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brinnyah wolfordvia Google

about 1 year ago

I loved everything about this studio. It felt so homey and Elisa was so welcoming. The beginners technique class was a little hard for me, but everyone made me feel more comfortable by encouraging me and reassuring that it’s a beginners class and I’m doing good. I love everything about firewall, if you’re thinking about going, just do it.

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Emilyvia Google

about 1 year ago

My daughter Preslie absolutely loves taking classes at Firewall! Shayla Pringle always brings fire combos. I do want to say how much we appreciate Elisa! Elisa, thank you for providing a space that is kind. Your recent support at the winter intensive is so appreciated! Thank you for everything!

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Claire Gendronvia Google

about 1 year ago

Over 3 years moving and grooving at this wonderful establishment. I started taking classes at firewall in 2021. I began my “work” study in 2024. “Work” is in quotations because it has never felt like work. I sweep the floors with the same care and attention that I love the space with. I check-in dancers with the same welcoming energy that I received when I first met Elisa 3 years ago. I enter class with the energy of making dance what it should be: It’s about community. When you step through the door, you will feel accepted and loved and valued for what makes you unique. You will be challenged and pushed to be stronger and more vulnerable. Elisa is very strict about who teaches here because the comfort and safety of the dancers takes priority, so you can join any class feeling confident that you’ll be taken good care of, because that’s what families do. If I wasn’t moving away, I would be here every Saturday til I dropped. Can’t thank my Fire Fam enough for all the lessons, and for teaching me how to love myself.

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Rachel Svia Google

over 1 year ago

I’m not sure what I can safely share without being penalized, so I will summarize. I spent about a year dancing A LOT at Firewall and i probably would have rated it an overall 3/5 as a lifelong dancer, and as someone who has taken most of the classes here and taken class with most of the instructors. The space is really small and difficult to breathe in (not Firewall’s fault, but I find the space challenging) ever since the building was redesigned, something has been wrong with the ventilation. I appreciate that Firewall offers most styles of dance throughout the week in a casual drop in format. I feel compelled to say however—that as a neurodivergent person with specific learning needs (I learn best when counts are provided) I cannot recommend Firewall to neurodivergent dancers. I’m sorry to say that I never felt safe asking for counts more than once, and ultimately, I never received them anyway. I was called “difficult” and “negative” by different instructors and when I requested a single refund one time for one class- citing a bad experience - I was again called “negative” and told by the owner (in writing) not to return with “my energy”. So I left a review. Then I was banned altogether- citing my original review, but here is the thing. An honest, bad review from a REGULAR customer is a golden opportunity to rectify that relationship. Following Juneteenth, I found myself thinking-revisiting my role in protecting my community and as a Black dancer, it is not right that a yt woman’s unaddressed discomfort with me was conflated with me being “dangerous” to my fellow dancers. It isn’t right that the owner of Firewall retaliates to unbiased reviews in an open marketplace. It’s not right that I have accepted the erasure of my experiences at Firewall, especially when so many of my fellow Black dancers have asked me to speak up on what happened to me here, so this is a revised review.

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Michelina Fatovia Google

almost 2 years ago

I love Firewall. I started 4 years ago at the age of 60 to tap. Elisa is the most wonderful teacher. Patient and positive. She has given me so much joy and confidence. I have performed in front of others. The studio has such an amazing energy. All the young dancers cheer me on!!!! I am trying contemporary dance! It brings me such joy.