BALLET HELP DESK

After-School Training Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 110
Total Reviews: 203

Eastern Connecticut Ballet

After-School Reviews

General

Who is Reviewing?

1
1

Program

2

Season Attended

1
1

# Of Levels In School

  • "8 levels in the student division"
  • "8"

Dancer Age

1
1

Hours of Dance Each Week

2

Was Student Scholarshipped?

2

Years At School

2

Leveling by Age or Skill?

1
1

Teacher Background

1
1

Parents Required to Volunteer?

2

Curriculum

Days Per Week

1
1

Classes Per Day

2

Weekend Classes?

2

Weekend Schedule

1
1

Students Per Class

1
1

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

1
1

Pointe Classes Per Week

2

Live Music in Technique Class?

2

Dedicated Men's Program?

1
1

Boys In Level

2

Techniques Taught

2

Technique Teacher Rotation

2

Did School Director Teach?

2

Classroom Corrections

2

Attention From Teachers

Very Little
1
1
A Lot

Quality of Instruction

Poor
1
1
Excellent

Did Technique Improve?

Not at all
1
1
Tremendously

Curriculum Comments

  • "For each upper level, there are 1-2 classes per day at least 5 days a week. You also can take classes at lower levels for free to supplement. A few days a week there is live music, not every day. The school is lead by legendary former Balanchine ballerina Gloria Govrin so the style is Balanchine. The other faculty also primarily danced at Balanchine style companies such as Miami City Ballet. This is a small school so each level is only around 10 students (or less). Sometimes levels combine for class."
  • "A a level 8 we have 5, 1.5 hour ballet classes a week. 3, 1 hour pointe classes a week. And and additional 1.5 hour of modern and 1 hour of jazz. plus added on rehearsals on most days after classes. Every time we are at the studio we have a 1.5 hour ballet class followed by an hour pointe class, and then sometimes added on rehearsals."

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class

2

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles

2
2
2

Other Class Quality

Poor
2
Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

2

Master Classes?

2

Master Classes Description

  • "Every year there are a few master classes, usually with current or former NYCB dancers."
  • "A dancer from a major ballet company teaches the top levels in a 2 hour ballet class with an option of putting on your pointe shoes for the last 30 minutes."

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

1
1

Physical Training Types

1
1

Physical Training Schedule

1

Were Trainers Certified?

1

Physical Training Quality

Poor
1
Excellent

Strength & Conditioning Comments

  • "We would have them in the beginning of the year before nutcracker rehearsals started and then we would have them after Christmas break before spring showcase rehearsals started up."

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

2

How Parents Notified?

1
1

How Treatment Obtained?

  • "Through personal doctors or E.R visits with parents. Not at all involved with ECB."

PT Available?

2

Was There a Recovery Plan?

1
1

Describe Recovery Plan

  • "They tell you to go home and rest ("Don't even worry about coming in, I understand this can be hard for you") but then they email you mad saying you should be here watching classes."

Mental Health Therapists Available?

2

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

1
1

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

1
1

Were Students Weighed?

2

Was "Coded Language" Used?

1
1

Additional Comments

  • "Ashley Boulder really makes us doubt ourselves, she is always playing in our head and is not nice. She calls a male chiropractor to come in and massage and crack girls necks that hurt and the parents don't even know."

Communication

Formal Orientation?

1
1

Handboook & Paperwork

1
1

Quality of Communication?

Poor
1
1
Excellent

Who Received Communication?

1
1

Exams

Formal Exam?

2

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?

Not
1
1
Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?

Not
2
Completely

Describe School Culture

  • "nicest ballet culture ever seen."
  • "good friends, poor health, deficient"

Placement Notification Timing

  • "summer"
  • "Mid summer."

How Dancer Was Notified

2

Dancer Had Mentor?

1
1

Mentoring Details

  • "This is a small school. All of the teachers serve as mentors to the older students."
  • "I don't really look up to anyone except fellow students."

Overall School Culture

Lord of the Flies
1
1
Warm & Inclusive

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building

2

Safety of Area Around School?

Not Safe
1
1
Extremely Safe

Studio Space

Cramped
1
1
Lots of space

Studio Cleanliness

Dirty
1
1
Spotless

Performance Opportunities

Company Affiliated?

2

Programs Performed

2

Shows per Program

1
1

Casting

1
1

Peformance Calendar

  • "A halloween show with 6 performance, Nutcracker has 3 public performances and one school show, and the spring show has 2 performances. They are adding a 4th show this year"
  • "October: 6 shows of 'Spooktacular' at the Kate in Old Saybrook. December: 5 shows of the Nutcracker at the Garde arts Theater in New London. March: 4 shows of Circ du Ballet at the Kate in Old Saybrook (company only). June: one, a.m. spring show for preballet + company; and one, P.M show for levels 1-8 jazz, character, modern, and company."

Private Lessons

Private Lessons Available?

1
1

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

2

School's SI Required?

1
1

Outside SI OK?

2

How Did School Help?

  • "They provide guidance at the beginning of the year and support the students throughout the process. If you want to be in the student company you must do 4 weeks of summer intensive, either an outside intensive or the school's. The school brings in amazing guest teachers for the summer intensive"
  • "Everyone is accepted it doesn't matter where they come from."

Outcomes

Percent That Went Full-Time

1
1

Percent That Went To College

1
1

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

No support
1
1
Lots of support

Support Description

  • "The school provides ample support to students and families"
  • "I have not gone through those steps yet, but very little dancer make it into an actual company somewhere else in the ballet world, most dancer just go to college and then if they want join the dance team."

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

  • "Incredible training"
  • "The friends students make."

Program's Worst Aspect

  • "Would prefer more master classes"
  • "Ashley Boulder, and drama she causes"

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

  • "Very little"
  • "More show opportunities would be nice."

Anything Else We Should Know?

  • "ECB is truly a hidden gem. Ashley Bouder, former NYCB principal dancer is coming to run the school alongside Gloria Govrin. Many students drive from long distances due to the strength of the school."
  • "Ashley kind of sucks but the other teachers are phenomenal especially in the younger levels where Ashley isn't."
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