Testimonials

"My son, who has moderate to severe physical and cognitive challenges, fully enjoys his "Boundless Ballet" lessons. He eagerly looks forward to coming to class each week. The teachers offer plenty of options for him so that he can experience this class in his own way.  My son has many physical limitations and yet he can participate.  He enjoys the musicality, variety and imaginative nature of the exercises.  And he’s made a friend too.  We highly recommend it!

— Bonnie, Parent

“My daughter had a wonderful experience at Academy of Classical Ballet. She is an advanced dancer who came to Crystal in search of an environment where the focus was on the health and well being of the dancer as well as attention to technique and artistry. Everything about her/our experience at AOCBallet was positive and memorable. We cannot thank Ms. Crystal and her staff enough for their positivity and expertise. From photo shoots and videos for college dance programs to a beautiful outdoor performance during Covid, AOCB was a complete package for us and by far the best experience for my dancer.”

— Jenny Bogomilsky, parent

 

"Crystal Petzel's teaching integrates her knowledge of classical technique with her passion for dancing. She not only coaches her students, but mentors them as well. She is able to build personal relationships with her students through her classes and rehearsals. Throughout my years of training with Crystal I grew both as a dancer and an artist, through her insightful and extremely rewarding teaching process."

— Rachel Talley, graduate at Purchase College

 

"I want to express my deepest admiration for the work that you do.  Your talent as an artist became quite obvious to me watching the beautiful choreography that you put together for the Four Seasons.  I was already impressed with your leadership and your ability to teach and motivate the kids.  With what I witnessed last week, the beauty of the show, the sense of accomplishment and joy on the dancers' faces,  I was blown away.  All I can say is thank you.  I feel extremely lucky to have found such a magnificent opportunity for Cass to develop a wide variety of skills through your Academy."

— Alejandra Velasquez, parent

"It was certainly a magical show with lots of laughs. I loved the humor.  My guests were amazed and impressed at how professional it was considering it was a children’s show, intertwining the younger and older dancers in choreography was seamless. Utilizing the dancers’ abilities to accomplish your vision come to life was certainly phenomenal. That’s talent!

Every new show is always a surprise, and as an audience I become immersed in your storytelling through dance.  The dancers seemed flawless on stage. Rehearsals and their efforts paid off. I loved watching every single one of them."

-Kathryn, Parent

"Crystal Petzel has a wealth of knowledge that is rooted in solid technique and revered tradition. What sets her apart is a passion for dance and a deep appreciation for personal expression within it. She takes a genuine interest in each student as a unique artist: recognizing individual gifts, inspiring curiosity and confidence, and providing the guidance and encouragement to allow each performer to pursue their highest potential in a nurturing and creatively stimulating environment"

— Annmaria Mazzini, Former Dancer for Paul Taylor Dance Company

"When my daughter first started dancing at AOC Ballet, she was only nine years old and didn’t speak English. I was also new to this country, and we both felt a little lost. From the very beginning, Ms. Crystal Petzel welcomed us with tremendous support. I’ll never forget when I told her I couldn’t communicate, and she said, “Don’t worry. The dance starts in the heart. That’s the primary language of it.” Those words stayed with me.

At first, my intention was simply to give my daughter an extracurricular activity that would help her grow stronger physically and mentally. But something beautiful happened—she fell in love with ballet. Over the years, she spent four to five hours a day at the studio, and I had full confidence knowing she wasn’t just learning ballet, but also discipline, kindness, and resilience.

Today, my daughter is a professional dancer with the Nashville Ballet. AOC Ballet provided her with an excellent foundation in dance, but even more importantly, it helped shape her into the strong, compassionate, and beautiful woman she is today.

For that, I will be forever grateful."

— Fanny Lopes da Silva, Past Parent

"The class structure is great. I can only say thank you. [The instructors] are amazing and very patient with all kids."

— A Boundless Ballet Parent

“I love the adult program here! Sandra is an amazing and passionate teacher who really tailored her teaching to each and every one of her students. The class is the highlight of my day!”

— Grace, Adult Student

 

"I thought the performance was really well done. I especially appreciated the casting of an advanced student as Cinderella , she was the right mix of humility and grace for the character she was portraying."

— MM, Parent

 

"Getting back into ballet after more than 20 years has been exhilarating. I love the AOC teachers (all so knowledgeable), the beautiful studio and best of all, I am so much stronger now than when I started which feels great!"

— Wendy W., Adult Student

"Thank you so much to Crystal, Sandra, and all the wonderful parents who make these shows such a success. I still remember Kendall’s very first show, and how blown away we were by the level of excellence of the dancing, costumes, and the whole production.  We have a lot of wonderful memories, and we feel so fortunate to have been part of this ballet community for over 13 years."

— Wendy T., Parent