Bayer Ballet Academy

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General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent with dancer input

Program:

Bayer Ballet Academy

Season Attended:

2023-24

# Of Levels In School:

Varies year to year

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

More than 26 hours

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Years At School:

1 year

Leveling by Age or Skill?

Age

Teacher Background:

Unsure

Parents Required to Volunteer?

Yes

Curriculum

Days Per Week:

Classes Per Day:

Weekend Classes?

Yes

Weekend Schedule:

Half day

Students Per Class:

16-24

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

Pointe Classes Per Week:

N/A

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:

Usually the same every day

Did School Director Teach?

Occasionally

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:

There was only technique and occasional contemporary. Other classes are listed on the schedule but never actually happened

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class:

No partnering

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles:

None of the above

Other Class Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

Yes

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught:

Choreography workshops, Technique

Contemporary Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Master Classes?

Yes

Master Classes Description:

YAGP judges visited regularly but private lessons either them were offered only to selected students

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

How Parents Notified?

My student did not get injured

PT Available?

Was There a Recovery Plan?

My dancer did not get injured

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Yes

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Yes

Were Students Weighed?

Was "Coded Language" Used?

Yes

Additional Comments:

The atmosphere was incredibly toxic. Children were regularly screamed at by the director and body shaming was common

Communication

Formal Orientation?

Handboook & Paperwork:

No handbook provided

Quality of Communication?


Poor	Excellent

Who Received Communication?

With parents only

Exams

Formal Exam?

Yes

Written Feedback?

Exam Adjudicator:

Internal

Exam Rubrics Clear?

Strongly disagree

Who Attends Exam Meeting?

Well Prepared For Exam?


Not at all	Completely

How Heavily Did Exams Weigh in Promotions:


Not at all	Heavily

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?


Not	Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?


Not	Completely

Describe School Culture:

Toxic, abusive, disorganized, overhyped

Placement Notification Timing:

Not applicable

How Dancer Was Notified:

Written communication via email or regular mail

Dancer Had Mentor?

Mentoring Details:

Not applicable

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:

School staff chooses students for roles - no auditions

Peformance Calendar:

Choose not to answer

Competition

Competitions required?

Did Dancer Compete?

Yes

Competition Categories:

Solos, Ensembles

Competitions Attended:

YAGP, CDC

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:

Student responsible for sourcing and paying for costume

Did School Tution Cover Competition Fees?

What Were the Additional Fees?

Considerable

Competition Fees Clear?

Competition Fees Reasonable?

Why?

It’s crazy expensive and if your child doesn’t compete she will get no attention

Experience Description:

Poor

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:

The director’s favorites always get priority for studio space and time. Others had to fight over whatever was left

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

Yes

School's SI Required?

Yes

Outside SI OK?

How Did School Help?

Not applicable

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction:

A-

Continuing Ballet Placement:

Emotional Support:

Housing & Food:

N/A

Performance Opportunities:

A-

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

Performance opportunities

Program's Worst Aspect:

The emotional abuse directed at the children by the director

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

There isn’t enough space to even begin this list

Anything Else We Should Know?

Avoid at all costs. No training is worth the kind of torture your child will endure

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