Alma Dance School

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General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent with dancer input

Program:

Alma Dance School

Season Attended:

2024-25

# Of Levels In School:

No Post Grad. 9 levels A, B, B+, C, C+, D, D+, E, F. F being the top tier

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

11-15 hours

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Years At School:

1 year

Leveling by Age or Skill?

Skill

Teacher Background:

Former professional ballet dancer

Parents Required to Volunteer?

Parent Volunteer Requirement:

Assistance with set up and tear down of Nutcracker/spring show. Costume prep before Nut and spring show. Nothing is required, parents of older students show up.

Curriculum

Days Per Week:

Classes Per Day:

Weekend Classes?

Yes

Weekend Schedule:

Half day

Students Per Class:

Less than 10

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

Pointe Classes Per Week:

Live Music in Technique Class?

Dedicated Men's Program?

Boys In Level:

There were no boys in my level

Techniques Taught:

Vaganova

Technique Teacher Rotation:

The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule

Did School Director Teach?

Often

Classroom Corrections:

Dancer specific: detailed but only a few dancers consistently got corrections

Attention From Teachers:


Very Little	A Lot

Quality of Instruction:


Poor	Excellent

Did Technique Improve?


Not at all	Tremendously

Curriculum Comments:

Conditioning is offered two times per week, contemporary/modern is offered one time per week, ballet is offered four times per week. Rehearsals for shows offered on Saturdays in addition to class times.

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class:

No partnering

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles:

Modern, Horton

Other Class Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

Yes

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught:

Improv, Repertoire, Choreography workshops, Technique

Contemporary Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Master Classes?

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Yes

Physical Training Types:

Pilates (mat or reformer), Body conditioning, Progressing Ballet Technique, Stretch class

Physical Training Schedule:

Once or twice a week

Were Trainers Certified?

Physical Training Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Strength & Conditioning Comments:

Very challenging, but doable. Results are evident.

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

How Parents Notified?

My student did not get injured

How Treatment Obtained?

Primary care Dr. has previously been utilized for referrals as needed when injuries occurred.

PT Available?

Was There a Recovery Plan?

My dancer did not get injured

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Were Students Weighed?

Was "Coded Language" Used?

Communication

Formal Orientation?

Handboook & Paperwork:

Fairly comprehensive but missing a few pieces

Quality of Communication?


Poor	Excellent

Who Received Communication?

With parents only

Exams

Formal Exam?

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?


Not	Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?


Not	Completely

Describe School Culture:

elitist and distant

Placement Notification Timing:

Late May

How Dancer Was Notified:

Written communication via email or regular mail

Dancer Had Mentor?

Mentoring Details:

This is a small school, there is guidance from the owners, but little mentoring.

Overall School Culture:


Lord of the Flies	Warm & Inclusive

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building:

Safety of Area Around School?


Not Safe	Extremely Safe

Studio Space:


Cramped	Lots of space

Studio Cleanliness:


Dirty	Spotless

Performance Opportunities

Company Affiliated?

Programs Performed:

1-3

Shows per Program:

Casting:

Everyone auditions for parts

Peformance Calendar:

Generally 2 performances for Nutcracker, 2024 only had 1. Spring showcase has 1 show. Tickets are pricey.

Competition

Competitions required?

Did Dancer Compete?

Non-Competing Dancers Left Out?

Why?

Several girls did not compete.

Private Lessons

Private Lessons Available?

Yes

Are Private Lessons Encouraged?


Not at all	Strongly recommended

Who Takes Privates?

A select few kids

Private Lessons equally available to all students?


Strongly disagree	Strongly agree

Explain:

Only the advanced students are offered private lessons

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

Yes

School's SI Required?

Yes

Outside SI OK?

Yes, it's strongly encouraged

How Did School Help?

There was no guidance regarding summer intensive auditions or programs.

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction:

Continuing Ballet Placement:

Emotional Support:

Performance Opportunities:

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

Class sizes are small, training is excellent.

Program's Worst Aspect:

The program is extremely rigid. Rehearsals are non-negotiable, if a dancer misses one, they are out of the show. In addition, tuition is very expensive and the class schedule is challenging with school/work schedules. There are no viewing options for parents during classes/rehearsals/anything.

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

The program ends at the end of June conflicting with many SI schedules. The last 2 weeks of June are a required SI for the program, followed by the final production of the year. A change to the calendar would open more opportunities for dancers. A commitment for the upcoming season is required by mid/early June.

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