BALLET HELP DESK

Summer Intensive Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 240
Total Reviews: 1985

Houston Ballet Youth Summer Intensive

Summer Intensive Reviews

General

Dancer age

3
1
2
1

Gender

5
2

First time at a summer intensive?

5
2

Year of SI

1
2
2
2

Weeks available

4
1
2

Weeks attended

5
1
1

Reviewer

3
4

Curriculum

Techniques taught

4
2
3
4

Partnering (based on age)

1
4
2

Dedicated men's program?

7

# of boys in level

1
4
2

Other dance genres

5
2
1
4
7
6

Quality of other classes

Not Helpful
4
3
Helpful

Injury Prevention

Strength classes?

6
3
1
1
3
4

PT offered?

3
2
2

Extra fee for PT?

2
5

Injury rate

3
2
2

Teaching

Who taught?

4
2
1

Guest teachers

2
5

Year-round teachers taught

1
1
5

Attention from teachers

Very Little
1
4
2
A Lot

Technique improved?

No
2
2
3
Yes - Tremendously

Studios

Dance floors

1
7

Studio space

Cramped
4
1
2
Lots of Space

Studio cleanliness

Dirty
2
5
Spotless

Schedule

Classes per day

3
4

Saturday classes

5
2

Saturday class duration

2
5

Leveling

Leveling

7

Leveling type

6
1

Did students move levels?

6

Leveling fair?

1
6

Students per class

4
1
2

Performance

Performance?

4
3

Rehearsals happened

1
6

Casting equitability

Uneven
2
5
Even

Rehearsals detracted from class?

Completely
2
5
Not At All

Housing - General

Housing provided

5
2

# of roommates

2

Bathrooms

1
1

Coed bathrooms

2

Air conditioning

2

Housing comment

  • "The food was terrible. Very few choices available. Many meals were supplemented with Uber eats!"

Where did they stay?

1
1
4

Housing - Supervision

Curfew

2

Curfew reasonable?

2

Room check

2

How strict were dorms?

1
1

Infraction handling

1
1

Housing - Cleanliness

Laundry available

2

Laundry free

1
1

Housing cleanliness

Dirty
1
1
Spotless

Cleaning required

2

Meal Plan

Meal plan

2

Food quality

Gross
1
1
Excellent

Enough food

1
1

Dietary needs?

2

Activities

Weeknight activities

2

Weekend outings

5
2

Attended weekend outings

1
1

Favorite

  • "Professional Ballet performance"
  • "The Houston Ballet performance"

Least favorite

  • "She liked them all!"

Logistics

Quality of handbook

Spotty
1
2
4
Comprehensive

Program communication

Limited
1
3
3
Comprehensive

Transportation

1
1
2
2
1

Neighborhood safety

Not Safe
2
2
3
Very Safe

General Comments

Overall recommendation

Definitely Not
1
6
Absolutely

Best aspect

  • "the teachers were a perfect amount of helpful + kind while keeping a strict, working environment."
  • "how challenging it was, I grew a lot! and I loved how the boys program was! I come from a studio with little to no boys."
  • "My dancer only had 9 students in her tech and pointe class"
  • "The teaching was fantastic. My daughter loved every teacher she had and thought the classes were very worthwhile and great quality. She didn't want to leave!"
  • "The ballet technique classes"
  • "Faculty was wonderful and the program is selective"

Least liked about program

  • "how intense it was, I love houston but it was a lot. the classes were super long too."
  • "how short it was, I wish it was longer!"
  • "The leveling did not seem appropriate for quite a few dancers, and no adjustments were made. It was very frustrating. Despite this, my dancer still got a lot out of the program."

Suggested changes to program

  • "I wish there was housing options."
  • "how short it was."
  • "There was zero feedback students or parents received at the end of the intensive. It would be great to have some sort of feedback at the end of the 5 weeks."
  • "Offer a housing option"
  • "Housing offered for the two week program"

Culture of program

  • "very fun + strict"
  • "kind, strict, and INTENSE!"
  • "Everyone was professional, friendly, and provided great feedback"
  • "Excellent quality training and very intense, but in a good way. The culture was very competitive among the dancers, very cliquey and not very inclusive but that may be the way ballet is in general."
  • "Encouraging, positive, and welcoming"
  • "Positive and passionate about artistry"

Other comments

  • "My dancer learned more in 2 weeks w/HBA than at a different 5 week 'Three Letter' program. Top notch!"
  • "Excellent program with top notch training."
Reviews
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Dancer Age
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Age: 11, Female
Overall Rating

Attended 2026
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 11, Female
Overall Rating

Attended 2026
4 out of 5 rating
Age: 14, Female
Overall Rating

Attended 2025
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 14, Female
Overall Rating

Attended 2025, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 12, Male
Overall Rating

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

Attended 2023, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 11, Male
Overall Rating

Attended 2022
5 out of 5 rating