Cheryl Burke Dance

Ah yes, I finally made it to Starlite.  Of course, it was bought by "Dancing With The Stars" pro dancer Cheryl Burke, who grew up a few miles north of the studio, so now it's Cheryl Burke Dance.  I read reviews ranging from "it's tops" to "it's terrible", how would I respond?

It's similar to the famed Allego in Emeryville, albeit quite a bit smaller.  I took a rumba class with Larry, he was as good as I've read.  More emphasis on privates than at other studios.  Wide mixture of demographics among the dancers.  Two party rooms, one mostly latin and the other is everything else.  More American tango than Argentine tango, grrrr.

Yes, the owner was there.  She taught the cha-cha class, it felt to me like she'd rather be somewhere else.

In a way, after its reputation several years ago of being the premier dance studio in Silicon Valley, this night was a letdown.  It did have good parts, some okay parts, and it could work for you.  I don't see myself traveling that distance just to dance there, though, especially when Allegro is just over the hill.

If you're curious about my experience at the CBD Laguna Niguel studio, it's as follows:

I am a ten year ballet veteran. After an extensive break, I decided to take up dancing again as an adult, this time ballroom. The closest place to me was a studio in South Orange County owned by Cheryl Burke and now closed. It got good reviews on Yelp and I love DWTS, so it seemed like a no-brainer. The studio had been in business for a year before I started going, so the core group of students had been established.

I noticed right away that it was a very competitive environment, and I don't mean in the dance sense. Many of the students seemed more interested in attending for social reasons but I just wanted to dance.  I would show up for lessons and group classes and then leave without thinking anything of it because I had a group of friends outside the studio who were my primary companions. Unbeknownst to me, this behavior was thought of as "aloof," so the trouble began.

There was also a mother-daughter duo who thought very highly of themselves but didn't care for me. They'd stand in the corner at Friday night parties and watch me, critiquing my technique and gossiping right in front of my eyes. The studio often served wine on Friday nights. Being well over 21, I would usually enjoy a glass. Once, the mother walked up to where I was standing and said, "she's here drinking every Friday night" in front of myself and others. I hardly think enjoying one glass of wine a week constitutes "drinking," but it was rude nonetheless.
The daughter, several years younger than me, was the only student who never talked to me, yet her dislike was vehement - violent, almost. She was friends with a male student and they would make inappropriate gestures to me during group class.

Evidently I "popped" my gum and "flipped" my hair, which they would emulate to me. The daughter said I "flirted with all the older men" because I danced with everyone at parties and always had fun. And according to her, I was a "princess" because I had trouble finding work after graduating. The princess comment cut very deep because it couldn't be farther from the truth - I have been on my own since 20. At any rate, the daughter's malice was so contagious that the Manager began making chewing gestures to me and referring to me as "princess." Yes, the MANAGER!

The worst part of the entire experience was my teacher. He was a philanderer and bully. He used his charisma to outshine his limited teaching experience. Females were drawn to him for his good looks. If he wasn't dating a handful of female students at once - mostly older women with money - he had a minion of ladies who continually praised him. For those who didn't fawn over him and questioned his teaching, he'd resort to verbal abuse to make them feel stupid. The things he said about me and other students is atrocious, especially for the amount of money we forked over for lessons, showcases, and competitions with him. The only students he treated decently were the ones he was sleeping with and the "big spenders."

Despite the fraternization policy, my teacher got away with his flings with students, mostly because they went under the radar, and also because his charisma drew money to the studio. At first, only a few people found out about them and the heartbroken girls left when they learned he was sticking it to other females. During his most recent scandal, however, he was not discreet at all. I think he felt invisible because he'd gotten away with so much in the past.

When word got out that he was dating an older woman with money, the Manager did not reprimand him for breach of contract. Instead, he encouraged the relationship: my teacher was not fired and the student was allowed at the studio. Additionally, she was given free lessons from him and had free access to parties and studio events while the rest of us could barely afford the fees. The Manager seemed to laud this relationship, his excuse being that my teacher's new flame "worked on the company website." Essentially, they were both rewarded for breaking the rules.

I reached a breaking point with the verbal abuse and scandals, so I took my business to a different studio and am much happier I did. I had never seen such high school behavior from adults before. At the place I switched to, I received outstanding coaching and met friends for life. The new place was totally void of the cattiness and cliqueyness. Thank goodness for that, because I was deeply hurt by it all.

I've been coming to CBD for both private and group lessons/parties since not long after it opened in this location; I was also a semi-regular customer at the old Starlite location in Sunnyvale. I am sharing my experience after numerous conversations with management have not resolved the issue of poor customer service.

The level of service at the front desk is atrocious. The staff is rude and unwelcoming. God forbid you sign in on the wrong sheet, or enter the facility when the desk is unmanned (see Yelp review below).. you will be chased and interrogated, like a common thief. They see no need to display courtesy, and the level of disrespect has risen sharply over the years.

Perhaps as a result, I've witnessed great teachers either leave or have their classes cancelled by management; I've also noticed less turnout of folks coming to the parties, classes and events. This is sad and unnecessary, especially compared to the old Starlite days.

There are lots of wonderful dance studios in the Bay Area that welcome your business. I'm going to be availing myself of these and avoiding CBD!