River Oaks Dance: A Houston Dance Studio for Children and Youth

River Oaks Dance Introduce

Located in the heart of Houston, River Oaks Dance is a women-owned dance studio that caters to children and youth, offering a wide array of dance programs in a vibrant and engaging environment. From early childhood classes like "Mommy & Me" to advanced programs for older students, the studio is designed to be a place where children can learn and grow in a fun, positive, and encouraging atmosphere. The studio’s curriculum focuses on developing dance skills, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for the art of dance. With a range of classes from classical ballet to energetic hip-hop, River Oaks Dance provides a creative outlet for every child’s passion and personality.

The studio's dedication to creating a positive experience for its students is evident in many of its programs and offerings. They host fun events, themed birthday parties, and engaging summer camps, all of which are designed to make learning a joyful and memorable experience. They are also known for their focus on early childhood dance education, providing a gentle and structured introduction to the world of ballet and movement for toddlers and preschoolers. The studio's commitment to creating a nurturing and supportive community is a key part of its appeal to many Houston families.

However, it is important for prospective clients to be aware of mixed experiences from previous customers, as some reviews point to concerns regarding the teaching methodology, particularly for those seeking a rigorous, technique-focused program. Some parents have expressed a feeling that the focus is more on the "playful and silly" concept rather than on teaching fundamental ballet stances or moves. There have also been reports of difficult interactions with management, specifically regarding billing and costume issues, and a lack of warmth from staff. These experiences, as described by some customers, suggest a need for parents to ask specific questions about the curriculum, communication policies, and fees before enrolling to ensure the studio's style aligns with their goals for their child's dance education.

River Oaks Dance is conveniently located at 3641 Westheimer Rd Unit C, Houston, TX 77027, USA. This prime location places the studio in the highly desirable and well-known River Oaks area of Houston. The studio's presence on Westheimer Road makes it easily accessible for families from various parts of the city, including Montrose, Upper Kirby, Galleria, and Memorial. Its central location is a significant convenience for parents managing busy schedules.

The studio also offers accessibility features, with both a wheelchair accessible entrance and a wheelchair accessible parking lot. This commitment to inclusivity ensures that the facility is welcoming to all members of the community, regardless of mobility. For added convenience, the studio accepts multiple forms of payment, including credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments, making the registration and payment process seamless for parents. While some reviews mention being rushed to wait in their cars, this is a policy to manage the limited studio space and can be mitigated by the ability to watch classes via a linked app.

Services Offered

Youth & Children's Classes: A wide variety of classes for children and youth of all ages.
Early Childhood Programs: Including "Mommy & Me" and Toddler Ballet classes.
Classical Ballet: Programs that teach classical ballet technique, from pre-ballet to more advanced levels.
Hip-Hop: High-energy classes that focus on street dance and popular hip-hop styles.
Tap & Jazz: Classes that teach fundamental tap and jazz skills, rhythm, and coordination.
Dance Camps: Themed summer and day camps for a fun and immersive dance experience.
Birthday Parties: Dance-themed birthday parties for a memorable celebration.
Adaptive Dance: Programs designed to be inclusive and accessible for children with special needs.
Private Lessons: One-on-one instruction for personalized attention.
Recitals & Performances: Opportunities for students to perform and showcase their skills.

Features / Highlights

Identifies as women-owned, contributing to the local Houston economy.
Offers a wide variety of classes for all ages, with a strong focus on children and youth.
Provides both onsite services and online class options.
Wheelchair accessible entrance and parking lot.
Accepts various payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
Known for fun events, themed parties, and engaging summer camps.
Offers an inclusive adaptive dance program for children with special needs.
A central Houston location that is convenient for many families.
Classes for every skill level, from beginner to advanced.
"Good for kids," with a focus on creating a positive and encouraging environment.

Contact Information

Address: 3641 Westheimer Rd Unit C, Houston, TX 77027, USA

Phone: (281) 840-0372

What is worth choosing

For families in Houston, what is worth choosing about River Oaks Dance is its strong commitment to creating a fun, engaging, and welcoming environment for children. The studio’s extensive range of classes, from classical ballet to high-energy hip-hop, ensures that there is a program to spark the interest of every child. Themed camps and birthday parties add an extra layer of excitement, making the studio a place where kids can not only learn but also create lasting memories. For parents seeking a dance school that focuses on building a love for movement and music in a joyful atmosphere, River Oaks Dance presents a compelling option. The inclusive approach, including an adaptive dance program and physical accessibility features, shows a genuine desire to serve the entire community.

However, it is crucial for parents to weigh these positive aspects against the concerns raised by some customers regarding the level of technical instruction and administrative interactions. While some families may find the less-structured, "playful" approach to be a perfect fit for their child, others seeking a more rigorous classical training might be disappointed. The reports of challenges with communication and handling of issues like costume fees and billing are also a consideration. Despite these mixed reviews, many families find a great deal of value in the studio's positive and encouraging environment for their children. By asking the right questions and managing expectations, families can determine if River Oaks Dance is the right fit for their child's dance journey in Houston.

River Oaks Dance Services

Ballet School
Adaptive dance
Beginner's program
Classical ballet technique
Intermediate program
Jazz
Repertory ballet
Tap & pre-ballet
Hip-Hop
Mommy & Me
ballet class

Dance School
Advanced classes
Beginner's classes
Intermediate classes
Private lessons
Youth classes
45 Minute Class
A Dance Studio
Arts Instruction
Ballet Birthday Parties
Ballet Classes At
Ballet Classes In
Ballet Learning
Ballet Steps
Basic Ballet
Basic Tap
Birthday Parties
Birthday Parties Dance
Business Workshop
Cheer Camp
Child Dance
Child's Class
Child's School
Class Teaching
Classic Dance
Classical Ballet
Classical Dance
Combo Class
Contemporary Contemporary
Contemporary Dance
Dance Art
Dance Cardio Classes
Dance Class Learn
Dance Classes
Dance Classes Dance
Dance Classes For Children
Dance Classes Parties
Dance Dance Classes
Dance Education
Dance Education In The
Dance Exercises With
Dance Program
Dance Recitals
Dance Routine
Dance Skills
Dance Teaching
Dance Training
Dance Training At
Dance Workshops
Day Camp
Early Childhood Ballet Classes
Early Childhood Dance
Early Childhood Dance Education
First Dance Class
Floor Work
Fun Classes
Fun Events
Gym Class
Hip-Hop Class
Hip-Hop Dancing
Homeschool Dance Class
Learn Ballet
Lyrical Dance
Mini Ballet
Mini Class
Mommy & Me Classes
Mommy and me class
Movement Class
Movement Exercises
Music Activities
Nutcracker Ballet
Older Classes
Pom Dancing
Pre- Pointe Class
Pre-Ballet
Preschool Dance Class
Preschool Dance Program
Primary Ballet
Princess Camp
Social Dances
Special Needs
Everyone Can Dance: Ballet for All Abilities
Street Dance
Stretching Exercises
Summer Classes
Summer Dance Camps
Tap Class
Teacher Training
Team Dance
Theatre Dance
Themed Birthday Parties
Themed Dance
Themed Party
Toddler Ballet
Toddler Ballet Class
Toddlers Dance Classes
Weekly Class
Youth Programs
hip-hop

River Oaks Dance Details

From the business
Identifies as women-owned

Service options
Onsite services
Online classes

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
Good for kids

River Oaks Dance Photos

River Oaks Dance Location

River Oaks Dance

Texas Harris County Houston Greenway / Upper Kirby Area Westheimer Road

3641 Westheimer Rd Unit C, Houston, TX 77027, USA

River Oaks Dance Reviews

An average rating of ★4.9 from 110 user reviews.

balletstudioclassesbirthdaylearnedteamparentssummer campcarhappy

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

ROD teaches up to the age of 12. That should tell you all you need to know. There's not a lot of teaching or learning. Playful, silly, & be pretty concept. If you got money to waste then this is your place.I strongly urge anyone who is thinking about attending here — if you want your girls to learn the beautiful art of ballet/dance, do your research on the owner and the instructors. My daughter has been with ROD for 3 or 4 years and she hasn’t learned one single very basic ballet stance, move, simple 8 count, nothing. It’s disappointing for sure but it’s sad bc these girls deserve more. I noticed it right away but of course she got sucked in like the studio wants and how can you tell your sweet little daughter no, we will look for another studio to go to, so this is partially my fault for giving into my daughter.I’m pretty sure the owner, miss sara Carbo, will reply to my review stating I’m a former bitter client and while that is slightly true, let me explain why I’m bitter and I’m pretty sure you’d all agree. I was recently forced to pay $275 for a severely snagged up recital costume or given the option to give it back and tell me daughter she can’t perform in the recital she’s practiced so hard for. The studio did try three times to replace the costume but ultimately, somehow failed to get one that was snag free AND TOLD ME that the snags all over this costume was totally NORMAL to be snagged up bc it’s all “due to the manufacturing process”. Uhm, can you please repeat that bc I think you just said, a severely damaged $275 costume is supposed to come entirely snagged up?Let’s be clear, Sara: I spoke up because I received a costume that was severely damaged and not worth what I paid. Instead of working with me to resolve it, you brushed it off. And now, because I expressed my frustration, you’ve taken it out on my daughter who did absolutely nothing to deserve this.It is absolutely shocking that something as simple as a snagged-up recital costume could escalate into this situation. Again, this all could have been avoided from the very beginning before your lack of care and horrific responses caused me to get angry about this situation —if only they had chosen to handle things with honesty, grace and professionalism. Instead, they remained stubborn, dismissive, and apparently believed they could get away with blatantly ripping parents off.Well, I’m done. Not this momma.I have a hard time believing they would hang snagged leotards in the store and say oh no those snags are part of the process, they’re supposed to be there. 🙄😂If that weren’t horrific enough, I recently got an email stating they thought it be best they UNENROLL my SIX YEAR OLD daughter from their wicked summer camp she’s been excited to go to go for several months bc that’s another thing they do, they like to harass the parents about their PRICEY camps by sending 100s of emails and texts out and then tell the kids during class and then send flyers home after you’ve already heard and probably still in shock of the price for a 3-4 hour one day camp. **Marketing, they’ve got that down for sure bc they are pros at ripping people off.** Her decision to remove my daughter from the summer dance camp out of SPITE is DISGRACEFUL, and I won’t stay silent about it. I am making other parents aware of exactly how you operate. THIS ENDS HERE.You owe my daughter better. And you OWE EVERY PARENT who trusted you some accountabilityWhat was it, $525 or $625 for a FIVE MINUTE photo session. Yes ladies, I said FIVE MINUTES. After years in your program, I do not see any dancers perform at the level they should be at their age and that’s sad. That’s NOT on them. That’s on YOU.You’ve been getting away with this for years—three of them with my family—and I can only imagine how many others have fallen into what now feels more like a cash grab than a legitimate dance education.***BUT punishing my 6-year-old daughter because I dared to speak up? That’s the line. You crossed it. How dare you***
June 10 · Jennifer Lane
Sad to say our family’s experience wasn’t what other’s have shared in their reviews. Every interaction I’ve had with staff over the past year+ has felt cold and awkward. I say this with much grace & love as I understand working with toddlers can be overwhelming & chaotic but every time I’ve ever tried to speak to any of the staff they are incredibly short and cold — our daughter is in tons of activities (figure skating, swim, TBall, gymnastics, etc.) and this is the only place where the staff isn’t bubbly and warm to the family’s (or ours at least).The studio is tiny and they are constantly trying to rush you out the door to wait in your car which leaves little room to build a relationship with any of them. Again, we were there over a year and I sadly don’t even know my child’s instructors’ name. That is not normal?With their rule of no family’s inside you’re forced to watch their ballet classes via an app in your car - which I guess is fine in theory but the connection is typically blurry and there’s no sound..I was also charged for a class my child never attended after transferring her to a different time that worked better for our family. I reached out and was told they’d give me a call back - never did and never gave me a refund.I love the idea of everything the studio offers but sadly the way we’ve been treated outshines all of it. Our family is leaving Houston for year #13 in the NFL! Excited for that. And hopefully we’ll find something better fitting for our baby girl in our new city.
April 17 · Alexandra Woods
My daughter has been dancing with River Oaks Dance for about three years. There has not been a moment when she would not want to come to her class. She loves everyone and everything about this cute whimsical boutique studio. So do I. It's beautifully designed, clean, welcoming, and friendly.Recently, my daughter celebrated her 6th Birthday at ROD, and we could not pick a more charming setting to do so. It was incredibly stress-free for me as the host. I just enjoyed my mom friends in a low-key setting, while the girls immersed in super fun activities with the teachers - hairdo, crafts, dancing, ... and the cake! They even did a little show for the moms.The party was very well-organized. I'm so glad I partnered with ROD to celebrate my girl - we created memories to remember. 💕💕💕 Thank you to the entire ROD team.
February 18 · Alena Grove
We had our daughters 5th birthday party at River Oaks Dance and it could not have been a better, more seamless experience. The staff does everything from unloading your car, to running the entire party, cutting the cake and then reloading your car. The teachers were so sweet and fun with the kids, the girls had the BEST time! Highly recommend ROD for a birthday party and dance classes. The staff and owner, Sara, are simply the best.
April 02 · Courtney Tauber
Cannot recommend ROS enough! The entire staff is amazing and my daughter loved having her birthday party there! She looks forward to her ballet classes each week!
March 26 · Maddy Lassetter