While the faculty is upbeat and friendly, this dance studio will take every opportunity to weasel extra money from you once you agree to register. First there is the registration fee ($20) to even begin attending classes on a regular basis (This basically pays for the "free" trial session permitted per new customer). Then there is their make-up class policy (please note that the only excusable absence is illness. Therefore, if you injure yourself in or outside of a class, that is no excuse for missing the next class. Try tap dancing on a sprained ankle!! Garri Dance encourages you!!!). Of course you can always make-up a class - but only within 30 days of the missed class and ONLY IF YOU ARE AN ACTIVE STUDENT. So theoretically, Garri Dance can easily make money off of classes you do not attend. It's like a gift card that expires. You pay $100 for a gift card, but if the person does not use it within 30 days, that money is good as gone. Except this is worse. Because at Garri Dance, the expiration date may not apply. YOU MUST BE AN ACTIVE STUDENT within the next 30 days in order to make-up that class. So if you get sick and must miss the last class in February and you have your account on hold for the month of March, you can never technically make-up that class. **Also important to note, if you plan to cancel your class, you must give the studio THIRTY (30) days notice as they charge for the classes automatically through your debit card/checking account at the beginning of each month.** The issue that really made me lose respect for this company however, was the hidden fee associated with the annual dance recital. The dance recital is $125 and includes the costume, alterations, and two complimentary tickets (yeah, the tickets not so free, huh?). However, they tack on this hidden fee for the mandatory dress rehearsal. They charge this as an extra class (because you know, the staff has to be there), but nowhere in the recital packet does it mention this extra fee. The packet denotes the mandatory dress rehearsal, but they do not mention the cost and they do not include this in the recital fee. And they won't charge you until the month of the recital - and at this point, any recital refunds are out of the question. Their shady business practices have turned me off to this studio. Highly NOT recommended!!!
Pros: Friendly staff
Cons: Hidden fees, poor class policies
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