The best ballet school in Los Angeles. Arguably the best ballet school in America. Incredible, outstanding teachers, highly individualized training, an amazing community. I strongly recommend this school to anyone looking to receive training in classical dance. No other school compares. Marat Daukayev creates incredibly skilled dancers. Many children have entered with no experience and gone on to star in the stunning performance of the Nutcracker. Some then graduate to get scholarships to the Kirov Ballet, the most prestigious ballet school in Russia, and arguably the world. Children have fun here, make many friends, and truly feel part of a community. Many go on to develop a passion for dance and become determined and disciplined. They work hard and become highly skilled. If you love ballet, this is the place for you... no doubt about it.

MY FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE:My daughter and son were both students here from the ages of 5-9. The school is disorganized and shabby but I liked that it wasnt a polished place as it showed the kids some grit and hard work. However, one of the ballet teachers here starting dating my husband while we were married and the school continued to employ her. They never responded to my calls or offered and explanation or apology. They have me a semester refund after I pulled my kids out upon discovering the affair. If those morals match up with yours, than this is the place for you, if not try Sophie Dance or some other school that actually finds a cheating husband and a loose teacher distasteful. And to boot, she went out of her way to meet my daughter (she wasnt her teacher) and now my daughter feels culpable in all of it. Not a woman who should be teaching children.Update: discovered Center Stage LA Dance in Valley Village and its incredible! My daughter spent four years at Marat and shes behind the other girls in her intermediate class! Also, they have a more fun dance environment and are learning classic ballet but to music like Thriller! If you can get a spot at this school (thats better priced) run dont walk! So much happier with this school and kid friendly warm environment with top notch teachers.My refund request to the Marat school:Hello-Im currently waiting on a call from Pamela, which Im guessing may not be returned as I was deeply unpleasant with the woman who answered the phone. Im requesting a full refund for the Spring semester for both my daughter and son. As you know, one of your teachers started dating my husband and as you still employ her, its not an option for my daughter to attend class. My daughter had met this teacher with my husband and seen them talking on multiple occasions, she now feels somehow responsible. Obviously, I wouldnt expect that line to be crossed when sending my daughter to dance class so needless to say, no one in the family will be returning to the school, except maybe my ex husband to troll for more dancers. Kindly return the funds to the credit card on file.Sincerely,DianeMarats response:Hi Diane,Ive gone ahead and refunded your card on file for the childrens full MDSB Spring 2019 tuition and dropped them from their classes. They had missed a lot of classes this semester already, so I went ahead and refunded the entire amount to you.Please let us know if you have any other questions regarding your enrollment or refund.Thank you.Virginia

It has been so fun Ive done it ever sense I was 3 and all of the performances are exiting

I love this place so much and love attending there for ballet

Love the classes--traditional, classical ballet at its finest.