Love the experience with Cleveland City Dance. My daughter was a dancer with another dance studio (2022-2023) prior to coming to CCD. She attended one drop-in class for Ballet. After the class, my daughter exclaimed, "Mom, (previous dance studio) does not teach me ANYTHING!" She receives the technical training so that she can advance as a dancer, she is evaluated throughout the year to determine current level or possible need for advancement, she is given good feedback, and she has become skilled at knowing her dance terminology. Lastly, getting information related to costs and expectations for the year, provided at the beginning of the school year, is SO helpful and appreciated.

It was on my heart to learn more about dance, and take classes, I found the studio nestled right there in my neighborhood, definitely a hidden gem, I signed up for Adult Ballet at Cleveland City Dance. The staff is very helpful, friendly and encouraging, the atmosphere is welcoming and professional. I share my experiences there with people all the time, and the end of the year performances are spectacular, I am looking forward to another exciting year, you see, I am over 60 and I have finally made it to level one 😀

We have not used this company, so please take into account when reading this review. We were considering a studio switch and after seeing an advertisement for a masterclass CCD was offering, we decided it would be a good way to experience what kind of environment it is. Unfortunately we had a negative experience just on the phone and I cannot say we would consider attending any classes for this reason. Not only was the master class advertised without an age limit, only as intermediate/advanced (which is not a universally measured standard of dance), I called to see if my 9 1/2 year old could take the class. After speaking to her current dance teacher, she was confirmed as intermediate (in her current studios opinion. Again, this is subjective), so we thought it might be a good class for her to take to push herself. The Instagram ad said to call or go online for assistance, however after attempting to call 3 times for help, we were pushed to use the website each time. That was frustrating enough, as we were not able to register online. After I and my husband called multiple times, we decided it wasn’t worth the trouble and decided against calling back to get signed up. Then a few days later we got a call from a woman with a not so nice tone saying that I called without leaving a message, which was not accurate as I called and spoke to someone each time. I asked if they would accept my daughter and she listed off a bunch of requirements in order to take the class. My daughter can do most of the listed “requirements”. My issues with this experience are that nowhere on the ad was their definition of “intermediate” listed, nor was there required age limit. This led to confusion, along with no one mentioning any of the suggested requirements on any of the multiple calls just seems ridiculous. The world of dance for young children can be very harsh and competitive and I think there was a better way for this to have been handled. If they believe my daughter would be too inexperienced for this class, maybe suggest a different master class in the future, or tell me to keep an eye on the Instagram for other workshops available instead of making an assumption like she’s just “not good enough”. Very disappointing considering the positive reviews and the reputation of this company. What could have turned into a future relationship was cut short by a not so welcoming attitude. Thank you for your time.

Courtney and the studio have been a wonderful and much needed change for my daughter in her dance career. Being here for just over a year, the improvement has been significant, and the level of professionalism is much appreciated.

Hands down the best dance school in Cleveland for classical ballet training. My daughter danced here for years and was also in their City Ballet company. The training is demanding and the director, Courtney, will work with kids to become professionals or simply dance recreationally. When my daughter chose to cut back on dance because of school Courtney was incredibly supportive and worked with her to make the transition. If I had a child who wanted a professional dance career, I wouldn't hesitate to send him or her here. Truly a professional and ethical environment.

This will be my dancer’s third year at Cleveland City Dance, and we cannot overstate how wonderful the experience has been! The teachers are all excellent, and are so invested in each student’s progress. There’s a high level of professionalism and respect among all the staff and students. My child has learned so much there, and has grown significantly in dance technique and in self-confidence. They always cannot wait to come to class each day! Thank you to Courtney and all the wonderful teachers at City Dance! I highly recommend this dance school!

We love Cleveland City Dance! The instructors are all very professional and offer a wonderful, supportive, high quality dance education. It has become a second home to our whole family... nurturing each of us in our dance journey. Courtney's expertise is unmatched. She has carefully developed a rich, holistic environment where everyone and anyone can flourish artistically, physically and emotionally.

As summer arrives my daughter cannot wait to return to ballet intensive camp at Cleveland City Dance. She experienced a nurturing environment with a smaller number of students allowing her to receive an amazing amount of attention to her ballet technique, foster relationships with the instructor and also build friendship bonds with other young dancers. I was pleasantly impressed by the historical sessions on dancers that have influenced a variety of dance styles from ballet to tap to modern. My daughter came home being energized having learned about these professional dancers in history. Additionally, she absolutely loved that stretching, modern, and jazz were all styles she got to participate in throughout the week. The safety protocols have been well researched from day one and health has been maintained throughout the studio during this time. We highly recommend CCD Ballet camp for guaranteed summer fun!

We made the best decision in enrolling our daughter at Cleveland City Dance. The instruction is superb, with focus on technique, artistry and creativity. Courtney Laves-Mearini, the Director, is exceptional. She passionately inspires and motivates the students to be the best they can be. She and all the teachers at CCD are excellent and nurturing, and they all genuinely care for every student. Our daughter has truly found a second home in this dance school. It takes us about an hour to get to the studio because we live on the west side, but it's absolutely worth the drive and more!

Cleveland City Dance has been our daughter’s second home for over a decade. The quality of instruction, nurturing environment and opportunities for performance can not be beat. We are so grateful to the studio and dance family she has found there!

Cleveland City Dance is a NE Ohio community treasure. Our child has thrived at this school as a dancer and as an adolescent. The staff are nurturing professionals that give the students excellent ballet, modern, jazz, lyrical, etc., training while also taking a developmental approach to caring for the social-emotional well-being of the child/young person. We are thrilled with our child's growing capabilities as ballet dancer, and as a member of caring community of fellow dancers.