Xtreme Force Dance Company, Livermore CA

“Extreme Force” for all the WRONG reasons! Poor customer service and discrimination-
You refused to meet with my wife to discuss her concerns and I believe your actions (or lack of) to not only be to be of the poorest level of customer service but also discrimination due to my wife and daughters being BLACK.
It’s unfortunate that you have unilaterally decided, through an email, to kick my daughters out of your dance company. It is sad to have come to this for you and your business. It’s also sadder that your decisions have hurt my daughters, who have worked very hard to compete and you have now ruined this opportunity for them.

CAUTION PARENTS!
I'm taking time to write this review because we have experienced discrimination at this dance studio that no family should have to experience. We were amazed by the incredible dancing and excited to join. Unfortunately, however, this studio has too many problems to count including poor customer service, studio does not respond to my emails, no present front desk staff to greet parents/students daily or to help with parent/student questions/concerns, disorganization (competitive dance attire frequently goes missing in the studio & parents are left to track down paid for pieces yet made to feel like it's their fault by the studio).

My daughters were also not generally welcomed by most dancers. We believe this is racially related. Students just stay in their clicks which seem to be tied in part to race. Also, to note, team bonding events, parents are not welcome. So, if you have a young daughter that may feel more comfortable with you there as a parent at a swim party for example, the studio has the mentality that you can take it or leave it. If you don't like the no parent rule, then your dancer shouldn't come.

I requested to set up a meeting during Ashley or Brooke's office hours and did not receive a response back to my request to discuss concerns (some concerns include Ashley speaking to my daughter disrespectfully by saying she looks like a "dog" while dancing, insistence on "straight" hair for competitions (mainly taking a toll timewise/greater expense on Black families), lack of response to emails, etc.). I tried to request again via email to meet during office hours or even a phone call back, but still no response back from anyone at the studio. Even in person, it seems Ashley will attempt to avoid me at all costs so that I do not have the opportunity to talk to her.

On another occasion, the studio owner got upset at us for my daughter interrupting a teacher during a class because she couldn't find a missing item of hers and there was no other adult around to help her. We were later emailed requesting that we do not interrupt instructors during class. We apologized but also reminded the studio owner that part of these communication problems could be easily eliminated if the studio had appropriate coverage at the front desk for students/parents to ask questions. There is generally no one stationed at the front desk to help with general needs. Parents just sort of have to figure it out. It's no wonder that as soon as I attempt to address these issues via email, the studio owner writes back forcing us to leave saying that this studio is just "not a good fit for us".

We believe part of the problem is that the studio just runs a poor business customer service-wise and also fosters an anti-black culture that is not inclusive racially. Parents are drawn to the incredible dancing, but many have shared with me that the business side has much to be desired for. They admitted that they don't speak up for fear of retaliation against their child. I have seen the owner talk to other parents in the back where there is a sign that says, "No parents beyond this point" and she will no talk to me. Our family has also overheard dancers talking about how they love the fact that this studio is so "White". For context, our girls train alongside approximately 98 competitive dancers at different levels. Out of this number of dancers, there are only 6 Black dancers. Two of these dancers are our daughters. The studio is now eliminating 2 of their Black dancers leaving only 4 competitive Black dancers out of 98. This statistic is sad and shows the glaring disproportionality impacting Black dancers. Mostly, I feel sad for our daughters who are now being asked to leave the studio and disregarded so easily after all the hard work that they have put in. We hope that our experience will make a difference for families to come, & that people will heed our warning. You do not have to be Black to support fair practices in business and stand against anti-blackness. The dance world sees too much discrimination as it is.