Discover the Art of Dance at Golden Slippers in Virginia Beach, VA

Golden Slippers Introduce

For decades, Golden Slippers Dance Academy has been a cornerstone of dance education in Virginia Beach, serving generations of aspiring dancers across our local community. Established in 1979, this highly acclaimed studio has grown to four convenient locations, each committed to providing a warm, friendly, and professional environment where students can discover and cultivate their passion for movement. With a rich history and a reputation for excellence, Golden Slippers has consistently been voted “Best of the Beach” Dance Studio, a testament to its enduring quality and impact on local families.

Golden Slippers offers a comprehensive curriculum spanning various dance genres, catering to students from preschool age through adulthood. Their philosophy extends beyond just technical instruction; it aims to nurture each child's individual growth as a dancer, ensuring they genuinely enjoy their dance experience. While the studio prides itself on its professional instruction and spectacular recitals held at prestigious venues like Chrysler Hall, it also faces the challenges inherent in large-scale operations, particularly during significant events. This article aims to provide Virginia residents with a detailed overview of Golden Slippers, exploring its offerings, accessibility, key features, and why it remains a prominent choice for dance education in our vibrant coastal community.

Introduction / Overview

Golden Slippers Dance Academy is a renowned dance institution in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with a long-standing history dating back to its founding in 1979. Over more than four decades, it has established itself as a leader in dance education, earning numerous accolades, including being voted “Best of the Beach” Dance Studio with a GOLD Award for seventeen consecutive years. This recognition underscores their consistent commitment to providing high-quality dance training and a positive experience for their students.

The academy operates across four convenient locations within Virginia Beach – Lynnhaven, General Booth/Redmill, Kempsville/Greenbrier, and Haygood – making it accessible to a wide range of families in the area. Golden Slippers offers a diverse curriculum designed to teach fundamental technical skills in a fun and encouraging manner, catering to students from ages 3 to adult. Their program is structured to guide students from their first creative movement classes through comprehensive dance curricula, ultimately fostering not only skilled dancers but also individuals who enjoy and appreciate the art of dance. With a focus on providing a quality product at a reasonable price and prioritizing convenience, Golden Slippers continues to be a top choice for dance enthusiasts in the Virginia Beach community.

Location and Accessibility

Golden Slippers Dance Academy's location provided for this specific listing is 1253 Nimmo Pkwy # 107, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, USA. This address corresponds to one of their key locations, often referred to as the General Booth/Redmill studio, situated conveniently at the corner of Nimmo Pkwy and General Booth Blvd. This strategic placement ensures excellent accessibility for residents in the southern and central parts of Virginia Beach.

Being part of a larger commercial area, this location typically offers ample parking, making it easy for parents to drop off and pick up their children for classes. Its proximity to major roadways like General Booth Boulevard allows for straightforward commutes from various neighborhoods across Virginia Beach. This multi-location strategy, with studios also in Lynnhaven, Kempsville/Greenbrier, and Haygood, significantly enhances Golden Slippers' overall accessibility. For the diverse communities across Virginia Beach, having a reputable dance studio conveniently located nearby reduces travel time and logistical burdens, making it simpler for families to commit to regular dance instruction. The thoughtful distribution of their studios reflects a dedication to serving the local Virginia Beach population effectively.

Services Offered

Comprehensive Dance Class Offerings: Golden Slippers Dance Academy provides a wide array of dance styles, suitable for various ages and skill levels. These include foundational ballet, rhythmic tap, expressive jazz, energetic hip-hop, fluid lyrical, precise pointe, acrobatic acro, and modern contemporary dance. This broad selection allows students to explore multiple genres or specialize in their chosen field.
Creative Ballet/Tap for Young Children: Specifically designed for children aged 3-5 years, these classes introduce basic technical skills in a playful and engaging manner. They focus on fostering a love for dance early on through light and fun activities, setting a positive foundation for future learning.
Progressive Curriculum: Students typically graduate from creative ballet/tap into "barre" (ballet/tap combination classes) before advancing to hour-long specialty classes based on their interests and developing skills. This structured progression ensures a comprehensive and age-appropriate dance education.
Adult Ballroom Lessons: In addition to youth programs, Golden Slippers offers ballroom lessons for adults at its Lynnhaven location, providing opportunities for older community members to learn new dance styles, stay active, and socialize.
Annual Recitals at Premier Venues: The academy is known for its annual recitals, which are often held at prestigious venues like Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, Virginia. These recitals are described as comparable to "Broadway Shows," showcasing the students' hard work and providing a professional performance experience.
Non-Contract School: Golden Slippers operates as a non-contract school, offering flexibility for families. This means patrons are not typically tied into long-term commitments, providing peace of mind and adaptability for changing schedules.
Family Discounts: To make dance education more accessible and affordable for families with multiple children, Golden Slippers offers family discounts on tuition rates.
Online Information and Schedule Access: The academy provides information regarding class schedules, rates, and other important details on its website, facilitating easy access for prospective and current students to plan their dance journey.
"Best Value in Virginia Beach": The studio explicitly aims to provide a quality product at a reasonable price, positioning itself as offering "the BEST value in Virginia Beach" for dance instruction.

Features / Highlights

Long-Standing Reputation and Awards: Golden Slippers was founded in 1979 and has consistently been recognized for its excellence, including being voted "Best of the Beach" Dance Studio GOLD Award for seventeen years in a row. It also holds the distinction of being voted the “Best Small Business in Virginia Beach” by the Chamber of Commerce, highlighting its strong community standing and business acumen.
Multiple Convenient Locations: With four strategically placed studios across Virginia Beach (Lynnhaven, General Booth/Redmill, Kempsville/Greenbrier, and Haygood), Golden Slippers offers unparalleled convenience and accessibility for families throughout the city, making it easier to fit dance classes into busy schedules.
Fabulous Instructors and Warm Atmosphere: The studio boasts "FABULOUS instructors" who create a "warm and friendly atmosphere." The instruction is designed not only to teach technical skills but also to nurture each child's growth as an individual dancer, ensuring they enjoy their overall dance experience.
Professional and Organized Recitals: Their annual recitals are a significant highlight, often compared to "Broadway Shows" and held at a premier venue like Chrysler Hall. The academy takes pride in its "extreme professionalism and organizational skills" during these events, aiming to provide a spectacular showcase for students' talents.
Diverse and Comprehensive Curriculum: From creative movement for preschoolers to advanced pointe and adult ballroom, the academy offers a wide range of dance styles and progressive programs, catering to various ages and interests and providing a holistic dance education.
Community Involvement: The owner and director, Susan Browney Dillon, has a history of community involvement, including significant philanthropic efforts like creating "Dancing for Paws," a fundraiser for the Virginia Beach SPCA, and even providing a studio location as a backup hurricane shelter for animals. This demonstrates a deep commitment to the wider Virginia Beach community.
Non-Contract and Family-Friendly Policies: Being a non-contract school and offering family discounts provides flexibility and financial accessibility, making it an attractive option for families considering dance education for multiple children.

Contact Information

Address: 1253 Nimmo Pkwy # 107, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, USA

Phone: (757) 427-1990

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For the vibrant community of Virginia Beach and surrounding areas in Virginia, Golden Slippers Dance Academy stands as a highly suitable and deeply ingrained local institution for dance education. Its long-standing presence since 1979 and consistent recognition as "Best of the Beach" for seventeen consecutive years speak volumes about its reliability and the quality of its offerings. Locals seeking a trusted and experienced dance studio will find Golden Slippers to be a well-established choice with a proven track record.

The strategic distribution of its four locations across Virginia Beach, including the one at 1253 Nimmo Pkwy, significantly enhances its suitability for local families. This multi-site approach means that quality dance instruction is conveniently accessible regardless of where one resides in the expansive city, minimizing travel time and making regular attendance more feasible for busy schedules. Furthermore, the explicit commitment to providing a "quality product at a reasonable price" and offering "family discounts" directly addresses the needs of Virginia Beach households, ensuring that dance education can be a tangible opportunity for more children and adults in the community.

While the provided reviews highlight some significant challenges related to recital experiences, it's important for local users to consider the studio's overall reputation for providing a "warm and friendly atmosphere" and nurturing individual dancers. The breadth of dance styles offered, from foundational ballet for young children to adult ballroom, ensures that diverse interests and ages are catered to within the local community. Golden Slippers is not just a place to learn dance steps; it is a part of the fabric of Virginia Beach, contributing to the cultural enrichment and physical development of its residents. For any local considering dance, Golden Slippers offers a comprehensive, experienced, and community-rooted option right at their doorstep.

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Golden Slippers Location

Golden Slippers

Virginia Virginia Beach Nimmo Parkway

1253 Nimmo Pkwy # 107, Virginia Beach, VA 23456, USA

Golden Slippers Reviews

These children and their families are robbed the day of the recital. They put grown adults in front of them. I paid tuition and bought tickets, I don't want to see grown adults dancing in the front. The adults should have their own dance program or dance in the back. These adults forget they had their turn ...let the kids dance. And they put large adults in front of tiny children. You can't even see the kids. Dear adults, please use titok for your dance platform..... Don't steal from children.
Jun 10, 2024 · Toya Rose
I wish I could give them more stars. Miss Amanda was absolutely amazing for my 4 year old daughter. All year long, I had no complaints. The recital was talked about all year long, meeting after meeting about how important this end of the year recital was and how to prepare for it. The owner even said during the meetings to buy tickets early so you can get the seats you want. The instructor even did a in studio dance rehearsal so we could see what side of the stage our child was so we could buy seats at on that side of the big stage at Chrysler Hall. We were told our children would be in 12pm show, we had several meetings and rehearsals prior to the recital date. The day before the recital Golden Slippers tells us that there was a mistake and we were in the 5pm show. My family alone, bought 10 tickets at $30 per ticket with fees. I bought my tickets the day they went on sale so I could get left stage so I had the best view of my daughter for her first recital. We were told we would have to go to the box office to transfer the tickets to the 5 pm showtime. We did that and the only seats available were in the nose bleed section. Absolutely horrible seats, when I put time and money into this very important milestone for my daughter. When I went to go get my daughter from backstage, there was supposed to be a dance mom with them, I found all the 4& 5 year olds alone. We were given a small stuffed animal with a scrunchie for our misfortune for their mistake. I've sent several emails with no response from Golden Slippers. I understand that mistakes happen, but as a business owner, you have to make things right. Golden Slippers stole this moment from us, it was my little girls first recital and it was an absolute awful experience on recital day. The least they could do is answer my emails. A Credit towards next year's tuition, a partial refund would make things a little easier but I will most certainly never forget the feeling of that recital day. Shame on you Golden Slippers. I will never recommend you to any friends or family.
Jul 27, 2023 · Kelly Davenport
I will give them one star because her teacher was great. Everything was fine until it came to the recital….. The recital is made into a very big deal by Golden Slippers. The owner has a meeting with all of the parents where she stresses how big of a deal the recital is. She stresses to buy tickets in advance so that you can get the best view of your daughter or son on the stage. I did that, I bought tickets (8) for the 12 PM show the day that the tickets were available for purchase. After fees, it was close to $250.The day before the recital, is the dress rehearsal. On this day, we were informed that we were not the 12 PM show that we were in fact, the 5 PM show and there was a mistake made by someone at golden slippers. (which for that employee I feel sorry for you, because they threw you under the bus 100%) I am a very understanding person, and I understand that mistakes are made, but sometimes it’s not the mistakes that are the problem, but how you handle them. Golden slippers stuck us in the nose bleeds because those were the only seats available and handed my daughter a stuffed animal. We could barely see our daughters on stage and golden slippers just had this attitude of like “oh well, the show must go on”. I understand that the show must go on however, parents spent a lot of money over the year for our children to be in this show. But honestly, that’s not even the worst of it. on the day of the recital, we were instructed to drop our daughters off backstage and go back to our seats. We were informed by the owner (at the meetings) that our daughters would be accompanied by a trusted parent at all times backstage. When I went to go retrieve my daughter, after she was done performing, there were no adults with her. She was left alone backstage. She’s FOUR YEARS OLD. The safety of my child was compromised.I emailed Golden slippers multiple times about the ticket issue. I had no plans of going back at all because of the safety issue. The management team basically said Ticketmaster isn’t going to offer refunds, but Ticketmaster wasn’t the one who made the mistake. Golden slippers was at fault because they told us the wrong showtime. I wanted my money back. I emailed multiple times…. I was responded to once. After following up a few more times, no one’s gotten back to me. Complete crickets, Simply put Golden slippers does not care when they are wrong….. I just received an email that they are “Best at the Beach”, that’s debatable.To me, somebody who represents the “Best at the Beach” is is a business that holds themselves accountable when they make a mistake. Don’t expect that from Golden slippers.
Aug 10, 2023 · Katie Thieman
I wish I could give them 0 stars. It was noted during the FINAL dress rehearsal that our class was in the wrong show time and that we would need to go swap our tickets for the second show which was at 5pm vs. 12pm. It was said in a way that was like whoops sorry, go change your tickets. Like it was that simple. No one thought, perhaps we should just keep them in the same show and just merge the classes. This is a MAJOR inconvenience to the 12 families who now have to rearrange schedules and coordinate with their families. Perhaps not everyone is still able to attend? Nothing, sorry you have to go fix it for us. That was the mentality.Meanwhile, I had purchased 12 tickets on Ticketmaster, the day they went on sale, with all the additional costs involved so that we could get good seats. It was an additional $75 in just fees alone. With less than 24 hours until the show, the only seats left were in the nose bleed section of the venue. One of my guests could no longer come, I lost the whole cost of his ticket. We could not see our daughter from our seats in the very back of the balcony. They were like ants on the stage.We received an email saying sorry, human mistake, come get a special surprise for your dancer. This "surprise" was a 3in stuffed animal with a hair scrunchie. Certainly a surprise to me. That's what was provided for what ended up costing me over $100 in inconveniences, essentially a whole 12 tickets at 25-30 a pop, costume costs, and ultimately missed memories of my daughters first year of ballet.That was not the worst part. The worst part was traveling from that far balcony seat, down the elevators, and back to the dressing room. (I left to go retrieve her as they were walking off stage and not a moment later). SHE IS 3 (THREE) year old, I got back to the hallway to find she was all ALONE. She was blocking her face with her hands, staring and leaning into the wall, in full blown tears, terrified. When they took her back to the dressing room, not one person waited with her until I arrived to hand her off. The safety issue alone was bad enough, but the fear in her little face still haunts me. It was completely unacceptable. I heard nothing from the studio regarding that blunder.I will never recommend this studio, I will never put my child in their hands again.
Jun 12, 2023 · Kimberly Dewitt
Worst experience I have ever had with a dance studio. The receptionist was specifically rude to my daughter on two occasions at the beginning of COVID but had no issues with any of the parents or children who had been there for more than a year. Keep in mind the whole front portion of the studio is a store and she had an issue with my daughter shopping...but no issues with another child shopping. I tried to reach out to make a complaint and voice my concern and the owner refused to respond...it is a smaller facility so unlike a corporation and I have few options so the owner should have taken responsibility for her staff. Then when her instructor quit...which the company failed to notify me of...they quickly rushed her into a chopped up dance recital for another group versus trying to push out the recital and cancelling their summer sessions (more money) or giving my daughters class the time of day to give them their due. I paid for a year of classes for her to dance less than a minute on stage. I will never go back after how my daughter was treated. Specifically the General Booth location. Receptionist JoAnn.
Oct 12, 2020 · Tatum DeBerry