BALLET HELP DESK

Summer Intensive Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 231
Total Reviews: 1850

School of American Ballet Junior Session

Summer Intensive Reviews

General

Dancer age

3
5
6

First time at a summer intensive?

9
5

Year of SI

1
3
4
4
2

Weeks available

14

Weeks attended

14

Reviewer

14

Curriculum

Techniques taught

14

Partnering (based on age)

3
2
9

Dedicated men's program?

1
2
11

# of boys in level

4
2
5
2
1

Other dance genres

12
2
1
1
1

Quality of other classes

Not Helpful
4
10
Helpful

Injury Prevention

Strength classes?

2
11
2
1

PT offered?

8
5
1

Extra fee for PT?

2
12

Injury rate

14

Teaching

Who taught?

14

Guest teachers

5
6
3

Year-round teachers taught

1
12
1

Attention from teachers

Very Little
4
5
5
A Lot

Technique improved?

No
1
6
5
2
Yes - Tremendously

Studios

Dance floors

14

Studio space

Cramped
2
12
Lots of Space

Studio cleanliness

Dirty
14
Spotless

Schedule

Classes per day

6
6
2

Saturday classes

3
11

Saturday class duration

3
7
4

Leveling

Leveling

14

Leveling type

11
3

Did students move levels?

14

Leveling fair?

14

Students per class

10
4

Performance

Performance?

3
11

Rehearsals detracted from class?

Completely
1
13
Not At All

Housing - General

Housing provided

14

Where did they stay?

1
1
1
1
3
1
1
2
1
1
2

Activities

Weekend outings

14

Logistics

Quality of handbook

Spotty
14
Comprehensive

Program communication

Limited
14
Comprehensive

Transportation

1
1
1
1
1
1
1
5
1
1

Neighborhood safety

Not Safe
4
10
Very Safe

General Comments

Overall recommendation

Definitely Not
2
12
Absolutely

Best aspect

  • Classes were not difficult but still challenged students bc of emphasis on the details…hand placement, proper use/placement of standing leg, alignment, etc. Dancer enjoyed the seminars: nutrition, physical therapy, history.
  • It was inspiring to be at SAB.
  • This was a great introduction to what a ballet intensive is all about. She loved everything about it.
  • SAB junior provides the perfect introduction to Balanchine technique and SAB for younger dancers. My dancer went when she was 10 and 11 and then returned for 5-week program when she was 12.
  • Intense Balanchine technique training
  • Short intensive to introduce Balanchine style/technique to young dancers.
  • Exposure to SAB, Being in NYC
  • Kind teachers. Learned all names in 1st day. Kids had lunch together. Bright, clean, healthy environment.
  • Being able to take class at SAB, the teachers, interactions with NYCB dancers, new friendships.
  • Daily 2 hour long technique classes and regular rep/variations classes so students could be immersed in Balanchine style. Cohort of focused and enthusiastic, talented dancers.
  • It is very well organized and has excellent teachers
  • Learning a completely new style of ballet and exposing to other faculty and teaching styles
  • The fun they brought to the training
  • Exposure to SAB and the faculty

Least liked about program

  • Not long enough—would have loved 2 weeks
  • It was only a week, so not much technical improvements.
  • The length. We both wished it was longer.
  • Wasn’t long enough
  • It was too short. It’s expensive after airfare/hotel fees to stay in NYC for one week with a parent.
  • Cost
  • Nothing
  • It's hard to learn as much in just one week with rotating teachers. Also, my dancer would have preferred a full schedule of dancing classes each day rather than as many seminars/lectures.
  • I thought the security process at pickup was a miss. Some parents didn't follow protocol and go through security without issue while others (like me) waited for someone to give the OK to proceed through the turnstiles and up the elevator.
  • Pilates (dancer doesn't enjoy it)
  • That it was only one week and no housing.

Suggested changes to program

  • A bit more time in studio vs the seminars. They were useful but dancer wished for more actual dance time.
  • Two weeks instead of one.
  • Maybe make it two weeks.
  • Make it two weeks.
  • The length of the program
  • Make the Junior Intensive at least 2 weeks and offer dorms for students.
  • Longer! 2 weeks please.
  • Make it a day or two longer. Have partnering. More character classes.
  • Assign each level a primary or main teacher for technique class so they can have a closer relationship and delve deeper into understanding the Balanchine style. Keep rotating teachers for pointe, rep, character, etc. It is a jr program but pretty much every dancer there would have stayed for two weeks if that were an option.
  • I wish they had a program between the 1 or 5 week options
  • Another week would be good as it took a week to get into the rhythm and settled. It would have been nice to have another week for dancer to deepen their understanding of the style and solidify new friendships.
  • Add a Stretching Class; make it longer
  • That they would create a two week Junior Program.

Culture of program

  • Very positive, very affirming, not at all elitist or competitive.
  • Very positive. Very nice first intensive experience. Age appropriate.
  • Supportive
  • Friendly and kind, but definitely competitive.
  • Wonderful
  • Warm, welcoming, inclusive.
  • Friendly, safe, positive
  • excellent
  • Friendly and welcoming.
  • Fun, instructive, attentive to details
  • very good

Other comments

  • Overall watching my dancer through the week my takeaway is this: regardless of the amount of actual dance, I saw my kid and others happy to be there for the experience and happy in themselves. Isn’t that what we all want for our kids—happiness being who they are and doing what they love!
  • It created a dream of dancing at NYCB for my dancer. It was very inspiring to train at Lincoln Center.
  • The program is only a week long with large classes. The energy is full of excitement. With different teachers each day it is hard for any teacher to get to know your student. My daughter looked at it as a way to see if this was something she wanted to do in the future. Which was a definite yes:) She approached it by taking the most she could from each instructor versus trying to be seen.
  • My daughter enjoyed it a lot and want to do the 5 week intensive in the future.
  • It was a wonderful experience for my dancer! SAB was great about photographing the dancers to parents felt like they got a peek into the program. Would absolutely attend again. The school was so organized and communicative throughout the process.
  • We were lucky to get a partial scholarship otherwise it was a very expensive trip as we had to pay for lodging for the week. If intensive is to be extended, lodging should be offered.
  • The experience was wonderful and it offered a great window into the program. Teaching was fabulous and the program as a whole was extremely organized and well run.
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