BALLET HELP DESK

After-School Training Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 120
Total Reviews: 227

Ballet Austin

After-School Reviews

General

Who is Reviewing?

2
3

Program

5

Season Attended

1
1
1
1
1

# Of Levels In School

Repeated Responses:
  • "8" (3 responses)
Unique Responses:
  • "8 levels no bridge levels from school. Butler Fellowship but all was from outside students"
  • "Out of the 8 main levels. There's the creative dance classes for like 4 year olds or so, and then the Pre-ballet levels, including Pre 6 (6 year olds) and Pre 7 (7 year olds), and then there's Levels 1~8, and Levels 4~8 are the upper levels, 4 being when most students are considered for pointe. The Butler Fellow program (postgraduate) is higher then Level 8, but I would say there's a gap of levels between Level 8 and Butler."

Level Dancer Was In

Repeated Responses:
  • "8" (2 responses)
Unique Responses:
  • "Level 4"
  • "6"
  • "Level 8"

Dancer Age

1
2
2

Hours of Dance Each Week

2

Gender

5

Company Affliated?

3

Was Student Scholarshipped?

5

Years At School

1
1
1
1

Leveling by Age or Skill?

1
1

Teacher Background

1
1

Parents Required to Volunteer?

2

Curriculum

Days Per Week

1
2
2

Classes Per Day

2
2
1

Weekend Classes?

5

Weekend Schedule

5

Students Per Class

1
2
1
1

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

1
4

Pointe Classes Per Week

1
1
2
1

Live Music in Technique Class?

5

Dedicated Men's Program?

2
3

Men Taught by Male Teacher?

1

Men Taught Batterie?

1

Boys In Level

3
1

Separate Technique Class for Boys

1
2

Techniques Taught

5
3

Technique Teacher Rotation

5

Did School Director Teach?

1
4

Classroom Corrections

3
1
1

Attention From Teachers

Very Little
1
1
1
2
A Lot

Quality of Instruction

Poor
1
1
1
2
Excellent

Did Technique Improve?

Not at all
1
1
1
2
Tremendously

Curriculum Comments

  • "Technique class, mostly. One stretch and conditioning per week"
  • "There were 1 to 2 classes per day which included technique (daily), variations/pointe, and contemporary. There were no boys in my level; however, the school does offer a separate boys classes and combined ones in other levels."
  • "Ballet Austin has created their own style but is Balanchine inspired. For the top level 8, there were two days with only 1.5 class. Total number of hours per week was generally 12…very lacking for top level of school."
  • "I was in Level 8 (the highest level) and every day we had technique often en pointe either for the whole duration of class or from the middle of barre to the end of class. Technique class duration ranged from 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours, depending on the day. On Mondays we had contemporary right after technique, and the class was both Level 7 & 8 combined. Wednesdays and Saturdays there was a variations class en pointe after technique class (1hr 45 min technique, 1hr 15 min variations), and over the year we learned variations like Gamzatti, the Swan Lake pas de trois variations, Paquita variations, Kitri act 1, and a couple Balanchine variations."

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class

1
4

Partner Ratio

1

Who Taught?

1

How Much Partnering Improved

No
1
Tremendously

Quality of Pas Teaching

Poor
1
Excellent

How Were Corrections Given?

1

Description of Partnering Class

  • "Was held on Saturday for over an hour"

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles

1
1
2
1

Other Class Quality

Poor
1
1
1
Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

1
4

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught

3
2
3
4

Contemporary Quality

Poor
1
2
1
Excellent

Master Classes?

4
1

Master Classes Description

  • "Touring cast from Hamilton, other dance instructors"

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

3
2

Physical Training Types

2
1
1
1

Physical Training Schedule

1
1

Were Trainers Certified?

2

Physical Training Quality

Poor
1
1
Excellent

Strength & Conditioning Comments

  • "We didn't really have those classes in our normal schedule, just once in a while we had pilates instead of contemporary, and sometimes (especially when it's nearing Christmas or summer break) when the students request one, our teachers would give us a yoga/conditioning class at the end of class."

Injuries / Health / Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

5

How Parents Notified?

3
2

How Treatment Obtained?

  • "On my own"
  • "on your own"

PT Available?

3
2

Was There a Recovery Plan?

4
1

Mental Health Therapists Available?

4
1

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

5

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

4
1

Were Students Weighed?

5

Was "Coded Language" Used?

1
3
1

Additional Comments

  • "One teacher told the students she could see their lunch. Another teacher singled out a student to say she was doing it wrong but wouldn’t correct."
  • "School is very hands off with students and not extremely interested in investing. Ie-a lot of upper level students do not come everyday they should and the school does not follow up or seem to notice. Therefore, the “extras” are not closely monitored."
  • "The teachers were really understanding when my classmates had an injury, and would let them adjust accordingly when needed. (like take it easy or sit out or not do jumps etc)"

Communication

Formal Orientation?

5

Handboook & Paperwork

3
2

Quality of Communication?

Poor
1
1
3
Excellent

Who Received Communication?

4
1

Exams

Formal Exam?

5

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?

Not
1
1
3
Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?

Not
1
4
Completely

Describe School Culture

  • "Favoritism"
  • "Fullest potential and close friends"
  • "Pleasant but not career oriented"
  • "Caring, supportive, fun,"
  • "Caring, laughter, positive, supportive, friendship"

Placement Notification Timing

  • "Springtime"
  • "At the end of the spring semester during an end of year conference."
  • "Unsure"
  • "During 2nd conference in spring"
  • "There's no level above Level 8, but normally during the spring conference in May. Both in-person and written communication."

How Dancer Was Notified

1
1

Dancer Had Mentor?

2

Mentoring Details

  • "NA"
  • "N/A"

Overall School Culture

Cold & Exclusive
1
2
2
Warm & Inclusive

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building

1
4

Safety of Area Around School?

Not Safe
2
2
1
Extremely Safe

Studio Space

Cramped
1
4
Lots of space

Studio Cleanliness

Dirty
5
Spotless

Performance Opportunities

Company Affiliated?

2

Programs Performed

2

Shows per Program

1
1

Casting

2

Peformance Calendar

  • "Nutcracker - 5-8 shows, Spring performance, 3 shows, 2 variation recitals for family"
  • "Performance opportunities are: Nutcracker in December, Spring Performance in May, and the two casual fall and spring variation showings. For Nutcracker everyone auditions and staff choose each person's role (angel, mouse, cavalry, bon bon, tea corps, party girl/party boy, soldier, Clara/Fritz) and they usually have a few casts. I was a party girl and had four shows (out of 15ish) as well as dress rehearsal. Audition is at the beginning of the school year, and rehearsals begin about 2~5ish weeks later, depending on your role. I had rehearsal every Saturday in the late morning or afternoon. We had some rehearsals with the company for the party scene as it neared the shows. For Spring Performance, Levels 4~8 have their own whole show thing separate from the levels below. Rehearsals take place at the end of class (or after barre sometimes) starting around March. My level began learning our rep mid-February. The teachers make choreography for their class to certain pieces of music from the classical ballet chosen for that year--Giselle, Don Quixote, La Sylphide, Swan Lake etc. (Level 8 gets to learn a piece of already-made corps choreography), and everyone has their own part. Each level has its separate performance, and as a Level 8 I performed as a Swan in our corps pieces from Swan Lake and in a contemporary piece made for us by Ms. Capareda, as well as a Swan Lake Pas de Trois variation. Our rehearsal director and associate rehearsal director worked with us for swan corps. There are three spring performance shows in late May--Friday evening and Sunday matinee and evening. I think everyone got to be in all three shows. For variation showings, there's one in the fall and another in the early spring. Level 5 does 4 swans in the spring one, and the other higher levels perform both times. Each level works on their variation at the end of class a couple times a week, and variations from this past year included Gulnara, Lise, Coppelia folly, Flora, Swan Lake pas de trois #2, Gamzatti, Paquita 9th, Aminta (for the men) etc. Levels 4~8 gather in the studio theatre, there's no wings, it's an informal setting, before and after their turn students watch those performing, and family is invited to sit, watch, and video at the front."

Competition

School Competes?

2

Private Lessons

Private Lessons Available?

2

Are Private Lessons Encouraged?

Not at all
1
1
Strongly recommended

Who Takes Privates?

1
1

Private Lessons equally available to all students?

Strongly disagree
1
1
Strongly agree

Explain

  • "For some it is out of budget"

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

2

School's SI Required?

2

Outside SI OK?

2

How Did School Help?

  • "It's talked about as a lecture to all students, and then individually during mid year conference."
  • "During our fall conferences, usually summer auditions come up, and there are several summer intensives that hold auditions (not only for BA students) at Ballet Austin; Colorado Ballet Academy, Boston, etc. During our spring conferences, the teachers usually ask about our plans for the summer. I don't think they really asked every single person about every audition they took and where they got in etc."

Outcomes

Highest Level of School?

1
1

Percent That Went Full-Time

1

Percent That Went To College

1

How Much Support Did Dancer Receive in Taking the Next Steps in Ballet?

No support
1
Lots of support

Support Description

  • "All the teachers are so supportive and really care about each of their students."

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction

1
1

Continuing Ballet Placement

1
1

Emotional Support

2

Performance Opportunities

1
1

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect

  • "Teachers who really care and are dedicated, beautiful studios, opportunity to be in professional performance, caring and kind classmates"
  • "All the wonderful memories I made with my friends and classmates throughout the whole year, during Nutcracker, rehearsals, Spring Performance, and more! My class had such lovely and sweet girls, all of whom I looked up to, and they were almost like older sisters to me. I have made all my best friends at Ballet Austin; one of which I've known for half my life! There are such friendly people all around, and the teachers are also so caring. Performance opportunities. Also, levels 4~8 receive a ticket to each opening show of the company (except for Nutcracker), so it's always wonderful to get to watch and be inspired by the company dancers. We get to watch a variety of pieces--both contemporary and classical. And this year Levels 7&8 also were invited to watch the Butler Fellow & BA2 (2nd company) spring performance, and that was amazing."

Program's Worst Aspect

  • "Nothing."

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

  • "Start classes slightly later because Austin schools get out late and traffic is dreadful"
  • "Recruit more teachers--every Friday levels 5&6 and 7&8 had to be combined--but it won't be anymore for the 26/27 year! Also offer a daytime program and higher training after Level 8 (it's common for there to be a variety of ages in Level 8 because many students continue coming back for Level 8 until they graduate high school. The majority of Level 8 are sophomores, juniors, and seniors."

Anything Else We Should Know?

  • "Excellent training coupled with a supportive and safe environment. These students are a joy to see together. So much encouragement and care for each other."
  • "Note that most students in the highest level go on to college, dance-related or not, and very very few are accepted into Butler Fellow. There have been several students who changed schools around age 15 to go to year-round daytime programs at other places like Colorado or Cary. There were two male students in each Level 5, 6, and 7 this year. There were others in the levels below, as well, and the Level 4~8 men have a weekly men's class in addition to their schedule. Very supportive environment. To many, Ballet Austin becomes a home-away-from-home, and I have made many amazing friends and memories I will never forget!!"
Reviews
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Age: 14, FemaleInstruction
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Attended 2025-26
Age: 14, FemaleInstruction
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Age: 16, FemaleInstruction B
Placement D
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Age: 16, FemaleInstruction A+
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Age: 12, FemaleInstruction C
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Attended 2019-20