Colorado Movement Lab

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General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent with dancer input

Program:

Colorado Movement Lab

Season Attended:

2023-24

# Of Levels In School:

Currently the school has levels A-F. It is a new school but with very experienced faculty that my dancer has trained with for eight years.

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

More than 26 hours

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Yes

Please Describe Scholarship:

The scholarship was income based. Because the school is new, there is not much aid yet available.

Years At School:

2 years

Leveling by Age or Skill?

Skill

Teacher Background:

Both

Parents Required to Volunteer?

Parent Volunteer Requirement:

There are no requirements for students in the school but if dancer’s joint the school’s youth company, parents are expected to volunteer. Requirements range from 5-15 hours for the year, depending on the number of dancers in the company.

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:

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

Attention From Teachers:


Very Little	A Lot

Quality of Instruction:


Poor	Excellent

Did Technique Improve?


Not at all	Tremendously

Curriculum Comments:

The school has a strong classical ballet focus, along with classes in modern, jazz, contemporary, and composition. Ballet technique is offered every day, pointe almost every day, contemporary and modern three times a week, and jazz twice a week. Composition and pedagogy classes are also offered to more advanced students and there are tons of performance opportunities, including participation in Regional Dance America (RDA).

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class:

2x per week

Partner Ratio:

Most girls had to share a partner.

Who Taught?

It varied based on the week

How Much Partnering Improved:


No	Tremendously

Quality of Pas Teaching:


Poor	Excellent

How Were Corrections Given?

Attention and corrections were evenly distributed between the males and females

Description of Partnering Class:

The school offers contemporary and modern partnering beginning quite young. Ballet partnering is for more advanced students and if there are not boys available in class, the school director will bring in male professional dancers for the girls to work with in a regular basis. Unfortunately for the school, many of the boys she trains are swooped up by larger programs when they are around 11 or 12 because they learn great technique.

Additional Comments:

My dancer wanted more partnering. However, when she has attended summer intensives with students who have had more frequent partnering she’s noticed that her knowledge and technique are often stronger than that of people who the more practice because her school focuses on explanation, technique, solid pedagogy, and executing movements safely and correctly.

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles:

Character, Modern, Jazz

Other Class Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

Yes

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught:

Improv, Repertoire, Choreography workshops, Technique

Contemporary Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Master Classes?

Yes

Master Classes Description:

Master classes from RDA adjudicators and visiting master classes happen frequently. Over the summer master classes from visiting artists and choreographers happened too. The school is new and growing and as it grows these classes will become more frequent because (as I understand it) they are a priority for the school director.

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Yes

Physical Training Types:

Pilates (mat or reformer), Progressing Ballet Technique, Stretch class

Physical Training Schedule:

Several times a week

Were Trainers Certified?

Yes

Physical Training Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Strength & Conditioning Comments:

Gyrotonic, pilates, and classes and PT classes are all offered in house by certified professionals. PBT is a regular part of the curriculum. And a PT is available at every performance.

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

Yes, for everyone

How Parents Notified?

My student did not get injured

PT Available?

Yes, for extra fee

Was There a Recovery Plan?

My dancer did not get injured

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Yes, for an extra fee

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Were Students Weighed?

Was "Coded Language" Used?

Additional Comments:

The school is vey inclusive and has students of all shapes and sizes. No one is encouraged to transform their body to meet a standard.

Communication

Formal Orientation?

Unsure

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:

Inclusive and kind, also serious.

Placement Notification Timing:

Placements are given at the end of the school year.

How Dancer Was Notified:

Written communication via email or regular mail

Dancer Had Mentor?

Yes

Mentoring Details:

The school director has been an amazing mentor. Former dancers who are now teachers have also been mentors. And older dancers are often paired with younger form mentoring, though there is not a formal program.

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:

6-7

Shows per Program:

Casting:

Everyone auditions for parts

Peformance Calendar:

For students only taking classes there were three showcases only. For kids in the youth company, there were lots of performances at different venues.

Competition

Competitions required?

Did Dancer Compete?

Yes

Competition Categories:

Solos, Ensembles

Competitions Attended:

Denver Ballet Guild and RDA (not really a competition but similar).

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 for free

Did School Tution Cover Competition Fees?

What Were the Additional Fees?

Registration

Competition Fees Clear?

Yes

Competition Fees Reasonable?

Yes

Why?

The only students that compete sign up for the youth company program. It requires an extra fee but they make it reasonable and the school does a lot of fundraising to help with the cost.

Experience Description:

There is little emphasis on winning it’s about artistry and experience.

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:

My child never had them but this did not effect her at all in terms of casting or growth.

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

Yes

School's SI Required?

Outside SI OK?

Yes, it's strongly encouraged

How Did School Help?

The school held a workshop about summer intensives with experienced dancers. Students were not encouraged to go before being technically proficient, but for advanced students the school gave personalized guidance.

Outcomes

Percent That Went Full-Time:

11%-20%

Percent That Went To College:

More than 50%

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


No support	Lots of support

Support Description:

The school helped my daughter prepare for college auditions and gave full support with scholarships, program selection, and deciding between a prepro track and college.

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction:

A+

Continuing Ballet Placement:

A+

Emotional Support:

A+

Performance Opportunities:

A+

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

The training and performance opportunities and professionalization. Also, it is very fair. There is no tolerance for mean and nasty, selfish dance parents.

Program's Worst Aspect:

It is small and growing. But this means lots of attention.

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

Nothing.

Anything Else We Should Know?

The training is excellent and it’s possible to move into a prepro or college program while still attending brick and mortar school. Also there are tons of opportunities to work with professional and distinguished choreographers.

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