BALLET HELP DESK

Summer Intensive Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 231
Total Reviews: 1850

Philadelphia Ballet "Company Experience"

Summer Intensive Reviews

General

Dancer age

2
3
1

First time at a summer intensive?

6

Year of SI

1
1
4

Weeks available

5
1

Weeks attended

6

Reviewer

1
1
4

Curriculum

Techniques taught

1
2
4

Partnering (based on age)

2
4

Dedicated men's program?

5
1

# of boys in level

1
5

Other dance genres

4
2

Quality of other classes

Not Helpful
1
1
2
Helpful

Injury Prevention

Strength classes?

6

PT offered?

1
2
3

Extra fee for PT?

2
3

Injury rate

6

Teaching

Who taught?

5
1

Guest teachers

4
1
1

Year-round teachers taught

1
1
4

Attention from teachers

Very Little
2
2
2
A Lot

Technique improved?

No
1
2
1
2
Yes - Tremendously

Studios

Dance floors

1
5

Studio space

Cramped
2
2
2
Lots of Space

Studio cleanliness

Dirty
1
5
Spotless

Schedule

Classes per day

3
2
1

Saturday classes

6

Saturday class duration

6

Leveling

Leveling

3
3

Leveling type

4
2

Did students move levels?

6

Leveling fair?

6

Students per class

1
2
3

Performance

Performance?

5
1

Rehearsals happened

1
5

Casting equitability

Uneven
3
1
1
1
Even

Rehearsals detracted from class?

Completely
6
Not At All

Housing - General

Housing provided

4
2

# of roommates

2
2

Bathrooms

1
3

Coed bathrooms

4

Air conditioning

4

Housing comment

  • Breakfast was not offered/not part of the meal plan. Students had to provide their own breakfast. Full kitchens on each floor, and each suite had a kitchenette.
  • No

Where did they stay?

1
1

Housing - Supervision

Curfew

4

Curfew reasonable?

4

Room check

1
3

How strict were dorms?

2
1
1

Infraction handling

1
3

Housing - Cleanliness

Laundry available

4

Laundry free

2
2

Housing cleanliness

Dirty
1
2
1
Spotless

Cleaning required

1
3

Meal Plan

Meal plan

4

Food quality

Gross
1
1
2
Excellent

Enough food

4

Dietary needs?

4

Activities

Weeknight activities

3
1

Weekend outings

6

Logistics

Quality of handbook

Spotty
1
2
3
Comprehensive

Program communication

Limited
1
2
1
2
Comprehensive

Transportation

1
1
4

Neighborhood safety

Not Safe
1
4
1
Very Safe

General Comments

Overall recommendation

Definitely Not
1
1
1
3
Absolutely

Best aspect

  • Having the artistic director of the Philadelphia Ballet teaching class everyday was a great aspect! Size of the program was good. Final performance was in a performance space with lighting and practice tutus from Philadelphia Ballet.
  • Performance opportunity
  • Angel Corella staged a nearly full version of Swan Lake Act 2 with two full casts. It was an absolutely incredible experience.
  • Angel Corella was there everyday teaching class and/or running rehearsal.
  • Working with Angel Corella and faculty
  • Having the chance to work all week in "Company Experience" with Angel Corella, the Artistic Director of Philadelphia Ballet

Least liked about program

  • The favoritism/nepotism was sort of obvious. Probably not enough men in the program.
  • Not sure, I think more opportunity to showcase others for quads and solos or partnering would be beneficial.
  • Nothing. It was amazing.
  • Only 5 people of the 64 got cast in non-corp roles that had not been there for the whole SI. Buying a ticket to the end of week show and no video offered.
  • The school has a rep. for nepotism, and this experience confirmed it. I'm disappointed that they have yet to address this criticism

Suggested changes to program

  • A lot of sitting around because all of the rehearsals were run by the same person - couldn’t run more than one rehearsal at a time.
  • Smaller groupings
  • Make it longer.
  • They forgot to tell 64 people to bring a white leotard that was mandatory for the final show.
  • Choose a ballet that highlights more than one student.

Culture of program

  • Positive and welcoming
  • Supportive and challenging.
  • Fine / Normal / Relaxed
  • Inspiring and supportive

Other comments

  • This was the company experience- La Bayadere
  • This is a great opportunity to work with the AD of a very well-respected company and get a taste of real company life. Sure, many kids were cast in the corps de ballet, but that’s what they will all be doing if they ever join a company. And those lucky enough to be featured had the amazing experience of working on a centerpiece of classical ballet. Highly recommend.
  • Only 2 men. 64 female dancers split into two groups for class and rehearsal. Did Act 2 of Swan Lake for final performance (33 people per show) 2 overall shows. Had to buy a ticket to go to the final show. You are responsible for your own breakfast. You get to choose your lunch from a list of options, dinner is catered to the dorms and you do not get a choice. People that truly want a 1 week company experience that have not had access or experience to a 9-6pm day would find this a rewarding experience.
  • 2025 SWAN LAKE 70 dancers, 2 casts of 35. Cast 1 (didn’t see cast 2) 35+ minutes of solo/duet stage time for the daughter of a summer intensive faculty member partnered with 1 of the 2 men in the program. An additional 8 girls had 2 group parts. 4 big swans, 4 little swans. The group dances lasted about 2 - 3 minutes. The 26 girls in the corps had minimal dancing and mostly held poses on the side. Angel Corella spent 50% of the rehearsal time with the 2 principal couples. 25% of the time with full cast 1, 25% with full cast 2. SPB faculty ran rehearsals when Corella was with the principals or opposite cast. Daily ballet class was mostly taught by SPB faculty and was split alphabetically into in 2 groups of 35 dancers. Total hours of ballet tech class = 11.5 Total hours of rehearsal = 24.5 $1850.00 - Tuition & Housing (scholarships do not apply to this week) $320.00 - Transportation $28.50 - per show ticket (including taxes and fees) $92.00- Last minute rush request for a white leo shipped overnight $218.00 - Incidentals
  • Angel Corella is an outstanding artistic director and provides the preprofessional ballet dancers in just a week an invaluable experience of what it would be like to rehearse and perform in a professional ballet company
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