Bus ride to studios sometimes a dancer had to wait on next bus
RA’s vary on strictness ,some RA’s didn’t provide any evening options. Very restrictive about leaving the dorm.
There is a pool and students can sign up to use it.
Very little week day activities for older students. Too strict for older dancers. RAs not responsive to parents or students.
Food did not meet the needs of a healthy dancer.
This was at UST. Definitely a different experience than CFD.
Typical dorm. They had a community room that kids could hang out in. Some of the RAs were not great (overly strict, but my son's was nice and took kids out for ice cream, shopping, etc... to get them out of the dorm.)
Beautiful facility. Lovely balcony of room. Beautiful courtyard with full access to it. Pool tables, ping pong, couches and tv downstairs. Safe lovely area.
Did have issues with a counselor and I do not know the circumstances but they were replaced. Houston’s housing has a reputation for being strict but it was not and my dancer was one of the oldest. Maybe have more activities for the holiday while the dancers are there. (4th)
It good! The Ras were great (especially my daughters) and very accommodating and helpful. The food isn’t the Best But she was usually able to find a part of a meal to eat. If not she would door dash. They were able to go to boba, ice cream and CVS in groups and RAs took them
To groceries every week. They arranged Some hall activities too.
Really nice college dorm. The lack of follow through on rules that should be hard and fast was strange, like girls visiting boys' rooms. They were no repercussions when this happened.
AC broke on a Sunday, but it was later fixed. Fortunately, my daughter was out on a day field trip
There were 2 locked doors (one for building, one for dorm hallway) that needed to be swiped into for security.
The common area with ping pong tables and pool tables was a great space kids could be all together.
really nice common areas with ping pong tables, pool tables, piano, etc.
Usually 2 people per room, although sometimes larger rooms would have 3 people. Majority of the dancers lived on a college campus 15 minutes away from the studio, but there was additional housing located at the top floor of the academy.
Where did they stay?
Rented an apartment or house
Stayed with local family or friends
Student lived at home
Housing - Supervision
Curfew
Yes
Curfew reasonable?
No
Yes
Room check
Yes
How strict were dorms?
Just about right
Somewhat lax
Somewhat strict
Very strict
Infraction handling
A little harsh
Fair
N/A
Skewed depending on student
Skewed depending on the RA
Too harsh
Housing - Cleanliness
Laundry available
Yes
Laundry free
No
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
Pescatarian
Vegan
Vegetarian
Dietary options
Limited
1
2
3
4
5
Lots
Activities
Weeknight activities
Yes
Weekend outings
No
Yes
Attended weekend outings
I didn't attend any of them
Yes, all of them
Yes, some of them
Favorite
Water park
Water park
The water park
Going to Galleria
Laser Tag
Water park
Water park
Swan Lake
Galleria Mall
The Mall
Museum of Natural Art
Houston Ballet’s Swan Lake performance
Galleria
Water park and mall
Galleria
Waterpark
The galleria was my favorite.
Typhoon Waterpark
Water park
Water park
waterpark!
Galleria Mall
Waterpark
Typhoon Texas Warerpark
The Galleria Mall or the ballet performance at the opera house
Houston Ballet Performance
Baseball game
Plaza Galleria
Least favorite
The science museum
Museum of natural science
They were all better than staying at dorm
N/A
N/a
Main event arcade
The water park
N/A
Main Event Arcade
The museum just because it seamed boring even though i did not go.
None
Not many people went to the museum.
My dancer enjoyed them all.
all were fun!
Loved them all
N/A
baseball game or waterpark
All were fun
She was so tired by the end of the week and just wanted to hang out and decompress. The activities are great and super fun but I think depends on the dancer if she/he want to go out or stay in the dorms with friends and do a short trip close by
Logistics
Quality of handbook
Spotty
1
2
3
4
5
Comprehensive
Program communication
Limited
1
2
3
4
5
Comprehensive
Transportation
Bud and or vans
Drove student daily in private vehicle
Private bus
Public transportation with chaperone
Walked 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
Lots of males
The amount of partnering offered,
high level men
The performance experience was great. It was also my dancer's first experience with really intense training with full days of ballet.
Best technique training and being surrounded by other very talented dancers.
Fabulous mens program. I would recommend over and over for boys.
covid was still a big issue in summer’21. So the firms and outings were cancelled. - totally understandable!
Classes and final performance were excellent! The performance was filmed (no audience).
The intensity of the men's program and the exposure to partnering.
Spacious studios
Technical training, the facility
Truly intensive.
The intensity and attention given from teachers.
Beautiful atmosphere, massive improvement in technique
Strong program focusing on technique, strengthening and partnering opportunities.
You get your moneys worth, competitive environment, future opportunities
Technique classes
Very secure housing, excellent dance facilities and very high caliber of teaching.
The intensity and training is excellent. This is my daughters 2nd summer. It so rigorous and clean training. She loved getting to meet the company dancers and take class from
Them. There was also zero drama she made the best friends
Houston sets the bar for being an intense intensive.
The teachers and being around a large group of boys
It is very rigorous however every one comes out a much better dancer.
Very strong program to help improve overall dance skills.
Training
The day was filled with classes from start to finish.
how challenging it was because it made me grow as a dancer. they also don’t only focus on technique, they really want you to become an artist and grow your artistry.
Being able to dance a lot
Fabulous mix of classes and excellent teachers.
The intensity of the program. The amount of actual dance hours. They kept the students busy with a full schedule.
The rigorous training and welcoming atmosphere. The beautiful dance facilities and the final performance.
Robust schedule, great teachers, gorgeous facilities, focus on artistry
Exceptionally talented and highly motivated students. Extreme intensity, Loved the teachers and the facility.
Least liked about program
Dorms food
The dorm supervision
The food was terrible. Also, it felt like dorms were really far away from the studios. The busses were not great.
The dorms are not designed for young people over age 15. As well as sun standard dinning hall.
The food at UST was awful
N/A
The dorm food
Teachers and time spent on a show
They have favorites, and then there’s everyone else!
Teachers were very dedicated- no fluff or fillers
Literally nothing. Everything about HBA was fantastic.
Slightly too much time sedentary rehearsals
Breakfast at the dorm wasn’t nutritious or good but that meal was supplemented.
I’d prefer 6 weeks
Modern ( last class of the day and teacher was boring).
Unfortunately, they did have obvious favorites and sometimes that was discouraging.
The food at UST isn’t the best.
Favoritism when many dancers are working just as if not harder and as deserving of one on one attention. Come on, Houston, step it up in this regard. And I say this as a parent of a student who benefited from some favoritism.
Dorm life
The dorm cafeteria food.
The size of the program and class size are large.
Dinner (daughter loved breakfast, dinner was hot or miss, mostly moss)
Loved the program, nothing negative to say.
there was some favoritism
Food
There didn't seem to be much choice of food for breakfast and dinner. My dancer did really enjoy the lunch which was an additional charge.
N/A
The food and having to get up early to make it for the shuttle departure.
Partnering for level 6 - only 4 classes and many of the men were just too small
The entire final week was really about preparing for the performance. It would have been more advantageous to just have the class demonstration for families and continue to work on tech instead of spending so much time rehearsing during the last week. Most dancers across all levels only had 2 minutes on stage in a corps part. The casting also doesn't come out until the final week so it is very difficult to plan for flights and hotels as you have no idea what day you will be on the stage. Annoyingly, they charge a fee for the show tickets which sort of felt like a slap in the face after all that money spent.
Suggested changes to program
RA’s are not consistent some are strict some aren’t
More involved RA’s but they vary year to year
The food needs to be improved. Also, because the housing was far away, there wasn't much around so you were kind of stuck at the dorms.
I would not have my dancer stay in dorms
N/A
The dorm experience and food.
Nicer administrative staff
Less yelling by teachers
To make it 6 weeks instead of 5.
Variety of contemporary techniques
Wish they had more housing for year around but it’s downtown so it’s understandable why it’s hard.
6 weeks!
6 weeks instead of 5
The food and the favoritism.
Lesser restrictions for 17-adult students
To try and make it fair the amount of time a class gets a teacher compared to another class.
Reduce size of class so students can get more individual attention.
Food, especially dinner.
The week of performances have more technique classes.
nothing, it’s great!
It's a fabulous program. Unsure
Make it a 6 week program like it was in the past.
Better food and more partnering.
Eliminate the final show which really just highlighted a small number of kids they plucked from competitions.
Culture of program
Very friendly
Pleasant some cliques
Friendly, but intense dancing. Most of the people there were clearly trying to get into the year-round program
Very demanding yet supportive.
Great vibe among the students and staff!
Intense but friendly students
Uptight
Intense
The dorms were a homey environment but it was also very professional and motivating.
Positive
Extremely competitive to get in and while you are there, so be prepared but it’s the nature of the beast.
Competitive, strict but Very positive
Overall good. They were positive, but they did have obvious favorites. The dancers were all very nice.
Competitive and intense but also friendly and supportive. My daughter loved it!
Demanding. High expectations and high level od talent. My daughter was in level 7 (leveled are 5-8) and the entire level Was very good technically.
Pretty typical, meaning both competitive and friendly.
Positive
It is a very positive culture with aspiring dancers and supportive staff.
Professional and friendly staff. For the most part, students were friendly towards each other.
Arrive in good shape. Also know that most of the kids from year-round stay for the summer and that can be intimidating for the new kids. But, the year-round kids are nice kids. Houston is the kind of program that kids come back to over and over again, so a lot of the kids know each other coming in.
My son got injured during the program. The communication with ballet staff and trainers was amazing. They took great care of him, and made the tough call to bench him. He missed the final week (including performance) but still such an amazing experience that now he’s full time there.
My son loved the intensity of training at Houston SI. Lots of growth in technique that summer.
The Houston Ballet has the largest facility in the country and it is absolutely beautiful and immaculate. The parents get a full tour of Houston ballet and in addition to the full show, there is also parent observation. It’s hard not to be inspired in such a special space. Also, the organization of the summer program was appreciated. It wasn’t messy at all. Everyone was always very clear on where to be and what was offered both in studio and at dorms.
Highly recommend. She wants to go back next year.
My dancer loved it. It was her favorite “3 letter intensive.”
The communication and information (both before and during the summer intensive) from the program directors was excellent.
Very high quality summer intensive. Dancers need to be prepared to work hard.
Everyone should go here at least once. It's good to compare other intensives to and gives you a good perspective in terms of what you want out of a program.
It may not be a good idea for a young dancer to dorm for 5 weeks if he/she has not dorm before.
Private bus transportation. Not enough busses that left early enough for those dancers who like to be early to warm up.
This was my dancers second summer intensive and felt the money was well spent! So much like mindedness and work ethic among dancers.
The center for dance was absolutely stunning. My dancer was so blessed to be able to train there with their world class teachers for the 5 weeks of the intensive. I couldn't put both but there were end of intensive shows and parent observation classes as well.
My child absolutely loved every minute that she spent at HBA’s summer intensive. She learned so much, her technique clearly improved, she made many lifelong friends, and walked away with many happy memories. Tearful goodbyes on the last day, with promises to keep in touch regularly and return next summer. HBA is a top notch SI, and is one of the best in the country. My daughter has attended several other SI’s (SAB being one of them), and definitely prefers the HBA experience.
Definitely recommend going to and the overall experience is worth it!
All of the comments about the terrible dorm food are true, and it didn't provide the needed nutrition for athletes working 8-9 hours a day. Plan to spend an additional $100 -$150 per week for groceries and take out. Rooms are equipped with a microwave and fridge so learn how to cook a few go-to meals. Lunch was ok but there were a few days where I felt like I was still hungry, the food halls near the studios filled that void.
