"6, there are pre-ballet levels and then levels 1-6 for the formal program"
"7"
Dancer Age
15
16
Hours of Dance Each Week
16-20 hours
Was Student Scholarshipped?
Yes
Please Describe Scholarship
"All male dancers in level 3 and up receive some amount of scholarship for tuition. Also scholarships available based on need."
"All boys got some scholarship, older boys got full tuition, there are also scholarships based on financial need"
Years At School
2 years
3 years
Leveling by Age or Skill?
Skill
Teacher Background
Former professional ballet dancer
Parents Required to Volunteer?
No
Parent Volunteer Requirement
"No requirement to volunteer but many opportunities. They often asked the same parents to help with costumes, props, fixing things at the studio, etc. No organized volunteer system"
Curriculum
Days Per Week
5
Classes Per Day
2
3
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Half day
Students Per Class
16-24
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week
2
N/A
Live Music in Technique Class?
No
Dedicated Men's Program?
No
Men Taught by Male Teacher?
Yes
Men Taught Batterie?
No
Boys In Level
Less than 5
Separate Technique Class for Boys
No
Techniques Taught
General Classical
Technique Teacher Rotation
Different depending on week
The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule
Did School Director Teach?
Often
Classroom Corrections
Occasionally dancer specific: mostly general corrections were given
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
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
No partnering
Partner Ratio
Everyone had to share a partner.
Who Taught?
Male and female teacher together
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?
Attention and corrections were evenly distributed between the males and females
Description of Partnering Class
"Partnering officially every other week, occasionally covered in other classes as well"
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Hip-Hop
Jazz
Modern
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
No
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
Yes
Physical Training Types
Progressing Ballet Technique
Physical Training Schedule
Once or twice a week
Were Trainers Certified?
Yes
Physical Training Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
No
How Parents Notified?
Parent was informed same day, in person
PT Available?
No
Was There a Recovery Plan?
No
Yes
Describe Recovery Plan
"Rest and stretch in class, wait until fully healed and cleared by a doctor to return to active class. Phase in starting with just bar before doing a full class."
Mental Health Therapists Available?
No
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Were Students Weighed?
No
Was "Coded Language" Used?
No
Additional Comments
"There were a lot of students with injuries, especially hip injuries. Students were often encouraged to come to class sick or injured."
Communication
Formal Orientation?
No
Yes
Handboook & Paperwork
Fairly comprehensive but missing a few pieces
Quality of Communication?
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Who Received Communication?
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
"students could be supportive, some drama that was not addressed by the school"
"exclusionary, unsafe, cultish"
Placement Notification Timing
"end of school year"
"Students level was updated in the portal over the summer"
How Dancer Was Notified
Written communication via email or regular mail
Dancer Had Mentor?
No
Mentoring Details
"No formal mentoring but were available to talk when needed"
"Teachers were often available to talk to students if the student initiated a conversation. Some conversations were focused on the student and what was best for them, others on the school"
Overall School Culture
Lord of the Flies
1
2
3
4
5
Warm & Inclusive
Building & Surrounding Area
Security Around Building
No
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
4-5
Shows per Program
2
Casting
School staff chooses students for roles - no auditions
Peformance Calendar
"Typically 3 shows a year (December, February, May), 24-25 year had 4 shows (September, December, February, May)"
"Typically two performances in the fall and two in the spring. Daytime students also did various outreach opportunities. Most shows had two performances each. This year the two spring shows changed dates with no explanation. One was changed less than two weeks before the show. The other one had a date change that now allowed two of the owner's son to return and perform because his season was over."
Competition
Competitions required?
No
Did Dancer Compete?
No
Yes
Competition Categories
Ensembles
Solos
Competitions Attended
"My child participated in an ensemble and tap solo at a general dance competition. Some students also participated in YAGP. Students had previously done pas de deux but this year did not"
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
School provides and charges rental fee
Did School Tution Cover Competition Fees?
No
What Were the Additional Fees?
"Charges are whatever the competition charges plus $100 admin fee per competition"
Competition Fees Clear?
Yes
Competition Fees Reasonable?
Yes
Why?
"the admin fee seems a little steep but they don't control what the competitions charge"
Experience Description
"My student didn't do ballet competition"
Non-Competing Dancers Left Out?
No
Why?
"Competitions were practiced separately from class"
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
Explain
"n/a"
"private lessons were mostly for students who were competing"
Summer Intensives
School Holds an SI?
Yes
School's SI Required?
No
Outside SI OK?
Yes, but only for select students
Yes, it's strongly encouraged
How Did School Help?
"Day program students are required to attend the school's summer intensive in June but many also participate in another intensive in July. Students are strongly encouraged to attend their intensive even if not in day program. Other intensives are not always spoken of positively"
"Daytime students are required to attend the studio's intensive. Other intensives are often talked down as pointless. Students who choose not to attend the studio's intensive, even if they weren't required to, are treated differently. Such as not moving up a level or not given as favorable casting as those that attend."
Program Grades
Overall Dance Instruction
B
Continuing Ballet Placement
B
C
Emotional Support
C
D
Performance Opportunities
A
B
Program Comments
Program's Best Aspect
"There are some fantastic teachers. They give the students plenty of opportunities to perform"
Program's Worst Aspect
"Classes were consistently taken away for rehearsals, so not as many technique classes as they offer. We changed to that studio because of their men's program. However, this year there wasn't men's class at all and there were only two partnering classes August through mid-Feb. Previously it was either men's every week or mens/partnering alternated weeks.
They have a very cultish attitude that their school is the best and any other place is second rate. To the point that when they heard my child was considering other options three of the four studio owners pulled my teenager into a closed door meeting to ask why he was looking elsewhere and talk to him about why they were the best and he shouldn't want to look anywhere else. I was not informed of this meeting either before or after.
There are culture issues. Students are often unkind to each other and the teachers/studio owners often turn a blind eye.
Constant "fundraising" that was often just begging for straight cash. It's inappropriate for a for-profit organization."
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
"Create a safe environment for students where everyone is valued. It would also be nice if the followed through on the non-profit movement mentioned years ago. They are currently a for profit studio."
Anything Else We Should Know?
"They are a for profit studio. Technique classes are often replaced with rehearsals"
"They are great at selling their program and have some really fantastic things going on. However, at this time it's not a consistently safe environment for students. Blind loyalty is rewarded. Students are treated differently, often hostilely, if questions are asked."
