Advanced Dance Stars

Our daughters have participated in Christi's advanced dance for about 5 years now and they have loved every minute of it. My wife and I put them into the class just to help our daughters get a little extra exercise and over the years they've grown into respectful, confident little women. Performing in public has helped them excel beyond just dance; they started off shy and introverted and now they don't shy away from public speaking and school presentations. The love Christine and Edward have for the little dancers is amazing. They are patient and caring. I'd recommend Christi's Advanced Dance to any parent seeking a healthy way to get their child some exercise and build rhythm and confidence.

BEWARE!!! DO NOT SIGN YOUR CHILD UP FOR DANCE LESSONS WITH CHRISTINE!!!

This women is a complete nightmare! My daughter was in her dance program for 3 months and the instructor, Christi, is the definition HORRIFIC!
If you have ever seen the show "Dance Moms" on TV, she's exactly like the coach there. (Ironically both mentally and physically).

Long story short, she sent my SIX YEAR OLD daughter into a crowd of over 200 people BY HERSELF minutes before she was supposed to get on stage and perform, to give me her gloves that Christine said did not "look good" with the rest of the team. Even after 2 hours before this, I personally showed the gloves to Christine and she said "great". She took the opportunity to humiliate my daughter, risked her safety after I entrusted her to keep my daughter safe while I waited in the audience to watch the performance and belittled her in front of her peers in the worst way possible.
After my daughter searched aimlessly for me in this crowd for me, she was hysterical. I have never seen my her in such a panic or so sad in her life. After calming her down I walked over to Christine and said "Christine, I don't understand what changed between now and 10 minutes ago when I left my daughter with you and you told me you would keep all the children for formation, and to take our seats for the show? Or why you sent her ALONE into this huge crowd after you embarrassed her and made her leave crying by herself"
Christine simply looked at me and said "I have a zero tolerance policy for any confrontation and if you have a problem with the way I run my show you can leave". I then responded and said "What do you mean? We are here and ready and I made you aware of the shipping delay on the gloves and how we had to improvise with other gloves. You said it was fine, then you waited until my daughter was without me to humiliate her and sent her into this huge crowd where she had no idea where I was". Christine then said "It doesn't matter just leave. She will not perform today or ever for me" at this point every single dancer, parent and grandparent stared at her and couldn't believe what she just said. Another mom walked up and said she had an extra pair of the correct gloves and that my daughter could borrow them and she would be able to perform. Christine ignored her and myself and went on to change the formation of the kids to account for one missing dancer, my daughter. Three other parents then involved themselves and Christine said, "Ok she can dance today but never for me again".
I then put the gloves on my daughter and they went on stage and performed, a decision I will always regret. I should have removed my daughter completely from this situation because what followed was even more ridiculous. I was walking up to my daughter, who was near Christine, after the performance. I said "Thanks Christine we are leaving now". Christine said "Ok great. Lily can definitely stay in dance class, especially since you have already paid for this session". I said "thanks" and walked away.

Christine feeds on having power and unfortunately this illegitimate dance class she's created allows her to have this authority, and she uses this feed her ego (or lack there of). As an adult, please only say what you mean and mean what you say, ESPECIALLY when children are involved. Christine is not a role model for children, in fact is the COMPLETE opposite. She made this huge seen to embarrass and belittle my daughter, traumatized her then turned around and acted as though nothing happened and said she can come back to class. So so so immature and insane.

Of course after this situation I've gone high and low to ensure no other child has to go thru what my daughter did. In doing so I've discovered a few things...

1. Christine uses dozens of different names to ensure that she is never held accountable for her horrific actions with kids.
An example of some of the names she has used in San Diego County and Texas are:
- Christi's Advanced Dance Stars (which is the name she is currently operating under)
- Christi's Advanced Dance
- Jazzercise Program and Jazzercise Dance Jr
- Kids Night Out
- Christi's Jr Jazzercise
- Christine Tafolla Dance
- Christi's Advanced Dance, Inc.
- Christine Marie Guevara Dance Studio
- Tafolla Dance Academy
- Shake it Up Dance!
- Edward Maldonado Advanced Dance
- Edward Maldonado Dance Stars

The current website she is using is: advanceddancestars.com she changes the website and name she works under about every 2-3 years.

3. Christine does not even conduct the dance classes! Her son, Edward does.

4. Edward and Christine are the only two employees for this bogus non-profit organization.
She claims to be an IRS recognized 501c3, but parents pay $50-$95 a month for 45 mins once a week, and parents pay for the entire costume (Upwards of $240). Nothing is included! They go to dozens of schools in San Diego every week. AND she registers for "donations" EVERYWHERE and pockets every penny!

I would have put zero stars, but that wasn't an option. My granddaughter has always loved singing and dancing, and I'm afraid that her experience with this dance class has changed that. She was humiliated and embarrassed in front of the whole class, and will likely never want to perform again. It is very sad.

We will look at other options for classes.

You have the nerve to talk to my daughter the way you did in your last performance I don't know who you think you are but you're not the Abby Miller from dance moms. So watch your tone around my child. Go to the parent's if you have an issue!

Please think twice about using this dance studio. The owner Christine is not professional and constantly yells at the students. She humiliated my granddaughter so much she made her cry just because she did not have the right gloves. Told her she could not dance at the evenings performance. She is one mean women and I feel the kids are scared of her.