Marjorie Kovich School Of Ballet

Wonderful classic ballet school. Marjorie and her teachers care a lot about the growth of their dancers. I have seen several of her senior ballerinas recognized for their talent and accepted into ballet programs across the country. They are also able to accommodate varying levels of ballet experience. All ages come to the school and by the end of the year they are dancing up a storm.

My 5 year old attended this school for about 6 months. I’ll try to make this short…
1. VERY strict school. These 5 year olds want to be frilly and whimsical ballerinas. Not here. Tutu’s are not allowed, except 1 day every few months. Seriously? If a 5 year old is serious in ballet, having frilly and whimsical ballet classes will not diminish that desire!
2. Miss Marjorie, while a wonderful dancer and what appears to have a successful business, could use some skills in working with 5 year olds. The look on their little faces when she scorns them for making a mistake (God forbid!) is devastating! My daughter had taken ballet previously (in WA state) for 3 years and had always loved dancing. However, when it was time to go to ballet, she became withdrawn and not interested in going. We almost had to drag her there. I am not the only mother who thinks this… several other do, but their daughters have not made the decision to leave, just yet…
3. With regards to her «refund policy» for their annual recital, it is non refundable. OK. I get it. I knew her policy, because she stated it very, very often. Non refundable.
4. So, two weeks after we paid the fee just to basically have the right to participate in the recital, my daughter broke down in tears begging us to not make her go back. So, of course she didn’t return.
5. Our check for the fee had NOT yet been cashed, so in writing, I requested (insert pleaded for) a refund, thinking that it wasn’t that we decided to not participate in the recital, but it was instead because our daughter wasn’t returning. AT ALL. Guess what. Nope.
6. In fact, hours after requesting our refund, she CASHED the check. I even sent Miss Marjorie a sincere email pleading our case, but she didn’t EVEN respond.
7. Miss Marjorie kept the $ 85. $ 85 to just be allowed to participate. $ 85 to help offset the costs of organizing the recital. (But, remember we were NOT participating or returning! What good would my $ 85 do her if she didn’t have to offset costs for my daughter when she wasn’t participating!) The fee didn’t even include Miss Marjorie’s additional fees for the costume, tickets… etc. $ 85 is a lot of money and especially around the holidays. That buys a lot of Barbies and tutus for a 5 year old…
I guess I didn’t make it a short review after all. Yes, I knew her refund policy in advance, but I guess I thought she could/​would make an exception, based on our circumstances. I guess the $ 85 we paid her, essentially for nothing, meant that much to her.