Frequently Asked Questions

Our studio is located inside the Equitable Life building at 3435 Wilshire Blvd in Koreatown. We are on the 2nd Floor.

You may park in the Equitable Building parking garage from the entrance on Mariposa. After 5:00pm on weekdays, and all day on the weekend, parking is $5. Weekday parking before 5:00pm is also $5 with validation. Please see our office for validation otherwise parking could be up to $18.

There is also metered parking on Mariposa or Alexandria between Wilshire and 6th. Make sure you read parking signs carefully as some spots are for commercial use only.

The H-Mart parking garage next to the Equitable building also offers parking at a low rate.

If parking in the Equitable garage, take any elevator to Level P (Plaza/building lobby level). Once in the main lobby of the building, change elevators to the eastern-most elevator bank, press “2″ on the any panel next to the elevators and that will both call the elevator and pre-program it to stop on the 2nd floor. Once you reach the 2nd floor, you will see signs directing you to MDSB. You may also ask the security guard in the lobby where to go.

Students must be 3 years old in order to be registered for Creative Movement – new students must have already had their 3rd birthday before even taking a trial class. We ask that our littlest dancers be fully potty-trained and able to separate from parents for the full 45 minutes of class.

Teachers will observe new students in a placement class. Based on technique, coordination, and maturity level, the teacher will recommend an appropriate level. Please know that often students are expected to spend at least one to two years in a particular level before moving up to the next. Level advancements happen once a year, at the end of each spring semester.

After your child has taken a placement class and a level has been determined by one of our teachers, you may register online at your convenience here. If you have trouble registering for a class, please email us at admin@maratdaukayev.com.

We currently offer Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced level classes for adults and teens. Classes are $27 each, or you may purchase a 10-class card for $220 or a 5-class card for $120.

You may just show up, or register ahead of time here.

For more information, visit our Adult Class page here.

MDSB operates similarly to an academic school in that families pay for a full semester of classes. Specific tuition amount will depend on your child’s level, the number of classes they register for in a week, and how long the semester lasts. Spring is the longest semester, so it will always cost more than Fall or Summer semesters. MDSB classes start at $28 per hour.

No. MDSB does not offer “drop-in” classes for children. Students must be registered for classes for an entire semester and tuition will be calculated as such. We do this because we strongly believe that practicing ballet routinely is the only way to gain benefit from it. However, all of our Adult classes are open classes and may be taken individually. For more on our adult classes, see below.

Of courses! We offer multiple levels of boys’ classes for students ages 3 to 18 years old. 3 to 4 year old boys are welcome to join our Creative Movement classes. At 5 and 6, boys can take Pre Ballet. At around 8 years old, we begin offering separate classes just for boys. However, we welcome boys into any of our other classes, if they wish to continue in them. As with the girls, it will depend on age, maturity and technical skill to determine which level they should be in.

Yes! If there is more than one student in your family, we offer a 10% sibling discount on the lesser of the two tuitions. Any additional students (more than 2) will also receive the 10% discount.

Not from inside the classroom. If a teacher chooses to leave the door open (not all do), parents may watch from the hallway. Parents are not allowed to chat with or correct students who are in class. Out of respect for our dancers’ privacies, we ask that MDSB classes not be photographed or videoed at anytime.

Students are allowed to take a make-up class in any class of their same level (or lower level), provided that it’s taken within the current semester. Make-up classes do not roll-over to the next semester.

Classes will vary depending on the level. Our pre-ballet classes, for example, do not exceed 12 students. For upper level classes however, the average is 15 to 20 students.

Yes. Girls are required to wear a leotard and matching georgette skirt in their appropriate level color. All dancers must wear pink tights and pink canvas shoes as part of their uniform. Skin tone tights and shoes are also allowed, if preferred.

Hair must be worn up and away from the face, eyes, and neck. Small jewelry is ok. No hoop earrings, lace, sparkles or patterned leotards or skirts.

Backless leotards are not permitted in partnering classes.

Creative Movement and Pre Ballet dancers may wear a dance dress in the appropriate level color.

Boys must wear black leggings, tights, dance pants, or shorts (for our youngest boys) along with a white tee, white socks and white shoes. Black shoes/socks are also permitted.

Please no graphic tees.

Adult dancers may where what they choose as long as it is all appropriate dance attire.

We suggest shopping at The Dance Store (2509 S Robertson), Amazon, or DiscountDance.Com.

We are able to rent costumes for dance performances only. Please email us at admin@maratdaukayev.com for more information.

MDSB charges a $30 registration fee each semester for each family.

A $45 installment fee is added to those paying tuition using our installment plan.

Other additional fees include The Nutcracker (or other performance) participation fees, private lessons, competition fees.

Yes, private lessons are available only to students currently registered in the school. Scheduling is handled through the office only – teachers may not be approached to schedule lessons at any time.

MDSB holds classes everyday (when in session) except for the following holidays: New Years Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day.