"Beginning 1 (usually 6-7), beginning 2 (7-9), intermediate 1 (9-11), intermediate 2 (11-13), Advanced 1 (13-15), advanced 2 (15-18), prepro (invite only and get to perform with the company, anywhere from 16-20)"
Level Dancer Was In
"Pre-pro"
"Advanced 1"
Dancer Age
13
17
Hours of Dance Each Week
21-25 hours
Company Affliated?
Yes
Was Student Scholarshipped?
No
Years At School
3 years
7 or more years
Full time or after school?
Full-Time
Curriculum
Days Per Week
6
Classes Per Day
3
4
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Half day
Students Per Class
10-15
Less than 10
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week
4
Daily
Live Music in Technique Class?
Yes
Dedicated Men's Program?
No
Boys In Level
Less than 5
Separate Technique Class for Boys
No
Techniques Taught
Balanchine
Technique Teacher Rotation
The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule
Did School Director Teach?
Often
Classroom Corrections
Dancer specific: almost every dancer got specific corrections each day
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
"Once you get to advanced 1, you have the option to add morning classes. I was the only one that did. If you do, you are combined with the prepros which i think really improved my technique. As it is a very new school, and i am in the smallest level, we only had 8 people in our class and so we all get lots of attention and personal corrections. Advanced 2 and prepro are combined for every class as those are quite small levels too. I usually have Morning class, then afternoon tech, then pointe, then either pas, variations, or conditioning or a different style of some sort. On saturday we just have one technique class with our supper hard, supper awesome teacher, Shomaree!! The teachers are the sweetest people you have ever met and i get to learn so much from them. The majority of them are also principals with the company. You grow very close relationships to all of your teachers. If anyone from SCB reads it they will probably know who it is because i am like CB's biggest fan! I will say, once you get older, especially when older girls come from other states and schools (usually NYC!) they get pretty mean. Which you will encounter literally at every ballet school in the world. But I just ignore them for the most part. I can not convey to someone quite how amazing our teachers are! Also the fact that we get to learn from Debra Austin of NYCB!!!!!!! This is like a lot on info but our other main teachers are Marin Boieru, Jan burkhard (chairman of faculty, the most amazing person ever!,) Margaret Severin Hansen or peggy as everyone calls her (also an amzing person and dancer!), and Shomaree Potter who doubles as the costume director for Carolina Ballet!"
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
1x per week
Partner Ratio
A few girls had to share but most had their own partner.
Who Taught?
Male and female teacher together
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?
Corrections were general and there was little attention paid to any specific person
Females were the main focus
Description of Partnering Class
"A little light, not very difficult."
"This was my first year of partnering. Taught by Marin Boieru. Nothing too crazy. Just the right amount of difficulty. Since i am supper short, i had to go with the one boy in my level but i almost always also got to go with a company guy!"
Additional Comments
"Everyone is partnered by a professional in the corps de ballet of carolina ballet!"
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Hip-Hop
Jazz
Modern
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Improv
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
No
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
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
"They have changed it this year ('24-'25) so that Adv1 and adv 2 and prepro are not all combined for one big class. Now we are separated and get to take conditioning in the PT room of carolina ballet! We only have it once a week which i wish we had more but our teacher is pretty intense and i always get really sore after all of the classes! So it is definitely doing something!!"
Injuries / Health / Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
No
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
How Treatment Obtained?
"You can email our chairman of faculty Jan Burkhard and she will always give you amazing recommendations!"
PT Available?
No
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
No
Describe Recovery Plan
"Im not sure how to explain this. I was kind of injured but also kind of not. I have Os-good schlatter's disease which is basically like my knees hurt because i am growing and it was only like pretty bad for about a week or so. After that i starting going to PT and was told not to jump for a little while. Now i have it under control but every once in a while it will flare up and i will have to sit out for like one day max. Teachers are very good about handling injuries. They just allow you to figure out whats best for you and what is best for your injury."
Mental Health Therapists Available?
No
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Were Students Weighed?
No
Was "Coded Language" Used?
Maybe
Performances: Winter Show / Nutcracker
Performance Opportunities
2-3
4-5
School Winter Show?
Yes
Company or School Show?
Company affiliated production and the students perform certain parts
Cast in Winter Show?
Yes
How Chosen
Audition
Chosen by school director or the company artistic staff
Winter Show Role
Dancing part
Were You Paid?
No
Rehearsal Impact on Classes
Disruptions
1
2
3
4
5
No Impact
Rehearsal Hours
6-10
Performance: Ballet Season
Cast in Company Productions?
Yes
Kind of Part Given?
"Standing around part" e.g. party attendant, royal guard, etc.
Dancing part
How Chosen
A few students are chosen by the Artistic Staff
Students chosen for roles by staff - NO AUDITIONS
Was Casting Fair?
No
Yes
Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?
Disruptions
1
2
3
4
5
No Impact
Rehearsal Hours
6-10
Perfomance Opportunities
"Very little opportunities"
"I was a tea kid in Nutcracker, a "mer creature child" or what i like to call "a little-er mermaid" in the Little Mermaid, and a clock child in cinderella. In addition we do an end of year showcase which is supper fun. You dont have to do it but usually the whole level does it and there is no audition. Usually your main techer choreogrqraphs something. Last year, mine was choreographed by Margaret Severin Hansen (SI director)!"
Were You Paid?
No
Competition
School Does Competitions?
No
Communication
Formal Orientation?
Yes
Handboook & Paperwork
Comprehensive and complete. I knew what to expect for the year
Fairly comprehensive but missing a few pieces
Quality of Communication?
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Who Received Communication?
With parents and students
Exams
Formal Exam?
No
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
"Toxic mean girl culture"
"Good when you are little. Gets a little intense sometimes once you are older."
Placement Notification Timing
"No"
"Around March or so"
How Dancer Was Notified
Written communication via email or regular mail
Dancer Had Mentor?
No
Mentoring Details
"Very lacking"
Overall School Culture
Cold & Exclusive
1
2
3
4
5
Warm & Inclusive
School Outcomes
Is Student In Upper Levels?
Yes
Highest Levels of School?
There are no bridge levels
How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level
We dont exactly have a bridge level. We have prepros. That is an invite only level. We have apprentices but that is considered part of the company
How Many Come From Outside to Bridge Level?
We get a lot of people from summer. Last year it was 6
Where Graduates Who Do Not Get Bridge Level Go
All find bridge level positions at other ballet schools
How Many Left and Went to College?
0
How Many Grads Went Directly to Company Job?
3-4
Career Support
I was not looking for new placement; was staying in program
Received no help - I was on my own
Describe How School Helped
"They did not"
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
Where Did Dancer Live?
Lived at home
None
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+
B+
Career Support and Placement
B+
D
Emotional Support
B
D
Housing & Food
N/A
Performance Opportunities
A-
D
Overall Comments
Program's Worst Aspect
"Toxic culture. Rude artistic director. Not enough opportunity to make the cost worth it."
"Some of the older girls can be mean but also that was kind of expected. I am the youngest one in morning class plus we are combined with ADV 2 and prepro for our afternoon technique classes usually about twice or 3 times a week"
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
"More performance opportunities."
"More conditioning classes!"
Anything Else We Should Know?
"There is no boarding. That can be hard for some people. But a lot of prepros get an apartment at this really nice apartment complex that a couple of the company dancers live at too! It is also a very new school so the admin are still working out some kinks but i think its really cool to be there during the early years of the school!"
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