Universal Ballet Competition

Dayton, OH

General

Reviewer:

Parent

Dancer Age:

Competition experience:

2-5

Event Details

Round:

Regional

Season:

2025-26

Location:

Dayton, OH

Traveled to compete:

Yes

Regional was the closest:

Yes

Regionals attended:

Who encouraged multiple regionals:

Entry affiliation:

School

Rules Easy to Access?

Yes

Did Dancer Miss School?

Yes

Days of school missed:

Attended master classes:

Yes

Master Classes

Master Class Types:

Technique, Contemporary

Master class teachers:

Wes Chapman for technique head of the jury. Micheal Waldrop for contemporary Ballet West Academy faculty

Distance from venue:

At the same venue

Received corrections:

Yes

How corrections were given:

Lots of group corrections and repeating combinations. If we were musically incorrect we would restart. Overall a very detailed barre technique class with little center and across the floor. For contemporary he would call out certain dancers to demonstrate whether to correct or applaud someone.

What corrections were about:

I got a correction for a head direction and the teacher just went up to me and adjusted my head and talked to me how certain teachers and styles ask for different head movement.

Anatomical language:

Yes

Correction tone:

Neutral

Teacher engagement:

Both of my classes were very informative, but relatively easy. I could tell the teachers were more focused on small details rather than a hard dancing class.

Crowding:


Really Crowded	Plenty of Room to Move

Master Class Feedback

Technique:

Contemporary:

Additional master class comments:

The classes were on a stage with the stages lights on and directors and teachers from all schools were allowed to watch, plus a panel of judges. Not having a mirror was inconvenient for me personally and the stage lights made it hot and the stage was crowded. We also spilt on into several groups by numbers and we were lined up and placed by our numbers at barre

Performance Details

Venue name:

Dayton Masonic Center

Venue description:

It was a big theatre stage and it had lots of seats on the balcony and on the floor and all around with lots of seats the lobby is small.

Stage description:

It was Marley on the stage it was not raked and we had a lot of room to jump. The stage was somewhat slippery toward the back of the stage.

Off-stage warm-up space:

You could warn up in the hall or dressing room the dressing room it was just a big common open area pretty close to the stage so sound had to be quiet.

Dressing rooms:

I think the just had to find a bathroom to get ready.

Parents in dressing rooms:

Male dressing room:

Parents backstage:

Onstage warm-up:

It was good they gave us 20 minutes of open stage. It was pretty crowded though

Schedule adherence:

Tended to run behind

Other schedule comments:

Sometimes they would take pretty long breaks after certain numbers. I am not sure why though.

Staff communication:

Very informative and it ran very smoothly.

Parent seminar offered:

Parent Education

Seminar content:

It was

Seminar helpful:

Yes

Judging

Judging rubric clarity:

Yes

Judges' attentiveness:

Yes, all judges were actively watching

Feedback turnaround:

At the conclusion of your dancer's performance

Type of Feedback:

Numerical scores, Audio commentary over a performance video

Feedback helpfulness:


Not Helpful At All	Extremely Helpful

Main takeaway:

Lots of little corrections and overall big takeaways that they noticed. They also were good at giving some compliments as well!

Scoring felt fair:

Yes

Awards & Scholarships

Awards ceremony:

It was pretty long and the would announce top 15 of each category and age and then mention who got scholarships

Won an award or training offer:

Festival offer:

Gala offer:

Invited to finals:

Yes

Final Comments

Best aspect:

The great feedback the gave in the audio file. And the teacher and people you get to meet.

Worst aspect:

How they would run late and that there were no real dressing rooms.

Competition culture:

Vey positive!

Attendee culture:

Respectful

Suggested changes:

Nope not at all!

Cost vs. expectation:


Significantly More	Significantly Less

Time worth it:


Not Worth It	Worth Every Minute

Overall rating:

Anything else?

They announce your score after the number after you finished so that can be intimidating. Either Gold, High Gold or Platinum.