"Children’s program- mommy and me through ballet C Lower school- level 1 through level 4. Upper school- level five through BVII( preprofessional company)"
"There is the children’s program, levels A and B, followed by the lower school, levels 1-4, and then the upper school, levels 5-6, which is then followed by a possible invite to the pre-pro program."
Dancer Age
13
15
Hours of Dance Each Week
11-15 hours
16-20 hours
Gender
Female
Was Student Scholarshipped?
No
Years At School
5 years
7 or more years
Leveling by Age or Skill?
Skill
Teacher Background
Both
Former professional ballet dancer
Parents Required to Volunteer?
No
Parent Volunteer Requirement
"room mom"
Curriculum
Days Per Week
4
5
Classes Per Day
2
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Full day
Half day
Students Per Class
10-15
16-24
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
No
Pointe Classes Per Week
3
4
Live Music in Technique Class?
Yes
Dedicated Men's Program?
No
Boys In Level
There were no boys in my level
Techniques Taught
General Classical
Vaganova
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
Dancer specific: detailed but only a few dancers consistently got corrections
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
"Cecchetti, ABT curriculum"
"5 classes a week, 4 of which consisting of 1.5 hour ballet technique classes followed by 1 hour of pointe/rehearsals. Every Friday consists of 1.5 hours of contemporary."
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
No partnering
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Horton
Jazz
Modern
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Improv
Repertoire
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
Yes
Master Classes Description
"Balletx
Birmingham Royal ballet"
"Master classes but Ballet X taught by Laine Jackson"
"We had a masterclass with BalletX. Previously, we were offered masterclasses taught by dancers from the Birmingham Royal Ballet and any other traveling companies in the area."
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Body rolling
Pilates (mat or reformer)
Progressing Ballet Technique
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
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
Unsure
Yes, for everyone
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
Parent was informed same day, in person
School called parent
How Treatment Obtained?
"We have a physical therapist that comes ever other wednesday"
"We have a physical therapist next door who comes in every other Wednesday to offer help to students. If it is needed, we are given referrals to visit her."
PT Available?
Yes, for extra fee
Yes, it is part of fees
Was There a Recovery Plan?
Yes
Describe Recovery Plan
"Pt with chkd"
"I broke my foot, and while I got checked by a pediatrician and orthopedics, I was given a plan to be regularly checked by physical therapy during my recovery."
Mental Health Therapists Available?
No
Unsure
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Were Students Weighed?
No
Was "Coded Language" Used?
Maybe
No
Yes
Communication
Formal Orientation?
No
Handboook & Paperwork
Comprehensive and complete. I knew what to expect for the year
No handbook provided
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
"Community, encouragement, friendship, hard work."
"Warm, family, home, hardworking, professional"
"Caring, family-like group"
Placement Notification Timing
"Towards the end of the school year"
"At the end of the academy season."
"Near the end of the school years, depending on your level, you receive either an evaluation letter or attend a meeting with directors and teachers."
How Dancer Was Notified
In-person meeting with school director/staff
Dancer Had Mentor?
Yes
Mentoring Details
"Teachers in the school and the professional company serve as mentors"
"My teacher acted as a great mentor helping my improve confidence, technique, and quickly learn contemporary as it was a new style to me."
Overall School Culture
Lord of the Flies
1
2
3
4
5
Warm & Inclusive
Building & Surrounding Area
Security Around Building
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?
Yes
Programs Performed
1-3
4-5
Shows per Program
3
More than 5
Casting
Everyone auditions for parts
School staff chooses students for roles - no auditions
Peformance Calendar
"two school shows,
two matinee
three evening shows
the highest level does not need to audition because they are considered a second company but all other levels audition"
"2 professional company and preprofessional company shows
Nutcracker and spring show for everyone and end of the year show case"
"Rehearsals took place M-S depending on certain roles. From September to December, we rehearse and perform The Nutcracker. From January to March, dancers above a certain level rehearse and perform in the company’s selected spring show ballet. If the dancer chooses, they are a part of the Academy Showcase at the end of the year."
Competition
Competitions required?
No
Did Dancer Compete?
Yes
Competition Categories
Ensembles
Solos
Competitions Attended
"NBC
UBC
YAGP"
"National Ballet Competition"
"YAGP, NBC, UBC (we do not compete every year, directors choose certain dancers and competitions may be replaced by other activities)"
Solo Rehearsals
Take place outside of regular classes
Pas de Deux Rehearsals
Our school doesn't have students compete pas de deux
Ensemble Rehearsals
Take place during regular class time
Costume Responsibility
School provides for free
Student responsible for sourcing and paying for costume
Did School Tution Cover Competition Fees?
No
What Were the Additional Fees?
"Privates and sign up
some danced buy their own costumes and others rent with a fee"
"Unsure"
"Registration and masterclass fees"
Competition Fees Clear?
Yes
Competition Fees Reasonable?
Yes
Why?
"privates are reasonable and sign up is fine too"
"It is the normal cost that you would need to pay to compete."
"There were no additional fees from the school, only those for the competition"
Experience Description
"coaches check on and support ever dancer"
"Excellent, wonderful experience."
"I was provided with extensive training in privates to prepare for my solos, and was given rehearsal time with my peers to rehearse our ensemble with our choreographer"
Private Lessons
Private Lessons Available?
Yes
Are Private Lessons Encouraged?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly recommended
Who Takes Privates?
A select few kids
Anyone who wants them
Private Lessons equally available to all students?
Strongly disagree
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly agree
Explain
"privates are mainly for competition and in normal classes you get good corrections"
"A student must ask and have a reasonable purpose to need a private"
Summer Intensives
School Holds an SI?
Yes
School's SI Required?
Yes
Outside SI OK?
Yes, but only for select students
Yes, it's strongly encouraged
How Did School Help?
"They are very supportive and are proud no matter what"
"Recommendations are made"
"They recommend certain schools to certain students, and make sure that they focus on what the schools look for to prepare them"
Outcomes
Percent That Went Full-Time
10%
21%-30%
Percent That Went To College
31%-40%
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
"The school has supported me to find success"
"They support me in finding a school to attend in the future and suggest certain intensives to make sure i’m ready and confident enough for the future"
Program Grades
Overall Dance Instruction
A
A+
Continuing Ballet Placement
A+
Emotional Support
A
A+
C
Performance Opportunities
A-
A+
Program Comments
Program's Best Aspect
"the teachers are so kind and have great corrections
good studio soace"
"The support and the mentors and the family that is built through the program"
"They make sure each dancer has a good understanding of their technique and how to improve it, and are very supportive of whatever path their dancers decide to take"
Program's Worst Aspect
"nothing"
"I can’t seem to find a negative."
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
"maybe more performance opportunities"
"I wouldn’t change anything about the program"
Anything Else We Should Know?
"be prepared to work really hard"
"The ballet school offers a wonderful family that you were stepping into with incredible teachers with incredible backgrounds and unique performance opportunities."
