Dennis Schoenebeck NORTH YMCA - Greater Wichita YMCA

Hello I am one of the dancers of the north y dance company, dance has changed my life I have gone through some rough times but the people there at the y are amazing and supported me. (I am only 12) I love all of my friends we are all one big family. Thank you.

My children have been in the dance program at this Y for 10 years with the past 4 as part of the competitive team now know as GRIT dance company. While I have always been very happy with the program, we recently received a new director at the beginning of last season, Ms. Tasha Jones, and one of our instructors was promoted to head coach, Ms. Haley Johnson. Under the direction of these two ladies, this program has soared to new heights. They are amazing dancers themselves and are knowledgeable and current on dance trends and everything in the dance world. They promote a positive environment that pushes the kids to not only become better dancers but better people. All the kids are loved and treated equally and it truly feels like we are a family. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this program as they continue to excel in their achievements.

My kids have been dancing at the North YMCA for 6 and 7 years, the oldest in the dance company will be with them for 5 years this year. We have liked and even loved each member of the staff they have been fortunate enough to come into contact with. Our current director, Tasha Jones is an amazing choreographer, teacher and leader for this very diverse group of kiddos. Each parent and child feels like a loved member of the team and most of the kids are kind and inclusive. Ask any current member of the team, we love GRIT dance company! (Formerly NYDC)

This facility is the nicest YMCA I have ever been to. Everything is so clean and spacious. They offer more services than I even knew were possible. I absolutely love their spin classes. Their instructors are awesome and their bikes are really nice. Their pools are very clean and feel really safe. The locker rooms and bathrooms are giant and clean. They are seem to have a lot to activities for the kids as well. I highly recommend taking your workout to the North YMCA!!

My 12 year old daughter was inside of her dance class and while the instructor Ms. Sarah was teaching a parent walked in and stood in my daughter’s face and start yelling at my 12 year old daughter in front of the whole class full of girls; however, my daughter was shocked and did not know what was going on and the teacher was shocked to where she did not say anything to this parent, or she did not report the incident. As evidence by I reported the incident to Mrs. Tasha the person who is over the dance program and she came back and told me that the parent and child is going through some personal stuff and so she hope that I understood; however, she did not address the parent due to the fact that her and the parent are close friends. So, what she basically informed me that she is not going to do anything to this parent and so I ask several of times to speak to the director and to have a meeting with all and she would not give me the director information, or she would not set up a meeting. So, I called the North YMCA several times and ask to speak to the person who is over Mrs. Tasha and it is Jamie; however, the front desk kept screening Jamie calls and asking who is this and when I would tell them who I am and my concern they come back to the line and say, “Jamie is not available; however, I can put you through her voice mail”. So, I asked may I please speak to the director who is over the North YMCA and at that time they said hold on and about two minutes later Jamie came on the line and she was refusing to put me on with the director. So, months went by and one day I pulled up to the YMCA and the director came out and introduced himself to me and stated that he did not know this was going on and this is his first time hearing this and Mrs. Tasha and Jamie did not address any of this with him. So, I informed him everything that has been going on and how for months that my baby was been bullied by parents and how Mrs. Tasha let the dance parent and dance staff talk bad on me to where they slander my name and Mrs. Tasha fell to put a stop to it because she is very close with these dance moms. However, I do have a meeting with the director so I will keep all inform to let you all know how it plays out. However, there is a lot more incidents that took place and that went unnoticed and unseen and the staff seemed friendly, but don't let them fool you. But, anyway my daughter is a nice, sweet, and humble child and dance is her passion and I just want to see my daughter succeed in a positive environment with positive supporters. The Code of Conduct is in effect for the YMCA; however, the dance program does not follow the code of conduct they make up their own rules and policy and just to let you know, I am African-American and so is my daughter and the dance team treated her as if she were there slave and the instructor does not listen to your side she is one side and she loves to try to bring down your character as an African American. So, at this point I do NOT recommend dancing for the North YMCA (Grits) dance team; however, the dance staff are not fair to you if you are African American and they not once apologize to my daughter.