Had to be applied for, $500 for year around, $1500 for summer (must attend all weeks). Unknown if this was the norm, but a lot of kids were on financial scholarships.
The scholarship subtracted from my tuition.
Years At School
1 year
Leveling by Age or Skill?
Skill
Teacher Background
Former professional ballet dancer
Parents Required to Volunteer?
No
Curriculum
Days Per Week
6
Classes Per Day
3
4
more than 6
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Full day
Students Per Class
10-15
16-24
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
No
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week
Daily
N/A
Live Music in Technique Class?
No
Dedicated Men's Program?
Yes
Men Taught by Male Teacher?
Yes
Men Taught Batterie?
Unsure
Boys In Level
Less than 5
Separate Technique Class for Boys
No
Yes
Techniques Taught
Balanchine
General Classical
Technique Teacher Rotation
Different depending on week
The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule
Did School Director Teach?
Occasionally
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
It is very Balanchine but based on the school's founder (Marcia Dale Weary)'s syllabus.
3 required classes a day with 1 option 3 o’clock class. More often than not, this schedule is comprised due to our year-around rehearsals. Females would have one hour and a half technic class, 1 hour and a half center class, and 1 45 minute class. (3 o’clock class was 1 hour). Times were from 4-9, including breaks.
We took at least one class a day with rehearsals or pointe classes the rest of the day. We had to take every class to be considered for roles.
There was a 1-hour syllabus class three days a week, where new students (and optionally for returning students) would learn the CPYB syllabus in a slower, technique-based class.
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
1x per week
No partnering
Partner Ratio
A few girls had to share but most had their own partner.
Everyone had to share a partner.
Who Taught?
Male teacher
How Much Partnering Improved
No
1
2
3
4
5
Tremendously
Quality of Pas Teaching
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
How Were Corrections Given?
Males were the main focus
Description of Partnering Class
The teacher would pair you and some other girls with a boy. Then we would do the exercises given and occasionally we would learn a pas de deux.
started with simple exercises and progressed as the year went on
Additional Comments
No
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Character
Contemporary
None
None of the above
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
No
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Choreography workshops
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
No
Yes
Master Classes Description
From time to time, there would be guest teachers that came in; not necessarily master classes but a good range of outside teachers for the upper levels.
n/a
There was no master class offered.
a contemporary class was offered to the upper levels
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
No
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Other
Pilates (mat or reformer)
Progressing Ballet Technique
Stretch class
Physical Training Schedule
Occasionally
Once or twice a week
Several times a week
Were Trainers Certified?
Some were certified and some were not depending on class
Yes
Physical Training Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Strength & Conditioning Comments
The beginning of the year, there was Pilates mat class for the dancers. Each level had one to two classes per week depending on the level and rehearsal schedule. As the year progressed, the frequency of these classes decreased. By the end of the year, they were no longer offering these classes at all.
No
occasionally did pilates or yoga classes
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
No
Unsure
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
School called parent
How Treatment Obtained?
n/a
You want to an urgent care or emergency department.
You were on your own to seek medical care.
PT Available?
No
Yes, for extra fee
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
No
Yes
Describe Recovery Plan
n/a
You would get a schedule with the classes and levels you would take, and the teachers would ask about any limitations you had.
Mental Health Therapists Available?
No
Unsure
Yes, for everyone
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Unsure
Yes
Were Students Weighed?
No
Was "Coded Language" Used?
No
Yes
Additional Comments
n/a
No
Communication
Formal Orientation?
Yes
Handboook & Paperwork
Comprehensive and complete. I knew what to expect for the year
Fairly comprehensive but missing a few pieces
Quality of Communication?
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Who Received Communication?
With dancers only. Parents not involved
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
Manipulative, passive agressive, fake
Competitive, supportive to face, jealous to back
Amazing, welcoming place to learn
competetive
Placement Notification Timing
After a placement class usually held in August
at the beginning of the next school year
not yet recieved
The night before the first day
How Dancer Was Notified
Written communication via email or regular mail
Dancer Had Mentor?
Yes
Mentoring Details
I lived with other students who had been there for multiple years, so I did not need help from my mentor.
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?
No
Programs Performed
1-3
Shows per Program
More than 5
Casting
School staff chooses students for roles - no auditions
Peformance Calendar
Some students performed at the gala in October, and then there were two weekends of performances of the Nutcracker. In April, we had a weekend (one school show and three public shows) of spring performances. Finally, we had a week of performances held at the studio right before the start of the summer intensive.
Private Lessons
Private Lessons Available?
Yes
Are Private Lessons Encouraged?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly recommended
Who Takes Privates?
Anyone who wants them
Private Lessons equally available to all students?
Strongly disagree
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly agree
Summer Intensives
School Holds an SI?
Yes
School's SI Required?
Unsure
Outside SI OK?
Yes, but only for select students
How Did School Help?
n/a
Program Grades
Overall Dance Instruction
A
Continuing Ballet Placement
A+
Emotional Support
B+
Performance Opportunities
A-
Program Comments
Program's Best Aspect
Having multiple ballet classes every day
Program's Worst Aspect
During rehearsal periods, especially right before performances, we would have 3-hour rehearsals every night and only one ballet class. So during those times, we would not have daily pointe classes or any partnering classes.
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
adding contemporary or modern classes into the regular schedule
Anything Else We Should Know?
While all of the teachers are good at instruction and give good corrections, some teachers are harsher with their corrections and do not give constructive criticism.
