RDA National Training Program

#1 of 1

General

Dancer age:

First time at a summer intensive?

Year of SI:

2024

Weeks available:

Weeks attended:

Reviewer:

Parent

Date Submitted:

11/9/2024

Curriculum

Techniques taught:

Balanchine

Partnering (based on age):

No partnering

Dedicated men's program?

Unsure

# of boys in level:

Less than 5

Other dance genres:

Character, Musical Theater, Jazz, Ballroom

Quality of other classes:


Not Helpful	Helpful

Injury Prevention

Strength classes?

Body Conditioning, Yoga

PT offered?

Extra fee for PT?

We didn't use PT

Injury rate:

Seemed like a lot of injuries

Teaching

Who taught?

Different depending on week

Guest teachers:

Unsure

Year-round teachers taught:

Did not teach during session

Attention from teachers:


Very Little	A Lot

Technique improved?


No	Yes - Tremendously

Studios

Dance floors:

Cement with marley on top

Studio space:


Cramped	Lots of Space

Studio cleanliness:


Dirty	Spotless

Schedule

Classes per day:

Saturday classes:

Yes

Saturday class duration:

Full day

Leveling

Leveling:

Assigned after placement class

Leveling type:

Age

Did students move levels?

Leveling fair?

Yes

Students per class:

16-24

Performance

Performance?

Small demonstration

Rehearsals happened:

Both in and out of class

Casting equitability:


Uneven	Even

Rehearsals detracted from class?


Completely	Not At All

Housing - General

Housing provided:

Yes and my dancer lived there

# of roommates:

Bathrooms:

Private in room

Coed bathrooms:

Air conditioning:

Yes

Housing - Supervision

Curfew:

Yes

Curfew reasonable?

Yes

Room check:

Yes

How strict were dorms?

Just about right

Infraction handling:

N/A

Housing - Cleanliness

Laundry available:

Yes

Laundry free:

Yes

Housing cleanliness:


Dirty	Spotless

Cleaning required:

Meal Plan

Meal plan:

Yes

Food quality:


Gross	Excellent

Enough food:

Dietary needs?

Activities

Weeknight activities:

Weekend outings:

Yes

Attended weekend outings:

Yes, all of them

Favorite:

There was only one free day that they had activities (swimming) and they were required to go

Logistics

Quality of handbook:


Spotty	Comprehensive

Program communication:


Limited	Comprehensive

Transportation:

Walked with chaperone

Neighborhood safety:


Not Safe	Very Safe

General Comments

Overall recommendation:


Definitely Not	Absolutely

Best aspect:

Our company attends RDA annually and we were happy that this was a shorter program to start our adventures in traveling for a SI.

Least liked about program:

There were a lot of injuries. The main ballet teacher missed the first few days (of a 2 week program) so that when she returned, the dancers had many extra hours in the evening. We were told that they would have 1 - 2 hours en pointe daily, but a few days it was 4-5 hours. It was excessive and caused injuries. I requested on the first Friday that my daughter receive medical treatment, and she was only taken to Emergency on Sunday evening. She had an infected laceration on her foot. They did not get her antibiotics to her until Monday night. She ended up missing half of the program as she could not walk, and obv missed the final performance, which to a teen dancer can seem like the end of the world. Communication was a huge issue. Trying to get someone to take her for medical was problematic. After the fact, I had a phone conference with the RA director and the CEO, and was given excuse upon excuse, and "these things happen." The food was also an issue. There were carbs and carbs, with very little protein or fresh fruit/veg. A few days in, the fruit disappeared and was replaced with yogurt, to be replaced by pudding. Cake was offered though, and bread. My daughter felt like she was starving, as she generally follows a lower carb diet. Breakfast would run out of food as they were competing with other programs at the same institution. Fortunately I was able to order UberEats for her.

Suggested changes to program:

Communication. To follow the tentative amount of hours that were given. Better nutrition.

Culture of program:

Pretty sad. Girls were humiliated in class, bullied, and body shamed. I'd heard wonderful things about their Choreography Intensive, but this experience was completely different.

Other comments:

It seemed as this SI was more about making money than an actual learning experience.

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