BALLET HELP DESK

After-School Training Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 111
Total Reviews: 205

Dance Center of San Antonio

After-School Reviews

General

Who is Reviewing?

2
2

Program

4

Season Attended

1
1
1
1

# Of Levels In School

  • "10, but all train together so hard to differentiate."
  • "0-8 I believe."
  • "Level 10"
  • "Pre-Professional levels 0-10 are offered. Many times the lower levels are age based/years in the program."

Dancer Age

1
2
1

Hours of Dance Each Week

1
1

Gender

4

Company Affliated?

2

Was Student Scholarshipped?

4

Years At School

1
2

Leveling by Age or Skill?

2

Teacher Background

2

Parents Required to Volunteer?

1
1

Parent Volunteer Requirement

  • "Backstage helping- chaos!!"
  • "There are no requirements specifically through the dance studio. Many parents step up and volunteer as needed."

Curriculum

Days Per Week

1
2
1

Classes Per Day

2
2

Weekend Classes?

4

Weekend Schedule

4

Students Per Class

1
3

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

4

Pointe Classes Per Week

1
2
1

Live Music in Technique Class?

4

Dedicated Men's Program?

3
1

Men Taught by Male Teacher?

1

Men Taught Batterie?

1

Boys In Level

2
1

Separate Technique Class for Boys

1
1

Techniques Taught

4

Technique Teacher Rotation

1
3

Did School Director Teach?

1
3

Classroom Corrections

1
2
1

Attention From Teachers

Very Little
2
1
1
A Lot

Quality of Instruction

Poor
2
1
1
Excellent

Did Technique Improve?

Not at all
2
1
1
Tremendously

Curriculum Comments

  • "Typically ballet and variations with pointe at the end of class. The curriculum was actually mostly having comp students work on their routines and having non comp students copy what they've seen. Very little actual teaching."
  • "It’s hard to know… we don’t have exams and most everyone just moves to next level."
  • "Usually about 2-3 per day, ballet, variations, modern depending on the day"
  • "Vaganova is the basis of the training curriculum, PBT is sprinkled in as well. For Pre-Competitive division dancers 1 day/wk for age 6, 2 days/wk for age 7, etc is encouraged."

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class

2
1
1

Partner Ratio

3

Who Taught?

3

How Much Partnering Improved

No
3
Tremendously

Quality of Pas Teaching

Poor
2
1
Excellent

How Were Corrections Given?

3

Description of Partnering Class

  • "Very little training in partnering."
  • "Just a couple boys to share"
  • "Bad"

Additional Comments

  • "There were only two males old enough for partnering, with about 30 females."
  • "We don’t have enough boys"
  • "Had only 2 boys."

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles

2
2
1
2
3
3
3

Other Class Quality

Poor
1
2
1
Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

4

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught

4

Contemporary Quality

Poor
1
1
1
1
Excellent

Master Classes?

4

Master Classes Description

  • "Guest teachers during summer intensive. As a student you are required to attend 6-8 weeks of intensive there and not allowed to go anywhere else."
  • "Guest teachers at winter and summer intensives"
  • "Abusive Russian teachers"
  • "Several were offered mostly focused on ballet but also had Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Commercial Jazz, and other years have offered others."

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

2
2

Physical Training Types

1
2
1
1
1

Physical Training Schedule

2

Were Trainers Certified?

1
1

Physical Training Quality

Poor
1
1
Excellent

Strength & Conditioning Comments

  • "Many dancers were always injured. Abused flexibility."
  • "For my pre-competitive dancer we approved for drop in classes when we could, and modifications were given where needed. Resulted in a stronger arabesque!"

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

3
1

How Parents Notified?

1
1
2

How Treatment Obtained?

  • "Your own doctor"
  • "You weren’t. You had to suck it up and keep dancing. I had a broken spine for a year and I had to hide it. I was ELEVEN."

PT Available?

3
1

Was There a Recovery Plan?

1
3

Describe Recovery Plan

  • "Nonexistent"
  • "No plan"
  • "Nothing"

Mental Health Therapists Available?

3
1

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

1
3

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

1
3

Were Students Weighed?

1
2
1

Was "Coded Language" Used?

1
3

Additional Comments

  • "Not supported there."
  • "Everyone was constantly injured. High presence of anorexia and bulimia. Mental health was ignored. Trauma from there caused me to attempt on my life recently."
  • "Pre-Professional students with all different body types are given the same opportunities. Technique is the focus and I have never heard any student from young to graduating make any body comments or indicate that they feel guilty any type of food."

Communication

Formal Orientation?

4

Handboook & Paperwork

1
3

Quality of Communication?

Poor
3
1
Excellent

Who Received Communication?

1
2
1

Exams

Formal Exam?

4

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?

Not
3
1
Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?

Not
1
2
1
Completely

Describe School Culture

  • "The owner sets the standard of an unhealthy culture. Bullying by some students is ignored. Comments about body size from the director. Favoritism is very common and students are afraid to ask questions. Parents are too."
  • "Toxic and unhealthy"
  • "Toxic, mean, isolating"
  • "Highly supportive, strong camaraderie, encouraging"

Placement Notification Timing

Repeated Responses:
  • "May" (3 responses)
Unique Responses:
  • "Late April"

How Dancer Was Notified

2

Dancer Had Mentor?

2

Mentoring Details

  • "Nobody cared about you."
  • "Teachers mentored pre-competitive dancers as part of the day to day. Students feel comfortable seeking help from teachers."

Overall School Culture

Lord of the Flies
3
1
Warm & Inclusive

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building

3
1

Safety of Area Around School?

Not Safe
1
2
1
Extremely Safe

Studio Space

Cramped
2
2
Lots of space

Studio Cleanliness

Dirty
1
1
2
Spotless

Performance Opportunities

Company Affiliated?

2

Programs Performed

2

Shows per Program

1
1

Casting

2

Peformance Calendar

  • "Rehearsals last for 3 hours each Saturday starting in September. Tech week- you have to be there every day for 5 hours. I was forced to go to tech week violently throwing up due to illness because the director threatened me."
  • "Nutcracker + one spring show offered through Childrens Ballet of San Antonio and all dancers are encouraged to audition. Performance and appearance opportunities are sprinkled through the year for outreach, local galas, on camera opportunities as well."

Competition

Competitions required?

2

Did Dancer Compete?

2

Non-Competing Dancers Left Out?

1
1

Why?

  • "Director only paid attention to a few competition girls. Others were nothing to her."
  • "Commercial competition opportunities are also offered as a more relaxed option to ballet or for younger dancers to introduce them to competing. Ballet competitions are completely up to the family and dancer. While the pros are explained each family is able to make their own decision."

Private Lessons

Private Lessons Available?

2

Are Private Lessons Encouraged?

Not at all
1
1
Strongly recommended

Who Takes Privates?

1
1

Private Lessons equally available to all students?

Strongly disagree
1
1
Strongly agree

Explain

  • "Generally only approved for a few dancers"
  • "Private lessons are available to any student and are booked directly with the front desk or online portal. My pre-competitive age dancer has done privates once prior to nutcracker and multiple times to prepare for commercial competition."

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

2

School's SI Required?

1
1

Outside SI OK?

1
1

How Did School Help?

  • "They didn’t"
  • "You are encouraged to work with the school to decide what programs will help your individual dancer the most. The director usually gives input on where she thinks each student would benefit the most."

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction

1
1

Continuing Ballet Placement

1
1

Emotional Support

1
1

Performance Opportunities

1
1

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect

  • "Leaving"
  • "The dancers at the school have a strong community feeling. There are dancers at all levels and ages but seem to interact without jealousy or drama. This studio offers the most opportunities for younger dancers who have a passion for ballet from any other local studio we had researched. The technical training seems quite strong and there are opportunities to showcase that each year."

Program's Worst Aspect

  • "Where to start. Director was a monster, I still struggle with PTSD years after, I permanently broke my spine, struggled with eating disorders and depression. Girls were very toxic. Constant bullying."
  • "Being pre-competitive age there is a trust the process approach. While I have been with the school long enough to begin seeing it, for parents new to the ballet world it takes a leap of faith."

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

  • "To make them go out of business"
  • "I would love to see more of an individualized goal sheet for the dancers to understand strengths and weaknesses. This may be taking place at the 9+ ages but is not offered at our age."

Anything Else We Should Know?

  • "Do not go here. Unless you want to struggle with deadly mental health issues and constant injury. I was told to lose weight at 73 lbs and 5’3”. I became weak due to malnutrition and broke my spine."
  • "This school can get you where you want to be with focus, commitment, and effort. You are honored at whatever level you are at though."
Reviews
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Age: Under 8, FemaleInstruction
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Attended 2025-26
Age: 12, FemaleInstruction C
Placement D
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Attended 2023-24
Age: 11, FemaleInstruction
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Attended 2022-23
Age: 12, FemaleInstruction C-
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Attended 2021-22