BALLET HELP DESK

Summer Intensive Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 255
Total Reviews: 2241

South Carolina Summer Dance Conservatory

Summer Intensive Reviews

General

Dancer age

2
1
1
2
3

First time at a summer intensive?

7
2

Year of SI

2
3
1
1
2

Weeks available

9

Weeks attended

9

Reviewer

5
4

Curriculum

Techniques taught

7
4
1
2
2
6

Partnering (based on age)

2
2
1
4

Dedicated men's program?

8
1

# of boys in level

9

Other dance genres

1
5
9
2
1
1
1
1
8
6
7

Quality of other classes

Not Helpful
1
2
6
Helpful

Injury Prevention

Strength classes?

1
6
1
1
1

PT offered?

3
6

Extra fee for PT?

6
3

Injury rate

1
6
2

Teaching

Who taught?

7
2

Guest teachers

9

Year-round teachers taught

4
1
2
2

Attention from teachers

Very Little
1
4
4
A Lot

Technique improved?

No
1
6
2
Yes - Tremendously

Studios

Dance floors

8
1

Studio space

Cramped
3
6
Lots of Space

Studio cleanliness

Dirty
9
Spotless

Schedule

Classes per day

1
3
5

Saturday classes

1
8

Saturday class duration

3
5
1

Leveling

Leveling

9

Leveling type

7
1
1

Did students move levels?

4
1
4

Leveling fair?

2
7

Students per class

1
8

Performance

Performance?

8
1

Rehearsals happened

5
2
2

Casting equitability

Uneven
2
1
6
Even

Rehearsals detracted from class?

Completely
1
2
6
Not At All

Housing - General

Housing provided

8
1

# of roommates

8

Bathrooms

1
1
6

Coed bathrooms

8

Air conditioning

8

Housing comment

  • "2 students to a room and 2 rooms per suite with a shared bathroom. Mini fridges and microwaves were provided."
  • "The facilities were all well-kept. The water pressure was a little low in the shower and sink, but overall everything was very nice! Common areas such as the lounge and kitchen were clean and maintained. The only thing is that the beds were a little squeaky and you would definitely want to bring a mattress topper and hangers for the wardrobe."
  • "Held in the beautiful honors college on the University campus at USC"
  • "Take a foam mattress pad for tops of mattresses"
  • "The food was running out during the last week as additional students checked in for other programs on campus."
  • "Felt very safe"
  • "No"

Where did they stay?

1

Housing - Supervision

Curfew

1
7

Curfew reasonable?

1
7

Room check

8

How strict were dorms?

5
1
1
1

Infraction handling

4
4

Housing - Cleanliness

Laundry available

8

Laundry free

8

Housing cleanliness

Dirty
1
3
4
Spotless

Cleaning required

7
1

Meal Plan

Meal plan

8

Food quality

Gross
5
3
Excellent

Enough food

1
7

Dietary needs?

8

Activities

Weeknight activities

8

Weekend outings

9

Attended weekend outings

8
1

Favorite

  • "Baseball game and dinner/theater"
  • "My favorite outings were probably seeing the musical theatre show of Frozen at the Towne Theatre and the movie at Russell House. Honestly no complaints at all about the outings!! They were all fantastic!!"
  • "Fireflies baseball game"
  • "Zoo"
  • "Columbia Fireflies"
  • "Béisbol game"
  • "Beauty and the Beast at the theater"
  • "Shopping Trips"

Least favorite

  • "All of the outings were great!! No complaints here."
  • "all were good"
  • "None - loved them all"
  • "Baseball game"

Logistics

Quality of handbook

Spotty
4
5
Comprehensive

Program communication

Limited
1
1
1
1
5
Comprehensive

Transportation

8
1

Neighborhood safety

Not Safe
1
3
5
Very Safe

General Comments

Overall recommendation

Definitely Not
1
8
Absolutely

Best aspect

  • "Lots of different styles of dance, awesome guest instructors, enough social events to keep them entertained."
  • "Everyone was really amazing!! The dancers were sweet, the counselors were awesome, and the teachers were very knowledgeable and helpful!! It really felt like a community where everyone wanted the best for each other and everyone was very kind and uplifting!!"
  • "My daughter did this program for several years. Great exposure to world renowned teachers. Great for first time dancer and more mid level dancers."
  • "The variety of AMAZING teachers both local and international"
  • "The guest faculty were all former professionals and were top notch"
  • "The variety of different teachers brought in to the program."
  • "Great teachers and Counselors"
  • "All the classes"

Least liked about program

  • "N/A"
  • "The July heat and humidity, but that’s a little out of their control."
  • "walking up the STEEP hill at the end of the day back to the dorms and the floors were very hard, would make my heels hurt a lot"
  • "The food"
  • "How levels were. It seemed very political and some people were not ready for their level and got injured."
  • "Some of the girls were very not nice"
  • "None"

Suggested changes to program

  • "Sunday’s were a rest day but they were still required to do the activity for the day. Some girls were exhausted and could have used that full day to rest"
  • "I would add Character classes, since it complements ballet really well."
  • "food. wasn't too terrible though"
  • "Walking to and from to studio in the awful heat."
  • "How leveling is done"
  • "Nothing"
  • "Nothing, it’s amazing"

Culture of program

  • "Very welcoming and inclusive. Respectful and kind instructors."
  • "It really felt like a community where everyone was kind and uplifting. The students, teachers, and counselors all had a good time!!"
  • "amazing. the right amount of freedom to what we were allowed to do on field trips and hanging in the dorms. lots of connections made with both councilors and other students. i still talk to all of them now."
  • "Very positive"
  • "Very welcoming and a fun summer"
  • "Healthy"
  • "Healthy, encouraging, and very supportive staff."

Other comments

  • "None"
  • "This program was wonderful!! The classes were challenging, but also fun. I really learned a lot here and I would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting to seriously train ballet during the summer while also having a good time and making core memories that will last a lifetime!!"
  • "Wonderful Staff, great city and overall fantastic program!"
  • "shoutout to the amazing councilors we had. they were college students that majored in dance at the USC college and made such amazing connections with each dancer and their whole group. as well as the teachers. fell in love with a specific teacher and train with her every now and then throughout the year and I have a wonderful connection with her that I never would've had if it wasn't for this intensive."
  • "Makes a dancer very strong, but does not necessarily focus on technique"
  • "I grew as a dancer and feel stronger"
  • "Loved the lectures from the professional dancers."
Reviews
1 -9 of 9 results
Sort By:
Filters:
Dancer Age
Gender
Age: 16
Overall Rating

Attended 2026, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 15
Overall Rating

Attended 2026, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 14
Overall Rating

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

Attended 2024, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 16
Overall Rating

Attended 2023, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 15
Overall Rating

Attended 2023, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 16
Overall Rating

Attended 2023
4 out of 5 rating
Age: 13
Overall Rating

Attended 2022, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating
Age: 12
Overall Rating

Attended 2022, Stayed In Housing
5 out of 5 rating