Centennial State Ballet

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General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent with dancer input

Program:

Centennial State Ballet

Season Attended:

2024-25

# Of Levels In School:

There are 6 technique levels + the additional pre-professional ABI level. No postgraduate levels are available. Pointe work starts in Level 4

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

11-15 hours

Company Affliated?

Yes

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Years At School:

7 or more years

Full time or after school?

Full-Time

Curriculum

Days Per Week:

Classes Per Day:

Weekend Classes?

Yes

Weekend Schedule:

Half day

Students Per Class:

10-15

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

Yes

Pointe Classes Per Week:

Live Music in Technique Class?

Dedicated Men's Program?

Men Taught by Male Teacher?

Men Taught Batterie?

Boys In Level:

Less than 5

Separate Technique Class for Boys:

Techniques Taught:

General Classical, Vaganova

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	A Lot

Quality of Instruction:


Poor	Excellent

Did Technique Improve?


Not at all	Tremendously

Curriculum Comments:

Classes are 5 days a week (Tues - Sat) with 1/2 day Saturday and Sundays reserved for performance-related rehearsals. Additional community outreach/engagement is scheduled on Monday afternoons/Saturday mornings. There are 12 classes each week - 5 ballet technique (3 always on pointe), yoga, conditioning/strength, variations, contemporary/musical theater, partnering, and bollywood

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class:

1x per week

Partner Ratio:

Most girls had to share a partner.

Who Taught?

Female teacher

How Much Partnering Improved:


No	Tremendously

Quality of Pas Teaching:


Poor	Excellent

How Were Corrections Given?

Attention and corrections were evenly distributed between the males and females

Description of Partnering Class:

Mostly focused on the basics. There were younger boys in the class as well as new female partners so combinations were good but nothing crazy

Additional Comments:

This year we had a professional guest artist come in for our Spring performance so outside of class, my daugther had much more opportunity for partnering that drastically improved her technique.

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles:

Musical Theater, Hip-Hop

Other Class Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

Yes

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught:

Repertoire, Technique

Contemporary Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Master Classes?

Yes

Master Classes Description:

Master classes are typically held right before the official school season starts and are each a week long with guest artists/instructors travelling in to teach each class. Last year we had Claire Davison from ABT and an instructor from Boulder Ballet who stepped in at the last minute due to scheduling conflicts. This year we have contemporary dancer Jacob Taylor joining us.

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Yes

Physical Training Types:

Yoga, Weight training, Body conditioning

Physical Training Schedule:

Once or twice a week

Were Trainers Certified?

Yes

Physical Training Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Strength & Conditioning Comments:

Conditioning focuses heavily on placement and leg strength, while yoga is more restorative.

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

How Parents Notified?

My student did not get injured

How Treatment Obtained?

treatment is through our local medical facilities and local PT clinics that are recommended by the studio

PT Available?

Was There a Recovery Plan?

My dancer did not get injured

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Were Students Weighed?

Was "Coded Language" Used?

Additional Comments:

CSB is incredibly inclusive and welcoming of all body types, which is one of the reasons we chose this studio. The entire school staff works hard to keep a demanding yet welcoming and understanding culture in place while also being open and honest about the variety of experiences dancers may encounter in the larger ballet world.

Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker

Performance Opportunities:

4-5

School Winter Show?

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:

Audition

Winter Show Role:

Dancing part

Were You Paid?

Rehearsal Impact on Classes:

Rehearsal Hours:

6-10

Performance: Ballet Season

Cast in Company Productions?

Yes

Kind of Part Given?

Dancing part

How Chosen:

All students allowed to AUDITION

Was Casting Fair?

Yes

Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?

Rehearsal Hours:

6-10

Perfomance Opportunities:

The company puts on 4 main shows each year, two in the winter related to Nutcracker and two in the Spring related to the Spring gala. Additionally, the ABI program students participate in a community outreach program that consists of short, mini performances at schools, libraries, and community festivals.

Were You Paid?

Competition

School Does Competitions?

Communication

Formal Orientation?

Handboook & Paperwork:

Fairly comprehensive but missing a few pieces

Quality of Communication?


Poor	Excellent

Who Received Communication?

With parents and students

Exams

Formal Exam?

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?


Not	Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?


Not	Completely

Describe School Culture:

demanding, professional, inclusive, welcoming

Placement Notification Timing:

placement emails are sent out at the end of the school year (May) for the following August start.

How Dancer Was Notified:

Written communication via email or regular mail

Dancer Had Mentor?

Yes

Mentoring Details:

Both the school director and artistic director have provided guidance and recommendations for additional training opportunities (summer intensives, workshops, etc.) outside CSB.

Overall School Culture:


Lord of the Flies	Warm & Inclusive

School Outcomes

Highest Levels of School?

There are no bridge levels (If you chose this answer, please skip next question)

Where Graduates Who Do Not Get Bridge Level Go:

Some find positions elsewhere and about half leave ballet

How Many Left and Went to College?

50%

Career Support:

I was not looking for new placement; was staying in program

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building:

Yes

Safety of Area Around School?


Not Safe	Extremely Safe

Studio Space:


Cramped	Lots of space

Studio Cleanliness:


Dirty	Spotless

Housing

Was Housing Provided?

Where Did Dancer Live?

Lived at home

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	Definitely supported

Overall Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction:

Career Support and Placement:

B-

Emotional Support:

Housing & Food:

N/A

Performance Opportunities:

Overall Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

The professional level of instruction provided in our local hometown

Program's Worst Aspect:

the lack of older boys in the program

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

Nothing particular - I think the program is well-rounded and the instruction is excellent

Anything Else We Should Know?

Dancers looking for a professional level of instruction with opportunity to participate in all performances (roles are guaranteed but not required) in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

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