BALLET HELP DESK

After-School Training Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 120
Total Reviews: 227

Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet

After-School Reviews

General

Who is Reviewing?

1
1

Program

2

Season Attended

1
1

# Of Levels In School

  • "Pre-pro has levels III, IV, V, and VI. If selected, you join conservatory, then trainee. If not selected for either, you are kicked out or invited to join the contemporary trainee program."
  • "VI"

Level Dancer Was In

  • "Pre-pro V"
  • "IV"

Dancer Age

1
1

Hours of Dance Each Week

1

Company Affliated?

1

Was Student Scholarshipped?

1
1

Please Describe Scholarship

  • "None"

Years At School

1

Leveling by Age or Skill?

1

Teacher Background

1

Parents Required to Volunteer?

1

Curriculum

Days Per Week

2

Classes Per Day

1
1

Weekend Classes?

2

Weekend Schedule

1
1

Students Per Class

2

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

2

Pointe Classes Per Week

1
1

Live Music in Technique Class?

1
1

Dedicated Men's Program?

1
1

Boys In Level

1

Separate Technique Class for Boys

1

Techniques Taught

1
2
1

Technique Teacher Rotation

1
1

Did School Director Teach?

1
1

Classroom Corrections

1
1

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

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class

2

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles

2
1
2
2

Other Class Quality

Poor
1
1
Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

2

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught

2
1
2

Contemporary Quality

Poor
1
1
Excellent

Master Classes?

2

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

1
1

Physical Training Types

1

Physical Training Schedule

1

Physical Training Quality

Poor
1
Excellent

Strength & Conditioning Comments

  • "We would often begin with cardio, running around the room for 3 minutes, and then do ab exercises for the rest of the hour."

Injuries / Health / Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

1
1

How Parents Notified?

2

How Treatment Obtained?

  • "Go to urgent care without the guidance of the studio."

PT Available?

2

Was There a Recovery Plan?

2

Mental Health Therapists Available?

2

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

2

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

1
1

Were Students Weighed?

2

Was "Coded Language" Used?

2

Communication

Formal Orientation?

1
1

Handboook & Paperwork

2

Quality of Communication?

Poor
2
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
1
1
Completely

Describe School Culture

  • "Extreme favoritism, cliques, uncaring teachers"
  • "Pre-professional students unimportant. Uncertain direction."

Placement Notification Timing

  • "April or May"
  • "End of the year"

How Dancer Was Notified

1

Dancer Had Mentor?

1

Overall School Culture

Cold & Exclusive
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?

1

Programs Performed

1

Casting

1

Peformance Calendar

  • "There would be a fall show and then a spring show. These shows showcase a dance from each style we have class in. Nutcracker is by audition only, and many kids participate, but if you are taller than average height, you will most likely not get picked."

Competition

School Competes?

1

Competitions required?

1

Did Dancer Compete?

1

Competition Categories

1

Competitions Attended

  • "YAGP mostly, many students competed independently or with another studio"

Solo Rehearsals

1

Pas de Deux Rehearsals

1

Ensemble Rehearsals

1

Costume Responsibility

1

Did School Tution Cover Competition Fees?

1

What Were the Additional Fees?

  • "Literally everything: costume, entrance fee, privates, studio rentals, etc."

Competition Fees Clear?

1

Competition Fees Reasonable?

1

Experience Description

  • "I competed independently and got top 12 at YAGP."

Private Lessons

Private Lessons Available?

1

Are Private Lessons Encouraged?

Not at all
1
Strongly recommended

Who Takes Privates?

1

Private Lessons equally available to all students?

Strongly disagree
1
Strongly agree

Explain

  • "Privates were very expensive, and teachers did not have much availability. Wealthier dancers often got privates."

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

1

School's SI Required?

1

Outside SI OK?

1

How Did School Help?

  • "No guidance"

Outcomes

Highest Level of School?

1

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction

1

Continuing Ballet Placement

1

Emotional Support

1

Performance Opportunities

1

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect

  • "The studios, consistent schedule"

Program's Worst Aspect

  • "Pre-pro is often forgotten about. I was set up to be aged out of the program, which is why I left to go somewhere else. The quality of training was mediocre compared to today's standards. I was constantly discouraged from doing more than two pirouettes and battement my leg higher than 90 degrees at age 15, which caused me to plateau in my technique and no longer improve. The teachers often never actually taught and got mad when you didn't know how to do something. Many teachers did not push their students to become better dancers, which made classes feel like jail."

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

  • "All of the teachers need to be restaffed. Teachers need to teach their students more about artistry instead of saying things like "smile." Smiling is not the only part of artistry; it is one's ability to act and move their body in a way that is not monotone. I only learned that after I left Joffrey, which is unacceptable."

Anything Else We Should Know?

  • "The only benefit of coming to Joffrey's pre-pro program is the name. Otherwise, they do not care about you or your dancing ability. Not a single company member at Joffrey was raised through their pre-pro program or is a Chicago native."
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Age: 14Instruction B-
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Attended 2022-23
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Attended 2021-22