Name: Florida Ballet Arts Academy

Location: 2900 Hyde Park Street, Sarasota, FL 34239

About: Founded in 1962, the Florida Ballet Arts Academy trains students according to the Vaganova Syllabus and has a variety of other classes besides ballet. These include Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop and even Zumba.

The studio has sprung wood floors to help protect the dancers feet and legs, and high ceilings, which add atmosphere and allow for pas de deux work that includes lifts.

The website lists a number of reasons that students should consider enrolling there–a neat feature that can help parents decide if the facility is for them. Among the reasons listed are:

• Low student/teacher ratios
• A homework study room provided for students
• Audition preparation/college preparation
• Specialized classes for young children