The Dallas Conservatory

#1 of 1

General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent

Program:

The Dallas Conservatory

Season Attended:

2025-26

# Of Levels In School:

8? The leveling was actually very unclear. After level 3, if you aren’t invited to pre-pro there isn’t a leveled class. It becomes very ambiguous what level you are. There is paperwork describing levels, but it’s never discussed.

Level Dancer Was In:

Pre-Pro, Level 5/6

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

11-15 hours

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Years At School:

7 or more years

Leveling by Age or Skill?

Unsure

Teacher Background:

Unsure

Parents Required to Volunteer?

Parent Volunteer Requirement:

They said there was but nobody does it!

Date Submitted:

7/15/2026

Curriculum

Days Per Week:

Classes Per Day:

Weekend Classes?

Yes

Weekend Schedule:

Half day

Students Per Class:

16-24

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

Pointe Classes Per Week:

Live Music in Technique Class?

Dedicated Men's Program?

Men Taught by Male Teacher?

Yes

Men Taught Batterie?

Unsure

Boys In Level:

Less than 5

Separate Technique Class for Boys:

Techniques Taught:

General Classical

Technique Teacher Rotation:

Usually the same every day

Did School Director Teach?

Often

Classroom Corrections:

Dancer specific: detailed but only a few dancers consistently got corrections

Attention From Teachers:


Very Little	A Lot

Quality of Instruction:


Poor	Excellent

Did Technique Improve?


Not at all	Tremendously

Curriculum Comments:

Pre-Professional broken into three groups somewhat based on age and level. You attend all your training with these groups. Mondays 1.5 hours ballet, 1 hour pointe. Tuesdays 1.5 hour ballet, Wednesday 1.5 hour contemporary, 1.5 hour ballet and often 1.5 hour rehearsal, Thursdays 1.5 hour jazz, 2 hour ballet with director, Saturday 3 hours ballet with director followed by rehearsals. Sunday: privates.

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:

Choreography workshops, Technique

Contemporary Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Master Classes?

Yes

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Injuries / Health / Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

How Parents Notified?

My student did not get injured

PT Available?

Was There a Recovery Plan?

My dancer did not get injured

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Yes

Were Students Weighed?

Unsure

Was "Coded Language" Used?

Yes

Additional Comments:

Absolutely zero support for mental health or support for a serious medical issue my child was dealing with. For mental health, the philosophy was get over it or move on. And with the health issue, they excused her absence, but never checked in with her, asked her how she was doing, suggested a special training plan or showed concern for her severe weight loss.

Communication

Formal Orientation?

Handboook & Paperwork:

Comprehensive and complete. I knew what to expect for the year

Quality of Communication?


Poor	Excellent

Who Received Communication?

With parents and students

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:

Excellent technique training, nothing more.

Placement Notification Timing:

Pre-pro invitation in June at summer intensive, but group placement two weeks before classes started.

How Dancer Was Notified:

Written communication via email or regular mail

Dancer Had Mentor?

Yes

Mentoring Details:

At times my daughter received excellent mentoring, but it was very inconsistent. In her younger years, she had two wonderful teachers that encouraged her and recommended her for special training, but both left the studio after only a year or two. The two assistant directors were helpful and supportive overall, but usually managing so many others and constant demands of director. Favoritism is a big problem veiled in calling it a “highly competitive program.”

Overall School Culture:


Lord of the Flies	Warm & Inclusive

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building:

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:

For the pre-pro program there’s only a Rockefeller/Nutcracker performance. Only a recital for other dancers in the spring. All other opportunities are competition related.

Competition

School Competes?

Yes

Competitions required?

Did Dancer Compete?

Yes

Competition Categories:

Solos, Ensembles

Competitions Attended:

YAGP, ADCIBC, NYCDA

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?

What Were the Additional Fees?

Whatever the group and individual fees are, solo choreography and cleaning, 20% admin fee, and travel expenses for teacher if out of town.

Competition Fees Clear?

Yes

Competition Fees Reasonable?

Why?

20% admin fee per competition is too much. Travel for the teacher is reasonable if the teacher is working with you while you are there.

Experience Description:

My daughter was not invited to do a ballet variation or cast in any group pieces. She was only invited to perform contemporary solo at ADCIBC and NYCDA. This was very disappointing.

Private Lessons

Private Lessons Available?

Yes

Are Private Lessons Encouraged?


Not at all	Strongly recommended

Who Takes Privates?

Anyone who wants them

Private Lessons equally available to all students?


Strongly disagree	Strongly agree

Explain:

Privates with the director are only upon her invitation and at quite an expense. Other teachers were more available, but would have very limited schedules for students that still attend school. Most of their time was during the week, during school hours.

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

Yes

School's SI Required?

Yes

Outside SI OK?

Yes, but only for select students

How Did School Help?

Only a little guidance via mentorship, nothing specific. We navigated it by ourselves. She was accepted at CPYB, Next Step,John Cranko SSI, and waitlisted for SAB & Royal Ballet.

Outcomes

Top Level of School?

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction:

A-

Continuing Ballet Placement:

C+

Emotional Support:

Performance Opportunities:

C+

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

It really is focused and excellent training. My daughter is always told she has beautiful technique.

Program's Worst Aspect:

Mind games, favoritism, ambiguous policies and leveling. No strength training or stretching. More of a focus on what makes the school look good than creating quality dancers that are happy and healthy.

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

Clear leveling, clear expectations. If there’s going to be an elite group of favorites allowed to compete at YAGP etc then they should be the only ones in the pre-professional program. They accept talented girls in the 12-18 range to the pre-pro level to make money, but not to include them or provide them with the same opportunities extended to a select few. There should be training and quality classes for ages 14-18 that perhaps do not meet the director’s standards, still provide them opportunities and moments to be reevaluated. Not everyone develops at the same rate. Provide more comprehensive training that includes strengthening, injury prevention. The mental health environment creates dancers that doubt themselves.

Anything Else We Should Know?

If you are exceptionally physically gifted, tough and competitive, can take harsh criticism and let it motivate you, that seeks more refined artistry, age 11-14 with desire to go on to a full year program like SAB, then this could be the right place for you.