BALLET HELP DESK

After-School Training Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 83
Total Reviews: 138

Southland Ballet Academy

After-School Reviews

General

Who is Reviewing?

1
1

Program

2

Season Attended

1
1

# Of Levels In School

1
1

Dancer Age

1
1

Hours of Dance Each Week

1
1

Was Student Scholarshipped?

2

Years At School

1
1

Leveling by Age or Skill?

1
1

Teacher Background

2

Parents Required to Volunteer?

2

Parent Volunteer Requirement

1
1

Curriculum

Days Per Week

2

Classes Per Day

2

Weekend Classes?

2

Weekend Schedule

2

Students Per Class

2

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

2

Pointe Classes Per Week

2

Live Music in Technique Class?

2

Dedicated Men's Program?

1
1

Men Taught by Male Teacher?

2

Men Taught Batterie?

1
1

Boys In Level

2

Separate Technique Class for Boys

2

Techniques Taught

2

Technique Teacher Rotation

1
1

Did School Director Teach?

2

Classroom Corrections

2

Attention From Teachers

Very Little
2
A Lot

Quality of Instruction

Poor
2
Excellent

Did Technique Improve?

Not at all
2
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

2

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles

2
1

Other Class Quality

Poor
1
1
Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

2

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught

1
2
1
2

Contemporary Quality

Poor
1
1
Excellent

Master Classes?

2

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?

1
1

Physical Training Types

1

Physical Training Schedule

1

Were Trainers Certified?

1

Physical Training Quality

Poor
1
Excellent

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

2

How Parents Notified?

1
1

PT Available?

2

Was There a Recovery Plan?

1
1

Describe Recovery Plan

1

Mental Health Therapists Available?

2

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

2

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

2

Were Students Weighed?

2

Was "Coded Language" Used?

1
1

Communication

Formal Orientation?

2

Handboook & Paperwork

1
1

Quality of Communication?

Poor
2
Excellent

Who Received Communication?

1
1

Exams

Formal Exam?

2

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?

Not
1
1
Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?

Not
2
Completely

Describe School Culture

  • Kind, encouaging, supportive, fun, serious
  • Competitive, driven, caring, strict, fun

Placement Notification Timing

1
1

How Dancer Was Notified

2

Dancer Had Mentor?

1
1

Mentoring Details

1
1

Overall School Culture

Lord of the Flies
1
1
Warm & Inclusive

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building

1
1

Safety of Area Around School?

Not Safe
2
Extremely Safe

Studio Space

Cramped
1
1
Lots of space

Studio Cleanliness

Dirty
1
1
Spotless

Performance Opportunities

Company Affiliated?

2

Programs Performed

1
1

Shows per Program

1
1

Casting

2

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?

2

Did Dancer Compete?

1
1

Competition Categories

1
1
1

Competitions Attended

1
1
1
1
1
1

Solo Rehearsals

1

Pas de Deux Rehearsals

1

Ensemble Rehearsals

1

Costume Responsibility

1

Did School Tution Cover Competition Fees?

1

What Were the Additional Fees?

1

Competition Fees Clear?

1

Competition Fees Reasonable?

1

Why?

  • They are reasonable.

Experience Description

1

Non-Competing Dancers Left Out?

1

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?

2

Are Private Lessons Encouraged?

Not at all
1
1
Strongly recommended

Who Takes Privates?

2

Private Lessons equally available to all students?

Strongly disagree
2
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?

2

School's SI Required?

2

Outside SI OK?

2

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

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

  • 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

1
1

Continuing Ballet Placement

1
1

Emotional Support

1
1

Performance Opportunities

2

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
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