On Pointe Academy of the Arts — Local services in Metamora Township

As I sit back and think about my time at OPSD On Pointe school of dance, the only memories I have are negative. Well, I shouldn’t say that. What I will say is my junior year of high school the dance studio I had been attending since I was younger (12 years) closed, this was heartbreaking. However, I found hope in OPSD as it presumed to be a safe dance family. However, for me that is far from the truth, my junior year I came in excited that I was going to be joining this new dance family. My excitement quickly turned to disappointment. Fast forward a year, I am now a senior. There was this talk about a senior dance, where we would wear our caps and gowns and walk on stage and do a little performance. I was excited for this, it finally felt like they were accepting me into their “family”… I would ask when they were practicing, I would ask what I could do to help in anyway. I was left in the dark, nobody replied to me. Nobody answered my questions. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and thought maybe it wasn’t happening anymore because why would somebody ignore me. However, recital came and there the seniors went on the stage to perform their senior dance, with me being the only senior left behind. This shattered my heart. Only my mom truly saw how hard this hit me; how unwelcome I felt. In this moment, she had asked the dance instructor why I had been left out of the senior dance as I was a senior. The dance instructor (and owner) looks at me and goes, Oh I thought Addy would be OK with it because “these seniors are my babies.” I can confidently quote those five words because every once in a while I will think back on that memory, and these words will repeat in my head. She looks at me after saying these words and said well weren’t you Addy? Let me ask you this; what would you say in that instance? To say the studio made me feel like dirt was an understatement. I have waited until now to post this because I felt like nobody would care, as the person who said those words to me clearly did not. But I am done not using my voice so this...

We love On Pointe! Our daughter has been with the studio since she was 2. It’s amazing to see the staff raise their self esteem. They pour their love onto these kids while pushing them to do better. Every year she grows in her confidence and ability. From Mrs. Jodie when she first walks in that greets her with a smile and hello, to Mr Cruz who teaches her in a way that is totally different and fun, such a great Hip Hop teacher. Mrs. Adena who pushes her in her technique and treats her like she’s her own. Mrs. Nolle is a pure ray of sunshine that has helped her grow and believed in her recommending her for her first solo at 8 years old. Ms Elaine who was her teaching assistant when she first started class and has helped her prepare for her Tech classes giving her an amazing base to start from. While also pouring her with love. Last but not least Ms Christy who talked her off the ledge her fist year of tech when she thought she wasn’t ready, held her while she cried and got her to dance her heart out. On Pointe has truly become our second family because of the staff and the other families. You truly can’t go wrong putting your faith in...

We’re do I even begin, on point school of dance has become a huge part of our family the last five years especially for my daughter who is 9, she lives and breaths dance 24/7 and that wouldn’t even be possible without the love and support from her amazingly talented dance instructor’s and let’s not forget Ms.Christy (owner) and Ms. Jodie (manger/secretary ) who are always there for each and every child that walks through those dance doors greeting you with a smiling face. Every dance instructors talent is unmatched as we haven’t seen teachers take such pride and joy into the children as on point teachers do, so for that we are truly blessed with the ABSOLUTE BEST around. The friendships that grow at dance are incredible and amazing to see as these kids count on one another for support and a boost of confidence and they are all each other’s hype man. We couldn’t imagine our lives without On Point...