Lifehouse Performing Arts Academy — Local services in Salem

Ok, here’s the thing, if it was a few years ago Lifehouse would have a 4 or 5 star rating from me, but over the past 2 or 3 years there has been some significant changes, and not for the better. 1. The first thing I will address is how they charge. Every other place I have ever paid for anything do it with common sense, they add up all the charges and at the end of the month give you a bill and that’s what you pay at the beginning of the next month. The problem is there are so many random charges for costumes and extra classes etc. so instead of giving you one bill a month that goes through around the same time each month, depending on the month they may charge you 3 or 4 times, its ridiculous, and it stinks of dishonesty. That has been an issues from the beginning so they would have probably gained a 4 star review regardless. 2. Over the past few years “special classes” to prepare the girls for different things in the company all of the sudden were recommended classes that were super expensive. Your child is pressured to be in them and there’s a strong insinuation they will not progress without them, then… half of them don’t make it! It seems like a money making ploy and if you complain your child suffers. 3. You should inquire about the weird seance ceremony they did before a performance! Super sketchy and weird. 4. The quality of the teaching has drastically declined and this has showed itself in the performances, we used to be wowed and so impressed by the performances, and we’re even willing to overlook some other things because of it! But it has declined and the focus is now on making money over anything! These are the main issues with the company along with not being able to voice any concerns or they punish you though your children. This used to be an amazing company, now all they care about is how to get the most money out of each child! It’s disgusting! And I restate, the reason you can’t come to them with your concerns is because they will punish your child with not making certain companies or roles in the performances! They’ll deny it, but it is true! So if you can pay enough it won’t matter the talent, just don’t complain about anything and you need to be ok with some cult seance ceremonies before the performances! I’m excited to see the response of the owners and how much they’ll lie about all this! Honestly though, I would bet they won’t respond, because thee is nothing you can say about this, it’s all true! Now that I’ve added they won’t respond, let’s see what they’ll do! I really want to hear a response, I want to hear the reasons behind...

Our family's experience with Lifehouse Academy has been nothing but positive, and that positive influence extends far beyond the dance studio. The first time my oldest daughter and I watched a fireside performance, we were BLOWN AWAY! We wished so much that she had been given the opportunity to dance at Lifehouse.

For 9 years now, two of our daughters have had the wonderful privilege to be influenced by the amazing overall philosophy, the awesome teachers and the loving environment Lifehouse has to offer. The impact the teachers have had, and will continue to have on my daughters' character, future decisions, and positive self-image has been incalculable. My daughters have gained poise, self-control, grace, empathy, and an amazing work ethic through their years of training.

And dance training! These dancers are receiving AMAZING dance training in not just ballet, but many other dance genres, as well. Each dancer is encouraged to do her personal best, not to perform for the sake of showing off how good the teachers are, or compete with anyone else. The focus is always on developing and using talents to glorify God, instead of aggrandizing the self. This philosophy inevitably leads each dancer to perform greater than she ever thought possible.

Often, during our 9 years with Lifehouse, our family has had the opportunity to move out of state. Always, always, our first reason for NOT moving is that there would be nowhere in the world we could go that could offer the amazing dance and character training that Lifehouse has provided. We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to participate with this great Academy for these many years; and look forward to many more...

Never come to Lifehouse I repeat. My daughter came here about two years ago and had danced with her cousin for years and years, and Lifehouse, both completely destroyed their self-worth and body image. Let me also talk about the crap quality teaching, my daughter would come home almost every day, crying about how she hated how the teachers were incredibly judgemental to her. The teachers were rude, especially one which I will not share. The first year she had that teacher she was so kind to my daughter and her cousin. The next year they returned and she was so passive aggressive and never moved onto topics. The girls were ready for.. they were at an intermediate/advanced level and got taught things that were beginner, intermediate level. They were stuck doing Pique and chanie turns for almost 2 years. The owner of this Studio manifest, great values, but does not follow through with them. They always talked about having self-worth from within and how they help you with that but completely destroyed it from the outside. All I'm saying is that if you don't want your self-worth completely beat up...