I was sorry to read Dee' s review and am compelled to give testimony here about my very differing experience. My daughter graduated high school in June 2013, thus graduating the LASD program, also, which she has need a part of since the first grade. At LASD, not only did she receive excellent dance training, she also learned what it means to be part of a team, to encourage others, to accept recognition and praise elegantly when deserved and to deal with disappointment when overlooked for a desired role. At LASD, she found a place to soar while freely expressing herself through her dance. Each of her instructors were, of course, different in their style of teaching, but all were able to challenge my daughter to do her best and to make her feel stronger for her efforts. Her classmates, each in their own uniqueness, became friends through the years. Actually, they were more like sisters, considering how much time they spent together through dance. Together they laughed, cried, shared, argued, grew apart, came back even closer, welcomed new friends, said goodbye to others leaving, all while maneuvering through elementary, middle,and high school. There is not going to be any place our kids go that will be completely void of drama but having them involved in something that they love to do is certainly a way to sidestep a lot of it. Then again, it isn't in their best interest to protect them from all of it. With the dance lesson schedule comes an excellent opportunity for them to, in a safe place, learn to communicate their needs respectfully while also learning self-respect and self-discipline. The lessons these kids learn at LASD go far beyond the dance studio.
I would like Dee and anyone who may have been put off to LASD by what she wrote, what apparently happened that day with her daughter would have been better served by going to the instructor or even the owner. I know Sharon herself would have spoken to Dee and her daughter to repair any harm done and would want you both to feel welcome. It is not fitting or acceptable that students would be allowed to laugh at another during class. The instructors I know at LASD would simply not put up with such disrespect at any time.
I respect and appreciate what LASD has provided my daughter through the years and so does she. Being a little one, herself, looking up to the senior dancers, all the way to when she became one of those senior dancers, giving hugs to those little ones, my daughter has no regrets of those many years at LASD. She and the rest of our family only have the best and most wonderful memories of "our" time there. Thank you.
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