"The levels are listed on the class list. They are usually by age."
"Trainee - The level after Ballet 1-8"
Dancer Age
14
17
Hours of Dance Each Week
11-15 hours
16-20 hours
Was Student Scholarshipped?
No
Years At School
6 years
7 or more years
Leveling by Age or Skill?
Age
Skill
Teacher Background
Former professional ballet dancer
Parents Required to Volunteer?
Yes
Parent Volunteer Requirement
"Volunteeering is required for Nutcracker performances"
"Volunteering backstage, selling raffle tickets, working the boutique"
Curriculum
Days Per Week
6
Classes Per Day
2
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Half day
Students Per Class
16-24
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
No
Pointe Classes Per Week
Daily
Live Music in Technique Class?
No
Dedicated Men's Program?
No
Yes
Men Taught by Male Teacher?
Yes
Men Taught Batterie?
No
Yes
Boys In Level
Less than 5
Separate Technique Class for Boys
No
Techniques Taught
Vaganova
Technique Teacher Rotation
The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule
Usually the same every day
Did School Director Teach?
Often
Classroom Corrections
Dancer specific: almost every dancer got specific corrections each day
Attention From Teachers
Very Little
1
2
3
4
5
A Lot
Quality of Instruction
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Did Technique Improve?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Tremendously
Curriculum Comments
"Teachers have a variety of backgrounds, so they will incorporate all techniques, but the foundation is Vaganova."
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
No partnering
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Character
Jazz
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Choreography workshops
Improv
Repertoire
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
Yes
Master Classes Description
"It really varies, many traveling companies will rent studo space so it just depends on who is in town that season."
"Master classes with principal artists such as Julian Mackay, Joy Womack, etc"
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
No
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Physical Training Schedule
Once or twice a week
Were Trainers Certified?
Yes
Physical Training Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
No
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
Student told parent. School not involved
PT Available?
No
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
No
Describe Recovery Plan
"They have people whom they would suggest that dancers have used in the past."
Mental Health Therapists Available?
No
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
Yes
Were Students Weighed?
No
Was "Coded Language" Used?
No
Yes
Communication
Formal Orientation?
No
Handboook & Paperwork
Fairly comprehensive but missing a few pieces
No handbook provided
Quality of Communication?
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Who Received Communication?
With dancers only. Parents not involved
With parents and students
Exams
Formal Exam?
No
School Culture
How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?
Not
1
2
3
4
5
Completely
How Supportive Were Students of One Another?
Not
1
2
3
4
5
Completely
Describe School Culture
"Kind, encouaging, supportive, fun, serious"
"Competitive, driven, caring, strict, fun"
Placement Notification Timing
"end of May"
"In the summer"
How Dancer Was Notified
Written communication via email or regular mail
Dancer Had Mentor?
No
Yes
Mentoring Details
"No formal but the dancers are all supportive of each other and will help anytime"
"Most mentoring came through conversations during private lessons"
Overall School Culture
Lord of the Flies
1
2
3
4
5
Warm & Inclusive
Building & Surrounding Area
Security Around Building
No
Yes
Safety of Area Around School?
Not Safe
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely Safe
Studio Space
Cramped
1
2
3
4
5
Lots of space
Studio Cleanliness
Dirty
1
2
3
4
5
Spotless
Performance Opportunities
Company Affiliated?
No
Programs Performed
4
6-7
Shows per Program
2
More than 5
Casting
Everyone auditions for parts
Peformance Calendar
"Nutracker for the month of December, 2 shows on weekends, only until the week before Christmas, then shows are daily. One Spring show 2 performances. Recital in June one dance for each type of class you are participating in. Gala in Summer if you do the intensive."
"Nutcracker (14 shows in December in addition to outreach performances in the community such as the local library or the mall), spring full length-ballet (usually 2 shows), and recital in June (choreographed by teachers and included student variations that they had competed)"
Competition
Competitions required?
No
Did Dancer Compete?
No
Yes
Competition Categories
Ensembles
Pas de Deux
Solos
Competitions Attended
"YAGP, CDC, KAR, UBC, Showstopper, and others."
Solo Rehearsals
Take place outside of regular classes
Pas de Deux Rehearsals
Take place outside of regular classes
Ensemble Rehearsals
Take place outside of regular classes
Costume Responsibility
School provides and charges rental fee
Did School Tution Cover Competition Fees?
No
What Were the Additional Fees?
"Privates, teacher fee per compition, and entrance fee"
Competition Fees Clear?
Yes
Competition Fees Reasonable?
Yes
Why?
"They are reasonable."
Experience Description
"Very positive and well supported by staff. The girls really help each other."
Non-Competing Dancers Left Out?
No
Why?
"The competition culture was extremely prevalent, and dancers were encouraged to compete at all regional competitions. However, the more senior the dancer got (and taking into consideration their dance goals), there was less pressure."
Private Lessons
Private Lessons Available?
Yes
Are Private Lessons Encouraged?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly recommended
Who Takes Privates?
Anyone who wants them
Private Lessons equally available to all students?
Strongly disagree
1
2
3
4
5
Strongly agree
Explain
"They usually require a student to be at the studio for a year before they can start privates."
"The more popular teachers could only take a limited number at a time. The artistic director only did private lessons with a select few"
Summer Intensives
School Holds an SI?
Yes
School's SI Required?
No
Outside SI OK?
Yes, it's strongly encouraged
How Did School Help?
"I don't think they provide any guidence in general but you could always ask. Many auditions are held at the studio and there are so many students auditioning from the school nobody really thinks much of it."
"Many auditions were held at SBA including major companies such as San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Royal Ballet. Our AD knew the artistic directors for each of the schools, and we were encouraged to attend as many auditions as possible."
Outcomes
Percent That Went Full-Time
11%-20%
Percent That Went To College
31%-40%
How Much Support Did Dancer Receive in Taking the Next Steps in Ballet?
No support
1
2
3
4
5
Lots of support
Support Description
"There was not much guidance in regards to audition season or how to audition. We were left to our own devices to figure out how to film audition videos and submit them. We also had to do our own research on the various types of dance programs available."
Program Grades
Overall Dance Instruction
A
A+
Continuing Ballet Placement
A+
B+
Emotional Support
A+
B
Performance Opportunities
A+
Program Comments
Program's Best Aspect
"The environment and the excellent training. The fact that dancers are not judged against each other. The directors are present and care about each student and their success."
"The plethora of performance opportunities and the other dancers"
Program's Worst Aspect
"I wish they had a day program."
"Favoritism
Despite being an after-school program, there was a strong expectation for a high time commitment. You were penalized or dropped from pieces if you missed a certain amount of rehearsals"
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
"Nothing"
"More guidance for graduating dancers"
Anything Else We Should Know?
"Be prepared to work hard."
"It's an incredible school and dancers truly improve their technique here"
