Kansas City Young Artist Adtrm

Our kids have attended KCYA Community School of the Arts for two years. It is affordable, accessable, high quality and super-friendly. We have taken a variety of dance classes and arts camps. Even my 12 year old son has enjoyed the fun programs like puppetry and hip-hop. It is easy to see that the people who lead this school and the teachers they hire love kids and have a desire to see them become the best they can be. I would highly reccomend KCYA CSA for arts enrichment programs.

I danced ballet with Miss Kim for seven years, from age 10 to 17, and it was such a positive experience. I was very clumsy and insecure when I began dancing there, and I learned how to control my body and be confident in myself and my abilities through Miss Kim's positive teaching style and constant encouragement. My 3-year-old niece dances with Miss Kim now, and she loves it. I would recommend this ballet program to anyone and everyone who is interested in having fun while learning amazing technique and having opportunities to perform and receive individual attention in class.

My 5 year old daughter hs been taking ballet classes from Miss Kim for a year. Her coordination has greatly improved and she moves more fluidly than she did a year ago. She enjoys the classes and was giddy when she performed in her first recital. The classes for the younger kids can be chaotic at times but Miss Kim is amazing at keeping order in her studio. She is patient and kind but always demands attention and cooperation. I look forward to my daughter enjoying more years of instruction under Miss Kim!

Prior to discovering Kim Shope and the Midtown School of Dance, I studied ballet and other dances at 2 other locations in the KC area, however MTSD is where I realized my full potential as a dancer and lover of movement. Beginning studies with her my junior year of high school, I was instantly impressed by and appreciative of the professional, compassionate, and thorough training and overall experience at Miss Kim's studio. Her approach to teaching, using positive reinforcement, matched my learning needs and clearly the needs of all her students at the studio, for she gave clear directions and feedback while keeping the atmosphere welcoming rather than competitive (as some studios can be). Due to this facet, I believe she brings out the best in all students who attend her classes. She brings her knowledge from her own extensive background as a professional dancer, so quality of instruction was extremely high. I hope that other teachers have the opportunity to model their instruction style after Miss Kim's! Her positive attitude and encouraging nature provided a motivating and enjoyable atmosphere for dance training!

My three daughters take ballet from KCYA, specifically Ms. Kim and Ms. Jennifer. They are AMAZING. My oldest began at The Culture House under Jeremiah Enning - but when they moved to Olathe we had a difficult time with the class times and location. Taking a break from ballet was not the right move, but after a 2 year break - we searched high and low for a ballet atmosphere that would provide very high level instruction as well as stellar recitals where my daughter could enjoy showing the skills she learned. After enrolling my then reluctant dancer (who was behind two years and 13 at the time) in two classes - one at the level she was supposed to be at, and one in a technique class to bring her up to speed in terminology and moves (recommendations from the very knowledgable Ms. Kim), she was able to push through a very difficult year to reach the level she is at today. She never would have stayed in ballet without the encouragement and pushing from Ms. Kim and Ms. Jennifer, and she and I are both incredibly grateful for their beleif in her. My oldest's self esteem sky-rocketed with their motivation and her own perseverance to "catch-up". What an opportunity they gave her. Who else would have done that? My other two daughters, now age 6 and 12, have also learned so much over the last three years we've danced with KCYA. This has been the only company they have danced with. We LOVE the teaching, the strictness, the recitals. Not one other dance company I've visited puts on a show like Ms. Kim. I highly recommend this company for the serious dancer who wants to learn from the best, yet still enjoy the dancing and the atmosphere.

My daughter was clumsy before, but thanks to ms. Kim, she's walking like a cat!!! That ms Kim is a real miracle worker!!!

But seriously, my daughter enjoyed her classes and made some lifelong memories - her first dance recital...Ms Kim's patience and discipline are admirable. I recommend her.

I took classes from Kim from beginning at age 3 through about 3rd grade. Throughout the years with her, I not only learned the skills I needed to become the best ballet dancer I could be, and get good roles I wanted in performances, but also about determination and perseverence. I learned just as much about never giving up as I did when I learned how to break in my first pair of pointe shoes. I would strongly reccommend her dance classes to any child or adult looking to improve or begin their dancing career.

Sincerely,

Eden McKissick-Hawley

Our family's only experience with KCYA has been with my daughter's ballet class, but I must say, I have been nothing but impressed by the quality of the teaching. This is a very traditional ballet class, and while the teacher is strict, the children (boys and girls!) all adore her, and she has a wonderful rapport with even the youngest students. I have been amazed by the progress that my daughter, and the other children, make throughout a semester of lessons, and I look forward to many more years of ballet lessons for my daughter at KCYA.‎