BALLET HELP DESK

Summer Intensive Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 231
Total Reviews: 1850

Boys Ballet Summer Intensive

Summer Intensive Reviews

General

Dancer age

2
1
5
5
4

Gender

1
15
1

First time at a summer intensive?

15
2

Year of SI

8
1
8

Weeks available

14
3

Weeks attended

6
10
1

Reviewer

1
16

Curriculum

Techniques taught

3
4
2
2
9
8

Partnering (based on age)

17

Dedicated men's program?

17

# of boys in level

4
13

Other dance genres

2
2
1
6
5
1

Quality of other classes

Not Helpful
1
3
8
Helpful

Injury Prevention

Strength classes?

11
1
1
2
1
13
1
12

PT offered?

10
7

Extra fee for PT?

2
13

Injury rate

8
9

Teaching

Who taught?

2
15

Guest teachers

2
2
13

Year-round teachers taught

6
3
6
2

Attention from teachers

Very Little
2
6
9
A Lot

Technique improved?

No
2
5
10
Yes - Tremendously

Studios

Dance floors

15
1
1

Studio space

Cramped
1
8
7
1
Lots of Space

Studio cleanliness

Dirty
10
7
Spotless

Schedule

Classes per day

1
6
10

Saturday classes

1
16

Saturday class duration

2
14
1

Leveling

Leveling

17

Leveling type

15
2

Did students move levels?

10
7

Leveling fair?

1
16

Students per class

5
11
1

Performance

Performance?

2
15

Rehearsals detracted from class?

Completely
1
16
Not At All

Housing - General

Housing provided

16
1

Where did they stay?

1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
7
1

Activities

Weekend outings

16
1

Attended weekend outings

1

Favorite

  • This was a week-long SI. There was a parent meet-up coffee on day one, I slept in, unfortunately! There was a pizza social on Tuesday which my daughter & I attended, but socializing was a bit difficult & very few of the girls attended, and there was a pool party on Friday night hosted at a hotel . We did not attend that event. It seems most of the events were more heavily attended by the boys and not the girls.

Least favorite

  • N/A

Logistics

Quality of handbook

Spotty
1
1
4
11
Comprehensive

Program communication

Limited
2
15
Comprehensive

Transportation

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1

Neighborhood safety

Not Safe
17
Very Safe

General Comments

Overall recommendation

Definitely Not
1
16
Absolutely

Best aspect

  • Men’s only program with partnering
  • Faculty, quality of instruction, just men, very well organized.
  • Men's program with robust class sizes, partnering. Faculty from a variety of strong programs.
  • teacher
  • Community
  • high caliber teachers, focus on men's technique
  • All the boys getting to see each other again
  • Male bonding, positive supportive instructors
  • The mens training
  • They had 90 male dancers in the 2025 program! They brought in current professional male dancers from ABT and school directors from amazing ballet schools. The training was exceptional and the boys bonded with each other. Also the parents arranged events and meet ups multiple times a week so there was a great social side too for the families.
  • Our home studio has very few boys so my daughter, though she is an advanced dancer receives little to no partnering experience. She received daily partnering and that was wonderful. The focus on really developing the boys’ technique and understanding as well as the girls’ ability to work together and understand the partnership is invaluable, I believe regardless of level. Additionally, the amazing staff they have brought in for the boys is also a great opportunity for the girls to train with these instructors who they may normally not get to work with for technique and variations.
  • The carefully enforced positive environment
  • Boys being taught by men, girls classes offered and plenty of partnering each day.
  • Male-focused training and great atmosphere
  • The boys having comraderie and learning male specific technique.
  • Amazing guest teachers included Jeff Rogers and Davit Karpeytan

Least liked about program

  • N/A
  • Expensive to stay in the area for 2 weeks. They need housing for dancers so parents don’t have to stay in a hotel or rent a house. Also required a rental car because no public transportation
  • larger studio space.
  • partnering classes were not challenging
  • Distance from available housing
  • no lodgings provided; thus requiring parents to stay with their dancers or to arrange a host family
  • That it was only 2 weeks
  • Housing not available
  • Too large of skill gaps in between levels
  • Lack of housing/meal plan. You have to drive to the Cary studios so younger kids need a chaperone, which means weeks off work for parents.
  • While I completely understand that the girls are here 💯 for the purpose of the boys, they are assigned partners based on need vs. ability. This may limit a more advanced girl from getting more benefit or learning in partnering herself if paired based on height only. My daughter had an amazing time and would return 💯 if able to!
  • Suburban setting with no housing and not much to do nearby.
  • Nothing!

Suggested changes to program

  • Larger studios. Different dates earlier in the summer.
  • Housing
  • Earlier in the summer. Perhaps a longer program
  • get higher level girls for partnering
  • Dorms
  • accommodations and/or a chaperone assigned to watch/transport the kids (from a hotel)
  • Make it longer
  • Nothing
  • Adding another level
  • Add housing and a meal plan.
  • Maybe having a little more opportunity for varying the partners to give the older, more advanced, but shorter ladies an opportunity to try some of the combinations with more experienced males.
  • Housing option would be great, but it’s worth it regardless.
  • Offer additional weeks

Culture of program

  • Welcoming, encouraging, strong training
  • Intense!
  • Supportive, well-organized. Thoughtful.
  • great
  • Awesome
  • very supportive and nurturing; they set very high standards
  • So wonderful and supportive
  • Zero bullying ,respectful staff, lots of high fives
  • very competitive
  • Supportive. No tolerance for anything but exemplary behavior.
  • Amazing! Positive and encouraging. A little difficult for the ladies to bond with other girls throughout, but it was such a short time it wasn’t a problem. I do wish we could have stayed both weeks.
  • Healthy and supportive
  • The most positive atmosphere imaginable. Absolutely zero tolerance for bullying. The staff is always amazing and encouraging.
  • Very friendly and supportive. Teachers, parents, and kids were all great!
  • Intense and supportive
  • Good, supportive, high expectations
  • Amazing

Other comments

  • Excellent program for young men.
  • I would encourage young men to take advantage of the opportunity!
  • If you have a boy , you need to do this program
  • great for gaining male specific training, females and males wanting more partnering. Building friendships. Opportunity to be considered for Ballet West, ABT or IBA . Most guys return yearly, That speaks volumes.
  • So glad we fitted it in to the end of a busy summer of dance. It was a great experience.
  • I think that this is a hidden gem of a program for ladies. The NC program is a half-day program at the end of the season -falling after most 5 or 6 week intensives, allowing ladies to continue dancing in a less intense environment with daily partnering experience.
  • My son says he’ll attend this intensive until he ages out.
  • This was only the second ballet class my son took with another boy. It was great for him to make friends with boys with similar interests. It was also great to meet other parents and share experiences.
  • Phenomenal supportive caring environment with much attention to detail for each and every dancer!
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