Mary Jo’s Performing Arts Academy, Tampa | Fees, Rankings, Address, Admission, Vacancies, Reviews & More

I decided to sign my daughter up for classes after my step daughter was going here, and have had nothing but bad experiences from the time we walked in the door. There is poor communication, catering to parents who do not work, and extra charges for every thing. We paid $60 a month for a 45 minute class every Saturday with 3 children in it where my child learned nothing. Because she was new to the school, they forced us to put her in an entry level class for acrobatics instead of viewing her skills and placing her in a class that she would be challenged and excited to participate in. We then paid over $400 to participate in the recital which was budget breaking for us. We even had to pay for parking at the recital site.

We were also told upon signing up that the classes throughout the week were identical to the weekend class, which was absolutely not the case. The week day class that was supposedly the same level was far more advanced and challenging. Additionally, the Saturday class had seemed like a convenient option, but if you’re not there during the week, no one can answer your questions. Every Saturday that I had a payment to make, or questions to ask no one could help me. They even sent me a warning for non-payment after they had declined to take my payments for weeks. Then I would call during the week, and wait on hold for up to 30 minutes while person after person would tell me that they had no idea the answer to my question. Mainly, these questions regarded payments or make up classes. For example, if my daughter missed a Saturday due to illness and I wanted her to come on Thursday, I would first be told that there was no class that day, then that the class was at 5pm, then show up at 5 and be told that class had been at 345, and we had missed it. For that reason, there were many weeks we paid for and never received a service.

Upon the time of recital they required weeknight rehearsals for 2 weeks in a row that involved showing up at 5pm, and staying until after 9pm. This to me is not conducive to healthy living for a school age child or toddler.

Although they preach building self esteem as one of their goals, one teacher actually criticized my 4 year old daughter’s hair as being “not what you want to have for this recital” in front of the whole class of 3-4 year old children and parents present.

Overall, the communication was terrible, and I feel like we overpaid for a lack luster experience that involved dealing with a large group of stage moms who feel the need to live through their children. We will not be returning to the facility, and I will take every opportunity necessary to warn people about the environment there.

Mary jos is an excellent studio, my 3 girls have been at this studio 4 years and I love the teachers and they have grown in there dancing life’s. My girls are always telling us and show me there new dances or combos the teachers create. I’ve seen my girls dance all there lives and we have been to many studios and this is by far the best. They offer so many auditions such as the Joffrey what others studios do u know of that would hold auditions at your studio and not having to drive all the way to some other states. This is a great studio and I’m very excited to see my girls grow in their dancing careers.

We love Mary Jo’s Performing Arts Academy! Our daughter began dancing here at age 2 and adores going to dance each week. When choosing a Tampa Dance Studio, I wanted her to go somewhere that felt like “home” as she grew up and I’m thankful to say we have found that at MJPAA. The teachers and staff are wonderful, patient, encouraging, inspiring, and talented. Most of all, they take care of the dancers as if they were their own children. MJPAA has become a second family to our daughter and we look forward to watching her to continue to grow as a dancer and a student.