BALLET HELP DESK

After-School Training Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 91
Total Reviews: 153

Hartt School Community Division

After-School Reviews

General

Who is Reviewing?

1
3

Program

4

Season Attended

1
1
2

# Of Levels In School

Repeated Responses:
  • "6" (3 responses)
Unique Responses:
  • "6 levels total. Leveling is by ability and motivation rather than age. My dancer was among the youngest in her level, and there were older recreational dancers in lower levels. There are no post-graduate levels at the school."

Dancer Age

1
1
2

Hours of Dance Each Week

2
2

Gender

3
1

Was Student Scholarshipped?

3
1

Please Describe Scholarship

  • "My dancer was on significant financial aid. I applied for and received the aid offer after her audition, so I don’t know whether or to what extent their desire to have her as a student factored into our financial aid award. I believe the award was primarily based on family finances. I am not aware of any merit scholarships for the dance division (although I believe they are available for the music division)."
  • "AD indicates that you may be eligible for a merit scholarship and asks you to fill out the dancer intention form, describing your dance goals. Merit is offered at different levels."

Years At School

3
1

Leveling by Age or Skill?

4

Teacher Background

4

Parents Required to Volunteer?

4

Parent Volunteer Requirement

  • "They have a group of Parent Boosters. The group of parents are very competitive and does not seem welcoming. The students whose parents are boosters seem to be cast in lead roles and promoted to the next level regardless of talent. This made me not want to join the group."
  • "no volunteer requirement, parents help out with selling items at performances and spreading awareness of the program word of mouth."
  • "there is no volunteer requirement, there is a ballet booster group that helps with fundraising for costume replacement and merit scholarships."

Curriculum

Days Per Week

3
1

Classes Per Day

4

Weekend Classes?

4

Weekend Schedule

4

Students Per Class

2
2

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

4

Pointe Classes Per Week

3
1

Live Music in Technique Class?

1
3

Dedicated Men's Program?

4

Boys In Level

4

Techniques Taught

1
3

Technique Teacher Rotation

4

Did School Director Teach?

4

Classroom Corrections

1
1
2

Attention From Teachers

Very Little
2
2
A Lot

Quality of Instruction

Poor
2
2
Excellent

Did Technique Improve?

Not at all
2
2
Tremendously

Curriculum Comments

  • "After school program that uses the studios of The Hartt School. There is no real connection to the university program, but some of the teachers teach or are alums. The number of classes vary per level. My student was a Level 5 dancer so class happened M, T, Th, F w/ no weekend class. They took ballet for the most part with one contemporary class during the week."
  • "At dancer’s level: technique class 4x/week, contemporary class 1x/week, pointe class 2x/week (full hour class), optional dance conditioning class on Saturdays, optional repertory classes. Rehearsals after classes several days per week."
  • "Technique 5 x a week, pointe 3x a week, contemporary 1x a week, repertory 2x a week optional/additional signup, conditioning optional additional signup on Saturday"
  • "Ballet technique is 4x a week, with pointe 2x a week, hip hop 1x a week. Jazz and conditioning are optional and extra on Saturday."

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class

4

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles

3
1
1
1

Other Class Quality

Poor
1
1
1
Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

1
3

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught

2
1
1

Contemporary Quality

Poor
1
1
1
Excellent

Master Classes?

3
1

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

4

Physical Training Types

3
1
1

Physical Training Schedule

4

Were Trainers Certified?

4

Physical Training Quality

Poor
1
2
1
Excellent

Strength & Conditioning Comments

  • "The class is offered once per week, and everyone in the school has an opportunity to sign up. It is run like a multi-age group exercise class."
  • "The class was offered to my dancer’s level, but she was not able to participate in it this past year, so I cannot truthfully rate the class. Because this form requires me to input a rating, I’ve given it a 5 based on the excellent training we’ve encountered in all our other experiences with the program."
  • "this is a class offered on Saturday, it is an optional class"
  • "This is an optional class that required additional registration, meets 1x a week."

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

3
1

How Parents Notified?

1
2
1

How Treatment Obtained?

  • "Independently, the school had no recommendations and was very hands off in this area."
  • "medical treatment would be the parents responsibility, no care is offered at the school on site."
  • "parent responsibility to make outside appointment"

PT Available?

3
1

Was There a Recovery Plan?

2
1
1

Describe Recovery Plan

  • "yes and no to was there a plan. If there was an injury and report was made and parents are requested to bring student to a medical professional and then follow the recommendations given. School will follow DRs orders adn recommendations for recovery."

Mental Health Therapists Available?

3
1

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

4

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

3
1

Were Students Weighed?

4

Was "Coded Language" Used?

1
3

Additional Comments

  • "Mental health is a huge issue. It seems like a disproportionate number of dancers are crying during a class in the restroom, during performances, etc. The school handles injuries poorly. Students feel pressured to work through injuries and to not take time off for fear of being cut from performances. I suspect that the few hours of training does not allow for the necessary strengthening to prevent injuries. There were a lot of injured dancers."
  • "The program is the community division of a college dance program (the Hartt School), and I know that medical and physical therapy services are available for the college dancers. I haven’t yet had cause to inquire as to whether those services are available to community division dancers as well. The same goes for mental health services. I can say that the injury rate among the dancers seemed very low, and there was plenty of body diversity in the class. Regardless of body type, all of the dancers are very well trained to use correct technique and utilize their individual facility, which probably accounts for the low rate of injury."
  • "HCD is very careful about injuries, you can be sent home for any minor ache or pain as a precaution. You will never be asked to perform if you don't feel your best, and you won't lose roles for taking time off to heal or rest. This would be one of the highlights of this school, some even joke don't let the AD hear you say you have a toe cramp, he will send you home and have you fill out an injury report."
  • "They are very injury prevention cautious. There is not much mental health involvement, there is some negative dancer dynamics between the top two levels."

Communication

Formal Orientation?

3
1

Handboook & Paperwork

1
2
1

Quality of Communication?

Poor
2
1
1
Excellent

Who Received Communication?

2
2

Exams

Formal Exam?

4

Written Feedback?

4

Exam Adjudicator

4

Exam Rubrics Clear?

3
1

Who Attends Exam Meeting?

1
1
2

Well Prepared For Exam?

Not at all
1
3
Completely

How Heavily Did Exams Weigh in Promotions

Not at all
1
2
1
Heavily

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?

Not
1
1
2
Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?

Not
2
1
1
Completely

Describe School Culture

  • "Competitive, fake, bulldozing parents"
  • "Warm, non—competitive, supportive, respectful, high standards"
  • "smile to your face"
  • "great program with potential"

Placement Notification Timing

Repeated Responses:
  • "after spring performance" (2 responses)
Unique Responses:
  • "The end of the year about 2 weeks after the last performance."
  • "At the end of the year, in the report from the exam. I also want to add that while conferences with the director were not automatic, we were definitely encouraged to schedule one if there was anything we wished to discuss. Students were welcome to join such conferences, but not required to do so."

How Dancer Was Notified

4

Dancer Had Mentor?

2
2

Mentoring Details

  • "Non-existent"
  • "I would say that the teachers (one of whom is also the director) act as mentors to all the dancers, although I’m not aware of any specific mentoring activities taking place outside of class. I know that my dancer adores and looks up to her teachers, and feels like they really love teaching. The teachers are an ideal combination of good humored but holding very high standards. My dancer loves that classes are very efficient and she makes a ton of progress in them, but the teachers still know how to laugh and really seem to care about each student. Dancer leaves class feeling inspired and motivated."
  • "informal, but teachers who offer privates offer a type mentoring in addition to the dance technique, offering their experience as a professional dancer and encouragement."
  • "head teacher offered a lot of support and guidance, sharing their professional experience and guidance towards advancing in the dance world."

Overall School Culture

Lord of the Flies
1
1
1
1
Warm & Inclusive

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building

4

Safety of Area Around School?

Not Safe
3
1
Extremely Safe

Studio Space

Cramped
3
1
Lots of space

Studio Cleanliness

Dirty
1
2
1
Spotless

Performance Opportunities

Company Affiliated?

4

Programs Performed

4

Shows per Program

2
2

Casting

3
1

Peformance Calendar

  • "There is a Nutcracker, and 1 spring show. There is also an end of year recital. Some in Level 6 compete in YAGP. I think the YAGP participants must be in Level 6, but has nothing to do with talent. The parents have to pay for extra rehearsals."
  • "My dancer transferred in for the second half of the year, so we are not familiar with the audition or performance process for Nutcracker. For the spring shows, her level only performed group pieces all together, so there was nothing to audition for. The upper levels of the school participate in a showcase earlier in the spring, together with the most advanced students from the music division, and then also dance in a show at the end of the year with all of the dance levels. There may be additional performance opportunities throughout the year of which I am not yet aware."
  • "The main performance opportunity offered is Nutcracker, roles are mostly by level even though auditions are required. For Nutcracker their are community based mini shows, but for the lower levels, doing the party scene, level 6 does not attend. In the early spring there is Hartt Works for the two upper levels, no audition required, this show is more like a YAGP showcase for the dancers, dancers do their solos from YAGP and group dances from YAGP, it does also include the music department and there are 1-2 new dance/music collaborations. The final dance opportunity is the Spring Performance, no audition required. Dancers do not have much new material for the level 6, they repeat their YAGP solos and group dances again, and they have 2 new dances, which may be pointe, character or contemporary ballet. This year there was no pointe dance for the level 6 class for spring showcase which is unusual."
  • "Nutcracker is the main show, with 2 casts, 3 shows each cast. The other opportunities include Hart Works which is a collaboration with the music department, and then the final spring performance."

Competition

Competitions required?

4

Did Dancer Compete?

2
2

Competition Categories

2
2

Competitions Attended

  • "YAGP and UBC"
  • "YAGP"

Solo Rehearsals

2

Pas de Deux Rehearsals

2

Ensemble Rehearsals

2

Costume Responsibility

2

Did School Tution Cover Competition Fees?

2

What Were the Additional Fees?

  • "competition entrance fees are additional and also private lessons to rehearse, some contemporary costumes are included but some may need to purchase as there in't a huge selection."
  • "entrance fees are additional, and fees for private lessons to rehearse solo"

Competition Fees Clear?

2

Competition Fees Reasonable?

2

Why?

  • "The fees are for your private lessons for your solo although you do not have to do the extra lessons, some dancers will rehearse during the repertory class and do only minimal extra lessons to keep the cost down. There is no pressure to "win" just to perform for the experience."
  • "The fees were as listed and the school has a low fee for privates compared to most schools."

Experience Description

  • "Over all experience was ok, the dancers do not come together to support each other as much as would have hoped. There is mostly a singular feeling and you are there alone mostly, the age range of the dancers splits them, and dancers don't make the effort to watch each other in different categories. For YAGP the AD attends and warms up students, but not for other competitions."
  • "It was an overall good experience."

Non-Competing Dancers Left Out?

1
1

Why?

  • "The dancers in Level 5 that year were told that they would be doing solos in YAGP, but then suddenly without explanation they were told they were not. It seemed as if there were a few dancers who were prepared and ready to perform, but instead of letting those who were ready perform the AD cancelled all of the solos for that level. Two dancers were doing 3 classical variations and contemporary solos with 2-3 teachers available for choreography making the process chaotic and unnecessarily competitive. The upper level did a combined Level 5/6 group piece which made scheduling practice time chaotic."
  • "It seems like only level 6 dancers compete at the solo level in YAGP, and only those who wish to do so. My dancer’s level brought a group contemporary piece to YAGP, but it was before my dancer joined the school later in the year. I don’t know if she will be able to participate in the competition experience this coming year due to family finances. If her class goes without her, then I expect she will feel left out, although not due to anyone (teachers or classmates) making her feel that way. If anything, I expect them to reassure her that it’s totally fine and not a big deal."

Private Lessons

Private Lessons Available?

1
3

Are Private Lessons Encouraged?

Not at all
1
2
Strongly recommended

Who Takes Privates?

1
2

Private Lessons equally available to all students?

Strongly disagree
2
1
Strongly agree

Explain

  • "The scheduling of privates always seems to prioritize the upper level dancers. There is no transparency with scheduling privates. Instead of equitably scheduling time in a first come, first serve way, it seems that people have to take what they are offered."
  • "Studio space is very limited, it seems the upper level students are prioritized for re-occurring privates based on space and need. All students can request and make private lessons, it may just be limited due to time and space. Studio space is shared with the college and they first have priority. There have been times that the college teachers and students will interrupt a private to take the room."
  • "Anyone who requests can have a private, the only restrictions are the studio availability."

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

4

School's SI Required?

4

Outside SI OK?

3
1

How Did School Help?

  • "The school seems to encourage student to go away, but at the same time when students are offered positions at full time programs the teachers talk down about the programs. The school is in an area close enough to other boarding and full time programs so that if offered an opportunity most dancers and their parents make it work. After a student left to go to a full time program, a teacher spoke to students who wanted to attend that school's SDI about how "confusing" the training is at that school and discouraged them from attending. The school in question is well known for offering good training and financial aid support."
  • "I do not know, as my dancer had already auditioned for summer intensives and accepted an offer before transferring to the school. I do know that the school celebrated the dancers’ acceptances, including sharing them on the school’s social media for those dancers who opted to do so."
  • "All students can attend summer intensives out side of the school, but for the younger students it is't as encouraged as for the older students. Guidance through the audition process would be helping to record video, take pictures, private lessons to prepare. They have a couple favorite SDIs but do not push to a certain outside school, you are free to attend your choice of SDI. All acceptances are publicly celebrated on social media and in the weekly email. Rejections are handled ok, they listen to your feelings and encourage continued work and focus on what you did get. Different teachers offer different perspectives and help, so go to who you know will help with what you need."
  • "Help with photos, video preparations. All student acceptances are celebrated and posted on their social media."

Outcomes

Percent That Went Full-Time

1

Percent That Went To College

1

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

No support
1
Lots of support

Support Description

  • "The school helps with audition video for next step, that is mostly the extent of what they help with. For college it is more clear, the dancer has graduated and they get a nice send off. For younger levels there is a mix feeling when dancers leave before high school graduation to full-time programs, not necessarily one of a great send off."

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction

1
1
2

Continuing Ballet Placement

1
1
1
1

Emotional Support

1
1
1
1

Performance Opportunities

2
1
1

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect

  • "Some teachers, facilities of the college, Nutcracker, performance opportunities"
  • "Extremely detail oriented, high quality training - far superior to what my dancer received at her previous school in the state which has a much more prestigious reputation. Teachers encourage and inspire dancers to push themselves, and maintain a positive but no nonsense class atmosphere. My dancer was thrilled to find that there was no talking in class, which allowed them to cover much more ground than at her previous school. The set combinations (changed every month or so for each teacher) also allow the dancers to build a great deal of stamina since the class can move at a very fast pace without having to teach new combinations each time. This also allows the teachers to fit more dancing into the class time, and to give more complex combinations and focus on detailed corrections since there is more time to perfect them."
  • "AD and lead teachers are great, so much to offer in training."
  • "small class size, great teachers for ballet technique and pointe"

Program's Worst Aspect

  • "competitiveness, poor communication/ administration"
  • "I wish that there were more class hours offered at my dancer’s level. I would prefer at least 5 technique classes per week, and pointe more than twice per week - although since the pointe classes are a full hour, my dancer made much more progress in those two classes per week than she did at her previous big-name school where the promised pointe classes were completely replaced with rehearsals. I also think the lower class load may be a big part of the low injury rate."
  • "Very recreational, many of the dancers goof off and disrupt class. Dancers who have been there longer being competitive with newer dancers."
  • "didn't provide modern or contemporary classes, no boys"

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

  • "It's an after school program decent teaching. I would make sure that the teachers really have a solid background in emotional support. Most students are going to leave and try to get more full time training, and is a good thing for the school. Bad mouthing students and other dance programs when they are given opportunities is petty and unnecessary. Also, deal with overbearing parents and students immediately and fairly when problems arise."
  • "Nothing other than offering more class hours."
  • "Adding a pre-professional level or track, where dancers have to audition and be at a certain level, not based on age or how long you have been there. Allowing dancers who are motivated and truly plan to pursue a professional career to have more opportunities like taking college level dance classes, and having more of a collaboration opportunity with the local dance company."
  • "boys so that there can be partnering"

Anything Else We Should Know?

  • "For an after school program, the training is ok. There is favoritism, and bulldozer parents are abound. Keep that in mind. I found that interacting as little as possible was the best strategy for the year that we were there, but I would keep that in mind when considering the school."
  • "This school is a hidden gem. I did not even know it existed until we decided to leave my dancer’s previous school, and I wish more families knew it was an option! The instruction is fantastic (students are accepted to top summer intensives, full-time day programs, and college dance programs) and the faculty and staff genuinely care about students and families. Also, significant financial aid is available for families who need it."
  • "AD and lead teachers have a great deal of knowledge and technique training to share. Great school for recreational dancers or as a stepping stone for those wishing to pursue a full time training school and need to prepare short term for the transition. Dance hours are low, and private lessons are a must to fill out your dance hours and training in order to pursue the next level of training."
  • "great local program, should be considered for anyone wanting to increase their ballet technique"
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