Eastside Performing Arts Professional Training Program

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General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent

Program:

Eastside Performing Arts Professional Training Program

Season Attended:

2024-25

# Of Levels In School:

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

16-20 hours

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Years At School:

2 years

Leveling by Age or Skill?

Skill

Teacher Background:

Former professional ballet dancer

Parents Required to Volunteer?

Curriculum

Days Per Week:

Classes Per Day:

Weekend Classes?

Weekend Schedule:

I did not have weekend class

Students Per Class:

Less than 10

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

Pointe Classes Per Week:

Daily

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:

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

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class:

No partnering

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles:

Modern, Horton

Other Class Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

Yes

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught:

Repertoire, Technique

Contemporary Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Master Classes?

Yes

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Yes

Physical Training Types:

Pilates (mat or reformer), Stretch class

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?

School called parent

How Treatment Obtained?

We have a podiatrist I took to her independently although AD does often have recommendations

PT Available?

Was There a Recovery Plan?

Yes

Describe Recovery Plan:

The recovery plan was that when the doctor said my dancer had to stop all dance immediately for a month, that is wa happened and then the AD made sure she only did barre in flat shoes at first, no jumping, and worked on foot strength and staying in shape through strengthening class.

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Were Students Weighed?

Was "Coded Language" Used?

Additional Comments:

The artistic director was instrumental in helping my dancer gain confidence and become less anxious.

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?

Agree

Who Attends Exam Meeting?

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:

Supportive but rigorous

Placement Notification Timing:

This was her final year of pre pro training

How Dancer Was Notified:

In-person meeting with school director/staff

Dancer Had Mentor?

Yes

Mentoring Details:

Kelly, the AD, takes a personal interest in each of her students as a part of her school so it’s ingrained into the training. Lots of personal attention.

Overall School Culture:


Lord of the Flies	Warm & Inclusive

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building:

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:

4-5

Shows per Program:

Casting:

Everyone auditions for parts

Peformance Calendar:

There is Nutcracker and there is a full length ballet in the spring, and several local dance festivals in which the dancers perform. There are also optional competitions — this past year there was YAGP, ADC IBC and UBC

Competition

Competitions required?

Did Dancer Compete?

Yes

Competition Categories:

Solos, Ensembles

Competitions Attended:

YAGP, ADC IBC, UBC

Solo Rehearsals:

Take place outside of regular classes

Pas de Deux Rehearsals:

Our school doesn't have students compete pas de deux

Ensemble Rehearsals:

Take place outside of regular classes

Costume Responsibility:

Student responsible for sourcing and paying for costume

Did School Tution Cover Competition Fees?

What Were the Additional Fees?

If you opt in to competition training, the school fees are about 6% higher than the program without competition training. Families paid for costumes and comp registration fees on top of that so there was some control over the cost based on what costume was chosen or how many comps the dancer did.

Competition Fees Clear?

Yes

Competition Fees Reasonable?

Yes

Why?

It was very reasonable, the cost of the programs with competition training included was not that much more than the program without competition training. Comp registration fees were on top of that.

Experience Description:

She felt she could have done better but competition wasn’t the ultimate goal this year. Being accepted to her college program of choice was the top priority and that was accomplished.

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

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

Yes

School's SI Required?

Yes

Outside SI OK?

Yes, it's strongly encouraged

How Did School Help?

The artistic director gave her honest opinion on what would serve my dancer the best and it was very helpful.

Outcomes

Percent That Went Full-Time:

More than 50%

Percent That Went To College:

31%-40%

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


No support	Lots of support

Support Description:

There were multiple conferences with the artistic director and us and one meeting with us, the AD and the AD of the college program. She supported my dancer through the entire process in a very nurturing and positive way.

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction:

A+

Continuing Ballet Placement:

A+

Emotional Support:

A+

Performance Opportunities:

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

The training. It is focused on helping these dancers become professionals

Program's Worst Aspect:

Juggling schedules, since my dancer decided to stay at a very academically competitive regular high school while also juggling a rigorous ballet program. That’s not specific to the program though, she would have juggled a lot anywhere since she elected to continue in person at a competitive high school too

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

I wish there were boys

Anything Else We Should Know?

The artistic director has a reputation for a high percentage of her students going on to top company academies and traineeships and college programs

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