Testimonials

 

 

We have been dancing at Backstreet for 1 1/2 years. It has definatelt become a family affair. My girls have become so motivated to try out for competition teams, that they have completely cleaned up and re-arranged their rooms to give themselves plenty of floor space to practice their turns and leaps. They have been working together and that has been great to see. I could not have picked a better dance studio for my children. I love everything about it and what it has done for my girls!

-Shanda, Mother of two wonderful daughters

 

 

"Some children naturally seek the spotlight and flourish as the center of everyone's attention. My daughter Katy was NOT one of those kids. Her shyness was sometimes painful to watch, but as a shy parent myself I had a hard time helping her find a way to be more comfortable in her skin and in front of groups. Then she started dancing at Backstreet with supporting teachers and a wonderful dance "family." My child began to come out of her shell. She loves being on stage and is even competing as a soloist this year! It is such a kick to watch her come alive on stage. She is confident, comfortable and even sassy when she performs. Her stage presence has helped her be more confident in other settings as well. I'm grateful for the support and encouragement that Backstreet has provided her, and wouldn't trade this experience for anything."

-Lisa Bostrand

 

 

"My daughter came to Backstreet two years ago right after she turned four, She had no dance experience, nor did I!  Within three weeks Sarah was asked to join a team and off we went. Sarah has now been on teams for two years. backstreet has become our second family. as a single mother the bond i have created with my fellow dance moms is such a blessing. sarah has made friendships that will last her lifetime. amongst the chaos of costumes, rhinestones, make-up & dressing rooms - the team moms can always count on one another for help. sarah & I hope to be a part of the Backstree team for years to come. We are proud to be a part of "the family"

-Jennifer and Sarah Cox

 

 

I have all three of my kids at Backstreet. They do jazz, tap, hip-hop, ballet, tumbling...you name it  ---they love it! Backstreet has provided a fun and safe environment for my children. The teachers and director not watch each child for improvement ---they nurish thier abilities and advance them if necessary. They show so much love and care for my children that I feel like we have known each other for ever.

The teachers are all highly qualified with degrees and dance experience. They have good taste in dance styles and clothing!  I have recommended Backstreet to all my friends and they have  grown to love Backstreet as well. The parents are great too, the environment is family friendly I love being there for three hours a day ---five days a week! 

I am a lover of the performing arts and I have always loved to dance. I danced a lot as a child and performed in all the talent shows and spring sings in high school. However, I didn’t receive formal training of any kind until my freshman year in college. Even then I only took the very basic in Jazz, Modern and African Dance.

In spite of the fact that I had very limited dance training. I managed to be able keep up with all of the Jazz, Modern and African Dance routines in which I performed while in college. I credit this to the love of dance, youth and boundless energy! But, when it came to my favorite form of dance Tap, I was not accustomed to counting out steps and had no reference for steps such as flap, brush, shuffle, so on and so forth. I found it extremely difficult to follow along as I had done in other forms of dance.

Although I loved tap in the way my father and uncle had taught me, I always wanted formal tap lessons but never did. I had a fear of failing at something different, so I just remained in my comfort zone doing my solo dances. It wasn’t until August of 2003 almost 30 years since I had graced the stage that I decided to step outside my comfort zone. I enrolled in an adult tap class for beginners at the Backstreet Dance Studio, where I met Patty Wolsleger, Director of Backstreet and Instructor of my class. From the very beginning of class Patty made me feel like I could learn something different and new. Although she was teaching me a different style of tap she never undermined the dance I had learned as a child, in fact she encouraged me to treasure and hold onto what my father and uncle had taught me and I appreciate that.

So I thank you Patty Wolsleger for these lessons that helped to enhance my tap dancing and for lifting me up and putting me on my toes. I also thank Backstreet Performing Arts Dance Studio and its supportive staff for giving me such a pleasant environment in which to learn with wonderful and fun filled shows to participate in.

Miss Emma

 

 

My daughter, Brie, has tried many different activities during her eight short years. She participated in gymnastics for 2 years, ice skating for 1 year and soccer for one season. During the ice skating phase, she requested to change to dance saying, “I want to be a ballerina!” This is when I began my search for a dance studio for her.

I found Backstreet Performing Arts by reading the Riverside Parks and Recreation handbook. I then researched their website which had a good deal of information regarding their program and classes. I was particularly happy with their downtown location which is close to our house. I called and spoke to Patty on the phone who was knowledgeable and answered all of my questions. We decided to start with a single ballet class.

Before I knew what was happening, my daughter was performing in than annual Christmas program and I was trying to keep up with costumes, make-up and dress rehearsals. Other parents who had been at the studio for years were very helpful in keeping me aware of all the fine details of performing. As we sat in the auditorium and watched her dance, I thought to myself, “My little girl is a ballerina.”

It’s been 2 years now and all the ice skating, soccer and gymnastics have slowly been replaced with dancing and more dancing. She loves the studio and the staff and has not requested any changes in disciplines, just more of this one. She auditioned and was selected for the Jazz Competition Team. She takes ballet, jazz, tumbling, turns and competition classes.

We just started the competition season and Brie loves it. She was so excited to receive an award for her team’s work. Again, the other parents, whose children have been competing for years, have been invaluable to me in learning the fine art of competing. All the other moms and dads have been so helpful and kind to us.

Backstreet instills in their students some very basic, but overlooked traits which serve to foster proper and refined dancers. There is a dress code for all classes which creates a sense of responsibility in the dancer for dressing appropriately for class. This also allows the instructor the ability to see the dancer’s movements clearly which aides in the teaching process. Backstreet also provides the dancer with choreography and costuming that considers age appropriateness and modesty a priority. Music and costume selections are wholesome and emphasize function and practicality rather than suggestiveness. As the mother of a Christian household, this is very important to me.

As our journey through dance continues, we look forward to all that Backstreet Performing Arts will have to offer us. Today marks another milestone as Brie begins rehearsal for her first Jazz Competition Solo. She is very excited and so am I. I want to thank all the professional and personable staff at Backstreet for all they have provided thus far in realizing my daughter’s dreams.

Lisa, mother of Brie

 

 

Since my daughter started with Backstreet in February of 2007, I have seen her confidence, and motor development improve so much. She has also come out of her shell, and in turn has been expressing her personality through dance and music, and truly enjoys dancing with her friends week to week.

Melanie, parent of Dee Dee

 

 

It was the spring of 2003, my daughter Rachel was five years old and I wanted to start her in ballet. I had just started calling different studios in my area when karma stepped in and pointed me to Backstreet. Rachel had a friend at daycare who told us about Miss Patty and how wonderful she was with the kids, so I called her up and she told us to come down and try a class out. With no ballet shoes or tights Rachel joined in the class and fell completely and 100% in love with dancing and Miss Patty.  

I still remember her first show; she was an Oompa Loompa in a Willie Wonka skit. She loved being on stage and talked about it for days. Rachel has been blessed during her time at Backstreet with three of the best instructors anyone could find. Each one of them has added to her confidence and technique. Miss Patty taught her how to have fun with dance; Miss Angie taught her the rhythm of dance and Miss Megan is teaching her how to be graceful with the dance.  

During the summer of 2006 the dancing bug hit me. I decided that I no longer just wanted to watch others dance I wanted to dance myself, so I joined to adult tap class. Now the last and only time I have ever put on a pair of tap shoes was when I was four years old and I can barely remember those days. With enormous trepidation and excitement I went to my first class. My instructor Leia was great. She made me feel right at home and comfortable. Even though I was convinced I have two left feet she made me feel as if I had been hoofing my whole life and was capable of anything.  

As wonderful as the dancing is at Backstreet, the best thing is the family atmosphere that is present. Patty, Earl and all their instructors work very hard at making you feel at home and a part of their Backstreet family. Both I and Rachel have made some of the best friends we could ever want there

Margaret, mother of Rachel

 

Call Now (951) 786-9096

backstreet performing arts

3478 university ave

riverside, ca 92501