BALLET HELP DESK

Summer Intensive Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 256
Total Reviews: 2345

Alonzo King Lines

Summer Intensive Reviews

General

Dancer age

1
1
1
2
4
2
1

First time at a summer intensive?

10
2

Year of SI

2
8
1
1

Weeks available

3
9

Weeks attended

1
2
9

Reviewer

3
8
1

Curriculum

Techniques taught

11
1

Partnering (based on age)

5
1
1
5

Dedicated men's program?

11
1

# of boys in level

2
10

Other dance genres

2
1
12
1
1
2
1
1
8
2
1
9
1

Quality of other classes

Not Helpful
12
Helpful

Injury Prevention

Strength classes?

3
1
1
6
1
1
1
2
1
2

PT offered?

4
3
5

Extra fee for PT?

4
6
1

Injury rate

7
4
1

Teaching

Who taught?

4
6
2

Guest teachers

2
1
9

Year-round teachers taught

4
6
2

Attention from teachers

Very Little
3
9
A Lot

Technique improved?

No
4
8
Yes - Tremendously

Studios

Dance floors

1
1
1
9
2

Studio space

Cramped
1
3
8
Lots of Space

Studio cleanliness

Dirty
1
1
3
7
Spotless

Schedule

Classes per day

2
4
4
2

Saturday classes

2
10

Saturday class duration

4
6
2

Leveling

Leveling

9
3

Leveling type

9
1
2

Did students move levels?

3
9

Leveling fair?

12

Students per class

4
8

Performance

Performance?

9
3

Rehearsals happened

1
8
3

Casting equitability

Uneven
1
1
3
7
Even

Rehearsals detracted from class?

Completely
1
11
Not At All

Housing - General

Housing provided

5
7

# of roommates

7

Bathrooms

1
5
1

Coed bathrooms

7

Air conditioning

5
2

Housing comment

  • "Housing was located a 10 minute muni bus ride from the studio, and students were chaperoned with an RA to and from. I would consider the housing strict, but appropriate given that it is in Downtown San Francisco. Groups had to leave in groups of at least 3, and could not leave for more than an hour. For longer outings, on weekends, parent permission 24 hours in advance was required, a full itinerary, and photo check-in points between groups and the RAs. Fine for a 15 year old, could feel a little strict for a 17yo."

Where did they stay?

1
2
1
1

Housing - Supervision

Curfew

7

Curfew reasonable?

7

Room check

7

How strict were dorms?

1
2
4

Infraction handling

2
4
1
1

Housing - Cleanliness

Laundry available

7

Laundry free

6
1

Housing cleanliness

Dirty
1
3
3
Spotless

Cleaning required

7

Meal Plan

Meal plan

7

Food quality

Gross
5
2
Excellent

Enough food

7

Dietary needs?

6
1

Specific needs

  • "Allergies to tree nuts"

Dietary options

Limited
1
Lots

Activities

Weeknight activities

1
6

Weekend outings

6
6

Attended weekend outings

1
5

Favorite

  • "There was only a mall and a college tour - only did the mall and it was fine"
  • "Pier 39"
  • "Fishermen’s Wharf"
  • "It was up to the students/RA what to plan and do. She enjoyed going to the fisherman’s wharf area. Went to the mall and the movies a lot. Skipped Chinatown."
  • "They were planned by friends/RA’s - not official. She enjoyed Pier 39, skipped Chinatown, went to the mall/target/movies several times"
  • "Day out in San Francisco sightseeing"

Least favorite

  • "N/A"

Logistics

Quality of handbook

Spotty
2
3
7
Comprehensive

Program communication

Limited
1
1
2
8
Comprehensive

Transportation

1
6
1
1
2
1

Neighborhood safety

Not Safe
2
6
3
1
Very Safe

General Comments

Overall recommendation

Definitely Not
1
11
Absolutely

Best aspect

  • "My daughter found this intensive exactly what she wanted in one - intense, fast-paced, many hours throughout the day, and in styles that she doesn't normally get at home (she gets a lot of classical ballet at home). The teachers are either still dancing with the company, former dancers, or very talented choreographers. The students are a mix of true bunheads and ballet-trained competition dancers that all dance at high level. While we normally do not like shows at the end (given the impression that it takes away from class), the dancers had nearly 24 hours of class per week plus another 10-12 of rehearsal, and in styles my daughter said forced them to apply what they learned in class."
  • "The entire thing! kindness, supportive environment, amazing teachers, super challenging"
  • "Skills improvement"
  • "Amazing artistry, great communication from staff, creativity, friendly- other parents, building is old and lovely (like a movie dance studio with huge windows!)"
  • "This program truly nurtures the artist in each dancer and stretched them to limits they they didn’t even know were possible."
  • "The intimacy of the program and the prioritizing of artistry and performance quality."
  • "Individual focus"
  • "Getting to explore my artistry and step outside the box. It gave a ton of individual leeway for self expression and growth. We also learned about choreographing."
  • "Incredible artistic growth"
  • "Artistry, expansive thinking and movement"
  • "The teacher attention to details in every class"
  • "The culture was excellent. Inclusive, friendly, supportive. The teachers were attentive and detail-oriented. The staff was responsive. The level was demanding but not overwhelming. My dancer had a great time and wants to attend the older-level program."

Least liked about program

  • "Food was plated (not buffet), and my picky kid often didn't like the food. They also did not offer a sack lunch program to buy into. While they had minifridges in their room, "real" food is difficult to store in it, so my kid often ate energy bars/drinks/yogurt and fruit or dinner leftovers for lunch. Days were often 6-7 hrs long from 9-4/5 with a 45minute lunch break, and the amount of food she could eat often didn't feel like could sustain her. She came home after 3 weeks very lean."
  • "Dorm strictness"
  • "No housing option"
  • "The location in the worst part of SF; we would not attend again at this location."
  • "Lines is located in the Tenderloin of San Fran. Lot’s of homeless. Thankfully they have security guards and the dancers traveled in a big group each day."
  • "No housing for the junior program, only two weeks offered."
  • "Limited pointe work."
  • "I loved everything about this program! It was amazing!!"
  • "NA"
  • "NA - great program"
  • "Location"

Suggested changes to program

Repeated Responses:
  • "NA" (2 responses)
Unique Responses:
  • "A bit more pointe work (or encourage the dancers to do classes on pointe) and partnering. Over 3 weeks, there was 1 partnering class and it was not necessarily pas - it was like, dancing with a partner."
  • "Nothing really!"
  • "Provide a dorm"
  • "The location"
  • "More water breaks, adding more than two weeks."
  • "Nothing. It was a great experience."
  • "To get more partnering and have physical therapy more available."

Culture of program

  • "Intense with strong dancers of varying backgrounds, great technique focus but, emphasis was definitely on artistry, movement quality, and choreography. Very supportive dancers and faculty, dancers are there to work (and fall into bed at the end of the day). My daughter said most of them were asleep by 930 each day."
  • "Supportive, kind, creative and unique"
  • "Demanding, professional, exciting"
  • "creative, fantastic, supportive- AMAZING experience for creativity and contemporary dance!"
  • "Amazing! Very rich and beautifully diverse."
  • "Intimate, kind, professional, artistic."
  • "Very focused on helping each dancer find their own artistry."
  • "It was a very positive healthy environment. I made amazing friends and loved all the teachers. It was a smaller SI so it was great to really get to know everyone."
  • "Per my daughter: positive, encouraging, inspiring, etc. She’s a tough judge and had nothing but the best to say"
  • "Positive, supportive, inspiring"
  • "Amazing and great program all around"
  • "Excellent. Friendly. Encouraging. Warm. Wonderful!"

Other comments

  • "There are a few questions about leveling in the survey, and my daughter never got a sense that there were any levels - they were randomly assigned into 5 different groups. However, she never got the sense that this was a problem because she generally found all of the dancers to be very skilled. The age range for the advanced intensive is also pretty narrow (14-17) and at 15, my kid was one of the youngest there. I'm sure that part of San Francisco can be discouraging to families with younger dancers. Otherwise, great program for the older dancer with a strong ballet foundation that it is interested in improving versatility and artistry. Requires existing stamina given the number of hours. Passionate teachers who are also beautiful dancers and creatives. Highly recommend."
  • "There is only one pointe piece cast and during our year only half those cast in it actually danced en pointe so if that is super important to you, adjust your expectations! Too many dancers expected not to do ballet and then complained to be cast in the pointe piece or didn’t get cast in it and then complained about not getting enough ballet. Be open to the growth opportunities available for every casting and don’t expect anything!"
  • "My kid was pushed harder than ever before and walked away inspired. Well done LINES!"
  • "You HAVE to be aware that this studio is located in the Tenderloin area of SF and there is, sadly, open drug use outside on the sidewalks, and many housing insecure people directly on the sidewalks. There are also very few close businesses where families could wait during the day/ pick up."
  • "Highly recommend!"
  • "Overall the absolute most foundational experience of my career. I have grown so much as an artist and person from my time at lines and hope to return in the future."
  • "I truly loved my 3 weeks at Lines. I would highly recommend it even if you aren’t necessarily interested in contemporary ballet. It helped my classical ballet so much. Really opened me up to help my artistry and expression. I enjoy my dancing so much more now and I understand my body better and it’s movement better. This was an amazing SI!!"
Reviews
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Age: 15
Overall Rating

Attended 2026, Stayed In Housing, Special Diet
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 12
Overall Rating

Attended 2024
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 18
Overall Rating

Attended 2023
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 17
Overall Rating

Attended 2023
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 14
Overall Rating

Attended 2023
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 16
Overall Rating

Attended 2023, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 17
Overall Rating

Attended 2023, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 16
Overall Rating

Attended 2023, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 16
Overall Rating

Attended 2023, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 15
Overall Rating

Attended 2023, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating