"Beginner level (preparatory - pre-pointe), three tiers of Primary (foundations with beginning pointe, essentials, and advanced) all after school levels. Adagio tier is for full time training for those serious for professional training usually older high schoolers and postgraduate level. Movement to another level can happen anytime of the year as the artistic director sees fit."
"5"
"There are 3 levels in Primary + Adagio (day program), 1 level Prepatory (pre-pointe)"
Dancer Age
11
16
Hours of Dance Each Week
11-15 hours
16-20 hours
6-10 hours
Gender
Female
Was Student Scholarshipped?
No
Years At School
1 year
4 years
Leveling by Age or Skill?
Skill
Teacher Background
Former professional ballet dancer
Parents Required to Volunteer?
No
Parent Volunteer Requirement
"Parents can opt in from a few hours at performances to heavy involvement with things like costumes (big lift this year) to the annual gala"
"Parents could volunteer if they want to at performances or help sewing costumes"
Curriculum
Days Per Week
4
5
Classes Per Day
2
3
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Half day
Students Per Class
Less than 10
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
No
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week
2
4
Daily
Live Music in Technique Class?
No
Dedicated Men's Program?
No
Men Taught by Male Teacher?
Yes
Men Taught Batterie?
Yes
Boys In Level
Less than 5
There were no boys in my level
Separate Technique Class for Boys
No
Techniques Taught
General Classical
Technique Teacher Rotation
The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule
Did School Director Teach?
Often
Classroom Corrections
Dancer specific: almost every dancer got specific corrections each day
Attention From Teachers
Very Little
1
2
3
4
5
A Lot
Quality of Instruction
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Did Technique Improve?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Tremendously
Curriculum Comments
"Technique, pre-pointe, theory, conditioning, and yin yoga"
"Wide variety of classical styles taught (French, Classical, Balanchine) Variations, pointe, technique, yoga/conditioning/stretching & theory class"
"Classical Technique rooted in French and CPYB"
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
1x per week
No partnering
Partner Ratio
Everyone had to share a partner.
Who Taught?
Male teacher
How Much Partnering Improved
No
1
2
3
4
5
Tremendously
Quality of Pas Teaching
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
How Were Corrections Given?
Attention and corrections were evenly distributed between the males and females
Description of Partnering Class
"One student and Guillaume one of the teachers also partnered, sometimes a younger male student would partner"
Additional Comments
"Frustrating to have a younger male student who couldn’t really partner more than one of the girls"
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
None
Contemporary Offered?
No
Master Classes?
Yes
Master Classes Description
"One class with Natalie Lecznar."
"Natalie Lecznar, former Rockette & Taylor Swift tour dancer"
"One master class by a Taylor Swift / former Rockette dancer"
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Pilates (mat or reformer)
Stretch class
Yoga
Physical Training Schedule
Once or twice a week
Several times a week
Were Trainers Certified?
Yes
Physical Training Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Strength & Conditioning Comments
"Yoga and conditioning instructions were provided to work at home during off days or anytime to work on flexibility and strength."
"They now have a reformer. Men had specific conditioning exercises. Private Pilates classes also offered by Leslie Rausch"
"Excellent yoga classes, Pilates taught by Lesley Rausch who is fantastic"
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
No
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
Parent was informed same day, in person
How Treatment Obtained?
"Yes"
"Some dancers had referrals to a certain PT"
PT Available?
No
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
Yes
Describe Recovery Plan
"In collaboration w/ physicians length of time mo dance, at home plan, slowly integrated back at barre w/ some limits (ie no deep plié, no releve) Cautious to get dancer back healthy"
"They are really good at helping dancers through recovery"
Mental Health Therapists Available?
No
Unsure
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Yes
Were Students Weighed?
No
Was "Coded Language" Used?
No
Yes
Additional Comments
"References available to licensed therapists and they refer students to Avant Physical Therapy"
"Comments would be made like you’re out of shape, you don’t work as hard as X dancer, you’re never going to progress. Guillaume Basso would also regularly lose his cool and lecture the class for 30, 40 + minutes about how dancers weren’t serious, couldn’t focus, would never make it, not picking up choreography enough, yelled out for getting the same corrections, It was CRAZY and so demoralizing; not to mention how much money we are spending for class and they get lectured instead of teaching. My dancer would keep it together in the studio but start crying in the car or when their back was turned to the studio. One of the worst things was both Abby Jayne (AD) and Guillaume would tell the class REGULARLY that traditional school was a waste of time, kids weren’t learning anything in the class, sitting in chairs at school was terrible for ballet, there’s no way they would ever let their own kids go to regular school. Mind you a significant number of students were in private, academically rigorous schools. The encouraged students to drop out of this high achieving schools to be in the top Adagio tier. So few dancers actually make it to a professional career it’s crazy that they would lecture kids about academics when they themselves never went to real school (either home school or at POBS, conservatory in France). Do they not realize parents are in charge of their kids and it is NOT their place to tell kids in person school is a waste of time."
Communication
Formal Orientation?
Yes
Handboook & Paperwork
Comprehensive and complete. I knew what to expect for the year
Quality of Communication?
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Who Received Communication?
With parents and students
Exams
Formal Exam?
No
School Culture
How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?
Not
1
2
3
4
5
Completely
How Supportive Were Students of One Another?
Not
1
2
3
4
5
Completely
Describe School Culture
"Supportive, caring, loving community, focused, and respectful of one another."
"Focused, professional, high expectations"
"Pretend to be joyful"
Placement Notification Timing
"At a parent, student, artistic director and teacher conference"
"Will be in August"
"Some students told in the spring, some in August"
How Dancer Was Notified
In-person meeting with school director/staff
Dancer Had Mentor?
No
Yes
Mentoring Details
"Older Adagio student helped my daughter sew her first pointe shoes and gave great suggestions to my daughter."
"Informal for some younger dancers"
"Lesley Rausch was a saving grace for my dancer. She was so kind and thoughtful and compassionate. My dancer loved having privates with her"
Overall School Culture
Lord of the Flies
1
2
3
4
5
Warm & Inclusive
Building & Surrounding Area
Security Around Building
No
Yes
Safety of Area Around School?
Not Safe
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely Safe
Studio Space
Cramped
1
2
3
4
5
Lots of space
Studio Cleanliness
Dirty
1
2
3
4
5
Spotless
Performance Opportunities
Company Affiliated?
No
Programs Performed
1-3
4-5
Shows per Program
2
3
Casting
Everyone auditions for parts
School staff chooses students for roles - no auditions
Peformance Calendar
"School participated in a late fall community performance, spring school show, and summer community event."
"Fall performance, Spring Showcase, Seattle International Dance Festival & the top tier travels to guest perform"
"Fall festival performance, guesting opportunities 2x a year, spring performance, Dance Festival"
Competition
Competitions required?
No
Did Dancer Compete?
No
Yes
Competition Categories
Pas de Deux
Solos
Competitions Attended
"YAGP, ADC IBC, Ballet Championships, World Ballet Championships"
"YAGP, ADC|IBC, could do others if wanted"
Solo Rehearsals
Take place outside of regular classes
Pas de Deux Rehearsals
Take place outside of regular classes
Ensemble Rehearsals
Our school doesn't have students compete in ensembles
Costume Responsibility
Student responsible for sourcing and paying for costume
Did School Tution Cover Competition Fees?
No
What Were the Additional Fees?
"Private lesson costs"
"Private lessons"
Competition Fees Clear?
Yes
Competition Fees Reasonable?
Yes
Why?
"Just normal private lesson costs (including choreography for contemporary) 1x per week required"
"Just paid for privates as many as you want + cost of competition"
Experience Description
"Excellent - learned a lot"
"Great at the competitions except NO teacher for the school ever came to a competition to support us. Parents had to figure out how to help out back stage etc. It was crazy to me that there was zero support"
Non-Competing Dancers Left Out?
No
Why?
"Only students age 15 and older can compete. My child was only 11 this year."
Private Lessons
Private Lessons Available?
Yes
Are Private Lessons Encouraged?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly recommended
Who Takes Privates?
Anyone who wants them
Private Lessons equally available to all students?
Strongly disagree
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly agree
Explain
"All booking is done online first come first serve. No choice of another answer for this question as I think it’s equitable if one really wanted a spot or needed it."
"Sometimes the comp kids got priority the beginning of the year"
"Comp dancers certainly got priority; only comp dancers got privates with Lesley Rausch"
Summer Intensives
School Holds an SI?
Yes
School's SI Required?
No
Outside SI OK?
Yes, it's strongly encouraged
How Did School Help?
"My child did not apply to other SI’s. Though they provided a professional photographer with the help of the teachers and artistic director to help guide poses for the best photos. Privates could be booked to speak specifically about SI’s."
"Students & parents can chose to meet with directors before and and they will council for results if the students/parents want to"
"If you want you could ask the AD for recommendations + help with videos"
Outcomes
Percent That Went Full-Time
10%
Percent That Went To College
None
How Much Support Did Dancer Receive in Taking the Next Steps in Ballet?
No support
1
2
3
4
5
Lots of support
Support Description
"Haven’t gotten there yet but up to students where they audition for. Biggest help was with videos"
Program Grades
Overall Dance Instruction
A
A-
A+
Continuing Ballet Placement
A-
A+
Emotional Support
A+
B+
D
Performance Opportunities
A-
A+
Program Comments
Program's Best Aspect
"Kindness and the way they’re able to push each student to reach a higher level of technique or strength."
"Serious ballet training, you get out of it what you put into it. Performance opportunities and ability to compete"
"When they have their emotions pulled together it’s excellent training, performance opportunities in 24-25, ability to compete. Love the studio cats"
Program's Worst Aspect
"Schedule changes or additions for rehearsals can be done with only one week notice."
"Not always easy, teacher can be really tough"
"The lectures, how cruel Guillaume could be in class, getting picked on, weird approach to leveling students (it always seems like they have different rules for different students)"
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
"Built in rehearsal schedules earlier than currently given."
"Add in modern (doing that next year), more boys but that’s every program"
"They are closing down in Seattle and moving to Pennsylvania. They weren’t honest about this. Would change their honesty. Would change how much of a temper Guillaume has and how he can pick on students"
Anything Else We Should Know?
"Most caring community and students can work at their own pace. Tools are given to work at home for more flexibility or strength. Parent conferences and parent observations done 6x a year."
"If you are a serious dancer this is the program for you"
"Don’t go there. It looks great on Social Media but honestly it is not a fun place to be for the more advanced / older students."
