Pre-professional has 3 levels. students are divided by age and ability (mostly age)
The Pre Pro program has 3 levels, Upper 1, 2 and 3. The children's div. is seperate
3
Dancer Age
15
Gender
Female
Male
Company Affliated?
Yes
Was Student Scholarshipped?
No
Yes
Please Describe Scholarship
tuition
Curriculum
Days Per Week
6
Classes Per Day
3
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Half day
Students Per Class
16-24
25-30
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week
4
Daily
N/A
Live Music in Technique Class?
Yes
Dedicated Men's Program?
Yes
Boys In Level
Less than 5
Separate Technique Class for Boys
No
Unsure
Yes
Techniques Taught
General Classical
Technique Teacher Rotation
The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule
Usually the same every day
Did School Director Teach?
Occasionally
Often
Classroom Corrections
Dancer specific: almost every dancer got specific corrections each day
Dancer specific: detailed but only a few dancers consistently got corrections
Attention From Teachers
Very Little
1
2
3
4
5
A Lot
Quality of Instruction
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Did Technique Improve?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Tremendously
Curriculum Comments
ABT has its own training program which is mainly classical european ballet technique.
ABT uses it's own curriculum
M: Mens Technique; Pilates, T: Character, Mens Technique, Variations, W: Mens Technique, Pas de Deux, Variations, Th: Men's Technique Modern, F: Pas de Deux, Weight Training, Combined Technique, Repertory Rehearsal, S: Combined Technique, Repertory Rehearsal
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
2x per week
No partnering
Partner Ratio
Everyone had to share a partner.
Most girls had to share a partner.
Who Taught?
Male teacher
How Much Partnering Improved
No
1
2
3
4
5
Tremendously
Quality of Pas Teaching
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
How Were Corrections Given?
Attention and corrections were evenly distributed between the males and females
Description of Partnering Class
2 hour class on partnering 1 level of girls and typically 2 levels of boys so numbers are more even. Balancing, turning, timing, and some lifting depending on ability.
Structured practice of partnering skills, with some repertory practice.
Additional Comments
no
n/a
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Character
Complexions NIQUE
Horton
Jazz
Justin Peck Workshop
Modern
occasionally a contemporary class but not on a regular basis
Twyla Tharp Workshop
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
No
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Choreography workshops
Improv
Repertoire
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
Yes
Master Classes Description
Twyla Tharp did a series with students. Franco de Vita does classes for a week. Cynthia Harvey brought in the AD from Orlando Ballet.
bi annual workshops with ABT choreographers. Usually one or two days per semester
Twyla Tharp, Technique with Sascha Radetsky, Raymond Lukens, Franco de Vita, Susan Jaffe
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Body rolling
Pilates (mat or reformer)
Stretch class
Weight training
Yoga
Physical Training Schedule
Once or twice a week
Were Trainers Certified?
Yes
Physical Training Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Strength & Conditioning Comments
These classes are currently co-ed and my opinion is that is a missed opportunity for the boys.
no
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
Unsure
Yes
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
Parent was informed same day, in person
How Treatment Obtained?
physical therapist on staff coordinates care with students and doctors.
See a recommended Orthopedic
PT Available?
Yes, it is part of fees
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
Yes
Describe Recovery Plan
Students have to be released to dance. sometimes they can take technique but sit out floor or jumping, turning. Teachers are checking in on their progress as well.
My dancer was growing, shin splints. PT communicates with office/teachers.
Mental Health Therapists Available?
Yes
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Unsure
Were Students Weighed?
No
Yes
Was "Coded Language" Used?
Maybe
No
Additional Comments
no
Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker
Performance Opportunities
1
2-3
School Winter Show?
No
Yes
Company or School Show?
School puts on it's own production and students dance all the parts
Cast in Winter Show?
Yes
How Chosen
Chosen by school director or the company artistic staff
Winter Show Role
Dancing part
Were You Paid?
No
Performance: Ballet Season
Cast in Company Productions?
No
Competition
School Does Competitions?
No
Yes
Competitions Required?
No
How Many Compete?
at the discretion of the director
% of Students Who Performed
1
How Chosen?
unknown
Competitions Cost Extra?
unknown
Separate Competition Rehearsals?
Yes
Competition Interfered With Training?
na
Communication
Formal Orientation?
No
Yes
Handboook & Paperwork
Comprehensive and complete. I knew what to expect for the year
Quality of Communication?
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Who Received Communication?
With parents and students
Exams
Formal Exam?
Yes
Written Feedback?
Yes
Exam Adjudicator
Internal
Exam Rubrics Clear?
Agree
Neutral
Strongly disagree
Who Attends Exam Meeting?
No
Yes, dancer only. The meeting was with my teachers.
Well Prepared For Exam?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Completely
How Heavily Did Exams Weigh in Promotions
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Heavily
School Culture
How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?
Not
1
2
3
4
5
Completely
How Supportive Were Students of One Another?
Not
1
2
3
4
5
Completely
Describe School Culture
very competitive
Friendly and Professional
Placement Notification Timing
email
Late March for cuts (about 20% of students asked to leave each year)
not until the year is almost over
Overall School Culture
Lord of the Flies
1
2
3
4
5
Warm & Inclusive
School Outcomes
Is Student In Upper Levels?
Yes
Highest Levels of School?
Studio Company
Studio Company, Apprentice (only if it is not part of the company)
How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level
4 students in studio company
1
5
How Many Come From Outside to Bridge Level?
80 - 90%
11
5
Where Graduates Who Do Not Get Bridge Level Go
All find bridge level positions at other ballet schools
Some find positions elsewhere and about half leave ballet
How Many Left and Went to College?
i dont know
unknown
Career Support
I was not looking for new placement; was staying in program
Describe How School Helped
na
not applicable at this time
not there yet
Building & Surrounding Area
Security Around Building
No
Yes
Safety of Area Around School?
Not Safe
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely Safe
Studio Space
Cramped
1
2
3
4
5
Lots of space
Studio Cleanliness
Dirty
1
2
3
4
5
Spotless
Housing
Was Housing Provided?
No
Yes
Did Dancer Stay in Provided Housing?
No
Yes
Where Did Dancer Live?
Lived at home
Rented an apartment alone or with other dancers
Type of Housing Provided:
Apartment of some type
Dorms
Housing Minimum Age
15
# of Roommates:
2
Adequate # of RA's?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Absolutely
Type of Bathrooms:
One big bathroom on the floor
Curfew?
Yes
Curfew Reasonable?
Yes
Nightly Room Check?
Yes
Dorm Strictness
Extremely Lax
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely Strict
How Infractions Handled?
A little harsh
How Roommate Issues Handled?
n/a
Housing Cleanliness
Dirty
1
2
3
4
5
Spotless
Students Required to Clean Room?
Yes
Laundry Available?
Yes
Laundry Free?
No
Evening Activities?
Yes
A/C In Room?
Yes
Weekend Outings?
Yes
Transportation Between Housing and Studios?
Public transportation without chaperone
Safety Around Housing
Not Safe
1
2
3
4
5
Very Safe
Overall Rating of Housing
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Additional Comments
no cafeteria. food was hard.
Meal Plan
Meal Plan?
Yes
Food Quality
Gross
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Enough Food?
No
Late Meals Available?
No
Dancer w/ Dietary Needs?
Yes
What Were Needs?
no fish
Dietary Needs Met?
2
Academics
How Did Academics Work?
Separate e.g. online, independent study, etc.
Academic Support
There were no formal study requirements. Students were on their own
Did the School Support Academics?
Didn't support
1
2
3
4
5
Definitely supported
Overall Program Grades
Overall Dance Instruction
A
A+
Career Support and Placement
A
B-
B+
Emotional Support
A
B+
Housing & Food
B-
N/A
Performance Opportunities
A
B
D
Overall Comments
Program's Best Aspect
connection to ABT, very good teachers, NYC location
Mentorship/guidance from teachers and director
The international aspect and the teaching is incredible.
Program's Worst Aspect
New York City is just really hard and really expensive.
JKO is known for brining in students for the very last few months of training and not hiring those that have invested years in the school. Make no mistake that if your dancer is not given a full scholarship to Upper 3 when they are 17-18 years old, then the likely hood that they will be promoted to the studio company is virtually zero. There was hope this would change with the arrival of Stella Abrera but recent promotions show the same pattern.
In addition, students have almost no perfomance opportunites. A very select few (upper 3's) get to fly to California to perform in the Nutcracker. A very select few (very short students) get to Super in Met shows in kid parts. The majority of the students only have a chance to dance in a classroom presentation in December and a year end show for parents in May. and only in large group dances, no solo's. Student's are not permitted to compete (except for a select one or two who are usually brought in from comps anyway). Students are not permitted to take outside private lessons. Students in Upper 1 are not permitted to attend outside summer intensives.
Sometimes they would send a note for a required garment to wear for an event last minute.
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
Lots of changes already. Boys have a more specific training program this year. New Dorms and a new food program.
Students need performance opportunities and they should be distributed equitably.
This program does not have a contemporary class in the upper 1 level.
Strength training classes are inadequate with only 1 mat Pilates class per week.
Better strength equipment room/program.
Anything Else We Should Know?
If your goal is to dance for ABT then you will likely have a significantly better path to the Studio Company via the competition route (YAGP/PRIX/UBC etc). Usually only one or two students each year is promoted to Studio Co. from JKO school. That student more often than not has only spent a year in Upper 3 after being given a scholarship from a comp anyway.
There is a tremendous amount of attrition at this school due to numerous factors. NY is expensive, There is no housing and JKO makes big cuts each year. As soon as students realize they are not being looked at by Studio co they seek training where company paths seem more likely.
The training is good but there are many factors to consider beyond this if the goal is a professional career.
