Ballet West

#1 of 1

General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent with dancer input

Program:

Ballet West

Season Attended:

2024-25

# Of Levels In School:

Beginning A, B, C (ages 3-5)Elementary A, B, C (ages 6-11) Student Level 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (ages 9+ by placement)

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

6-10 hours

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Years At School:

4 years

Leveling by Age or Skill?

Skill

Teacher Background:

Former professional ballet dancer

Parents Required to Volunteer?

Curriculum

Days Per Week:

Classes Per Day:

Weekend Classes?

Yes

Weekend Schedule:

Half day

Students Per Class:

10-15

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

Yes

Pointe Classes Per Week:

Live Music in Technique Class?

Dedicated Men's Program?

Men Taught by Male Teacher?

Yes

Men Taught Batterie?

Yes

Boys In Level:

Less than 5

Separate Technique Class for Boys:

Techniques Taught:

General Classical

Technique Teacher Rotation:

Usually the same every day

Did School Director Teach?

Never (school admin was a designated upper level teacher)

Classroom Corrections:

Occasionally dancer specific: mostly general corrections were given

Attention From Teachers:


Very Little	A Lot

Quality of Instruction:


Poor	Excellent

Did Technique Improve?


Not at all	Tremendously

Curriculum Comments:

My dancer received her pointe shoes the previous April, she goes 4 days a week and receives about 6 hours of technique (1.5 hours each day) 1.75 hours of pointe (30 minutes 2 days a week and 45 minutes on Saturday) 45 minutes of Repertoire, and 1.5 hours of contemporary.

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class:

No partnering

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles:

None

Contemporary Offered?

Yes

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught:

Improv, Repertoire, Choreography workshops, Technique

Contemporary Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Master Classes?

Yes

Master Classes Description:

Masterclasses are offered but my dancer is not old enough to attend so I do not remember what was available.

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

Yes, for everyone

How Parents Notified?

My student did not get injured

How Treatment Obtained?

Ballet west is partnered with Intermountain Medical

PT Available?

Yes, it is part of fees

Was There a Recovery Plan?

My dancer did not get injured

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Unsure

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Were Students Weighed?

Was "Coded Language" Used?

Communication

Formal Orientation?

Yes

Handboook & Paperwork:

Comprehensive and complete. I knew what to expect for the year

Quality of Communication?


Poor	Excellent

Who Received Communication?

With parents and students

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:

Utah County is a family

Placement Notification Timing:

After the upper levels completed their exams

How Dancer Was Notified:

Written communication via email or regular mail

Dancer Had Mentor?

Mentoring Details:

I wish we did have a mentor program I think it would help a lot

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?

Yes

Programs Performed:

4-5

Shows per Program:

More than 5

Casting:

Everyone auditions for parts

Peformance Calendar:

Everyone can audition for the company shows, you can participate in 2 company shows per year and then you perform in a winter show, spring show and a contemporary show if you are student level 1 or higher

Competition

Competitions required?

Did Dancer Compete?

Non-Competing Dancers Left Out?

Why?

My dancer does not want to compete

Private Lessons

Private Lessons Available?

Yes

Are Private Lessons Encouraged?


Not at all	Strongly recommended

Who Takes Privates?

Anyone who wants them

Private Lessons equally available to all students?


Strongly disagree	Strongly agree

Explain:

I asked about if private lessons would benefit my dancer and was told no that she did not need them.

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

Yes

School's SI Required?

Outside SI OK?

Yes, it's strongly encouraged

How Did School Help?

It’s encouraged to attend a summer intensive, any summer intensive is preferable to no summer intensive.

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction:

Continuing Ballet Placement:

Emotional Support:

A+

Performance Opportunities:

A+

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

Utah county is like a family, everyone there feels like they are rooting for your kid even when your kids are going up for the same roles. The teachers are so kind and supportive, when my dancer is having a hard time they are always there to support us.

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

My dancer would like a conditioning class, they got rid of them this year for more technique class and she and I both feel like that was a mistake.

Anything Else We Should Know?

The studio in Utah county is loud and echoes, gives my dancer a migraine. We would love for them to do some sound proofing.

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