BALLET HELP DESK

After-School Training Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 111
Total Reviews: 205

Martin Center for Dance

After-School Reviews

General

Who is Reviewing?

2
1

Program

3

Season Attended

1
2

# Of Levels In School

  • "Children’s levels, then student intermediate to Advanced 2, then postgraduate day program (currently on hiatus this past year)"
  • "Children intermediate, children intermediate advanced, student intermediate, student intermediate advanced, student advanced 1 and student advanced 2"
  • "Out of 10"

Dancer Age

1
1
1

Hours of Dance Each Week

1
2

Gender

2
1

Was Student Scholarshipped?

3

Years At School

2
1

Leveling by Age or Skill?

3

Teacher Background

1
2

Parents Required to Volunteer?

3

Curriculum

Days Per Week

3

Classes Per Day

3

Weekend Classes?

3

Weekend Schedule

2
1

Students Per Class

1
2

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

3

Pointe Classes Per Week

1
2

Live Music in Technique Class?

3

Dedicated Men's Program?

3

Men Taught by Male Teacher?

2

Men Taught Batterie?

2

Boys In Level

2
1

Separate Technique Class for Boys

2

Techniques Taught

3
1

Technique Teacher Rotation

3

Did School Director Teach?

3

Classroom Corrections

3

Attention From Teachers

Very Little
3
A Lot

Quality of Instruction

Poor
3
Excellent

Did Technique Improve?

Not at all
2
1
Tremendously

Curriculum Comments

  • "Regular ballet class (M-Sat), pointe (M-F, Sat)"

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class

3

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles

1
2

Other Class Quality

Poor
1
Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

2
1

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught

1

Contemporary Quality

Poor
1
Excellent

Master Classes?

3

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

3

Physical Training Types

3
1
1
1
1
1

Physical Training Schedule

1
2

Were Trainers Certified?

1
2

Physical Training Quality

Poor
1
2
Excellent

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

2
1

How Parents Notified?

1
1
1

How Treatment Obtained?

  • "School director connected me with a doctor and physical therapist nearby and helped to retrain the muscles and gain strength back quickly"
  • "Talked to my teacher"

PT Available?

3

Was There a Recovery Plan?

1
2

Describe Recovery Plan

  • "You are connected to a nearby doctor for an evaluation/diagnosis and (if prescribed by the doctor) sent to physical therapy to regain strength"
  • "Took a break from dance for two weeks,"

Mental Health Therapists Available?

2
1

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

3

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

3

Were Students Weighed?

3

Was "Coded Language" Used?

2
1

Communication

Formal Orientation?

2
1

Handboook & Paperwork

1
2

Quality of Communication?

Poor
1
2
Excellent

Who Received Communication?

3

Exams

Formal Exam?

3

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?

Not
3
Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?

Not
3
Completely

Describe School Culture

  • "The girls call each other “big sister/little sister”"
  • "Very close, loving, supportive and connected"
  • "A tight knit family"

Placement Notification Timing

  • "Upon arrival for first day of SI 2024 we found out she had been moved up"
  • "July/August of the previous year"
  • "Summer"

How Dancer Was Notified

1
2

Dancer Had Mentor?

1
2

Mentoring Details

  • "Everything from moral support with social issues at regular school to support with auditions (rehearsing variations, videos etc). My dancer’s dad passed away when she was 8 and her teachers are always there for her, to the point where she thinks of her male teacher in that role. I have known her teachers for nearly 20 years as my older children danced with them (and so did I many years ago). They have known her since she was born. I trust them implicitly and they are a huge, healthy part of her life."
  • "Professional and personal"
  • "NA"

Overall School Culture

Lord of the Flies
3
Warm & Inclusive

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building

2
1

Safety of Area Around School?

Not Safe
3
Extremely Safe

Studio Space

Cramped
3
Lots of space

Studio Cleanliness

Dirty
1
2
Spotless

Performance Opportunities

Company Affiliated?

3

Programs Performed

3

Shows per Program

3

Casting

3

Peformance Calendar

  • "A fall show and a spring show. As the school is only in its fifth year, and its Nutcracker choreography was stolen by the company the directors left just prior, they are in the process of rebuilding a Nurcracker and hope to present it this coming year."
  • "November-December- Nucracker at the theaters at Rider University. April-May- Spring performances in studio"
  • "Winter performance of nutcracker in December and spring show of a neoclassical piece in May"

Private Lessons

Private Lessons Available?

3

Are Private Lessons Encouraged?

Not at all
2
1
Strongly recommended

Who Takes Privates?

3

Private Lessons equally available to all students?

Strongly disagree
1
2
Strongly agree

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

3

School's SI Required?

3

Outside SI OK?

3

How Did School Help?

  • "Provided support rehearsing an audition variation for high school program, recorded and edited video audition for summer program. Gave feedback on programs under consideration. Support when video audition was not successful."
  • "School director and several teachers assisted and supervised variations and technique for auditions as well as providing a list of recommendations for summer intensives nearby (it is not required to go to these programs, just suggestions)"
  • "The school helped film if the students wanted to make a video audition. They console the students when faced with rejection, and celebrate when acceptances are received."

Outcomes

Percent That Went Full-Time

1
1

Percent That Went To College

1
1

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

No support
2
Lots of support

Support Description

  • "Strong training and help with experiences and expectations as well as suggestions for location"
  • "The school gave recommendations and alternate pathways that they believed the student will enjoy, but ultimately left it up to the student’s decision and supported them through the way"

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction

1
2

Continuing Ballet Placement

3

Emotional Support

2
1

Performance Opportunities

1
1
1

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect

  • "The individual attention and encouragement for every single dancer. The way the dancers cheer for each other and lift each other up."
  • "Getting support and encouragement from faculty"
  • "I became involved in such a welcoming community that thrives off of happiness and movement."

Program's Worst Aspect

  • "I can’t report any down sides. I guess if you really need to be affiliated with a professional company they are lacking that, but have established a non-profit entity in the hopes of having a youth company soon."
  • "I wish we had performed more often"
  • "Can be disorganized with performance schedules"

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

  • "I would like to see the program grow! I would like to see the performances get back to theatres rather than the black box/studio performances in our very impressive studio space. The kids want to be on a stage and it would be a great experience for them. (Again they are only in year five and their first couple of years were COVID - their soft open was December 2019)."
  • "I want to perform more"
  • "Have more variety of classes besides technique and pointe"

Anything Else We Should Know?

  • "The expertise of the teachers (ABT and Joffrey Company backgrounds) and their intense caring for every student is truly a thing to behold."
  • "This is a helpful comfortable and professional environment that truly does make you improve at an astonishing rate."
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