Definitely not! We are a pretty competitive studio, but our technique classes are completely seperate from their required competition rehearsals. And we have a very professional staff, ballet is required, etc.

As for the setup, we do have something similar. We lease in a shopping center and when we needed to add another dance room, we didn't have much of a choice but to add a studio in the back, which involves kids and teachers walking through the back of a class. Can't wait to build our own building one day, but sometimes you have to work with what you have!