depended on location. my daughter was in lowest level and had to take a lot of classes in the gym
Multiple as there are multiple buildings
not sprung
Not sure about floors
really depended on which studio they were in that day. my daughter was in the highest level so they did have the better studios a lot.
Sprung floors with secure marley
Sprung wood floor
We were at multiple locations and some were just dead floor with Marley on top
Wood floors not sprung
Wood with Marley
Studio space
Cramped
1
2
3
4
5
Lots of Space
Studio cleanliness
Dirty
1
2
3
4
5
Spotless
Schedule
Classes per day
3
4
5
More than 5
Saturday classes
Yes
Saturday class duration
Full day
Half day or less
Leveling
Leveling
Assigned after placement class
Assigned when accepted
Leveling type
Ability
Age
Unsure
Did students move levels?
No
Yes
Leveling fair?
No
Yes
Students per class
10-15
16-24
25-30
31-34
Performance
Performance?
Full show
Parents observe a class
Small demonstration
Rehearsals happened
Both in and out of class
During daily class
Outside of class
Casting equitability
Uneven
1
2
3
4
5
Even
Rehearsals detracted from class?
Completely
1
2
3
4
5
Not At All
Housing - General
Housing provided
Yes and my dancer lived there
Yes but my dancer did not live there
# of roommates
0
1
3
4
5
Bathrooms
1 for 3 girls
Private in suite
Two shared bathrooms in suite
Coed bathrooms
No
Yes
Air conditioning
No
Yes
Housing comment
University of Utah has beautiful, clean housing!
Spacious, I felt that my suite mates and I were comfortable in our suite. There were a lot of amenities in the dorms such as microwave, mini fridge provided in every suite and a large common room and small kitchenette on each floor.
It was the first year they used Westminster College. The suites were fantastic and had a full kitchen and 6 bedrooms. The stoves were unplugged though so they could not cook. The campus was incredible. Lots of complaints about the food.
Westminster campus was beautiful. Food was an issue for many. Size of living area was nice.
A lot of issues with plumbing across rooms in the dorm. One of the toilets in our room never worked and was never repaired over the 3 week intensive.
Wished we could’ve opted out of meal plan. Spent a lot of money on microwaveable frozen foods for her as food was not great and she was hungry and we didn’t want her just eating snacks
Everyone had their own bedroom and there were 6 people per suite
Terrible plumbing, dirty plates in the cafeteria
There is 1 suite shared between 6 people. Everyone gets their own bedroom and there are 2 bathrooms, 1 small kitchen area, and 1 common area in the suite.
Suites had 6 suite mates and two bathrooms. Each dancer had a private bedroom. There is a full kitchen. Stoves were turned off but microwaves were accessible. Full size fridge. The AC worked very well. Rooms have plenty of storage. RIs were very strict and somewhat unapproachable. They have a strike system. 3 strikes and you’re out! There were fun activities offered. Food was overall pretty bad. Boys were served bigger portions. It was not Balletwest’s fault. The RIs made many complaints about it. The dining hall was being renovated 2025 so that was definitely a factor.
Housing was nice, rooms were big
the layout of the dorm at westminister was great! 6 individual bedrooms in a suite with 2 large bathrooms. the suite had a kitchen with a full size fridge and microwave. the dining hall was absolutely terrible. usually only one option and it was almost always gross. we had to spend so much extra money on groceries! would love to be able to opt out of the meal plan or at least find a way to improve the quality and options...it was REALLY bad. my daughter said she was semi-hungry the entire time.
dorm setup is great at westminister. loved the private rooms within the suite and access to a kitchen. food was a real struggle. my daughter was hungry the whole time and we had so spend so much extra money to have groceries delivered. they really need to do something about the food situation! these kids are so hungry from all the dancing and not having easy access to good nourishing food is a problem.
Where did they stay?
Rented an apartment or house
Housing - Supervision
Curfew
Yes
Curfew reasonable?
Yes
Room check
No
Yes
How strict were dorms?
Just about right
Somewhat strict
Very strict
Infraction handling
A little harsh
Fair
N/A
Skewed depending on the RA
Too harsh
Housing - Cleanliness
Laundry available
Yes
Laundry free
No
Unsure
Yes
Housing cleanliness
Dirty
1
2
3
4
5
Spotless
Cleaning required
No
Yes
Meal Plan
Meal plan
Yes
Food quality
Gross
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Enough food
No
Yes
Dietary needs?
No
Yes
Specific needs
all nuts
Allergies to peanuts and corn
Allergy
Food allergies
Pescatarian
Vegetarian
Dietary options
Limited
1
2
3
4
5
Lots
Activities
Weeknight activities
No
Yes
Weekend outings
Yes
Attended weekend outings
I didn't attend any of them
Yes, all of them
Yes, some of them
Favorite
The hike
Amusement park
Hike
I liked both the amusement park and hike equally; both were great.
Water park, 80s prom
The amusement park (Lagoon)
Lagoon Amusement Park
Lagoon Amusement Park, 4th of July on-campus field games
Hike
Lagoon amusement park
Going to a park
Ballet West “prom”
Prom, amusement park
Amusement park and hike
Amusement Park
Lagoon amusement park
Lagoon Amusement Park
Lagoon amusement/water park
the water park
Lagoon amusement park
Lagoon
ummm honestly she didn't love any of them but probably enjoyed the prom the most
prom
Least favorite
N/A
They were all good
Hiking
N/A
Hike
I enjoyed the ones I went on
Prom
Prom
Prom was in the gym it was very hot. They moved it outside.
all of the outing were good and everyone had fun
Hike
she said the Lagoon amusement park was awful .
Lagoon amusement park was bad she said...
Logistics
Quality of handbook
Spotty
1
2
3
4
5
Comprehensive
Program communication
Limited
1
2
3
4
5
Comprehensive
Transportation
Private bus
Public transportation and a walk
Public transportation with chaperone
Public transportation 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
Amazing mens training and for the most part smoothly run.
Some of the teachers
Liked that there wasn’t a big show at the end - SI is designed to improve, not spend weeks rehearsing. Housing was also incredible. Excellent faculty.
Dorms, communication
The training was excellent, and I had a very large amount of teachers. I made really great friendships as well.
The Artistic DIRECTOR WAS FULLY INVOLVED THEOUGHT CLASS / week
The faculty, the quality of classes, and the partnering.
Strong men’s program with lots of boys from all over.
I enjoyed the various styles of dance taught, and the variety of instructors. The facilities were great also. The people from BWA and the students attending were all friendly and kind, especially the RI Lydia.
Instructors were great and Westminster campus was nice and small
well organized, great teaching
Quality instruction, ratio of teacher to students, partnering and variations classes
Teachers, friends, dorm, weathet
Saturday classes and the balance between guest teachers and faculty
The teachers
Yoga
2 hour technique class everyday
The training. Tremendously improved. Having so many different teachers made for lots of different perspectives and corrections. High level of talent with the students. Dorms were almost apartment like and private rooms.
very friendly environment, great teachers
The teachers
The opportunity to partner at every level
the culture is very positive and affirming. other kids were really nice! high level instruction for sure. also very rigorous! A LOT of dancing which was great!
rigorous training and friendly warm environment
The program’s strong men’s training created many opportunities for partnering, which was a valuable experience. The contemporary classes were also solid and well-taught. The schedule was full and demanding, which provided excellent stamina training.
Least liked about program
Some of the teachers
LOTS of walking to get to studios. Needed more food offered in evening hours. Have to get used to altitude.
The commute to the studios was a lot; 30 min train ride and then about a mile walk each way. It was a lot after dancing.
The food - had to supplement with grocery delivery and door dash
As far as dorming goes, definitely the food and the strictness of movement for the 15 and under group. From the dancing aspect, the classes at Westminster College (small studios and the flooring was not great - my dancer felt her injury was due to the flooring at the college)
Nothing
There was little communication during the first couple days, as the overall intention was to allow students to "settle in". But, this was confusing to new SI students.
Meal plan (quality, lack of options); had to go to the grocery store and Door Dash frequently
Food:(
Food, communication
Food
Food and communication was sometimes lacking
The studios at westminister were cramped / too many people
Terrible food, judgmental students, daughter had many classes in a basketball court (appalling for the cost of the intensive), many girls frighteningly thin, daughter had food stolen from the fridge on a regular basis, plates in the cafeteria were not clean which is not good if a child has food allergies
Not a lot of attention or corrections given, inconsistent teaching. Big class sizes. My level had to be in the run down gym all day for multiple days.
Strictness of dorms and food
my dancer did have an injury during class, that they were great about but I was surprised I only heard it from my dancer and no one fro the school reached out to me. she was given 2 appointments with the PT with no extra charge and they were great about her healing but still I felt like I should have heard from them.
Favoritism to year-round students
class size was WAY too big, and the food was awful.
the class sizes were quite big...also the terrible food was a huge issue
in the gym, where the marley space was insufficient, and in smaller studios that felt cramped. The large class size limited the attention and corrections that are essential for a rigorous summer ballet intensive.
We usually appreciate having a rotation of teachers to gain different perspectives. However, in this case, the combination of the large class size and the lack of individual attention meant that having a different teacher each day hindered continuity. Technique and corrections were not able to build from day to day.
Suggested changes to program
Some of the teachers, longer hours, more intense classes, better contemporary and jazz
Not much! Great program. Good intensive where you get your money’s worth.
Transportation that I mentioned above.
The food, e-mail communication up front was poor/ unresponsive and unclear
She would want all classes at the ballet centre instead of split between there and the college.
Communication was a little weird sometimes and the dorms were too strict for 17 year olds
The program could be longer. It would've been nice to also take Saturday classes with other levels. Would recommend that the Choreographic Workshop performance be offered as an activity for students to attend together at the end.
Have better quality food and options.
Better food or the option to opt out of meal plan and still have housing available. Also,, I’d appreciate if resident interns collected their phones before classes and at bedtime- such a huge distraction to learning, socializing with real people and sleep
Wish it started a week later
Food
Improve food and add more activities in the evenings
Less invited or put the smaller groups at westminister
Stop having classes in a basketball court, foster kindness among students, better outings, better food, clean plates in the cafeteria
Have a more consistent schedule so teachers actually get to know the class and are invested.
Food
The rotation of technique and pointe teachers
smaller classes, better food or ability to opt out of the meal plan
the food situation
Keep class sizes smaller (maybe max 20-25?)
Culture of program
Very predictable
Supportive, positive.
Very welcoming, the girls in my level all got to know each other and we were all friendly towards one another. I felt very supported by my peers and teachers in the studio setting.
Healthy
Very professional but friendly!
Excellent and very supportive
Inspiring and encouraging.
Competitive
challenging and supportive
Supportive and healthy
Perfect! Very friendly and strict at the same time
Good, nurturing and friendly
Positive
Judgmental and competitive
A little intense and critical at times.
intense but nurturing. There were fun activities but it was not all about the fun, more for serious students looking to improve
supportive
Competitive, teachers are always pushing you to work harder during class
rigorous, positive, fun, affirming
challenging, rigourous, affirming
It's a nice positive environment. Everyone is supportive.
Other comments
Did this intensive in 2019 and LOVED it, it changed a lot for the worse by 2022 but I’ve heard it’s changing again for the better in 2023 so this info may not be helpful.
Ballet West does a great job!
Highly recommend BW, I felt like I was hitting road bumps in my training and didn’t know how to improve until I went to BW. I can’t wait to go back in the near future.
We really liked the fact that they gave year round placement to everybody at the intensive as well as individual evaluations.
Happy overall. Food was a bummer though . Kids shouldn’t need to go to a “snack room” before bed if the food is good enough
BW managed to run their SI during the height of Covid. They are detail oriented and determined. They provide a clear network for dancers to use to communicate.
My daughter loved it and was sad to leave!
No
Plan on a supplemental food budget
Technique was not super specific. It’s Adam Sklute’s technique. Levels 4, 5, Men’s 2, and Choreographic Workshop get to have technique class with him, which was wonderful and a great opportunity. Still, the technique is applicable and helpful to any style of ballet.
