Dardano's School of Gymnastics
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Dardano's School of Gymnastics is a multi-generational, 40-year-old family-run establishment offering a comprehensive gymnastics program from preschool through competitive levels. It stands out for its nurturing and welcoming coaching staff, proven track record of developing State and National Champions, and highly organized, full-service birthday party hosting. Parents can expect a consistent, high-quality experience that builds skills, confidence, and a sense of community.
Key Highlights
- ✓Exceptional Birthday Party Service: Staff provides complete assistance for parties, including setup, active entertainment (gymnastics, hide and seek, trampoline tricks), serving, cleanup, and even carrying presents to the car, specifically noted for a 6-year-old's party.
- ✓Proven Competitive Success: The school consistently produces State and National Champions annually, indicating high-level training and competitive pathways are available.
- ✓Nurturing & Welcoming Environment: Coaches and staff are described as 'extremely welcoming and nurturing' for children starting as young as 3 years old.
- ✓Structured Progression: Offers a clear path from preschool classes (starting at age 3) through age-specific group classes (e.g., boys 6-12) and opportunities to join pre-team and competitive teams.
- ✓Multi-Generational Legacy: Some coaches have been with the school for decades, teaching both current parents and their children, fostering a strong community and consistent teaching philosophy.
- ✓Individualized Coaching Available: Parents can opt for private 1-hour sessions with coaches like Coach Scott to accelerate a child's individual progression.
Standout Features
- ⭐Dedicated & Experienced Coaching Staff: Including long-tenured coaches who have mentored multiple generations of gymnasts.
- ⭐Variety of Programs: Group classes (preschool, age-specific), private sessions, and competitive team tracks.
- ⭐Full-Service Birthday Party Packages: Staff handles entertainment and logistics completely.
- ⭐Trampoline Access: Mentioned as part of birthday party entertainment ('trampoline tricks').
- ⭐Strong Community & Family Legacy: Evident through multi-generational attendance and long-term commitment from families.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →For Birthday Parties: Book Dardano's if you want a hands-off, fully supported party experience, especially for young children (e.g., 6-year-olds), as staff manage setup, entertainment, serving, and cleanup.
- →For Accelerated Learning: Inquire about private 1-hour sessions with specific coaches (like Coach Scott) if your child needs focused individual progression.
- →For Long-Term Development: This is a strong option for continuous gymnastics training from preschool age (3+) through competitive levels.
- →Consider Early Enrollment: Nurturing environment supports children starting as young as 3 years old.
Things to Consider
- ⚠No specific concerns were reported in the provided reviews.
Price & Value
No specific pricing information is provided in the reviews. However, the perceived value is high, evidenced by multiple 5-star reviews, multi-year enrollments (4 years), multi-generational attendance, and satisfaction with progress, competitive achievement, and comprehensive party services. The full-service birthday party hosting implies a good value for a stress-free experience.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations were mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Not specified for regular classes. For birthday parties, staff 'helped serve,' suggesting food is part of the party, but rules on bringing outside food or purchasing onsite are not detailed.
🚗Parking Info
- •No information about parking was mentioned in the reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •No information about crowd levels was mentioned in the reviews.
🛡️Safety Features
- •While not explicitly detailed, the mention of 'nurturing' staff, active supervision during birthday parties (including 'trampoline tricks'), and a long history (40 years) in a physically demanding sport imply a focus on safety and careful coaching.
⏰When to Avoid
- • No specific situations or times to avoid were mentioned in the reviews.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Parent / Toddler Class
$98Duration: Per 4 week session
A 45-minute movement education experience for children, with a parent, to explore the gym in self-guided play. The gym is set up with a different gross motor circuit each week focusing on body awareness, balance, visual motor control, coordination, social interaction, and taking turns. Minimally structured, does not teach many gymnastics tricks due to child's age and spinal cord development.
Includes:
- •Bars
- •Beams
- •Rings
- •Trampoline
Preschool Class
$110Duration: Per 4 week session (1 hour class)
An introduction to gymnastics that aids in developing strength, coordination, flexibility, confidence, and movement awareness. Class is set up with a different gross motor circuit each week. Children are grouped first by age, then ability. Teaching ratio is 8 children to 1 adult instructor. Utilizes all gym equipment.
Includes:
- •Trampoline
- •Log Roll (SR)
- •Forward Roll Variations (FR)
- •Backward roll down an incline (BR)
- •Backward roll on floor straddle or tuck (BR)
- •Tri-pod or frog stand (B)
- •Headstand against wall (B)
- •Donkey kick (S)
- •Cartwheel over mat (SR)
- •Cartwheel on floor (SR)
Girls Program
$126Duration: Per 4 week session (1 hour 30 min class)
Accommodates beginning and intermediate levels of gymnastics for girls. Utilizes all of the equipment in the gym.
Includes:
- •Beam
- •Uneven Bars
- •Vault Table
- •Floor Exercise
- •Trampoline
- •Tumble Trak
- •Bridge-up, kick-over (F & BR)
- •Back Extension Roll (S & BR)
- •Dive forward roll (FR)
- •Back walkover (BR)
- •Front walkover (F & FR)
- •Front handspring (FR)
- •Back handspring down wedge (BR)
- •Back handspring (BR)
- •Side Aerial (SR)
- •Roundoff back handspring (SR & FR)
- •Forward roll variations (FR)
- •Bridge-up from layout (F)
- •Kick handstand & return (S & B)
- •Backward roll (tuck or straddle) (BR)
- •Cartwheel (SR)
- •One arm cartwheel (SR)
- •Handstand forward roll (FR)
- •Hurdle Cartwheel (SR)
- •Round off (SR)
Boys Program
$126Duration: Per 4 week session (1 hour 30 min class)
Accommodates all ability levels of gymnastics for boys. Utilizes all of the equipment in the gym.
Includes:
- •Rings
- •Parallel Bars
- •High Bar
- •Pommel Horse
- •Vault Table
- •Floor Exercise
- •Trampoline
- •Tumble Trak
- •Forward roll variations (FR)
- •Bridge-up from layout (F)
- •Kick handstand & return (S & B)
- •Backward roll (tuck or straddle) (BR)
- •Cartwheel (SR)
- •One arm cartwheel (SR)
- •Handstand forward roll (FR)
- •Hurdle Cartwheel (SR)
- •Round off (SR)
- •Bridge-up, kick-over (F & BR)
- •Back Extension Roll (S & BR)
- •Dive forward roll (FR)
- •Back walkover (BR)
- •Front walkover (F & FR)
- •Front handspring (FR)
- •Back handspring down wedge (BR)
- •Back handspring (BR)
- •Side Aerial (SR)
- •Roundoff back handspring (SR & FR)
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
2025 Summer Open Gym
August 18th-22nd
$55 Day Rate, $255 For All 5 Days
Supervised semi-structured fun where students (members & non-members welcome) can explore the gym and utilize all equipment to work on skills/events of their choice. Professional staff present. Space is limited. No regular classes held during this time. Students are required to dress appropriately for gymnastics per dress code. No snack break. Time: 4:30 PM-6:30 PM.
2025 Summer PreSchool Drop-In
August 18th-22nd
$20 Per Day
One-hour preschool gymnastics class on a drop-in basis during summer break. Structured activities and games led by professional staff. Members & non-members welcome. Space is limited. No regular classes held during this time. Students are required to dress appropriately for gymnastics per dress code. Time: 3:15 PM-4:15 PM.
🍎Food Policy
- • No snack break during 2025 Summer Open Gym.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Strives to create a fun, safe, positive environment.
- • Professional staff is present at all times during Summer Open Gym and Summer Preschool Drop-In.
📅Booking Policy
- • Enrollment in instructional classes is ongoing.
- • Students continuing in the program are guaranteed enrollment.
- • Students who leave the program may have to wait for an opening.
- • Membership fees are due at the time of registration.
- • Tuition payment secures your spot in the class, not classes attended.
- • Many classes are full and on a waitlist. Spots can be added to the waitlist directly through the parent portal. Some classes have a substantial wait.
- • Factor in child’s age when getting on a waitlist to avoid them aging out of a class before a spot becomes available.
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Great for birthday parties (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Betsy Shuey
6 years agoHad a 6 year old's birthday party here...Oooh my goodness... the staff was amazing!!! They helped set up, did an INCREDIBLE job with the kids entertaining them with gymnastics, hide and seek, trampoline tricks, helped serve, clean up and even helped bring presents to the car!!!!! If you're looking for a place to have a youngsters bday...I WOULD GO HERE AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT!!! WELL DONE!!!
Scott Poindexter
3 months agoDardanos School of Gymnastics has been the best physical experience for the last 40 years every year is a year of excellence we have State and National Champions every year. Go Dardanos!!¡?!!!
Dan Galvagni
a year agoOur son Conor, now 6yrs old has been attending classes at Dardano's since he was 3. Starting with the preschool class and now a part of the boys 6 through 12 class. The coaches and staff affiliated with our experience has been extremely welcoming and nurturing toward our son. Not only does our son attend the weekly group sessions, but he is now taking a 1 hour private session with Coach Scott to accelerate his individual progression. He is working towards joining the preteam class next year and we couldn't be more thrilled with his progress, and our affiliation with Dardano's!
Katy Spicer
3 months agoDardano’s is the best! Our boys love it and have been coming here for 4 years!
Dan Murray
a year agoDardano's is a local treasure! I attended Dardono's as a kid in the early 90's and for half a decade, it was basically my home away from home. I went from beginner tumbling class to joining the team and traveling across the state and the region as a competitive gymnast. I learned life lessons, was challenged every day to get better, and got mentored by wonderful coaches. I'm fortunate enough to now be able to send my two kids to Dardano's, where they are lucky enough to be mentored by some of the same coaches I had as a kid. After 30+ years since entering those doors for the first time, it's pretty special for me to share that experience with my children, and to witness as they learn new skills and grow their self-confidence. This month Dardano's celebrates 40 years in business...as a family run establishment...in the heart of Park Hill...doing things the right way. Thank you for being such a big part of our lives! We love you!