would really have liked a regular pilates/pbt or conditioning
Yoga
PT offered?
Not sure
Yes
Extra fee for PT?
We didn't use PT
Yes
Injury rate
I wasn't aware of injuries
Seemed average
Teaching
Who taught?
Different depending on week
Different each day
The same every day
Guest teachers
No
Unsure
Yes
Year-round teachers taught
Alongside guest faculty
Throughout the program
Attention from teachers
Very Little
1
2
3
4
5
A Lot
Technique improved?
No
1
2
3
4
5
Yes - Tremendously
Studios
Dance floors
I don’t think the floors are sprung. The marley is great
large and have super high ceilings.
marley
not sprung
Sprung floors with secure marley
the studios are beautiful
Studio space
Cramped
1
2
3
4
5
Lots of Space
Studio cleanliness
Dirty
1
2
3
4
5
Spotless
Schedule
Classes per day
4
5
Saturday classes
No
Yes
Saturday class duration
Half day or less
N/A
Leveling
Leveling
Assigned after placement class
Assigned when accepted
Leveling type
Ability
Age
Did students move levels?
No
Yes
Leveling fair?
No
Yes
Students per class
10-15
16-24
25-30
Performance
Performance?
Parents observe a class
Small demonstration
Rehearsals happened
During daily class
Casting equitability
Uneven
1
2
3
4
5
Even
Rehearsals detracted from class?
Completely
1
2
3
4
5
Not At All
Housing - General
Housing provided
Yes and my dancer lived there
Yes but my dancer did not live there
# of roommates
1
Bathrooms
2 private bathrooms in unit, each shared by 2 double-occupancy rooms
4 dancers per bathroom
4 to a bathroom
Private in suite
Coed bathrooms
No
Air conditioning
No
Yes
Housing comment
Bathrooms are old, tubs don’t drain, Adult dancers live on the same floor, so do male dancers, campus is far from anything, too much free time, no caffeine allowed
Required a shuttle to the dance studios.
No
No
Housing at college campus, 15 min. drive; each unit has a common area with kitchen (permission req'd to use stove/oven) and seating with tv shared by 8 dancers; bathtubs slow to drain; filthy mattress; humid-one small fan per shared room; tennis courts and volleyball nets; walking distance to Dollarama and Starbucks
Students share a dresser (two drawers) and desk in the university dorms. Rooms are small and two to a room. There were no evening activities (only a few crafty things teenagers weren't into) and only one off campus weekend activity. Students had too much time on their hands evenings and weekends and this led to multiple social problems. Eight students are divided into units, with four bedrooms and two bathrooms per unit. No real mingling ouside of unit so students don't get to know other kids in residence. Laundry facility is in a different university dorm building and payment is required. Not a great situation for younger students. Staff were good and quick to deal with issues they knew about.
Created a homey atmosphere that made it quite comfortable and inviting
Eight students to a four bedroom suite, two per room, four per bathroom, suite included small kitchen and living room with couches, tv, small eating area. Didn’t feel overly crowded. Dorm leaders were very good to assist dancers, give lots of options for food and snacks, and were careful about ensuring dancers had permission to leave the dorms, how far they could go, and whether they could only leave in small groups. My dancer felt safe and well supervised.
Where did they stay?
Student lived at home
Housing - Supervision
Curfew
Yes
Curfew reasonable?
Yes
Room check
Yes
How strict were dorms?
Just about right
Infraction handling
Fair
N/A
Too harsh
Housing - Cleanliness
Laundry available
Yes
Laundry free
No
Yes
Housing cleanliness
Dirty
1
2
3
4
5
Spotless
Cleaning required
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
Dairy free
Food Allergies
Gluten free/dairy free
Dietary options
Limited
1
2
3
4
5
Lots
Activities
Weeknight activities
No
Yes
Weekend outings
No
Yes
Attended weekend outings
I didn't attend any of them
Yes, all of them
Favorite
All activities were mandatory
Heritage Park
Swimmingna
Swimming
Outings: bbq/picnic on site, swimming at campus pool, Heritage Park in Calgary (fave); Evening activities: great, but few attended; Rock-climbing wall on campus (pre-arranged by parent)
swimming, restaurants, trip for ice cream
Least favorite
See above
None, she enjoyed them all
Na
Na
none
Logistics
Quality of handbook
Spotty
1
2
3
4
5
Comprehensive
Program communication
Limited
1
2
3
4
5
Comprehensive
Transportation
chartered school bus
Private bus
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
The studios, teachers, very small class
Great first intensive away from home, safe and secure from parent perspective, and fun from dancer’s perspective.
Confidence building
Improvement in my dancer
excellent instruction; enjoyable experience
The ballet training is excellent.
High level of ballet training, kind & positive instructors, hidden gem ballet school
It was a great, balanced intensive. The quality of instruction was great. The class culture was kind (no drama).
Excellent teachers, detailed hands on corrections, positive environment, dorm kids bonded quickly due to time spent together and numerous activities planned. Dorm leaders ensure dancers were well fed and cared for.
Least liked about program
Only 1 Saturday class (not even a full day), food, dorms
The shuttle to the studios made mornings very early in terms of the schedule.
Placement from audition, 9 months prior
Placement
additional $200 fee to attend a lunch-time audition class with others who also paid the fee to be considered for their full-year program
Housing
No windows or natural light in the studios
The building is under going renovations but hopefully it will be done by next summer!
Would have liked a regular pilates or pbt or conditioning class for dancers. Access to a gym space in dorms would be an improvement. Would be good to have a few weekend activities that kids attending the intensive but not in dorms could attend as well.
Suggested changes to program
The housing. Not much to do and too much free time.
Would have been better if residence was closer to the studios, and my dancer who is a picky eater didn’t like the food much.
Placement
Na
smaller classes, more individualized attention, classes both Saturdays, housing, meal plan
Housing
Residence closer to school
N/a
Same as above. But overall liked the program very much. Daughter improved quickly, built strong connections with some of the teachers, and made wonderful friends. Would be great to have a fourth week option to add on. Possibly more time on pointe.
Culture of program
Supportive
It was friendly and fun, while still good training and providing challenge.
Na
Helpful and inviting
positive
Positive
Very positive, challenging, and fun.
Really good. Good kids.
Positive, supportive, at least at my daughters level was not overly competitive but could be at upper levels with older dancers.
Other comments
Na
Na
The dance portion was excellent but over-shadowed by a negative housing experience.
Some company members would train with the intensive students. This was a nice added element for the students. Overall, highly recommend this program. There are two intensives in summer. One is for more serious dancers including some of the year round dancers. This is the intensive dancer attended and recommended.
N/a
My daughter loved her time at the program and is already asking to go back. Would also consider auditioning to be a full time student when she is a bit older. Very positive experience.
