Movement Arts Studio

My daughter took ballet classes at Movement Arts this year. I really appreciate how passionate her instructor Troy is. He is strict about being on time and dressed properly for class. He’s also strict about parent commitment to bringing children to their performances. He works the kids hard and yes, they are tired afterward. This is the experience I was hoping for, so my daughter would know what it’s like to dedicate herself to an activity. Kudos to Troy for being demanding, and also for being an amazing communicator. This guy really knows how to bring little ones along and get them focused!

Starting with the very first class the focus was to learn a routine to perform in October. During the hour of class time the owner/​instructor Troy spend almost all of his time teaching the routine, and VERY little time teaching correct form and technique.
My daughter told Troy prior to class starting, that she was not going to be in the Halloween show. He immediately approached me in the dance studio and in front of numerous children, including my daughter and other parents began to yell at me inquiring about why she wasn’t going to be in the show. Mind you that nowhere did it state, neither on the contract nor on the website that these performances were mandatory. He continued on to say that that’s what their here to do is learn routines to do at performances. He went on to say that each routine builds on another to perform at the next recital (all of these at additional costs.). Now i completely understand the idea of building on one another, however not being in the recital would not affect her learning them. I then advised him that we were going to be out of town during the Christmas recital and it was at that point that he got even more upset towards me and said I’ll talk to you after class.
My daughter is always very happy in class, smiling and encouraging to all the other girls. Today after hearing Troy speak to me she was visibly upset during class and to the point that another parent noticed and mentioned it to me.
When class was over Troy came storming out of the dance studio door towards me and said «you’re not going to be in this performance or the Christmas one?» My answer was «no.»
Troy then said well isn’t a good fit for you. I told him okay, because after the way he had treated me and my daughter before class that I didn’t want to come back. He then told us to leave and walked away in a huff. At no point was he ever polite or apologetic or even understanding and he never gave me an opportunity to even express why she wasn’t going to be in the recital.
My daughter started crying and said I knew he wasn’t going to let me come back. I asked her why she thought that and she said because of the way he talked to you before class.
Because I had already paid for the month and had basically been kicked out, I walked back into the studio to ask for a refund. I told him ‘calmly’ that I thought he was very unprofessional, before I could say another word he started screaming at me again in front of everyone saying «you’re not going to talk to me like this in front of the children» I found this statement to be absurd, as it was his behavior that was VERY improper in front of everyone, especially the children. He began walking towards me causing me to back away from him, while doing so he said I’ ll talk in front of everyone but not the kids. My response was «well you did before». As he continued to berate me in front of the parents and children, I stood there in disbelief as to what was occurring just because my daughter wasn’t going to be in his recital. Troy’s next statement was to threaten me by saying something to the effect of «you don’t know who you’re dealing with» and made some reference to I better watch out. I can’t remember exactly what he said because I think I went into shock. His final words were telling me to leave and get off his property.
I never raised my voice to him, approached him in any improper manner or did anything to warrant being treated so terrible. I find it very disappointing that an adult would act in such a horrendous way in front of children… such a poor role model.
So here is the follow-​up to my post on October 10^th; after explaining to my husband what had occurred at Movement Arts Studio he said that we would arrange a meeting with the owner and inquire about getting the balance of our payment back. He called the studio the next day and asked what time he could visit the studio, and was told 4:00 PM. He arrived a bit before 4:00 and waited in the parking lot. To my husbands’ surprise when Troy the owner arrived, he had brought with him an Orlando Police Officer. Although I was not present at this meeting, my husband did voice record it, and here are the highlights; Troy called both me and my husband liars in reference to what had occurred the previous day and surprisingly made a comment about my daughter continuing to take dance lessons there. It was then that my husband reminded Troy that he had kicked me and my daughter off his property and said «it wasn’t a good fit». To this Troy said «oh yeah I did say that.» Troy then handed my husband a check that was filled out for the entire amount I had paid to date. To me this in and of itself is an admission of guilt.
Since last week, I have heard from numerous people that his behavior with me is not uncommon and that they too have experienced him beginning completely unreasonable when it comes to dance recital. Due to his behavior they have quit Movement Arts Studio.