BALLET HELP DESK

Summer Intensive Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 220
Total Reviews: 1607

ABT Young Dancer Program Orange County

Summer Intensive Reviews

General

Dancer age

2
3
1

First time at a summer intensive?

6

Year of SI

1
3
2

Weeks available

6

Weeks attended

6

Reviewer

6

Curriculum

Techniques taught

2
1
4
1

Partnering (based on age)

6

Dedicated men's program?

2
2
2

# of boys in level

6

Other dance genres

6
1
5

Quality of other classes

Not Helpful
2
1
3
Helpful

Injury Prevention

Strength classes?

6

PT offered?

5
1

Extra fee for PT?

5

Injury rate

2
4

Teaching

Who taught?

2
2
2

Guest teachers

2
2
2

Year-round teachers taught

1
4
1

Attention from teachers

Very Little
1
3
2
A Lot

Technique improved?

No
1
3
2
Yes - Tremendously

Studios

Dance floors

6

Studio space

Cramped
1
5
Lots of Space

Studio cleanliness

Dirty
1
5
Spotless

Schedule

Classes per day

6

Saturday classes

6

Saturday class duration

6

Leveling

Leveling

6

Leveling type

4
1
1

Did students move levels?

3
3

Leveling fair?

1
5

Students per class

3
3

Performance

Performance?

6

Rehearsals happened

5
1

Casting equitability

Uneven
1
3
2
Even

Rehearsals detracted from class?

Completely
6
Not At All

Housing - General

Housing provided

6

Where did they stay?

1
1
3
1

Activities

Weekend outings

6

Logistics

Quality of handbook

Spotty
1
2
3
Comprehensive

Program communication

Limited
1
3
2
Comprehensive

Transportation

1
1
1
1
1
1

Neighborhood safety

Not Safe
6
Very Safe

General Comments

Overall recommendation

Definitely Not
1
4
1
Absolutely

Best aspect

  • Location - Orange County in the summer, facilities were spacious and beautiful
  • Longer technique class followed by pointe class every day, character, small end of session performance
  • Ballet technique instructors were great. Emphasized clean technique and constant improvement in a positive environment. We definitely saw growth. My daughter was in a great group of nice dancers -- all of them bonded and still keep in touch via a huge chat group.
  • Daily pointe classes, detailed written feedback after the intensive was over
  • Variety of teachers and accompanists
  • Technique teachers, facility

Least liked about program

  • Leveling clearly favored the year round students - even when they were noticeably not keeping up at the higher levels. Executive level staff was changing over and so the program didn't seem to have a cohesive viewpoint / technique / vision
  • Modern class, lunch outdoors in the heat
  • We wish it was a bit longer in instruction time. The program is from 10-4pm with an hour lunch break. Actual instruction is 8 of the 10 days. The first day is a placement class and orientation so it's a shorter day. Also, the last day is about 2 hours long with parents watching a technique class with a demo of choreography learned during the 2 weeks. This schedule is probably good for those in the younger age groups. However, the 11-12 year olds wanted more :)
  • Thought some ABT NY teachers would be teaching as well. Seemed like the Gillespie school teachers only.
  • Weren’t allowed to record observation class/performance. Late morning start.

Suggested changes to program

  • more challenging for the older children - the difference between age 9 and 11 is very noticeable
  • Earlier start time each day, and make end of session demo open to everyone. We could only watch our own children's level but it would have been nice to put everyone together into more of a mini show.
  • Maybe have the class demo for parents at the end of the last day so the dancers can get some more classes in that morning.
  • Have all levels perform in the same space so parents can see the other levels (not just their dancer's level)
  • earlier start in the day
  • Earlier start like 9-4 and make final day a full day. Adding faculty from NY or dancer visit for a meet and greet to make more special.

Culture of program

  • disjointed
  • Focused, detail oriented, cheerful but relatively hands off.
  • Positive and nuturing
  • supporitve, upbeat
  • Structured
  • Ambitious and refined

Other comments

  • There are not enough bathrooms and students are not allowed to go indoors to use the restroom until the last 15 minutes of lunch. Kids were regularly lined up waiting that whole time, and many asked to be excused from class to use the restroom just so they wouldn't have to wait in line.
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