4S Dance Academy

We have tried several dance studios in the area and not one has been as welcoming or kind as 4S. The teachers are experienced, fun, and ensure that our kids are always safe. In the last year, my daughter has grown exponentially as a dancer and gained such confidence in herself. Last night was our first recital experience with 4S dance and I cannot emphasize how wonderful our overall experience has been. We had such a wonderful time and loved seeing all of the performances. Special thank you to Christina for being the best teacher to our kiddo - see you again the fall!

Been going to 4S Dance for 7 years. My daughters have loved jazz/lyrical, ballet, tap, hip hop, musical theater and Nutcracker. The owners are passionate about what they do, the dance instructors are the best and my girls love it. Their summer camps are incredible (literally they only want to do ones here) and they have pilates for adults with the absolute greatest instructor...I've been going for a year now and love it.

I just can't say enough good things about 4s Dance Academy. We have tried several in the area but this place is just the best! Great instructors, the owners are so kind, and it is so well run. So happy we found it as a place to call our dance home.

We have 2 children who have been attending for a few years now and absolutely love the quality and care the instructors put into classes and into the performances. They do great work!

My daughter loves to dance with Ms. Shay.

I have a sister who comes here every Wednesday and I love you guys so much

Still a wonderfully nurturing dance studio with immensely patient and dedicated teachers and staff. It's been 9 years, and the studio has grown in space and homegrown talent, which is evident in the ambitious goals the studio successfully executes each year. This is a ballet-based studio with a growing musical theater program, and fun recreational/non-competitive class offerings in ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, hip hop and even pilates reformer. The ballet side includes a pre-pro program that is intended to nurture students with professional dance aspirations or just want to be in "club level" ballet (i.e. your young 9 year old kid will be there 2-3 times a week and your 12/13+ tween will be there 4/5 times a week multiple hours a day. Dancers participating in shows will have Saturday rehearsals). The AD has an annual assessment (for pre-pro students) to assess goals and steps needed to achieve them. Recently, many of these students have been invited to well known ballet SIs, including PNB, PBT, SAB, and ABT. The AD further supports their school/ballet balance and many of the pre-pro dancers have been waived out of PE through OCIS (Off Campus Independent Study). Annually, the staff presents "the Nutcracker" where all roles (except 1-2 adult male roles, which are professionally filled) are casted by their classically trained students. Over the last 3 years, they've also presented a shorter storybook ballet of similar caliber. Every year we've been here, there has been an end of year recital series, which is the main opportunity for the non-ballet students to present what they've learned in choreographed pieces. The studio has grown to include a musical theater program, which also provides opportunities to shine in "Mini Musicals". Yes, the hallways can be a little "extra", but that's what happens when students love the place so much that they are there for multiple classes in the afternoons, and on rehearsal weekends. And yes, dance can be pricey, but my experience is that the rec level classes are comparable to any other rec level activity my other kid has done with *professional* teachers, it's obviously more expensive than little league or soccer which are volunteer coached. Further, pricing is on a tiered structure, where "the more classes you take, the cheaper your 5th, 6th, 7th, etc class is." And yes - sounds nuts, but many of the pre-pro kids love it there enough that they're there for that many classes. Lastly, I didn't realize how grateful I am for this until my daughter got older, but the owners refuse to allow revealing costumes and uniforms. You'll find the students in leotards/tights, athleisure wear, and tasteful recital costumes - not a booty short or bra/crop top in sight, as I wish dance culture would be. Overall, a great place to be for those with professional ballet aspirations (and who want to be challenged appropriately), or who want to learn other styles for enjoyment without the expectation to compete.

It's okay for the price. However it's quite a process to get the owner to reply to any questions that are about money and payment (when it's not beneficial for the business, like canceling lessons and getting credits or refunds). Young kid that works at the front desk is practically non-existent. No acknowledgement or checking who it is coming in, and the hallway is cramped with loud parents and sometimes wild kids. The overall culture here doesn't feel "academy" like, but the requirements of uniforms do. Teacher qualities vary. Time of the dance lessons isn't very good for fulltime working families with kids who want to learn hip pop or break dance. Ballet is the main focus of this studio

The evening was wonderful and we look forward to going again The instructors work so well with the students.

This is a family owned and operated dance studio. All of the employees and dancers are so sweet and helpful. The girls really follow the leadership of the owners and operators Shay and Jason. They run this studio with passion and love for its students. They allow drop in trials so sign up on their website if you want to check a class out. My daughter does the Musical Theater classes and is just starting to try ballet.

Love this dance studio! The owners are awesome human beings and you can tell they are passionate about what they do! It feels like a family and my daughters have loved going. They are in person now (and we are on the super caution spectrum of this virus) but feel like they do a phenomenal job with safety, cleanliness and making sure the parents are in the know with their protocols and procedures. It's tough for small businesses especially right now and this is one I definitely support!

Wonderful space with amazing ownership! The faculty here is the best. They care so much about each and every student. LOVE 4S

Friendly family run business. Went to a couple of dance places for my daughter and this is the one she really likes. I really like this place too. I have been to a couple other places and this was one of the studios where little girls were not being taught to dance suggestively. Geared towards ballet. Nice, professional teachers. Nice facility in the Westwood area.

I am so grateful that Shay & Jason have taken over 4S Dance Academy. They are wonderful people and great with the kids, and of course Ms. Shay is an excellent teacher as is the rest of the staff. My girls love going to dance in a nurturing yet disciplined dance environment. They have done a great job with the space they have to make it possible for parents to see their children dance. We have been to a couple of other studios, and 4S is definitely by far the best in the area for us! We are excited to have been a part of the 1st 4S Dance recital last June and are looking forward to the 2nd!

Under new ownership!!!! We liked it before they bought it and now we LOVE it! The new owners care about the quality and are there every day! It's a small family business which I love! Super cute and family oriented place! They do a nutcracker every year and performances each session!