Does anyone have any recent experience at both Stacey's and Rowland Ballard for dance?

My daughter is currently at Stacey's, but thinking about switching her, or trying something new. 

Rowland Ballard 

Hands down - Rowland Ballard

I did older kids former dance instructor suggested Rowland Ballard and she was right! My youngest attends and she loves it. 

Rowland's is more hard core, simply put. Both places are good. So if your DD is the driven perfectionist type, she may enjoy the greater challenge at Rowland's. Stacey has different skill level groups to pick from but i don't think the pressure is the same. 

Stacey has different skill level groups to pick from but i don't think the pressure is the same.?

But Stacey's wants your kid to join the company when they are only 5 years old. I think that is pushing it and it is too stressfull for young girls. Don't get me wrong, my kids and I love Stacey and although it has been many years since they took dance from her, she still knows their names.

Rowland's is higher pressure than Stacy's. 

Have your child try Rowland Ballard and let her decide.

This same discussion happens with Juergen's Gym over Roland Ballard for gymnastics. It's a different culture at each place, you have to decide what works for your family/child. 

Well, since you know what Stacey's is like, how about going to Rowland Ballard's dance recital next month and see what you think?

We did Rowland. My only experience with Stacey's is seeing the girls perform their dances at the school talent show. I do think that the younger (12 and under) dancers at Stacey's are "better" dancers than those at Rowland when it comes to spot turns, precision, etc (though the ones I've seen have been on pretty high level team). What they learn at Stacey's is amazing. Rowland's is more classical training and if you wanted ballet through high school, as well as a variety of other formats, than I'd go with that.

The revealing clothing and dance moves of some of Stacey's is what turned me off. It seems to be the culture these days (watch Dance Moms) - you even see middle school girls eating out in public in their short volleyball shorts. Skeeters used to be overrun with dancers in leotards and butt shorts after dance practice. I'm just an old fogey, I guess, and go the traditional, conservative route. 

Rowland Ballard definitely 

The revealing clothing and dance moves of some of Stacey's is what turned me off.

The revealing outfits and dance moves are why we moved to another dance company. 

Not sure where you live, but Define Dance in Atascocita is ballet based and owned by a Christian family, so no trashy clothes or dance moves. It might be too far for you to drive, but I just wanted to pass the info along. 

I live in the back of Kingwood. I will look into Rowland and Define. Thanks for the info. She is 5, so maybe I am over thinking it. Ideally, I would like for her to have proper technique and enjoy dance without any "Dance Mom" craziness! 

I hope you enjoy this discussion, but please, NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY! 

We have done both. Rolland Ballard hands down. At Stacy's the training is not as good unless you are on team. Rowland Ballard has amazing professional teachers. They put on beautiful productions. Also we have not found it to be high pressure at all. Try it you will not be disappointed. 

but Define Dance in Atascocita is ballet based and owned by a Christian family

Yes, I would use Define Dance. They are not too far from Kingwood. If you have to drive all the way to the front of Kingwood you might as well go to Define. My girls took dance at Call to Glory which was a Christ based dance studio before they moved out to Huffman. I think some of the instructors from Call to Glory are now at Define. 

We do competitive at Stacey's and my daughter has been very happy. I like that she has a chance to perform multiple times throughout the year. I think it is preparing her to be a Fillie in high school. I'm pretty conservative and have never been given an inappropriate costume for a team dance.

If she wanted to be a ballerina we would have chosen Rowlands. 

Good luck with the Fillies! 

At 5 my girls went to the Y. They had the best time and had fun, which at that age is what it's all about anyway, right? None of them pursued ballet but they had fun trying it out. One DD went in to Rowlands for gymnastics after trying it out at the Y. 

My daughter dances at Stacey's and we love it. I danced my whole life and I am so impressed with Stacey's studio. Stacey is an amazing woman and teacher. She is a role model and a mentor! Not to mention how much she loves the lord. She is always doing charity fundraisers to help the community. My DD will be doing a competition team this year and we are so excited. We checked out R. Ballards a few times and everyone seemed very standoffish and cold. I have seen a few of their productions and they were well done. Stacey's teams are so impressive to watch compete , I am always proud to be part of her studio. I just think it comes down to where you feel more comfortable. We personally would not trade Stacey for anyone else!!:)) 

Completely agree, panamagirl. Our child is not old enough for dance classes but we did go to RB for the parent/child tumbling class last year - took 4 classes and never went back. The people who worked there could not have cared less if we were there. The instructors seemed to have their favorites and didn't even remember our names after 3 classes. So, while they are both probably fabulous at instruction you probably want to go where you feel welcome and respected. After all, the classes aren't cheap! I certainly did not want to give RB any more of my money - we will certainly give Stacey's a try. 

@lisapisa- At Stacey's the most amazing thing is Stacey teaches all the young girls herself and she knows all of their names!! She gives so much of her heart and soul into her teaching and it shows. Our daughter has never missed a day in 2 years because she loves Stacey so much. She always wants to go see her!:)) My husband and I appreciate her teaching our DD with so much love and kindness. We really love going to her studio and I hope you will too! 

If you want dance classes then go to Rowland's. If you want to be on a dance team there are options at both. Stacey's is more of what you will see on Dance Moms although I would say the majority of the women do not act like the moms on that show. Stacey herself is fantastic, warm and loving. Cheryl Rowland is not all warm and fuzzy but has supported Kingwood and the Arts here for decades. Both women are an asset to Kingwood. Their programs are very different. Both put a lot of pressure on the kids to perform for recitals and team competitions. I would give the edge to Rowland's on proper dance technique. If you want dance classes you will be disappointed in Stacey's come competition season when all the instructor cancel classes multiple times to go be with their dance teams. 

I have had my DD dance at Stacey's for two years and have never had a single class cancelled. My niece danced there all through high school and I never heard her say she had a class cancelled at Stacey's. My DD had perfect attendance but I did hear the staff offer kids the ones that missed due to illness a chance to make up the class. 

I have had my DD dance at Stacey's for two years and have never had a single class cancelled. My niece danced there all through high school and I never heard her say she had a class cancelled at Stacey's. My DD had perfect attendance but I did hear the staff offer kids the ones that missed due to illness a chance to make up the class.?



How old is your daughter? The itty bitty girls don't take from the team instructors. Was your niece and daughter in regular dance classes or team classes?

I guess its really only the Friday classes that were an issue come to think of it. 

Do you work for Stacey's Dance, panamagirl? 

@ Dorothyparker- No, I have the joy of being a stay at home mom with an almost 5 year old. I work every now again at the LOFT, a clothing store. As far as my niece goes she was not on any teams, just regular studio classes. 

My daughter is taking at RB. I love it and so does she (which is most important to me.) At her young age, I feel it's more important to teach her technique, etc. I have no interest in her competing at her age and will not push it until she shows interest. If she never does, I'm okay with that! :) 

I am sure both places offer free trial classes. My daughter has been at Staceys for 2 and 1/2 years and we loved it. When we tried RB for tumbling recently, she was too distracted from all of the other classes to focus on what she needed. Miss Stacey is amazing and she truely teaches the girls to be passionate about dancing even at a preschool level. When registering, you can request a class that she teaches however any preschool teacher there is amazing!!! Take a trial class this summer and register for fall. You won't be disappointed.