Kansas City Ballet

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General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent with dancer input

Program:

Kansas City Ballet

Season Attended:

2024-25

# Of Levels In School:

Littles, level 1-4, combined intermediate & advanced

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

16-20 hours

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Yes

Please Describe Scholarship:

Wasn’t merit it was financial need based scholarship, low income

Years At School:

1 year

Leveling by Age or Skill?

Skill

Teacher Background:

Both

Parents Required to Volunteer?

Parent Volunteer Requirement:

Large fundraising events

Curriculum

Days Per Week:

Classes Per Day:

Weekend Classes?

Yes

Weekend Schedule:

Half day

Students Per Class:

16-24

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

Yes

Pointe Classes Per Week:

Live Music in Technique Class?

Yes

Dedicated Men's Program?

Boys In Level:

There were no boys in my level

Techniques Taught:

General Classical

Technique Teacher Rotation:

The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule

Did School Director Teach?

Never (school admin was NOT designated as an upper level teacher)

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

Curriculum Comments:

M- technique, jazz T- technique, pointe W- technique, pointe, conditioning Th- modern, technique, pointe S- technique, variations F-

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class:

No partnering

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles:

Modern, Jazz

Other Class Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

Yes

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught:

Technique

Contemporary Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Master Classes?

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Yes

Physical Training Types:

Body conditioning, Stretch class

Physical Training Schedule:

Once or twice a week

Were Trainers Certified?

Yes

Physical Training Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Strength & Conditioning Comments:

Didn’t like the class because it was late at night

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

How Parents Notified?

Student told parent. School not involved

How Treatment Obtained?

Pediatrician

PT Available?

Was There a Recovery Plan?

Describe Recovery Plan:

Rest and audited the class

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Were Students Weighed?

Was "Coded Language" Used?

Additional Comments:

Nothing to add

Communication

Formal Orientation?

Unsure

Handboook & Paperwork:

Adequate but missing several key pieces

Quality of Communication?


Poor	Excellent

Who Received Communication?

With parents only

Exams

Formal Exam?

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?


Not	Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?


Not	Completely

Describe School Culture:

Predominantly white, particular training, poor casting

Placement Notification Timing:

A week after the school year ends. On a Friday after 5 pm

How Dancer Was Notified:

Written communication via email or regular mail

Dancer Had Mentor?

Mentoring Details:

No mentor but had favorite teachers

Overall School Culture:


Lord of the Flies	Warm & Inclusive

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building:

Yes

Safety of Area Around School?


Not Safe	Extremely Safe

Studio Space:


Cramped	Lots of space

Studio Cleanliness:


Dirty	Spotless

Performance Opportunities

Company Affiliated?

Yes

Programs Performed:

4-5

Shows per Program:

More than 5

Casting:

Everyone auditions for parts

Peformance Calendar:

My student was never cast in the company performances due to height limits.

Private Lessons

Private Lessons Available?

Yes

Are Private Lessons Encouraged?


Not at all	Strongly recommended

Who Takes Privates?

A select few kids

Private Lessons equally available to all students?


Strongly disagree	Strongly agree

Explain:

The kids who have parents who can pay for the private classes get the opportunity. We didn’t because we couldn’t afford it out of pocket.

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

Yes

School's SI Required?

Outside SI OK?

Yes, but only for select students

How Did School Help?

The students audition at a separate time. If you’re not cast you don’t get an email. If you are cast you get a welcome email from the production team

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction:

A+

Continuing Ballet Placement:

Emotional Support:

Performance Opportunities:

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

Balanchine teachers

Program's Worst Aspect:

Schedule. I get out of regular school at 4 and have to be at ballet at 4:30 and 5 on other days. We get out of ballet at 8 and 8:30 at night. There’s no time for sports, extracurricular activities, a nap, dinner, or homework. It makes the serious students very tired and burned out.

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

The uniform tights. They use body wrappers pink with the seam down the back. Not ideal for dancers of color and they don’t match the pointe shoes.

Anything Else We Should Know?

KCB is in a transition mode with a new school Director. They’ve been doing a good job over the past year, and have made significant improvement to the program.. in our opinion

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