San Diego Academy of Ballet

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General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent with dancer input

Program:

San Diego Academy of Ballet

Season Attended:

2025-26

# Of Levels In School:

5 (pre-ballet through Ballet 4)

Level Dancer Was In:

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

6-10 hours

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Please Describe Scholarship:

We didn’t not have one but I am aware that scholarships do exist at this school. They seem to be only available in very specific circumstances. Some were given for parent volunteer time, others based on merit—but there was no official guideline (that we know of) to receive a scholarship.

Years At School:

2 years

Leveling by Age or Skill?

Skill

Teacher Background:

Neither

Parents Required to Volunteer?

Yes

Parent Volunteer Requirement:

Volunteering is mostly backstage help during shows, but some people are allowed to help with costume sewing/maintenance.

Date Submitted:

7/14/2026

Curriculum

Days Per Week:

Classes Per Day:

Weekend Classes?

Yes

Weekend Schedule:

Half day

Students Per Class:

Less than 10

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

Pointe Classes Per Week:

N/A

Live Music in Technique Class?

Dedicated Men's Program?

Boys In Level:

There were no boys in my level

Techniques Taught:

Vaganova

Technique Teacher Rotation:

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	A Lot

Quality of Instruction:


Poor	Excellent

Did Technique Improve?


Not at all	Tremendously

Curriculum Comments:

Ballet 4 had four 2 hour technique classes. Those classes consisted of approximately 1 hour at barre and 1 in center. There was no dedicated pointe class but about half of the students took portions of those technique classes in pointe shoes at the director’s discretion. There was also a 5th class (called Merit) one day per week where a select few students were invited to take another 2 hour technique class at a higher difficulty.

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class:

No partnering

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles:

None

Other Class Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

Master Classes?

Yes

Master Classes Description:

There was one ballet master class with Nilas Martins and one hip hop master class offered that year.

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Injuries / Health / Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

How Parents Notified?

Student told parent. School not involved

How Treatment Obtained?

We obtained medical treatment on our own.

PT Available?

Was There a Recovery Plan?

Describe Recovery Plan:

The recovery plan was made by my dancer’s doctor and was communicated to the school.

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Were Students Weighed?

Was "Coded Language" Used?

Additional Comments:

The school has an overall great policy regarding mental health and injuries. It is so far the only school where my dancer was not subjected to any body shaming or diet culture whatsoever. However, while most of the teachers are incredibly kind and understanding when students are dealing with mental or physical health problems, this is not universal. Unfortunately this has led to multiple students either working through pain to avoid confrontation, waiting until the last possible moment to let the teacher know they’re in pain, or just skipping class altogether when they aren’t feeling their best even though, officially, students are invited to sit down and observe class when injured.

Communication

Formal Orientation?

Handboook & Paperwork:

No handbook provided

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:

Exceptional training, lacks consistent policy

Placement Notification Timing:

Promotions are not done by year, it can happen whenever the teachers think a dancer is ready.

How Dancer Was Notified:

Written communication via email or regular mail

Dancer Had Mentor?

Yes

Mentoring Details:

My dancer took private lessons with one of the teachers fairly often and looked up to her as a mentor. This was not a formal mentoring program as not all students are allowed to take private lessons, but my dancer credits this teacher with the vast majority of her growth while attending this school.

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?

Programs Performed:

1-3

Shows per Program:

Casting:

Everyone auditions for parts

Peformance Calendar:

Nutcracker auditions are in mid August. Each class level auditions separately and the teachers have a general idea of which level will get which parts. Rehearsals are usually Saturdays from September to December, but the higher levels often have multiple extra rehearsals during the week. There is a “theater week” preceding the show with multiple dress rehearsals, and then there are two actual shows on the same day, usually just a few days before Christmas. In the Spring there is a “gala” where each class performs a different piece from various ballets. The younger students usually perform something inspired by the music, but the oldest level often performs classical variations & choreography from whatever ballet they have chosen. Rehearsals mostly take place in class, but again the older students will usually have extra time in the studio. There is one performance of the gala, usually on a Sunday.

Competition

School Competes?

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:

I have been told by a few other parents that their children were either never allowed to take privates, or that they were for a short time and then were no longer allowed. On the other hand, some students seem to be required to take privates in order to maintain their level placement. It all depends on the student.

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

Yes

School's SI Required?

Outside SI OK?

Yes, but only for select students

How Did School Help?

We were asked which programs my dancer was interested in, and then told which ones she was allowed to audition for. She had a video audition filmed during a private, and then attended other in-person auditions. The school was not particularly involved in the acceptances but they did offer some guidance about which programs to choose.

Outcomes

Top Level of School?

Yes

Percent That Went Full-Time:

10%

Percent That Went To College:

None

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


No support	Lots of support

Support Description:

We had to leave the school earlier than planned so I cannot speak to the usual way the school handles next steps. I will say that they encouraged my dancer to accept a place at a company affiliated school when we left.

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction:

Continuing Ballet Placement:

B+

Emotional Support:

C+

Performance Opportunities:

B+

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

The caliber of training.

Program's Worst Aspect:

The lack of transparency and lack of clear policy. Everything seems largely based on the director’s feelings in the moment. A handbook has been promised for years but has never been published.

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

I wish there were more types of classes offered (especially dedicated pointe and strengthening classes) but I acknowledge that there aren’t enough students to make it worth their time.

Anything Else We Should Know?

Your dancer will improve drastically, but you have to be willing to trust the process even when nothing seems to make sense. Your dancer also has to be willing to advocate for themselves even if they feel like they will be reprimanded.