BALLET HELP DESK

Summer Intensive Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 255
Total Reviews: 2234

Grand Rapids Ballet School

Summer Intensive Reviews

General

Dancer age

2
1
1

Gender

4

First time at a summer intensive?

4

Year of SI

3
1

Weeks available

1
3

Weeks attended

2
1
1

Reviewer

4

Curriculum

Techniques taught

2
1
2
1

Partnering (based on age)

1
3

Dedicated men's program?

2
1
1

# of boys in level

1
3

Other dance genres

1
1
3
2
2
3

Quality of other classes

Not Helpful
1
2
1
Helpful

Injury Prevention

Strength classes?

3
2
2
2
1

PT offered?

1
3

Extra fee for PT?

3
1

Injury rate

3
1

Teaching

Who taught?

2
1
1

Guest teachers

1
3

Year-round teachers taught

1
2
1

Attention from teachers

Very Little
1
2
1
A Lot

Technique improved?

No
1
2
1
Yes - Tremendously

Studios

Dance floors

3
1

Studio space

Cramped
3
1
Lots of Space

Studio cleanliness

Dirty
2
2
Spotless

Schedule

Classes per day

2
2

Saturday classes

3
1

Saturday class duration

1
3

Leveling

Leveling

1
3

Leveling type

4

Did students move levels?

2
1
1

Leveling fair?

4

Students per class

4

Performance

Performance?

3
1

Rehearsals happened

1
3

Casting equitability

Uneven
1
2
1
Even

Rehearsals detracted from class?

Completely
1
1
1
1
Not At All

Housing - General

Housing provided

4

Where did they stay?

1
1
2
1

Activities

Weekend outings

4

Logistics

Quality of handbook

Spotty
1
1
2
Comprehensive

Program communication

Limited
1
3
Comprehensive

Transportation

1
1
1
1

Neighborhood safety

Not Safe
1
1
2
Very Safe

General Comments

Overall recommendation

Definitely Not
1
3
Absolutely

Best aspect

  • "If you are local to West Michigan, the best aspect is having a high quality summer intensive with flexible week options right in your back yard. The instruction is very good and it is a nice option for an at-home summer intensive, or to supplement during weeks before and after going away to another intensives. Instruction from regular faculty, GRB dancers, and guest teachers is very good - my daughter liked every teacher she worked with, and every day shared corrections she received personally that she felt improved her dancing. It's a solid instructional program with about 5 to 5.5 hours of dancing per day, but give the kids weekends and evenings at home, which is a nice pace for summer."
  • "In Michigan"
  • "Warm, caring support of student as both a dancer & individual. Great value for the cost"
  • "The instruction is fantastic."

Least liked about program

  • "There are few boys and minimal options to learn partnering. If there were a dedicated men's program and enough boys to offer partnering at every level, that would benefit this intensive greatly."
  • "Not challenging for my dancer, no housing, no chaperones outside of classes."
  • "NA"

Suggested changes to program

  • "I really don't have suggestions. The program is different than other summer intensives (no housing, so no activities, etc.) but they excel at what they offer."
  • "Include housing"
  • "Some type of housing to attract more dancers, especially men would be ideal. Possible addition of class opportunities such as nutrition - musicality - stretching - weight training."
  • "Showcase include more solos, trios/ variations"

Culture of program

Repeated Responses:
  • "Supportive" (2 responses)
Unique Responses:
  • "Warm, welcoming, friendly, encouraging"
  • "Nurturing."

Other comments

  • "While five weeks are offered, students can choose any or all of the weeks to attend. (The exception is week 5, which has a showcase at the end. If you'd like to attend week 5, you must also attend week 4.) Students learn different rep pieces and variations every week, most of which end up in the final show. This year, students auditioned to be chosen to perform a variation in a small group at the showcase, which was a fair way to do that, and it seemed like they tried to give a lot of students a chance. (For example, if you can to weeks 3-5 and were chosen to perform the week 3 variation, you didn't also get picked for the week 4 variation.) The hours are predictable, the schedule and levels posted at the start of each week, and communication about any updates or changes is prompt and thorough."
  • "There is a great focus on building technically strong dancers without jeopardizing the health and well-being of the dancer"
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Age: 13, Female
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Attended 2026
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 16, Female
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Attended 2024
1 out of 5 rating
Age: 13, Female
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Attended 2024
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 14, Female
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Attended 2024
5 out of 5 rating