Standing Ovation School-Dance: A Look at Dance Education in Brick Township, NJ

Standing Ovation School-Dance Introduce

For families in Brick Township, New Jersey, and the surrounding communities, choosing a dance studio for their child is an important decision. Standing Ovation School-Dance is a local establishment located in Brick, offering various dance programs. This article aims to provide an overview of Standing Ovation School-Dance based on available public information, to help local New Jersey residents understand more about what this particular dance studio offers within our community.

Selecting a dance environment that aligns with a child's passion and growth is crucial. Dance studios can vary widely in their approach to teaching, student engagement, and overall studio environment. When considering a local dance school, factors such as instructor focus, class structure, communication from management, and the physical condition of the facility often play a significant role in a family's experience.

Public feedback regarding Standing Ovation School-Dance provides insights into experiences that some families have had over time. Understanding these perspectives can be helpful for prospective students and parents as they navigate their options for dance education in our area. This overview is compiled to offer factual details about the studio's operations, as reported, allowing for an informed decision-making process for our New Jersey neighbors.

The aim is to present information clearly and factually, focusing on aspects that are relevant from a local user's perspective when evaluating a dance school. This includes details on location, the types of services typically offered by such establishments, and specific characteristics that define the student and parent experience, all derived from public data.

Location and Accessibility

Standing Ovation School-Dance is located at 280 Brick Blvd, Brick Township, NJ 08723, USA. Brick Township is a large and populous municipality in Ocean County, New Jersey, making this address accessible for residents not only within Brick but also from neighboring towns such as Point Pleasant, Lakewood, Toms River, and Wall Township. Brick Boulevard is a major commercial artery in the township, which generally implies good road access and visibility for the studio.

Being situated on a main road like Brick Boulevard typically means the studio is part of a commercial area, which may offer conveniences like proximity to other businesses and potential parking options. While specific parking details are not provided, locations on main thoroughfares often have dedicated parking or shared parking facilities that cater to customers. This central location in Brick Township is designed to be convenient for local families seeking dance instruction within their community.

The accessibility of the studio's address is an important factor for busy New Jersey parents managing schedules for their children's extracurricular activities. Ease of access contributes to consistent attendance and a less stressful experience for families commuting to and from dance classes.

Services Offered (General expectations for a dance school, as specific services are not detailed in the provided review, other than 'classes')

Dance Classes: Typically offering various dance styles for different age groups and skill levels.
Recreational Programs: Classes for students who wish to learn dance for enjoyment and recreation without competitive pressure.
Competition Teams: Programs for students interested in advanced training and participating in dance competitions (as implied by review content).
Performance Opportunities: Usually culminates in an annual recital or showcase for students to demonstrate their learned skills.
Online/Virtual Classes: May offer online instruction, especially relevant during periods like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Private Lessons: Could offer one-on-one instruction for personalized attention.
Summer Programs/Camps: Often available during school breaks for intensive or recreational dance.

Features / Highlights (Based on review content, presented factually)

Owner and Instructor Engagement: The provided review indicates that interest and acknowledgment from the owner, Michelle Hulsart, and instructors were perceived by one family to be primarily directed towards "competition girls" and students whose parents "write bigger checks," rather than non-competition students.
Class Structure and Content (during COVID lockdown as observed by one customer):
- Classes were combined to reduce instructor payroll, with a "slight discount" that did not fully compensate for shortened or eliminated class times.
- Instructors were heard to "call out, praise, encourage and correct the same names over and over," primarily those identified as competition students.
- Instances were cited where a student was instructed to "watch a YouTube video on the history to tap instead of showing or teaching her tap moves."
Communication and Professionalism: One customer expressed concerns about a "lack of communication and professionalism from the owner," including delayed responses regarding recital costumes and plans.
Recital/Performance Plans: For the "last week of classes" (during the COVID period), plans for a "Red Carpet Event" at the studio were announced instead of a traditional dance recital, leading to costume refund requests.
Studio Cleanliness and Maintenance: One customer reported that the "physical dance studio is always dirty" across different locations, citing issues with unemptied trash, unflushed toilets, clogged bathrooms, and "overwhelming" sewage smells leading to class cancellations. The owner was perceived to blame the building/landlord, but the customer attributed it to a "personal lack of standards."
Student Experience: One customer stated their daughter's experience "has gone from bad to worse" over five years, noting a decrease in teaching interest for non-competition students as she aged. The review concluded that "Standing Ovation is not that studio" for a child who loves dance and wants to grow.

Contact Information

Address: 280 Brick Blvd, Brick Township, NJ 08723, USA

Phone: (732) 920-2400

Mobile Phone: +1 732-920-2400

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For local residents in Brick Township and the surrounding New Jersey areas, selecting a dance studio involves considering various factors to ensure it aligns with a child's passion and family expectations. Standing Ovation School-Dance is a local option available within our community for dance education.

Based on the provided public reviews, some families have experienced challenges at Standing Ovation School-Dance. Concerns have been raised regarding the perceived focus on competition students over recreational dancers, particularly evident during online classes when parents could observe the instruction directly. The review highlights instances where non-competition students allegedly received less acknowledgment, correction, and direct teaching compared to their competition-oriented peers. For families seeking a dance environment where all students, regardless of their competitive aspirations, receive equal attention and instruction, these reported experiences could be a significant consideration.

Furthermore, issues regarding communication from the owner, particularly concerning recital plans and costume refunds during a challenging period like the COVID-19 lockdown, have been noted. The physical condition of the studio, described as consistently dirty with recurring bathroom issues and unpleasant odors even across different locations, is another serious concern raised by a customer. These aspects related to facility maintenance and communication are vital for a comfortable and professional learning environment.

Ultimately, while Standing Ovation School-Dance exists as a dance option in Brick Township, the detailed public feedback suggests that prospective local families should carefully evaluate if the studio's reported practices and environment meet their expectations for a supportive, inclusive, and professionally maintained space that truly encourages all students to explore and grow their passion for dance. It is always advisable for families to visit studios, observe classes if permitted, and speak directly with instructors and current parents to determine the best fit for their child's dance journey.

Standing Ovation School-Dance Photos

No photos available at the moment.

Standing Ovation School-Dance Location

Standing Ovation School-Dance

New Jersey Ocean County Brick Township Brick Boulevard

280 Brick Blvd, Brick Township, NJ 08723, USA

Standing Ovation School-Dance Reviews

The experience we have with Standing Ovation has been horrible. Our daughter has danced her for over five years and it has gone from bad to worse. We stayed, because she was happy to dance and be with her friends from school. She went from two classes to four in that five years, but as she aged and we showed no interest in joining their competition team their interest in teaching my daughter completely disappeared.My older daughter decided she wanted to take a few classes for her own enjoyment and since we were already there, she too went to Standing Ovation.The lack of interest the owner and her instructors have for non-competition students became crystal clear during the COVID lockdown. When ZOOM classes were held and I could hear and observe the classes in my living room.First the owner, Michelle Hulsart, decided to combine classes so that she didn't have to keep all of the instructors on payroll. She gave a slight discount to the students that continued to participate via ZOOM, but didn't acknowledge the fact that some classes times were shortened or completely eliminated.Each class I listened to the instructor(s) call out, praise, encourage and correct the same names over and over it didn't take long to realize those were all the competition girls - the girls that buy the branded SO merchandise and have parents that write bigger checks. However, these aren't "competition classes" so why isn't my daughter being acknowledged? Why aren't they teaching my daughter correcting her when doesn't hold her arms in the right position or encourage her to keep trying?I watched my daughter be instructed to watch a YouTube video on the history to tap instead of showing or teaching her tap moves. My husband built her a platform so that she could dance, but I guess a chair to watch YouTube video would have been more appropriate.As the last week of classes approached, I reached out to ask about a refund for our recital costumes since it was June and there had been no mention of them or anything else. Only to be told they would be in shortly and they had big plans, but couldn't share them yet.Finally, they released their plans for a "Red Carpet Event" at the studio. I again said I would like a refund since I didn't buy costumes for my daughters to play dress-up they were for a dance recital, which clearly would no longer be possible.Michelle Hulsart only cared about trying to make more money off of the families that stayed with her and continued to support her business during a difficult time.The physical dance studio is always dirty and while she tried to blame the conditions of the building on the location and the landlord. It is pretty obvious it is her personal lack of standards for the conditions since the studio has changed locations and even in a new space it is always dirty. It isn't the landlord that empties trash cans or mops the floor it is the tenant. Since she doesn't care about the conditions for her dancers (customers) her dancers don't respect the space either. The bathrooms were constantly out of order, because the toilets were overflowing from being clogged. The smell of sewage was so overwhelming at times classes had to be cancelled.The lack of communication and professionalism from the owner is something that I tolerated for much longer than I should have. My personal regret is that we didn't leave this studio sooner.If your child loves to dance please consider an environment that will help encourage them to explore that passion and to help them grow...Standing Ovation is not that studio.
Sep 29, 2020 · Lisa Mulhearn
The experience we have with Standing Ovation has been horrible. Our daughter has danced her for over five years and it has gone from bad to worse. We stayed, because she was happy to dance and be with her friends from school. She went from two classes to four in that five years, but as she aged and we showed no interest in joining their competition team their interest in teaching my daughter completely disappeared.My older daughter decided she wanted to take a few classes for her own enjoyment and since we were already there, she too went to Standing Ovation.The lack of interest the owner and her instructors have for non-competition students became crystal clear during the COVID lockdown. When ZOOM classes were held and I could hear and observe the classes in my living room.First the owner, Michelle Hulsart, decided to combine classes so that she didn't have to keep all of the instructors on payroll. She gave a slight discount to the students that continued to participate via ZOOM, but didn't acknowledge the fact that some classes times were shortened or completely eliminated.Each class I listened to the instructor(s) call out, praise, encourage and correct the same names over and over it didn't take long to realize those were all the competition girls - the girls that buy the branded SO merchandise and have parents that write bigger checks. However, these aren't "competition classes" so why isn't my daughter being acknowledged? Why aren't they teaching my daughter correcting her when doesn't hold her arms in the right position or encourage her to keep trying?I watched my daughter be instructed to watch a YouTube video on the history to tap instead of showing or teaching her tap moves. My husband built her a platform so that she could dance, but I guess a chair to watch YouTube video would have been more appropriate.As the last week of classes approached, I reached out to ask about a refund for our recital costumes since it was June and there had been no mention of them or anything else. Only to be told they would be in shortly and they had big plans, but couldn't share them yet.Finally, they released their plans for a "Red Carpet Event" at the studio. I again said I would like a refund since I didn't buy costumes for my daughters to play dress-up they were for a dance recital, which clearly would no longer be possible.Michelle Hulsart only cared about trying to make more money off of the families that stayed with her and continued to support her business during a difficult time.The physical dance studio is always dirty and while she tried to blame the conditions of the building on the location and the landlord. It is pretty obvious it is her personal lack of standards for the conditions since the studio has changed locations and even in a new space it is always dirty. It isn't the landlord that empties trash cans or mops the floor it is the tenant. Since she doesn't care about the conditions for her dancers (customers) her dancers don't respect the space either. The bathrooms were constantly out of order, because the toilets were overflowing from being clogged. The smell of sewage was so overwhelming at times classes had to be cancelled.The lack of communication and professionalism from the owner is something that I tolerated for much longer than I should have. My personal regret is that we didn't leave this studio sooner.If your child loves to dance please consider an environment that will help encourage them to explore that passion and to help them grow...Standing Ovation is not that studio.
Sep 29, 2020 · Lisa Mulhearn
I love Standing Ovation School of Dance. My daughter received excellent instruction and loves dancing so much. This school takes great care of their dancers and loves them all as their own! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Jan 12, 2021 · Kathleen Ferry
I love Standing Ovation School of Dance. My daughter received excellent instruction and loves dancing so much. This school takes great care of their dancers and loves them all as their own! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Jan 12, 2021 · Kathleen Ferry
The teachers are SUPER kind and accommodating and will go out of their way to help their students progress. They are offering online classes at the same time as in person class so you can take class from home. Small class sizes and clean premises. I wish I was a kid so I could take dance classes here!
Mar 20, 2021 · Alyssa L
The teachers are SUPER kind and accommodating and will go out of their way to help their students progress. They are offering online classes at the same time as in person class so you can take class from home. Small class sizes and clean premises. I wish I was a kid so I could take dance classes here!
Mar 20, 2021 · Alyssa L
Unfortunately after 4 years of dancing with this studio we have had enough and will not be returning.For starters, there is absolutely no consistency when it comes to teachers. We had been doing Friday night classes for the past 3 out of 4 years. Ballet, Lyrical, Tap, and Jazz, most years there were two teachers each teaching two classes. Several times that we signed up, Michelle, the studio owner and director, was the teacher for ballet and lyrical. Each year Michelle was absent for more than half of the classes leaving the dancers to be taught by whatever teacher was available to fill in that day seemingly in the eleventh hour. Several times this was a young dance team member, or Michelle’s own teen daughter. The girls were left to mostly run around and play freeze dance the last 10 minutes of a 45 minute lesson. There was never any notice of these absences, and the subbing teacher never gave her name or introduced herself. And obviously as the director was absent, so was her staff much of the time as well.At least twice during the 2019/2020 season my daughters classes were mixed with the little girls classes as neither the assigned teacher or a substitute was available. So girls ranging from 4 years old were in with girls as old as 12, while one teacher did her best to corral 20+ children of different experience in attendance for different classes. No apologies were ever issued, and no makeups were ever offered.It almost must be stated that while the studio itself is fairly new, it it absolutely filthy. Regularly the trash cans overflow, the garbage stinks, the bathroom toilets are clogged, and the floors so dusty that girls leave with their black leotards covered in dust. One poor girl with allergies regularly had hives after her lessons.During the pandemic, the studio understandably closed and the only way classes were conducted were via zoom. Imagine if you will several girls on computers of varying ages and abilities trying to do lessons over the computer, again with over 20 in attendance at times, instructed by teachers who were not their own. It was a disaster and was not conducive to learning at all.With that being said there was much talk about a recital event for the girls, a promise of them using google classroom to learn their dances by their assigned teacher, seeing their costumes and use the music they’d be performing to during recital. I set up my daughter accordingly, but nothing ever came to fruition and the entire idea of the girls learning a routine fell apart.Then came the drama of trying to secure our costumes, for which we paid on time and in full in December. After receiving an email about signing up for summer classes (!!! before the official season had even come to an end!!!) I contacted the director about the costumes and what would be done for recital. The director declared that she was just about to call me to schedule a pick up for the costumes... and stated that in place of recital the girls would be doing a red carpet event with details to follow sometime soon. At that time, we had enough and did not feel it was fair after spending over a thousand dollars in lessons, costumes and apparel that the studio expected more money for the girls to have any kind of conclusion for a red carpet event at the studio.I would recommend anyone looking for a dance studio to look ANYWHERE else. The professionalism of this studio is severely lacking, along with any genuine care about the dancers, unless you’re pouring money into the dance team. We tried very hard to hold our tongues and support this small business knowing they must have been hurt by the pandemic, to only be treated rudely and as an afterthought so much of the time. Honestly, just a sincere apology would have gone a long way and that never materialized either.
Sep 23, 2020 · Deirdre Amato
Unfortunately after 4 years of dancing with this studio we have had enough and will not be returning.For starters, there is absolutely no consistency when it comes to teachers. We had been doing Friday night classes for the past 3 out of 4 years. Ballet, Lyrical, Tap, and Jazz, most years there were two teachers each teaching two classes. Several times that we signed up, Michelle, the studio owner and director, was the teacher for ballet and lyrical. Each year Michelle was absent for more than half of the classes leaving the dancers to be taught by whatever teacher was available to fill in that day seemingly in the eleventh hour. Several times this was a young dance team member, or Michelle’s own teen daughter. The girls were left to mostly run around and play freeze dance the last 10 minutes of a 45 minute lesson. There was never any notice of these absences, and the subbing teacher never gave her name or introduced herself. And obviously as the director was absent, so was her staff much of the time as well.At least twice during the 2019/2020 season my daughters classes were mixed with the little girls classes as neither the assigned teacher or a substitute was available. So girls ranging from 4 years old were in with girls as old as 12, while one teacher did her best to corral 20+ children of different experience in attendance for different classes. No apologies were ever issued, and no makeups were ever offered.It almost must be stated that while the studio itself is fairly new, it it absolutely filthy. Regularly the trash cans overflow, the garbage stinks, the bathroom toilets are clogged, and the floors so dusty that girls leave with their black leotards covered in dust. One poor girl with allergies regularly had hives after her lessons.During the pandemic, the studio understandably closed and the only way classes were conducted were via zoom. Imagine if you will several girls on computers of varying ages and abilities trying to do lessons over the computer, again with over 20 in attendance at times, instructed by teachers who were not their own. It was a disaster and was not conducive to learning at all.With that being said there was much talk about a recital event for the girls, a promise of them using google classroom to learn their dances by their assigned teacher, seeing their costumes and use the music they’d be performing to during recital. I set up my daughter accordingly, but nothing ever came to fruition and the entire idea of the girls learning a routine fell apart.Then came the drama of trying to secure our costumes, for which we paid on time and in full in December. After receiving an email about signing up for summer classes (!!! before the official season had even come to an end!!!) I contacted the director about the costumes and what would be done for recital. The director declared that she was just about to call me to schedule a pick up for the costumes... and stated that in place of recital the girls would be doing a red carpet event with details to follow sometime soon. At that time, we had enough and did not feel it was fair after spending over a thousand dollars in lessons, costumes and apparel that the studio expected more money for the girls to have any kind of conclusion for a red carpet event at the studio.I would recommend anyone looking for a dance studio to look ANYWHERE else. The professionalism of this studio is severely lacking, along with any genuine care about the dancers, unless you’re pouring money into the dance team. We tried very hard to hold our tongues and support this small business knowing they must have been hurt by the pandemic, to only be treated rudely and as an afterthought so much of the time. Honestly, just a sincere apology would have gone a long way and that never materialized either.
Sep 23, 2020 · Deirdre Amato
Quality instruction, beautiful recitals at a professional theatre, and many dancers that trained and graduated from SO are working professionally in dance on both the east and west coast! I highly recommend !
Oct 01, 2020 · Tara Frye
Quality instruction, beautiful recitals at a professional theatre, and many dancers that trained and graduated from SO are working professionally in dance on both the east and west coast! I highly recommend !
Oct 01, 2020 · Tara Frye