Vitacca Ballet & School for Dance - Houston
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After-School Training Reviews
Programs Reviewed: 86
Total Reviews: 142
Total Reviews: 142
General
Parent with dancer input
Program:
Vitacca Ballet & School for Dance - Houston
Season Attended:
2024-25
# Of Levels In School:
Level A-E
Dancer Age:
13
Hours of Dance Each Week:
16-20 hours
Was Student Scholarshipped?
No
Years At School:
4 years
Leveling by Age or Skill?
Skill
Teacher Background:
Unsure
Parents Required to Volunteer?
Yes
Parent Volunteer Requirement:
Show volunteers
Curriculum
Days Per Week:
5
Classes Per Day:
4
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule:
Half day
Students Per Class:
10-15
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week:
3
Live Music in Technique Class?
No
Dedicated Men's Program?
No
Boys In Level:
There were no boys in my level
Techniques Taught:
Vaganova
Technique Teacher Rotation:
Different depending on week
Did School Director Teach?
Never (school admin was a designated upper level teacher)
Classroom Corrections:
Dancer specific: almost every dancer got specific corrections each day
Attention From Teachers:
| Very Little | A Lot |
Quality of Instruction:
| Poor | Excellent |
Did Technique Improve?
| Not at all | Tremendously |
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class:
No partnering
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles:
Modern
Other Class Quality:
| Poor | Excellent |
Contemporary Offered?
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught:
Technique
Contemporary Quality:
| Poor | Excellent |
Master Classes?
No
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
Yes
Physical Training Types:
Progressing Ballet Technique
Physical Training Schedule:
Once or twice a week
Were Trainers Certified?
Yes
Physical Training Quality:
| Poor | Excellent |
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
No
How Parents Notified?
Student told parent. School not involved
How Treatment Obtained?
Yes
PT Available?
No
Was There a Recovery Plan?
No
Mental Health Therapists Available?
No
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Were Students Weighed?
No
Was "Coded Language" Used?
No
Communication
Formal Orientation?
Yes
Handboook & Paperwork:
Adequate but missing several key pieces
Quality of Communication?
| Poor | Excellent |
Who Received Communication?
With parents only
Exams
Formal Exam?
No
School Culture
How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?
| Not | Completely |
How Supportive Were Students of One Another?
| Not | Completely |
Describe School Culture:
Unsupportive at the AD level
Placement Notification Timing:
After audition.
How Dancer Was Notified:
Written communication via email or regular mail
Dancer Had Mentor?
No
Mentoring Details:
Formal program 2x per year, only 1 meeting actually occurred
Overall School Culture:
| Lord of the Flies | Warm & Inclusive |
Building & Surrounding Area
Security Around Building:
No
Safety of Area Around School?
| Not Safe | Extremely Safe |
Studio Space:
| Cramped | Lots of space |
Studio Cleanliness:
| Dirty | Spotless |
Performance Opportunities
Company Affiliated?
Yes
Programs Performed:
1-3
Shows per Program:
2
Casting:
School staff chooses students for roles - no auditions
Peformance Calendar:
2 per year that are performances in a theater.
Competition
Competitions required?
No
Did Dancer Compete?
Yes
Competition Categories:
Solos, Pas de Deux, Ensembles
Competitions Attended:
Yagp, Adcibc, Nycda.
Solo Rehearsals:
Take place during regular class time
Pas de Deux Rehearsals:
Take place during regular class time
Ensemble Rehearsals:
Take place during regular class time
Costume Responsibility:
Student responsible for sourcing and paying for costume
Did School Tution Cover Competition Fees?
No
What Were the Additional Fees?
Many fees, for wardrobe, commitment, director, travel for director, and more
Competition Fees Clear?
No
Competition Fees Reasonable?
No
Why?
After paying the acceptance fee in April, we receive a fee sheet with all the extra fees in August. The fee sheet has numerous fees that seem padded. Two wardrobe fees totaling over 500! The director fees are also insane.
Experience Description:
AD is not supportive back stage.
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:
Some teachers and AD are very responsive to favorite students and completely booked for other students.
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 go to these intensives, ones where year around offer is unlikely.
Program Grades
Overall Dance Instruction:
C+
Continuing Ballet Placement:
B-
Emotional Support:
C-
Performance Opportunities:
B+
Program Comments
Program's Best Aspect:
Teachers care so much!
Program's Worst Aspect:
The management toxicity. Very expensive and opaque fees. They are building a new facility in houston, however the woodlands school is in disrepair.
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
The teachers are amazing, however, there has been high turnover and well-liked teachers have left. Thus, there is a lack of consistency in teachers. I would change how these teachers are treated, so they feel supported and come back year after year.
Anything Else We Should Know?
Carefully consider the uncertainty in teaching staff and cost for training. There is also a very strong competition, emphasis, and if you don’t do well you will not be a favorite.
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