Texas Metropolitan Ballet

I’ve really enjoyed my time at this studio. During the time I’ve danced at this studio, I’ve formed so many close friendships with the dancers. In this environment, dancers can feel accepted and loved by everyone around them, and they can feel motivated to express this through their dancing. The instructors here are very kind, and they are quick to help or answer the students questions or concerns. I’ve learned so much here, and I hope to learn much more before I graduate next year. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

What Randall Marks and his wife Jeanne Marie Marks have acheived in Killeen in the past couple of years is nothing short of astounding. True traditional and Russian style Ballet has a home in the heart of Texas-- not in Austin, not in San Antonio, but in Killeen.There's alot of young people who are on their way to acheiving their dreams and it is now happening with these great ballet performances, workshops, and coaching. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Excellent instruction developing strong bodies with confidence and poise.

Reviewed on Facebook

I took the ballet 3 class tonight and it was awesome. I enjoyed the way Mr. Marks took time with each student. I'm so happy I signed up.

Reviewed on Facebook

My grandson started to take lessons at 15..and he has learned so much!

Reviewed on Facebook

Simply amazing, Randall Marks is a wonderful instructor, patient and dedicated to the craft

Reviewed on Facebook

My daughter is doing lesson there, and she loves it. They are friendly and well knowledgeable.

Reviewed on Facebook

Excellent instruction. The Marks and Instructors are very caring of their students. This is the best place to be!!!!!

Reviewed on Facebook

To celebrate my daughter Jennifer’s Birthday and Mother’s Day (May 13), I took Jennifer and Cassidy, my grand-daughter to the Texas Metropolitan Ballet performance of Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty “ ballet at the Killeen Arts and Activities Center on Saturday, May 12. The evening’s performance became an experience of a sudden, intuitive perception and insight into the essential meaning of music and dance. The ensemble ‘wedded’ their artistic talents like an artist’s paint brush on the Center’s ‘canvased’ stage. What a Masterpiece of the Finest Art unveiled . . . . Performance Art in Dance and Music.! An ‘oasis of Art’ nestled in the Karst topography of the Texas Hill Country, available here to quench our thirst for the Fine Arts of Dance and Music..
The presentation of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ was dynamically choreographed and along with simple, commonplace hand and facial expressions that became integral to the ensembles interpretive milieu in which their dance and musical talent is celebrated, This was demonstrated by the applause and acknowledged ‘huzzahs’ of an appreciative audience. The closing act introduced the audience to the future greatness of the Texas Metropolitan Ballet Ensemble. Diamond Fairies and Silver Fairies introduced the interpretive fairy-tale dance of ‘Puss’n Boots’, ‘lil’ Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf’ and the Little White Cats.
The closing acts for the evening’s performance is true interpretive dance at its best. The ensemble gifted the audience first with a sensual and exotic dance to Maurice Ravel’s instrumental ‘chestnut’, “Bolero”. The ensemble clothed in ‘batik broomstick’ skirts reminiscent of Indonesia culture used hand and facials gestures to convey a message of the compact of dance to a music score that I argue Ravel wrote for this epiphanic ‘Continuum’ performance. It just worked, ‘The Company nailed it’!
Next was a gem of some frivolity-tuned to the jazz incantations of the genius, Dave Brubeck. This ‘Squared Time’ fun set is filled with joy and hope that was seen on the faces and in the intricacies of the choreographed dance. A performance that was a real ‘come home’ pleasure, of Brubeck Jazz and Interpretive ’Time to the Greater than 2nd Power’ Dance. Thank you!
The closing dance brought back a memory of a past exercise in a Sally Potter film “The Tango Lesson”. The ‘Argentine Nights’ rhythms and bright reds of costume added to the passion and brilliance of the choreography again wedded to a music genre of a sophisticated culture and life. It is a welcomed joy that conjured up ‘Magical Water’ moments of life. When Gaven Hobbs came out strutting his ‘Apache-dance’ attitude, his self-confidence exuded into his tango-flavored dance movements. His attitude was challenged by his ‘ladies in Red’ that at times played on his attitude with a sense of ambivalence that bordered close to a ridicule . . . a real joy to watch and treasure. Again, ‘The Company nailed it”.
There are times in our ‘bothered ‘lives when we don’t stop to appreciate the little details that surround us. This evenings performance by the Texas Metropolitan Ballet Company is one of those details, that “Magical Water’ moment, that sliver of time, extremely precious. Remember tomorrow is never a promise but today is the “GIFT”, that is why it is called the Present. Thank you Texas Metropolitan Ballet for your hard work, love and joy in the Fine Art of Dance that added to my memory book of GIFTS.
Vous passez un bon moment ouais.!
Laissez les bon temps rouler.!
Joie d'vivre.!
Mon cher.!
STO LAT Satis’est. JP PAN More...

Reviewed on Facebook

The instructors care about each student's success, comfort and health. My daughter has gained more knowledge of the art in the year she's attended Texas Metropolitan Ballet than she had in the past eight years at other dance schools.

Reviewed on Facebook

There is not high enough praise for what Mr. Marks has created at Texas Metropolitan Ballet. We travel an hour one way four times a week for my daughter to get the best ballet education around.

Reviewed on Facebook

Mr. and Mrs. Marks run a very professional classical ballet dance study. They teach the the Royal Academy of Dance ballet methodology which is why we sought them out. As such, they are very demanding and will expect the dancers to put the work in, especially when show season comes around (Nutcracker, Spring Ballet). My only complaint is they have, at times, chosen to not clamp down on misbehavior and bullying by some students. In one recent case, a dancer bullied (physically and verbally) another dancer who had just been elevated to a higher-level class to the point the newly-promoted dancer chose to leave the studio - unfortunate because the newly-promoted dancer had promise. I would have probably given a 5-star review, but this incident, along with a couple others lowered their score. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

My children personally have never attended this studio, but I have attended many of the performances and have been very pleased. My daughter is a dancer for another studio and I have to say I am appalled by some of these reviews. Before these reviews were written did anyone try to resolve the issue first because according to the owners response it doesn't seem like they were made aware of any issue. And secondly do your children still attend this studio, because if I felt even a fraction of how some of these parents do, I would have my kid pulled out immediately. In the end, your kids happiness is what matters most and they feed off your energy and attitude. I hope things get resolved and for myself personally I am looking forward to the Nutcracker this year! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Thank you so much and.Mark!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really wish I didn’t move! I finally have learned to take ballet very seriously and I’m sorry that I didn’t care when I still went. -Emma Rene Stewart

Reviewed on Google Maps

I am a parent of a student at this Studio. Mr. and Mrs. Marks run a wonderful Ballet Studio, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the task of teaching classical Russian Ballet to young ladies and gentlemen. They work hard with all of their students to try and improve their style, endurance, dedication, and knowledge of classical Ballet. I highly recommend Texas Metropolitan Ballet to anyone who desires professional instruction of their children in Ballet, for their studio provides instruction the likes of which you would expect to see in a major metropolitan area. Both the Christmas Season performances of "The Nutcracker" and the Spring Showcases featuring Classic Ballet selections, are wonderful, and well worth taking the time to witness. Many of these young ladies and gentlemen have the talent and drive to dance professionally someday. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

We went to several studios, including one affiliated with a professional company, before coming to TMB. My daughter had a passion for ballet, but also extreme anxiety. This combination made it difficult to find a place with instructors equipped to deal with a more challenging student. She has absolutely thrived under the Marks’ direction. Although they teach a very challenging curriculum, their care for each individual student is evident in everything they do. This is not a competition studio. They are focused exclusively on classical ballet. Instead of recitals, students have the opportunity to perform in the Nutcracker in the fall and a spring production in the spring. Last year was Sleeping Beauty. I have never had a negative interaction with any of the families or students and have found it to be a very supportive and inclusive environment. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a dance studio in the central Texas area. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I went to see the ballet performance of Sleeping Beauty by the Texas Metrpolitan Ballet School and company this last Saturday WOW! We were blown away by the quality of training these young people expressed on stage. Believe me when I say I’ve seen and performed in many ballets. It was very professionally done. The costumes were beautiful and looked like what you would see at a professional ballet. Loved the other 2 performances too. My favorite part was when they had a special performance in the ballet by several special needs children. They did it in such a caring and professional way the kids were just beaming. their dance got the loudest applause. Their performance brought tears to my eyes. If I had a granddaughter living here or even a grandson I would want them to go get the foundations in ballet at this school. It can help a child grow in so many more aspects of life besides dance. Thank you for inviting me Randall Marks. You and your lovely wife are doing great things❤️ More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I've attended 2 performances put on by TMB. I thoroughly enjoyed both and am looking forward to seeing Nutcracker this winter. I was disappointed however, to see a review on this sight targeting an individual CHILD. This leaves me concerned that the studio is having to deal with "dance mom's" who appear to be inappropriately ranking the skills of dancers that are not their own. I hope the directors take care of this problem before this parent undermines the program. All of the dancers at the performances did an amazing job and should all be praised and commended. If you have nothing nice to say about an individual child then say nothing at all. This is completely inappropriate. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Hello random people reading this. I used to go here but I had to move to Italy for my dad’s job.. I wish I didn’t have to but oh well. I love this studio!! The spring performance over a year ago in 2017 was Coppelia, which I was in. It was great. I was as well in the Nutcracker. If anyone from ballet is reading this, or if anyone who KNOWS me is reading this, HELLOOOOOOO More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I have attended The Nutcracker for the last several years and while truly impressed by the choreography and the hard work of the dancers, there was one stand out this year! Unfortunately her name was not listed in the program, but the young lady who played Carobose, stood out above all. Her facial expressions and work with all the other dancers stood out above all others. I believe she also played the Ballet Tango lead and that was executed beautifully. Also, the beautiful dances after the performance showcased the talent and choreography rivaled that of a professional company. Keep up the great work! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I have been following Texas Metropolitan Ballet from their inception and have attended their performances from the beginning. I have known the Marks (the owners of the studio) for many years and have been able to personally watch them expand the girls' abilities year after year. It is amazing the progress these girls have made under the instruction of the Marks in just two years. Any one who has actually been to these performances would say the same. Randall and Jeanne Marie are gifted and able teachers. This being said, I am surprised by what I find in some of the reviews on this site. It has been said in a previous review that the lead roles should go to the best dancers. I would say that is exactly what has been done. It is clear from just watching the performances that the girls have been rewarded for their hard work in the casting of the roles. I have never been given the impression that this is not the case. I would like to single out one dancer in particular: the delightful young lady who played the role Carobose in the spring performance of Sleeping Beauty. Her rendition of this role was inspired. She was a joy to watch. Her wonderful expressiveness, not only through her motions but specifically her facial expressions, was lively and entertaining. I have seen this young lady grow over the last two years in skill and execution. Her point is lovely and her extensions are well executed. She brings life and energy to every performance, beyond what I have seen from many young ladies her age. I am confused by the comment in a previous review that the shows have gone from sold out to having many empty seats. That is untrue from my experience. I highly recommend this studio to anyone who wishes to put their children in ballet. You will be exceedingly pleased at the results. I also recommend the performances to anyone who would like to see some of the finest ballet being performed by up and coming young dancers in central Texas. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps