Triangle Academy Of Dance

TAD is a wonderful training ground with a very supportive staff who care about the quality of instruction and the development and success of the students. The school also houses a student ballet company that performs two full ballets a season in a professional theater with beautiful costumes, backdrops, and props. The training is formal but friendly, thorough, encouraging, and challenging! The studio also has a very active, competing jazz company. If excellence is what you are looking for then TAD is definitely the studio for you! Not only do the students receive wonderful training and performance opportunities, the students are taught to be excellent in all their endeavors and these standards echo into all aspects of their lives! I just couldn't recommend TAD more---from child to adult! more

I love TAD it's the best, it's simply amazing! more

I strongly recommend this school! I have danced there for many years and I'm in their ballet company the Carolina Youth Ballet. The teachers care about thier students and put time into each and everyone of them. There costumes are amazing and they have more than 5 different teachers from the Carolina Ballet! True dancers come out of this school for sure(: I feel like as a dancer I can come here and have confidence in my self because the staff supports not only me but other students here. I love TAD and the Carolina Youth Ballet. more

My daughter has danced at TAD since she was 3 and is now part of the Carolina Youth Ballet and jazz team. If you are looking for a program that focuses on technique and allows dancers to have experiences such as classes taught by professional dancers, peforming classical ballets, etc., I hightly recommend it. While technique is important, the staff truly cares about the dancers. I also like the quality and standards they set from costume selection to dance style. I have been to other shows and been shocked by the skimpy costumes and provacative style routines. TAD doesn't resort to this. It is truly a first class facility. more

Classes challenge young dancers. Professional atmosphere. Members of the Carolina Ballet teach the older girls and do an amazing job with that and the choreography in the Carolina Youth Ballet shows. Jazz and Tap also good with emphasis on technique and artistry. more

Triangle academy of dance (TAD ) is a wonderful environment for young dancers to even adults! The staff is very supportive in and out of the classroom. All of their performances are done at a very professional level. All classes build a comradery between the dancers. CarolinaYouth Ballet (CYB ) is a great organization for young ballet dancers. Dancers get instruction from many of the professional dancers from the Carolina Ballet company and put on spectacular performances! This studio has a great supportive atmosphere for dancers and parents! I have truly enjoyed all 13 and counting years at this studio! more

Triangle Academy(TAD) and the Carolina Youth Ballet(CYB-a non profit org linked to TAD) is a wonderful place for all young dancers no matter what their aspirations are. The linkage to CYB gives you access to instruction from professional dancers with the Carolina Ballet who are a joy to work with. This studio has something for everyone-even an adult tap class, which allowed this reviewer to once again confirm he has no natural rhythm at all-but hey, at least I know for certain now! The staff also does a good job of creating a community with the adults, especially during performance time for CYB as a lot of love and effort go into performances on all fronts. We highly recommend this studio. more

My daughters have been attending Triangle Academy of Dance for the last 3 years. They switched from another, very large, dance studio in the area. I wish we had known about TAD from the beginning. Both of my children have flourished at this school. Not only have they learned proper technique, but the joy and fun of dance as well. The ballet company, the Carolina Youth Ballet, is another wonderful opportunity for dancers to learn and perform outside of class. Ms. Annette and her staff have been wonderful role models for my daughters. I highly recommend them. more

My 4 daughters all attend Triangle Academy of Dance. They all love the teachers! The Carolina Youth ballet just put on their spring show, Coppelia, and it was wonderful! The students in CYB get to work with professional dancers from The Carolina Ballet. We highly recommend the dance school. The studio has made very positive changes over the past year and we feel it is a very caring and professional environment for children of all ages. more

My three daughters have attending the Triangle Academy of Dance for six years now, and every year gets better. This past year has been an amazing year for my older daughter, as she was accepted into the competitive Jazz Team and Carolina Youth Ballet. She has loved the new instructors and changes at the school this past year. Margaret Severin-Hansen (Principal ballerina with Carolina Ballet) is the new Assistant Director of the Carolina Youth Ballet and is so wonderful, caring and professional with the children. We are also so grateful for the Jazz Team, as these dancers learn technique and not just the flash that's out there today. The Jazz costumes, music and dances are age appropriate and mommy approved! I highly recommend this school! more

My daughter has been taking ballet and jazz classes for 5 years here and loves every minute of it. She is also part of the Carolina Youth Ballet company here. The class experience is a great environment for the kids. The teachers are professional, structured and caring with the students. The kids are encouraged and pushed to grow and learn but at the right pace and with the correct teaching. Most importantly, my daughter has FUN at every class, practice and performance. The teachers encourage the kids to work hard but also ENJOY the whole process. The kids are learning the value of working hard, dedication, teamwork and exercise as well as the chance to perform in a professional production. There is a family environment here with the parents getting involved in the RIGHT way to volunteer when needed to make each performance a success and joy to watch. We have been very happy with all the classes, teachers and performances. If you are looking for a professional, open, caring environment for your child to dance, this is the place! more

I have to agree with the lady who said they have an unhealthy environment. I took my daughter there 4 years ago and she hated going every week. I thought she just needed encouragement, but when she started telling me the things the teacher (owner) told her, I was mortified. She called them lazy slobs and made fun of them in front of the other girls (very hard for an adolescent). She also kept telling them that all the other studios are bad and she would demonstrate how ""bad"" they were by sticking out her rear end and stumbling around. I tried to talk to the owner to see if there was a misunderstanding, but she was very snippy and said ""I'm a ballet teacher and ballet is hard. If I just play with them, they'll never be good dancers"" I tried to make my daughter finish out the year since you have to pay up front, but she was in tears too many times and she wasnt learning anything anyway. I asked myself ""Is my daughter really THAT bad?"" but I realized all of the girls in the class didn't even try because they felt so bad about themselves. I finally pulled her out and she didn't ever want to dance again. Thankfully, I found out my neighbors daughter danced at the conservatory people had been reccomending. We went to see her in a recital and my daughter was inspired to try again. I live pretty far south of Cary and at first, I wasnt thrilled about driving to Preston twice a week at rush hour. But, I take turns carpooling with my neighbor. I'm so glad we discovered this place. My daughter is like a different person and I am actually amazed that over the past 4 years, she has turned into a very beautiful, skilled dancer. And, most importantly, she is happy and has healthy self-esteem. Now she dances 4 days a week and can't wait to go back again and again. The staff is very loving and fun, which makes the kids WANT to learn. The level of dancing is so much higher and more professional than TAD. The atmosphere is very supportive and the kids all cheer each other on. Our family couldn't be happier! I simply don't understand why other parents would choose the environment at TAD. They must believe it when the owner tells them all the other studios are bad. They need to take their blinders off and realize there is so much better out there. more

My two girls have been at TAD for 9 years, had classes from virtually every teacher and class (all of whom are professional teachers) not teenagers or other untrained dancers you might find at other schools). Every experience has been wonderful for my girls. The teachers know how to teach, not just dance. They know how to encourage children of every age to improve and have fun at the same time. Annette (the owner) truly cares about every child and family. She places the children and the love of dance above everything else. You can really see the difference - TAD is a place for families who want the best for their children - check it our for yourself. more

TAD is truly a family oriented dance school. They embrace every child, regardless of ability. In fact, they a offer dance for children with special needs, including an amazing program for young children with autism. The patience and love that is evident in every class they offer is inspiring. They have all the elements you would expect for a great dance experience and education for your child. Professional and caring staff, great facility, and a love of child and dance alike. You can't go wrong here if you want your child to get creative dance instruction and grow as a person and dancer. more

Our girls have been dancing at TAD for 3 years. We have a younger child in the intro classes and an older daughter in the advanced program. In both cases, our girls receive nurturing and professional dance education. Yes, the teachers expect every child to do their individual best. The teachers and staff show their love of the children and their love of dance in everything they do. We have learned that there are literally hundreds of families at TAD and some have been there more than 14 years from age 3 - 18! That is the best statement of the quality of a place. The few negative comments here are generally from parents that completely unable to accept any kind of constructive comments about their child that are designed to help there child grow. We have all seen these types of parents - they are the same parents that blame their school teachers or soccer coach when their child isn't the star. There are lots of great schools in the area and we chose TAD because it is the best combination of professional instruction and nurturing development of young dancers. more

My child took dance here for several years. We had heard about the strict environment before we enrolled her in class. I have no problem with kids being asked to live up to high standards. I believe in pushing my kids to do their best but the techniques used by several of the teachers here are demeaning and in my opinion abusuve. \r \r Children are humiliated in front of their peers for making mistakes. There is no room to learn by trying and making a few mistakes along the way. Children are basically terrified in to a submissive state and then made to feel less worthy of the teachers attention because they have disappointed her.\r \r After seeing several of the shows that their performing company CAROLIINA YOUTH BALLET but on I was very impressed with the quality of the shows. But seeing behind the scenes as to how they get that level of performance out of the dancers was an eye opener. It is shocking that parents pay to let their kids be treated this way.\r \r My child is younger but I have seen the older dancers leave the dance room in tears repeatedly after being told things like you are nothing, a zero, not worth my time, I should have chosen ""susie"" for this role because you are a lazy person. The kids are basicaly brainwashed into believng that every other place that teaches dance is horrible and the only way you can learn proper technique.is by being pounded over and over by abusive words and demeaning remarks. \r \r Whole classes of kids are bad mouthed by a teacher to other classes of kids. ""Don't be lazy like them"" or ""they are all to slow and fat to learn how to dance."" I know a parent who spoke to the owner and afterward her child was humiliated in class by the teacher that the complaint was against. She was told to tell her mommy she was a lazy arrogant child and the teacher passed by her at the bar and told her to get her mother to give her dance corrections since she was to week to take the teachers. When the child started to cry she was told to fix her face and stop being a baby. She was 9 or 10. Other children see this and don't complain because they are afraid they will be humilited next..\r \r We stayed for a few years because I really thought the girls were exgaerating or ""being gossips"". I realized these girls were not just hormoanal teenagers but victims of 2 abusive adults. I began to see this place is a very bad environment for children. All the things you hear about what a teacher says or does to kids here are probally based in truth. Some may be embellished but they have a basis from truth. THIS IS NOT A HEALTHY PLACE FOR KIDS!! more

TAD is a fabulous place for children, teens and adults to experience the joy of dance. The director is the most lovely person I have met in the dance world. Her staff is professional, caring and talented staff. The facility is world class. Our 3 daughters have been to other dance schools before finding TAD and I can tell you, they will never go anywhere else! We love it. more

Triangle Academy of Dance is awesome. Great teachers, great kids. So much talent in one place is truly amazing, and everyone, not matter your level feels special at TAD. Carolina Youth Ballet is amazing. The performances are gorgeous! I can't begin to describe how professional they are. What a great experience for the kids to perform at Progress Energy Center for Performing Arts in Raleigh. If you want professional, nurturing, dance instruction, a sense of family and lots of fun, look no further. TAD has it all. more

TAD is a fabulous place for children, teens and adults to experience the joy of dance. The director is the most lovely person I have met in the dance world. Her staff is professional, caring and talented staff. The facility is world class. Our 3 daughters have been to other dance schools before finding TAD and I can tell you, they will never go anywhere else! We love it. more

Triangle Academy of Dance severely lacks the most important aspect of a local dance school - heart. I attended this school for 6 years and was a part of their dance company, Carolina Youth Ballet. While the costumes were beautiful, the classes were mediocre and the teachers were cold. Dancers shouldn’t have to learn to love abuse. A certain teacher at TAD would give out the cruelest remarks, such as: “your parents don’t love you because you don’t work hard enough”. Not every dancer is equal. The ones who did not show ideal mastery of a skill would be ignored in class and put in the back for performances. The ballet classes taught at TAD are slow moving; once I changed studios I had a hard time adjusting to a more advanced and fast paced speed. Most of the classes consisted of a lengthy barre and an unusually short time across the floor. The teachers allotted more time to the repetition of simple steps then to actual ballet movement. All in all, the classes were boring. Pros: pretty costumes Cons: cold teachers, boring classes, no complex choreography more