Melbourne Academy of the Arts

My daughter joined MAARTS 3 years ago, she is currently training in the Full Time program. When it became clear that her dream was to become a Ballerina, we did a lot of research before choosing a school in order to fulfil her dreams. Her transition into MAARTS went very smoothly.

I have to say that I’m extremely happy about the training program, it’s a very complete curriculum, the teachers really care for their students, the Production is an amazing experience, the studios are world class and above all the nurturing environment has made my daughter thrive and feel like she’s at home. Ms Jasmina is an amazing teacher, her knowledge and attention to detail helps each student along their personal journey. Not only does she teach the art form of ballet, but she does it in a way that will allow the students to have long and healthy careers if they desire to continue their dancing journey.

Melbourne Academy of the arts has helped my daughter to advance both physically and mentally. She has been able to progress immensely with the loving care and support of all her teachers. I can’t recommend a better school than MAARTS.

Excellent ballet school, dedicated teachers and hard working front staff members. The quality of the school can be seen from the students achievements in Australia, around the world and MAARTS productions.

Our daughter has been at MAARTS for seven years now. We could not be happier with the school. It offers excellent training, opportunities to participate in professional performances and has a positive, supportive and supportive culture.

CAUTION:
Beneath the façade of 'world class studios' and 'holistic' teaching hides a plethora of authoritarian values and dogmatic approaches to teaching and management.

The director enforces strict adherence to authority at the expense of the MA ARTS students autonomy.

Class schedules are unreliable so parents wonder what classes they are paying for.

Auditions to other schools are not supported as outlined on the MA ARTS web page and students/parents are actively deterred from applying elsewhere unless privately invited to by the director.

A full time student had her enrolment terminated without forewarning or discussion because her parent had not sought permission to attend an audition.

The director did not respond to the parent who tried to explain that she had misunderstood the director's original support at the beginning of the year, which was to help the student to go to the school of her dreams.

This child was left without a school to attend after being a loyal and dedicated student of MA ARTS for 2 years. There were no farewells or well wishes from the director to this student but teary students who were sad to say farewell and to see their class friend dismissed so unfairly.

I write this to warn others to take care. This company is fabulous at marketing themselves and requesting others to market their school for them but in my experience this school is niether ethical nor nuturing.

Therefore, I do not recommend this school for any child or caring parent.

I only have beautiful things to say about Maarts! Excellent teachers, incredible training facilities, a dream school for a dancer.
I highly recommend Melbourne Academy of the Arts if you are looking for a Dance school full of professionals that will guide you or your child to a beautiful career.

Incredible school. Purely incredible.
My daughter was so happy in this school in a way that I will be forever grateful to Jasmina and all her beautiful team.
MAARTS changed her life in the best possible way.

What an excellent school!
I am a former professional dancer, graduated from Bolshoi as a student and as a teacher.
I highly recommend Melbourne Academy of the Arts, no doubts.
The team of extremely capable and passionate professionals makes this school a highlight on the dance scene in Australia.
Students not only work on improving their technique in the art of dance and all the artistism that it involves, they also grow as better citizens for our society.
A lovely and passionate director makes the school a materialization for the love of dance. She guides students and teachers in a beautiful path.
All classes are of the highest quality. Professionals are extremely qualified - real teachers, real masters.
All of this without mentioning the first quality infrastructure, developed for the well-being of the dancers.
My future children will certainly dance under the care of the Melbourne Academy of the Arts.

Excellent teaching academy. Very professional staff who are enthusiastic about their art. Their dedication and passion is evident when you observe how and what they teach. Highly recommend!

CAUTION:
Beneath the façade of 'world class studios' and 'holistic' teaching hides a plethora of authoritarian values and dogmatic approaches to teaching and management.

The director enforces strict obedience to authority at the expense of the MA ARTS students autonomy.

'Holistic' training and nurture of the MA ARTS students are hampered by director threats to the children that they be discluded from performances if they don't conform.

Class schedules are unreliable so parents wonder what classes they are paying for.

Auditions to other schools are not supported as outlined on the MA ARTS web page and students/parents are actively deterred from applying elsewhere unless the school is international or attached to a proffessional dance company.

A full time student was singled out and had her enrolment terminated without forewarning or discussion because her parent had not sought permission to attend an audition. Other students who attended auditions during the year did not request director permission and did not have their enrolments terminated.

The director did not respond to the parent who actively apologised and tried to explain that she had misunderstood the director's original support at the beginning of the year, which was to help the student to go to the school of her dreams.

This child was left without a school to attend after being a loyal and dedicated student of MA ARTS for 2 years. There were no farewells or well wishes from the director to this student but teary students who were sad to say farewell and to see their class friend dismissed so unfairly.

I have collated this information from past and present students/parents/teachers and I write this to warn others to take care. This company is fabulous at marketing themselves and requesting others to market their school for them but in my lengthy experience this school is niether ethical nor nuturing.

Therefore, I do not recommend this school for any child or caring parent.

Beware of being late to a ballet performance which included unpaid children. My son was 5 minutes late and told was not allowed in to the theatre to watch his daughter perform. I was quickly also excluded for simply exiting the theatre to meet him. A most unjust rule to what is supposed to be a family event.

My granddaughter joins MAARTS next year. I was allowed to see 2 classes that have been scheduled for the audition. This was truly amazing experience to see teaching process not only performances. I highly appreciate MAARTS transparency and do highlight highest level of expertise and professionalism the MAARTS director, teachers and staff.
My granddaughter as well as all our family looking forward to start training at MAARTS early next year.

My daughter has been fortunate to be part of the MAARTS community for last 10 months. This is truly an exceptional school.

The teaching faculty is excellent – they have all had exceptional careers prior to teaching at MAARTS and they are very attentive to the students. The facilities are state of the art (they host world class workshops at the school that their students often have access to). I believe that their annual productions are the best in Australia. MAARTS students have the opportunity to share the stage with some of the world’s best ballet dancers – it’s truly a magical experience for the students!

My daughter has improved more than I could have imagined since she joined the school so we couldn’t be happier. I am very grateful that my daughter is part of the MAARTS community. Thank you MAARTS!

The Academy demonsatres such a high standard of world class quality in all that they do. From the faculty and training to the venue, customer service, performances and extra curricular opportunities they offer. We feel so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful community and school and highly recommend the Academy for anyone who wants their child to learn ballet and dance in a holistic and nurturing environment.

We are so lucky to have found the Melbourne Academy of the Arts.
All the teachers and staff are amazing and the quality of dancing is outstanding! The performance of the concerts is highly professional and something that our family looks forward to every year. I cannot recommend this school highly enough.

My daughter has been studying under Miss Jasmina and staff at MAARTS for a year now and we couldn't be more happy. After spending many hours on the internet looking for a ballet school we came across MAARTS. From the first time we walked through the door we have felt at home and my daughter has loved every minute studying there. Miss Jasmina and the other teachers are firm but understand that kids sometimes have bad days and that kindness in teaching can sometimes go a long way in helping young ones become more teachable. We love that Miss Jasmina encourages the girls and boys to have strong minds (through researching famous dancers, ballets and the countries they come from), bodies (through stretch classes and talking about good eating habits) and technique (through the many hours of classical, contemporary and special ballet classes taught there) but also to see ballet as what it truly is, an art form. She encourages the kids to see themselves as artists telling a story on stage.

Awesome people and was able to get some amazing photos of me posing in my thong, just looks so beautiful and would love to come back soon.