My daughter attended and taught at this studio. She is currently pursuing a career in dance in NYC. She has already been complimented multiple times on her technique and training (which is saying a lot) Miss Miriam and Miss Valerie deserve all the credit. They have become more than instructors to us, but our family.

Kerry and Jenna

A while back, I got a call from my aunt saying one of the teachers, Miriam, had physically abused her. When I got to the house to check on her, she had a large bruise on her stomach and back from where she's been hit with the stick used to keep time. She was also called "fat" in front of the class even though she was normal weight for an 8 year old. The police may have let Miriam get away with doing it, but I will not. Do not put your children here.

The studio trains hard and the teachers will definitely help make a dancer out of you. Some of the teachers including Miss Miriam can be very rude, saying the most absurd things to you during class in front of the other dancers. I remember her asking me if I had Alzheimer's or Dementia when I was 10 because I forgot a dance step one time. Mind you, I was 10. It is very important for each dancer to be treated toughly to become a stronger dancer and a stronger person in the real world when the child grows up. However, there are many ways to help make that happen, and I do not believe that verbal abuse is the way to go. I have traveled to many different dance studios over the course of my dance life and the best instruction I have received has been from coaches who understand the balance between strictness and teaching children how to love to dance. That is very hard to find at Miriam and Valerie's unfortunately.

Additionally, I didn't compete, so I was forced to attend classes that included kids my age and adults that were old enough to be my grandmothers! I love older people and all, but they can't exactly do a turned out controlled grand jete leap. A ten year old should never train with a 50 year old. That's right! Not too appropriate or fair at all! And if you do join the competition team, the prices are out of this world and you see an even meaner side to some of the teachers.

My daughter grew up in this studio. You can't find better technique training. The students learn personal discipline and team responsibility. I can't recommend this studio enough.

Miriam and Valerie's School of Dance Arst is an institution in the city of Sanford. If you danced as a child or knew someone who danced, chances are they received their training from Miss Miriam and Miss Valerie. Two of my daughters dance for them and a third is not far behind!! My girls would rather be there than any where else. They encourge their dancers to strive for excellence, in dance and in life. They motivate, love, and care for each child who walks through their doors. The community of the studio is an extension of my family, with friendships that last a lifetime. I am proud to have two daughter's as SODA POPs, they love performing and competing for Miss Miriam and Miss Val and work hard to meet their expectations. Anyone who is looking for the experience of classic dance technique would be pleased with the classes at Miriam and Valerie's School of Dance Arts.

Sounds like some people on here need mental therapy. This school builds character, teaches responsibility, as well as dancing. Long live Valerie and Miriam!

I was a student of M&V for over 15 years and I can say with confidence that what I learned from both Miss Miriam and Miss Valerie are traits that will stay with me forever. Not only do you learn impeccable technique, you also learn life skills you can apply to whatever dream you may follow if that be a professional dancer or a Harvard graduate. M&V teach their students hard work and a excellent work ethic will produce a good student and dancer. If you have any doubts of their dedication to their dancers, just ask some of their students who have left this studio to dance at Radio City Hall. Another confirmation of their talent to produce amazing dancers is that most of the studios in the Central Florida area are run by former students of both Miss Miriam and Miss Val. If you want the best of the best, this is the place to be.

I danced at Miriam and Valeries as a child growing up. While dancing there I learned many wonderful dance techniques. At times both Ms Valerie and Ms Miriam were very tough on me but I always knew if was to make me a better dancer and a better person. I danced at SODA from age 3 through 18. I am now 32 and I am back once again taking adult classes at the studio. My two children also dance there now. My 12 year old is not the best dancer but she has grown so much as a dancer from the dedication the teachers at SODA have given her. My daughter feels like the studio is her second home and she wants to be there all the time. My family has participated in many performances over the years and all the teachers at SODA always make sure the dancers look fantastic with both there dancing skills and there costumes. If you are looking for a studio that likes to go to as many competitions as possible and put any kind of unpolished, poor technique and bad quality dances on the stage this is not the studio for you. If you are looking for a studio that strives to teach the fundementals of dance and teach it to perfection and only put a dance on the stage that is completely professional looking and polished then you have found the studio for you.

Wonderful Dance Studio, I started when I was a child. I'm 50-something and still dancing. Miriam and Valerie are excellent teachers. Everybody should come out and try it.

My kids have been dancing here for 23 years...



My daughter started at age 5 and continues to take dance today. Why...because she loves it and has gotten wonderful training. She was on the competition team, where all the dancers and teachers have gotten great reviews, scores and multiple awards. This only accredates their training.



My son begain trainging at age 9. He received wonderful training in which he was granted multiple full-scholarships to summer dance programs from acclaimed schools as: Boston Ballet, The Rock, Nevada Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and many more. With the training he received at Miriam and Valerie's he able to pursue a profession career as a ballet dancer.



If you want tap...Valerie Weld is the best tap instructor in the Southeast and continues to inspire, and challgene dancers on a daily basis.



There are many videos posted on youtube of their dancers, ...if you want quality dance instruction...this is your place.

My granddaughter takes lessons here, She is 8 and in the advanced performance group. The students work really hard as the teachers strive for perfection in all their performances and competitions. If you child is interested in that, then this is the studio for you. Practice makes perfect.

The main teachers at this studio are verbally and emotionally abusive! Miriam and Dion make people cry in class from the ages of 3 to adults! Miriam comes to class sometimes with alcohol on her breath. They will tell your daughter that she is too fat and poke at their stomachs. After class the little ones get candy. If your child is fat she will give them a mint. I stopped taking classes here because I wasn't learning anything new! I danced there for almost 3 years and still didn't know how to pirouette. I registered for a class by another teacher there to learn something new.Miriam came in the class in front of everyone and told me I belonged in her class and I was not qualified to take the other class. Excuse me for wanting to actually learn something. I took 5 classes at another studio and learned more in those 5 classes than I did the 3 years at M&V's. Most of the teachers there with the exception of Shivon and Thom will put you down and embarrasse you. I understand adance especially ballet takes hard work and dedication and you need a very good teacher! But there is a time and place for everything. Yelling at an adult in the middle of a class about how advanced she is and what classes she should be taking should be done in an office, not in front of a whole class room of their peers. And without using her peers to show a dance step to prove to the girl she is not advanced enough to take the class. Can I do that step? No! But that why I wanted to take the other class. But Miriam would not let me. Most of the teachers here will yell at your kids and yell at the parent if you are late. They are not kind or courteous. They have no class. Yes Miriam may have a lot of experience. But she is a negative old lady who likes to put people down. I would say their mantra is teach by putting people down and make them feel terrible and want to cry. Its sad that I just want to learn to dance, but was held back. There are enough dance studios in the area. I don't need to be at one where the teachers feel the need to tell kids they are a prized winner fat pig to feel better about themselves! Don't be fooled by the "we have the best experience" in the city! You don't have to be mean to be a good dancer.