Durham School for Ballet & the Performing Arts

Write a Review919-680-4363

CLOSED NOW - Opens at 4:00pm

Legacy Studio allows bullying. A teacher, specifically, a substitute teacher's actions in threatening, punishing, and berating a 6 year old child into a total meltdown. As the young child tries to hide herself in a ball, the teacher stands over her and frightens her from seeking help. "There's no crying in aerial silks!"-teacherLots of choices abound in the Triangle area for dance studios. When looking for a good fit, parents want what legacy says they offer. They "will support, challenge and nurture the dancers who choose to come to us. If dance isn't fun, then why do it?"-website However, if your child has a bad day and fails to comply with the "rigorous training environment"-email, "All the more reason to use a "spoonful of sugar"!"-website A spoonful of sugar is punishment through push ups and threats of continued punishment. This is standard studio wide policy. For some children, being punished is worse than the act of doing push ups. Barking of orders and berating a young child in a beginner class is not acceptable."Legacy Believes... that respect is vital in every area of life."-website Tell me, how is punishment, bullying, and fear instilling respect? That's fear of authority. I had two children in the same class. As my youngest was being terrorized, my oldest was terrified to even go to her younger sister and comfort her or seek help. She, just a bystander, was afraid, too.Now, as a parent, one would be unhappy with maltreatment of your child. If you talk about it, you broke the law of the land. The "code of conduct" does not allow for voicing concerns about the health and well being of your child. That's "completely inappropriate", "rudeness and hostility". -email I tried to remain calm discussing the situation. I started to tear up as I asked that someone tell the substitute to be kinder to young kids she doesn't know when she comes into a classroom. I offered the advice of instead of standing over the child and reprimanding their tears away, to send them out of the class to their parents."We encourage our students to start practicing a positive mental attitude here and our instructors role model this attitude."-website I believe in building children up, giving them a positive self image and teach them to treat others with respect. That's a positive mental attitude. Shaming a child is not part of that. Being a role model for bullying is definitely not okay.Now, this was just the final straw. Since we signed up for the class, Legacy has made three changes to the class dress. 1. Any tight fitting clothes. In May, after signing up for class.2. Black long sleeve leotard, black leggings. August 25, first day of class. My husband was brought into the office and chastised by management. No student in the class was dressed appropriately. I purchased the proper attire next day.3. Raspberry (special order) long sleeve leotard, black leggings. Two weeks into class, management changed their mind. I asked that they measure my children for proper sizing. Legacy management, Keele, said they were great at eye balling measurements. I told her, if you don't measure them, its not going to fit. Early October, the leotards finally come in. Guess what! They don't fit. Management ordered an XSmall for my Large child and a Small for my Medium child. Again, they did not measure and just ordered sizes. We got one to fit this time.I overlooked the lack of professionalism of the studio in choosing a dress code. I overlooked the layer of dust blanketing the waiting areas. I overlooked the disregard for my request to properly size my children from the first time. I CANNOT overlook studio practices that allow for punishing and bullying of young children.There are plenty of dance studios out there. Both my girls have been actively taken classes in Ballet, Tap, Broadway, and Gymnastics at...