Testimonials
My Road To Backstreet
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.
Although I love all forms of dance I favor Tap Dance. I was taught how to tap by my father and uncle who were both self taught in the old buck dancing style of tap. I received a few instructional lessons from my high school football coach, whom had danced in some professional shows. That was as close as I ever got to a tap dance class.
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.
In Patty’s class I learned 5 very important lessons and they are as follows:
- The value of counting out steps
- The value of executing clear and concise steps that can be referenced
- How to strengthen my toe steps
- To always be aware of my dance posture
- How NOT to hurt myself by using proper technique
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
Happiness At Backstreet Performing Arts
My daughter will be 6 this August and started dancing in a mommy and me class when she was 2. Since then she has climbed by leaps and bounds into a continually improving beautiful little dancer. She currently takes classes in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hula, Turns and enjoys them all to hear hearts full intent. She just can’t wait for her days to get together with her friends and go to dance class. She has made so many wonderful memories and friendships here at Backstreet. The teachers are like extended family members and show it in their attitude that they truly love being there with our children!
My son who is going to be 12 this year started going to the tumbling class when he was 10 and did awesome! He has since turned into quite the Hip-Hop dancer and is continually amazing me with his abilities. My son is a very spontaneous young man and the teachers here at Backstreet have worked very well with him and their guidance has paid off terrifically in his personality!
Both my daughter and my son are also on the studios competition team. I think this is the part they both cherish the most about being with Backstreet. My kids just love every chance they get to be on stage to perform with their friends! To quote my son when he was talking to my husband on the phone one specific night after a competition. “ It was the best time I ever had in my life dad!” My daughter enjoys watching all they other teams dance and playing with her friends in between performances. She has just blossomed so much over the few years with the help of my wonderful friends and here at Backstreet.
I also have been doing some dancing of my own here at the studio. I would love to be able to do some of the other classes like modern or musical theatre. It just has not fit my busy mommy schedule yet. I have been taking the Polynesian dance class for almost two years now and just love it! Just like my children I have made some truly amazing friendships and my teacher is an absolute jewel!
As a mom of three fun and wonderful children with a very structured home environment, I try to make sure that my children are in safe wholesome places. I want my children to be happy and enjoy the opportunities they have in their lives. Here at Backstreet Performing Arts it is not just a dance studio! It is more of an extended family! It is a place to go and enjoy. Patty, Earl and all the instructors have succeeded in the ultimate haven for children and adults to come and enjoy and to learn to appreciate the performing arts!
Thank you for all you do at Backstreet! You bring happiness to the hearts of so many!
Danielle, mommy to Ruby and Jrake
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
At our previous studio we were very unhappy with the training our daughter was getting , so we started our search for anew studio. Our search brought us disappointment and unhappiness of the quality of many of the studios in the Inland Empire area. They were not offering us a complete program. Then we remembered Mrs. Patty had been our niece’s teacher and how much we appreciated her love and commitment and her wonderful overall presence. We decided to give Backstreet Performing Arts a try. The experience has been wonderful and we have never looked back. Our daughter looks forward to being at the studio all the time and hates when she has to miss a class! We highly recommend this dance school with its well trained and professional staff.
Daryl and Debra, parents of Amy
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
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