Kathryn Barnett School-Dance

Reviews 3

JE

Jessica Berube

This is a post from Betty Ann Berube I have three children who have attended the Kathryn Barnett School of Dance over the past 24 years and they have all loved it there. All three have danced at KBSD since they were 2 years old. My older children who are in their 20s are still dancing and one has gone on to make a career in dance. My youngest continues to dance there as well. I find Kathryn to be a woman who is passionate about teaching young children, not only about dance, but about having self esteem and confidence in themselves. She strives to create a very positive environment for all ages and encourages the children to be supportive of one another. In addition, she engages the young dancers to give of their time to local charities and organizations, whether it be performing with Holiday Express, or collecting gloves and hats for the needy. Yes, she is a dance teacher, but she is also a very, very good person. In response to the comment about the facility, yes, the building does show its age but each year improvements and updates are made. Kathryn takes great care to make sure the facility is always a clean and safe environment for the children and staff. I find it fascinating that there are people in this world who feel the need to spend their time hurting others Not every person is made to be a part of every place or thing, whether it be at a restaurant, an organization or a school. Not every person likes every thing and not every place is a perfect fit. Perhaps thats why (hint hint) there are so many other businesses available, so we, as ADULTS, can make rational, intelligent and thoughtful choices for ourselves and our children and not lash out in a bully-like manner towards others. I suppose some people just cant help themselves..They didnt get their way so someone is going to pay!!! Today we live in a society where people feel entitled to "share" their thoughts immediately on their likes and dislikes, and do so freely, without ever giving any real thought as to how it could affect someone. I say to that person, "OMG get a life!!! If youre not happy somewhere then LEAVE but dont try to spoil things for others and hurt good people along the way." And for the post that made reference to the recital, try to get your facts right before you share". Kathryn takes the time at the beginning of each recital to let the parents know how much she cares about each and every child that walks through her doors. She also takes the time to applause the parents on what a wonderful job they are doing with their kids. As a parent, isnt it nice to know that the teacher or owner of a given school gives a darn about what she does? Why is it considered poor judgement to express this? Shes not trying to pat herself on the back, shes trying to express her thanks and her appreciation for you allowing her to bring some joy to your children!! Oh yeah, that makes her a terrible person, right!?! And the person commenting about the recitals is obviously someone who is not at the studio anymore and hasnt been for quite some time because the format at the recitals has changed. Nice try! I just want to say that the Kathryn Barnett School of Dance is a wonderful place to bring your children and you will find experienced teachers who care about their craft and who behave in a professional manner while engaging young children in the world of dance.

KR

Kristen Galante

Alice Cooper, Im sorry that you seemed to have a negative experience at KBSD. I can honestly say that I wouldnt be the confident and well-rounded individual I am today without Kathryn Barnett and the studio. "Mrs. B" has had an extremely positive impact on my life and I wouldnt trade my years of dance with the studio for anything in the world. As a student for 16 years and a part-time teacher the past four years, KBSD has allowed me to follow and achieve my dreams thanks to the constant support from Kathryn and the KBSD community. As a certified middle school math teacher of four years with a BA in Elementary Education and with 24 years of dance experience, I can assure you that her staff are well-qualified and more than capable of providing a rigorous and extensive educational experience during dance classes. Regarding your first comment, professionalism has been a top priority of Kathryns since she began the business and remains a priority to this day. We were always taught how to look and act professionally both in and outside the studio and are often complimented at performances and competitions for our organization and professional manner. I have had the pleasure of observing performances from other studios and can assure you that KBSD is one of the most professional dance studios I have ever seen! I would also like to address your comment about Kathryn being "nasty" and how this statement couldnt be any more false. Mrs. B is always looking out for the welfare of her students and staff and beautifully manages to not only instruct classes using new and creative techniques, but also strives to provide every student with supportive positive reinforcement in order to help build their confidence in themselves and with dance. Im sorry you and your daughter werent there long enough to enjoy the full effect of her kindness and dedication to the dancers. Her kindness also extends outside the studio. As Barbara mentioned in her post, KBSD annually volunteers with the well-known organization Holiday Express. I was one of the original dancers when KBSD first started volunteering with them and I cannot put into words how worthwhile and beneficial the experience was for me and the other dancers involved. We learned the importance of helping others and how incredible it felt to be making a positive difference in peoples lives. It also helped us better appreciate all the little things in life that we take for granted. I loved it so much, I volunteered after returning home from college! KBSD also conducts annual volunteer performances and collects goods and donations for volunteer organizations at various locations in Monmouth County. If there is one word to describe Kathryn, it certainly is not "nasty." I would use "generous." For any parents or potential students researching and/or looking for dance schools in the Monmouth County area, I HIGHLY recommend KBSD for your dance education. We will gladly welcome you with open arms!

JE

Jessica Johnston

Excellent dance school! KBSD is really so much more than you would expect from a dance school. The staff is incredibly talented, experienced and dedicated to a quality dance education. They have a wide variety of classes and workshop opportunities for anyone from kids beginning in preschool to teenagers, to more experienced dancers looking for more learning and performing opportunities. Everyone is welcome! The atmosphere is always welcoming and friendly. The staff, the dancers, and the parents are a really fantastic, kind and supportive group of people. Mrs. Barnett is passionate about professionalism, kindness, and giving back to the community. It is always so rewarding, as a parent, at the end of the year to see how my children have grown. Their experience at KBSD is teaching them the importance of proper technique as a foundation for any learning experience. They are taught how to be professional, confident, kind, and supportive to each other. They are also given opportunities to share their gifts and kindness through local charities. It is also very important to Mrs. Barnett and the rest of the staff to keep the choreography and costumes classy and age appropriate! Mrs. Barnett gives so much of herself to each and every dancer. Besides an excellent, well rounded dance education, she has always gone out of her way to support the educational needs and emotional wellbeing of every dancer as an individual. I highly recommend this dance school for such a wide range of qualities that are so important to our kids and their learning experiences.

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