All of SI students were invited to watch company class at The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center. They gathered together in front of The Met for a group picture before watching the ABT dancers take class on the stage. Also, ABT provided $15 tickets to all four shows for the American Ballet Theatre Summer Season. The levels were seating together in groups at The Met and after each show the students would get to meet the ABT dancers at the stage door to get pictures and autographs.
Swan Lake
There is usually only one, they watch the company reherse at the Met Opera
There is only one outing to watch the Company dancers in class on stage at the Met. It was a great experience.
There was only one, the company class viewing, and it was super fun.
Ballets at The Met
Least favorite
N/A
Logistics
Quality of handbook
Spotty
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2
3
4
5
Comprehensive
Program communication
Limited
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2
3
4
5
Comprehensive
Transportation
Dancer had to get to the intensive on there own but for the shows they took the metro with their counselor
No transportation
none
None
Public transportation with chaperone
Public transportation without chaperone
uber
Up to the individual dancer to arrange because of no housing
Walked with chaperone
Walked with me
Walked without chaperone
Neighborhood safety
Not Safe
1
2
3
4
5
Very Safe
General Comments
Overall recommendation
Definitely Not
1
2
3
4
5
Absolutely
Best aspect
Excellent teachers
Level is teaching
The corrections of the teachers were very thoughtful and detailed. The teachers were very passionate and knowledgeable. All of the students were very talented. Being able to watch the ABT company dancers perform each week and then meet and talk with them after every show is very unique to this program.
Meeting talented dancers from all over the world, great instruction, dancing in ABT studios and meeting some of their dancers was incredible
Being in NYC
Many classes each day as well as a nice show at the end.
Teachers and overall student level.
World class teachers in absolutely every level and style
Great training and great exposure!
The teaching faculty was amazing.
Being in NY with all the city offers.
Being in NYC, getting to see the ABT Summer series at the Met Opera for $15, training alongside super talented kids, great teachers.
The training. It was a very positive and nurturing environment.
Being in NY, being taught by ABT faculty
The training. The teachers were amazing, and I had many of them, all doing their best to help the students improve.
The best part was being taught and being around ABT starts, coaches, and dancers.
Some of the teachers were really amazing and the classes were challenging.
Instructors
Learning from variety of teachers and dance styles. Intense but nurturing program
Least liked about program
No housing or activities so kids didn’t get to know each other very well.
How they handled the Covid outbreak that was pretty severe
There is no dorm
No weekend activities besides a chance to watch ABT company class on one Saturday, hard to figure out housing and daily commute can be exhausting, not incredibly nurturing or supportive
Too much “other,” not enough focused and guided ballet work
They favored kids who attend the school there year round and spent too much time on Rep for the show.
Intensivity, only 4 classes per day and no saturdays.
5 weeks in New York City
Housing struggle in the beginning, it felt stressful before we understood how to navigate it.
Nothing
The focus on the end of program show to the exclusion of variations classes or learning a wider selection of rep.
The cost of renting an apartment and living in NYC. The lack of organised events outside of the intensive.
No housing
This was my daughter's second year at ABT. The level assigned greatly dictates the experience. During her first year, she was at the top level for 15 and below, with many ABT scholars. They challenged her to become a better dancer. This year, her placement was in the lower end of the age group. Girls in the level were competitive with each other and tried to "one-up" eachother as they were the "rejects" of the highest level. My daughter did not appreciate this behavior and did not feel challenged to "dance up". She did not love her main teacher. The highest level (Aqua) had the best teachers and studio company members.
The final showcase and leveling. The levels seemed very biased and based on more than just the audition and placement class ( YAGP, other comps, etc.). The final showcase was fun, and a good opportunity to perform, but was also structured in a way to highlight certain students and levels. for example, the orange level had a significantly shorter and less technically impressive piece compares to the rest of the levels. And even then, there were many students that were only able to perform once, while a majority of the group got to perform in both casts.
Favoritism within the organization and how the lack of dorms leads to almost zero socializing with classmates between classes, at lunch, etc.
No housing
Suggested changes to program
I wish they would provide housing
More variations, partnering with older boys, better coaching
I would have made multiple days of placement because they did one class and then didn’t move anyone.
add saturdays
Have it somewhere else, anywhere else.
It would be great if there is more partnering
Dormitories and more conditioning classes
Don’t make the whole program about preparing for a show.
Provide housing so the dancers can board together.
Add housing
One main teacher per week to work on corrections for the week.
The way that levels and repertory pieces are chosen.
Be longer than 5 weeks, have Saturday class, dorms
Add dorms or at least weekend outings so the dancers can get to know each other a little.
More pas class; more PTs available to see dancers
Culture of program
Intense but very good.
Wonderful, very encouraging and inspiring. Everyone was very kind. All the kids are extremely hard working and focused.
Competitive - make sure your dancer is ready for this aspect before sending
The program is friendly and welcoming, but there were definitely issues in some of the levels
Everyone was very nice and supportive of each other.
Very good high level.
Very friendly and inclusive
The boys are absolutely over the moon to have 5 weeks of classes with each other. I cannot speak to the girls, except that there's some who are there to fill their Instagram feed and not much else.
Very good, there didn’t seem to be any negative competition between dancers
Very supportive. The teachers were very kind to the students.
Fake
Professional and business like.
Supportive
Varied depending on level.
Other than the points mentioned above, wonderful. Everyone was kind and respectful, and i made so many new friends.
Friendly and positive
Competitive, not very social.
Very positive
Very positive in my particular group; culture varied between levels
Other comments
This was my daughters’ favorite intensive. She said the teachers were the best she has ever had. Also, all the girls in her level were so friendly and sweet. Even though every kid was so talented they were not competitive with each other. The environment was extremely positive. This was her best summer intensive experience by far.
Placement was done by age and ability
If your kid has the right mindset and is really ready to grow, this is a great program. Living in NYC for 5 weeks is about as much of a learning experience as the ABT program. So keep that in mind because thats something they won't experience anywhere else. Steer clear if they aren't ready for the challenge, because NYC is just SO stinking expensive.
Housing felt like a struggle when we were first signing up but in the end, it really ended up being great! There was a lot of freedom in renting your own apartment, and not being tied to a dorm. It was also really wonderful that the students were all given discounted tickets to see the professional performances, my dancers attended four different ballets in yhr time she was there and there wete wonderful meet and greets with current principal dancers. This intensive was a fall experience!
There are no formal weekend outings, but the students are offered $15 tickets to see an ABT ballet every week of the program. Additionally, they received a free ticket to see a ballet on the Fourth of July. Many students went to the stage door after the ballets to meet the dancers. Having the opportunity to see the ballets is a unique feature of this program that was an absolute highlight for my dancer. My dancer felt this was the best intensive she has attended, and that she improved dramatically.
Casting was weird and made us question what was motivating it since in some cases there were some very odd choices of featured dancers.
We are glad we did it but our dancer missed the fun of boarding and hanging out with friends. Also it was crazy expensive with accommodation etc.
My daughter loves NYC and wanted to train there again this summer. While ABT has a bigger name than Ellison, Ellison was really the program where she saw the most growth.
Students should be open to varied teaching styles, energy, and input in order to not detract from the classes.
Loved it! Best summer intensive I’ve done. Program reflected healthy approach to body image by accepting dancers of many different body types.
