Instructor Ross Toporski was oftentimes rude, sarcastic, and demeaning during dance lessons. In October he embarrassed me (not once but multiple times) in front of an audience by staring me down, stomping his foot and walking away (he did this since he had thought I made mistakes in the performance but he later realized it was him) I have the videos of this. I brought Ross's behavior to the attention of the business owner Jim. Jim did not reprimand Ross but did have him talk to me about it, his explanation was that he does not view me as a person in the room, just a body that needs to be made to move better and to stop taking it personally. Things calmed down as we prepared for our next showcase/competition temporarily, but the behavior resurfaced. I started taking lessons at another studio and during a lesson with Ross he asked me who I was taking lessons with. I gave him the name and he was furious, made many sarcastic remarks, and stepped on my foot 4 times in a row. We had some unkind email/online exchanges where I demanded an apology, nothing happened, and out of frustration I publicized his behavior. This led to my contract at the studio getting terminated days before the competition.
The fee structure at the studio is $128 (I think) per lesson that also includes unlimited group lessons/parties/practices of one's particular dance level. I took mostly 3 lessons a week to prepare for the comp. Also had to purchase 25 lessons worth over $3000 separately to perform a choreographed routine (in addition to the 50 we have to buy to renew). I was only refunded the money for the 8 unused lessons I had from the original contract, and asked to get some compensation as I was not allowed to do a comp that I spent $ 9000 preparing for. "No" I asked to be allowed to continue group classes/parties to get my money's worth "no" because I would create animosity. Ask the other students at the studio how they feel about me and you'll find the opposite. I was punished for speaking out the truth. I want my money back for a choreographed routine I was not allowed to perform because I outed bad behavior. Of note, the studio also "miscounts" lessons...in their favor. It happened with me and the explanation was that it was a mathematical error, I subsequently found out that the "mistakes" have happened at least 4 other times. Most students trust the studio and don't track their lessons, and therefore would not be aware even if it happened.
Socialsport Dance Club Reviews
Instructor Ross Toporski was oftentimes rude, sarcastic, and demeaning during dance lessons. In October he embarrassed me (not once but multiple times) in front of an audience by staring me down, stomping his foot and walking away (he did this since he had thought I made mistakes in the performance but he later realized it was him) I have the videos of this. I brought Ross's behavior to the attention of the business owner Jim. Jim did not reprimand Ross but did have him talk to me about it, his explanation was that he does not view me as a person in the room, just a body that needs to be made to move better and to stop taking it personally. Things calmed down as we prepared for our next showcase/competition temporarily, but the behavior resurfaced. I started taking lessons at another studio and during a lesson with Ross he asked me who I was taking lessons with. I gave him the name and he was furious, made many sarcastic remarks, and stepped on my foot 4 times in a row. We had some unkind email/online exchanges where I demanded an apology, nothing happened, and out of frustration I publicized his behavior. This led to my contract at the studio getting terminated days before the competition.
The fee structure at the studio is $128 (I think) per lesson that also includes unlimited group lessons/parties/practices of one's particular dance level. I took mostly 3 lessons a week to prepare for the comp. Also had to purchase 25 lessons worth over $3000 separately to perform a choreographed routine (in addition to the 50 we have to buy to renew). I was only refunded the money for the 8 unused lessons I had from the original contract, and asked to get some compensation as I was not allowed to do a comp that I spent $ 9000 preparing for. "No" I asked to be allowed to continue group classes/parties to get my money's worth "no" because I would create animosity. Ask the other students at the studio how they feel about me and you'll find the opposite. I was punished for speaking out the truth. I want my money back for a choreographed routine I was not allowed to perform because I outed bad behavior. Of note, the studio also "miscounts" lessons...in their favor. It happened with me and the explanation was that it was a mathematical error, I subsequently found out that the "mistakes" have happened at least 4 other times. Most students trust the studio and don't track their lessons, and therefore would not be aware even if it happened.