BALLET HELP DESK

After-School Training Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 83
Total Reviews: 138

University of North Carolina School of Arts PREP PROGRAM

After-School Reviews

General

Who is Reviewing?

4

Program

4

Season Attended

4

# Of Levels In School

  • 5 in prep program, with an Advanced training program for older dancers.
  • Childrens Ballet through Level 5, plus an Advanced Training Program for high schoolers
  • Children's classes through Level 5, New ATP program (Contemporary focus) for high school students
  • Children's ballet, 5 levels of Prep, then ATP (advanced training program) which was new this year.

Dancer Age

1
2
1

Hours of Dance Each Week

1
3

Gender

4

Was Student Scholarshipped?

4

Please Describe Scholarship

  • Scholarships are given, but no one knows what the criteria is to be given one. It used to be merit based, but that's no longer the case.

Years At School

2
1
1

Leveling by Age or Skill?

3
1

Teacher Background

1
2
1

Parents Required to Volunteer?

4

Parent Volunteer Requirement

  • Altering costumes, Backstage help, Nutcracker and Nutcracker Tea shop sales, Set-up and breakdown of set, Assistance with younger dancers, Set-up, decorate, and clean up of Nutcracker Tea refreshments, Directing show attendees from parking lot
  • Backstage volunteers during shows, working the merch booths at Nutcracker, assisting guests from the parking lots to the show venues, etc. No fundraising.

Curriculum

Days Per Week

1
3

Classes Per Day

4

Weekend Classes?

4

Weekend Schedule

4

Students Per Class

4

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

3
1

Pointe Classes Per Week

2
1
1

Live Music in Technique Class?

4

Dedicated Men's Program?

3
1

Men Taught by Male Teacher?

2

Men Taught Batterie?

2

Boys In Level

2
2

Separate Technique Class for Boys

2

Techniques Taught

4

Technique Teacher Rotation

3
1

Did School Director Teach?

1
3

Classroom Corrections

1
3

Attention From Teachers

Very Little
2
1
1
A Lot

Quality of Instruction

Poor
1
2
1
Excellent

Did Technique Improve?

Not at all
1
2
1
Tremendously

Curriculum Comments

  • ABT curriculum and exams
  • ABT, M-F: Technique, Pointe, PBT, Contemporary; Saturday: Technique and Performance Ensemble
  • Ballet, Pointe, PBT, Contemporary
  • The school follows ABT curriculum with technique classes, pointe, PBT, and contemporary, with ensemble on Saturday. There used to be character class, which the students loved, but unfortunately the current director stopped doing it.

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class

4

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles

1
1
4

Other Class Quality

Poor
3
Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

4

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught

1
3
3

Contemporary Quality

Poor
1
1
2
Excellent

Master Classes?

4

Master Classes Description

  • Several master classes were offered with guest instructors or instructors from the college. Not all levels were invited to join.
  • ABT instructor, MCB dancer, a stretching class, teachers from UNCSA including the Dean of the School
  • Master Classes with guest faculty from UNCSA, Carolina Ballet, MCB, and ABT, and through YAGP
  • Only level 5 and 4B were offered to go to the master classes. We were told 4A was receiving the same curriculum as 4B, who often shared class time together, but 4A and lower were never offered to attend the master classes. 4A did not receive the same opportunities.

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

4

Physical Training Types

4

Physical Training Schedule

4

Were Trainers Certified?

4

Physical Training Quality

Poor
1
3
Excellent

Strength & Conditioning Comments

  • PBT is wonderful and we love the instructor. Wish it was integrated more than once a week.
  • PBT teacher is very knowledgeable and gives individualized instruction.
  • The PBT teachers are wonderful.

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

3
1

How Parents Notified?

2
1
1

How Treatment Obtained?

  • Parent was responsible for seeking treatment.
  • I had to find my own medical care and dance physical therapist. The school didn't tell me about the injury nor offer any help/treatment.

PT Available?

3
1

Was There a Recovery Plan?

3
1

Describe Recovery Plan

1

Mental Health Therapists Available?

3
1

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

4

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

3
1

Were Students Weighed?

4

Was "Coded Language" Used?

4

Additional Comments

  • The negative feedback from the Director to the dancers outweighs any positive feedback in class and rehearsals.
  • "Facility" is mentioned frequently by the director. If the director mentions that the dancer's body doesn't have facility, then it's more or less code for they have no potential. The director uses that as an excuse as to why they aren't progressing in class as expected or desired. She basically says there's not much they can do because of the facility. Mental health is not a priority and has become a real problem with the new director. She places unnecessary pressure on the students for in house auditions. Demoralizing comments occur frequently in class and the students' mental health has been negatively affected.

Communication

Formal Orientation?

4

Handboook & Paperwork

1
1
2

Quality of Communication?

Poor
2
1
1
Excellent

Who Received Communication?

3
1

Exams

Formal Exam?

4

Written Feedback?

4

Exam Adjudicator

1
3

Exam Rubrics Clear?

1
2
1

Who Attends Exam Meeting?

4

Well Prepared For Exam?

Not at all
1
2
1
Completely

How Heavily Did Exams Weigh in Promotions

Not at all
4
Heavily

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?

Not
1
2
1
Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?

Not
2
2
Completely

Describe School Culture

  • Not as positive anymore.
  • friendly, most students are supportive
  • Amazing facilities, Disorganized schedule, Small
  • Currently unsupportive, exhausting, negative

Placement Notification Timing

  • Haven’t received notification yet. In past years, we received notice in the summer.
  • during the summer
  • Still waiting
  • Typically in the summer, but it's the end of June now and we still don't know

How Dancer Was Notified

4

Dancer Had Mentor?

2
2

Mentoring Details

  • We have relationships with older dancers and college students who mentored our child.
  • Director meets twice a year with student and parent to discuss student goals
  • Meetings available with Director at least twice a year. Private lessons sometimes available by request if schedule and studio space permits. 8th grade/ATP had meetings the first half of year to explore options after graduating.
  • There are no formal mentoring programs in place. Some students connect to older dancers organically, but Prep is not involved.

Overall School Culture

Lord of the Flies
3
1
Warm & Inclusive

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building

4

Safety of Area Around School?

Not Safe
2
2
Extremely Safe

Studio Space

Cramped
4
Lots of space

Studio Cleanliness

Dirty
4
Spotless

Performance Opportunities

Company Affiliated?

4

Programs Performed

4

Shows per Program

2
1
1

Casting

4

Peformance Calendar

  • Nutcracker Tea (2 shows) and end of year performance (one show).
  • December: Nutcracker Tea Party and in June: Spring Performance
  • UNCSA Nutcracker or Nutcracker Tea, 1 Spring Performance Show, ATP performance at NC Festival of Dance and YAGP, Public school performances
  • There is one end-of-the-year spring performance that everyone participates in. There is an optional ensemble that rehearses on Saturdays for an additional cost. The older dancers now have to audition for the roles, whereas in the past, they didn't have to. The younger dancers are just given a role. Ensemble does a mini version of the Nutcracker in December (4 shows over a weekend) and one show with additional choreography at the comprehensive spring performance. Sometimes there are smaller performances that are just held once in a studio. The current director does not believe in competitions and will not allow dancers to compete in YAGP or other competitions.

Private Lessons

Private Lessons Available?

2
2

Are Private Lessons Encouraged?

Not at all
2
Strongly recommended

Who Takes Privates?

1
1

Private Lessons equally available to all students?

Strongly disagree
1
1
Strongly agree

Explain

  • There is conflicting information on this. The director said at the orientation meeting that Prep will provide all the instruction each dancer needs and private lessons are not necessary outside of rare and unique circumstances. Private lessons are not advertised, yet sometimes students have them. It is usually kept quiet, although it's unclear why.

Summer Intensives

School Holds an SI?

4

School's SI Required?

4

Outside SI OK?

4

How Did School Help?

  • We were given a list of auditions and the opportunity to meet with the director to discuss any questions about intensives.
  • meet with Director to discuss options, they send a list of audition locations/times, share acceptances in newsletter
  • List of SI auditions held at UNCSA was distributed through email to parents, Meetings with the Director for help with selection were available by request
  • A list of SI auditions were sent out to the parents. Some families had meetings with the director about where she thought they should go, but others, like us, did not. We had to figure it out on our own. It's a requirement for levels 4 and 5 to attend an SI, which she recommends for 4 to 5 weeks.

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

1

Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction

1
2
1

Continuing Ballet Placement

1
2
1

Emotional Support

1
1
1
1

Performance Opportunities

1
1
2

Program Comments

Program's Best Aspect

  • Facilities, Families, and Master Classes
  • Some of the faculty are outstanding, but they don't get enough credit.

Program's Worst Aspect

  • Would like classes with other teachers. Casting for Spring performance was really confusing. New Casting guidelines were sent out after casting was completed.
  • The new director

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

  • Wish there was more of a routine rotation of faculty teaching the classes. Director is doing a lot. Program may be better if she lets go of teaching, and focuses on just overseeing the program.
  • The director. Clarity is needed on the goals and format of the program. It's unclear if it's a community program or a "pre-pro" program. The director changes the verbiage frequently. There are often last minute changes to requirements, class schedules, and expectations. It's difficult to keep up. The overall program has gone down in the last couple of years.

Anything Else We Should Know?

  • School is in a transition period so the way things are run is constantly evolving. Schedules change frequently. Studios change often and at the last minute. You need to constantly check emails to check class times and studios.
  • Prep used to have high standards, teaching quality technique. Recently that has changed. It's nice that Prep is associated with UNCSA, but they make it very clear that attending the Prep program does not mean you will get into UNCSA.
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