expensive! Do your homework before you commit to a school. There is alot to consider. If your daughter wants to compete then DEFENITELY do your homework. Don't choose a school because it is the closest to your house. There are kids that drive 30 miles daily to go to the school that my daughter currently dances at. It all depends on what you are looking for. There really is alot to consider especially for what it can cost.

[Confused]

I have to say, I HATE PROPS. and there are many people that hate it nobody wants to carry that around so its good that they don't use props. AND THERE IS NO MEAN PEOPLE HERE so i have NO CLUE what that woman is talking about. yes there are many better school's on long island and do amaziing in competition and yes it can be a little old schooled. but the person who made that other review is making it seem like its horrible if yyou think its so bad go some where else! and the students are not robotic there are some really really REALLY good dancers here so lady i really dont know what your talking about. I really enjoy tap well becuase im a dancer there and i love tap not beacuse of here beacuse i do i mean they really need to find out the new moves because here the tap its okay i mean but like they use the songs as backround music and also they are all off key.!!! it drives me nuts but that doesnt make me wanna leave!!

LIAD!

[what]

I dont know what studio they are talking about in the first review, but its not Long Island Academy I can tell you that. LIAD is a very good dance school. I've been dancing at LIAD for 9 years and my family has been there for 30 years because my aunt danced there. At every competition we do very well. We always are in the top 10 and at the last competition we won almost all of the awards. I'll admit tap isnt our best style but it's getting better as the years go by and were beginning to win with it. Hip Hop is getting so much better, and jazz, ballet, lyrical, and modern are incredible. Our dances are always amazing and at recitals my family is always entertained. I love all of the teachers at LIAD because were all like a big family. In fact they even tell us that were like their daughters (and sons). Also most teachers are a little strict once and a while because then there wouldnt be any work getting done. All i can say is LIAD is a great studio if your looking for a studio with nice people and great memories.
I LOVE LONG ISLAND ACADEMY OF DANCE!!!

[Carzi]

I agree with the first posting on some of the things she mentioned. Not all of the things.

[Dancer]

The first posting is totally right except for the fact that the Jazz curriculum is Uhh MazinnG!!!