Burbank Dance Academy

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General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent with dancer input

Program:

Burbank Dance Academy

Season Attended:

2024-25

# Of Levels In School:

The number of levels changes, but it's usually 5. Ages range from 9 to 18, but currently most students are under 15. Placement is based solely on audition.

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

16-20 hours

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Please Describe Scholarship:

My dancer isn't on scholarship, but as a member of the competition team, the director routinely offers extra privates and rehearsal time at no charge. The studio is open to all students to use available rooms for their own practice time at no charge, so long as an adult is present.

Years At School:

6 years

Leveling by Age or Skill?

Skill

Teacher Background:

Unsure

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?

Pointe Classes Per Week:

Live Music in Technique Class?

Dedicated Men's Program?

Boys In Level:

There were no boys in my level

Techniques Taught:

General Classical, Vaganova

Technique Teacher Rotation:

Usually the same every day

Did School Director Teach?

Often

Classroom Corrections:

Dancer specific: almost every dancer got specific corrections each day

Attention From Teachers:


Very Little	A Lot

Quality of Instruction:


Poor	Excellent

Did Technique Improve?


Not at all	Tremendously

Curriculum Comments:

The Etoile program at BDA is six days a week, with a variety of classes taught by different qualified teachers, including each week: Ballet (6x), Pointe (3x), Stretch and Conditioning (1x), Jazz (1x), Ballet Elements (1x), and an optional Acro and Tap on Saturdays. The teachers have danced all over the world, from San Francisco Ballet to Joffrey.

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class:

No partnering

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles:

Jazz

Other Class Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

Yes

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught:

Technique

Contemporary Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Master Classes?

Yes

Master Classes Description:

There are two intensives, one in the winter and one in late summer, with guest teachers offering master classes.

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Yes

Physical Training Types:

Body conditioning

Physical Training Schedule:

Once or twice a week

Were Trainers Certified?

Yes

Physical Training Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

How Parents Notified?

My student did not get injured

How Treatment Obtained?

N/A

PT Available?

Was There a Recovery Plan?

Yes

Describe Recovery Plan:

The head of the school communicates directly with the parent, including suggestions for doctors and physical therapists who specialize in specific injuries.

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Unsure

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?

Yes

Written Feedback?

Exam Adjudicator:

Internal

Exam Rubrics Clear?

Strongly agree

Who Attends Exam Meeting?

Yes, dancer only. The meeting was with the Artistic Director.

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:

Best friends yet still teenagers.

Placement Notification Timing:

Within a couple weeks

How Dancer Was Notified:

Written communication via email or regular mail

Dancer Had Mentor?

Yes

Mentoring Details:

The director of the school personally teachers my dancer in class and in weekly privates. He also choreographs her contemporary dances for competition (he has won several choreography awards, including YAGP Best Choreographer at least twice.)

Overall School Culture:


Lord of the Flies	Warm & Inclusive

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building:

Yes

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:

There is a spring showcase in June for families. Also, many of the students participate in a local Nutcracker. While the production isn't technically affiliated with the school, the auditions and rehearsals are there. The performances are in a professional theater nearby. There is also an optional performance company (for an extra fee) that attends at least one YAGP per season, an ICON, and usually two or three other comps. This year, my dancer also attended YAGP Finals as a soloist, and several other dancers attended for ensembles.

Competition

Competitions required?

Did Dancer Compete?

Yes

Competition Categories:

Solos, Ensembles

Competitions Attended:

YAGP (usually 3 per season), ICON, Dance Masters, HEAT.

Solo Rehearsals:

Take place outside of regular classes

Pas de Deux Rehearsals:

Take place outside of regular classes

Ensemble Rehearsals:

Take place outside of regular classes

Costume Responsibility:

School provides and charges rental fee

Did School Tution Cover Competition Fees?

What Were the Additional Fees?

$575 per season, plus entry and per-piece fees for each comp.

Competition Fees Clear?

Yes

Competition Fees Reasonable?

Why?

The school's fees are reasonable, but the competition fees are really tough. My dancer now does three solos and a couple group pieces at each ballet comp. With transportation, food, sometimes hotels, costume rentals, it's easily $1,000 a pop. It's a lot.

Experience Description:

Each season, the school director picks two classical variations (with my dancer's input) and choreographs one contemporary solo for my dancer. She also does at least two group pieces--this year, one classical trio and a couple group contemporaries. My dancer absolutely LOVES competition, but it helps that she had a really good season. She was invited to YAGP Finals and was offered several scholarships. I don't know if I would do it if she was just in ensembles, to be honest, simply because of the expense.

Private Lessons

Private Lessons Available?

Yes

Are Private Lessons Encouraged?


Not at all	Strongly recommended

Who Takes Privates?

A select few kids

Private Lessons equally available to all students?


Strongly disagree	Strongly agree

Explain:

Privates are expensive, and the director usually only suggests them for kids who are looking to do solo competitions.

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

Yes

School's SI Required?

Outside SI OK?

Yes, it's strongly encouraged

How Did School Help?

The director directly suggests programs that he feels will balance out a dancer's technique, while keeping the family's budget in mind. Acceptances and rejections go directly to the dancer, but he doesn't dwell on the latter.

Outcomes

Percent That Went Full-Time:

10%

Percent That Went To College:

11%-20%

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


No support	Lots of support

Support Description:

My dancer has known that she wants to be on a professional track from a very young age. One thing that I've really loved about BDA is that the director has had a long-term view of where he wanted her to get from the beginning. He's encouraged her to understand that trophies are nice, but the prize is the career. Slow progression, hard work, put in the time. Don't count the pirouettes, count the progress. This mindset has kept her mentally healthy and focused for six years.

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction:

A+

Continuing Ballet Placement:

A+

Emotional Support:

Performance Opportunities:

A+

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

The focus on progress and the individual attention my dancer has received, as well as the variety of teachers and opportunities presented.

Program's Worst Aspect:

Honestly, it's been a lot of positives for us.

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

Well, personally I'd love to never go to a commercial competition again, but that's just me.

Anything Else We Should Know?

The Etoile program is for kids who are deeply committed to dance. You'll get out of it what you put in.

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