There is pre-ballet, ballet 1, ballet 2, ballet 3, intermediate, and advanced. These programs all allow students to attend regular school. Then there is the Dance Academy, which is a full-time program, much like a pre-professional program, during the day.
NA
Only one pre-pro level
Dance Academy is the academic year program for ages 14-19
Dancer Age
16
17
Gender
Female
Male
Company Affliated?
No
Was Student Scholarshipped?
No
Yes
Please Describe Scholarship
He received 50%. Some men do get 100%, particularly men of color.
Housing and tuition
She was not awarded for the year 23-24, however she has been this year. I believe there are different types of merit and need based scholarships available for Academy students. My daughter was given a merit scholarship this year that is from one donor. It is my understanding that this donor has pledged an amount that covers most of the year's tuition and is giving this scholarship to one dancer per year for 5 years.
Years At School
2 years
7 or more years
Curriculum
Days Per Week
6
Classes Per Day
3
4
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Half day
Students Per Class
10-15
16-24
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week
2
4
N/A
Live Music in Technique Class?
Yes
Dedicated Men's Program?
Yes
Boys In Level
5-10
Less than 5
Separate Technique Class for Boys
Yes
Techniques Taught
Balanchine
Technique Teacher Rotation
Different depending on week
The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule
Did School Director Teach?
Always
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
At the advanced level, men take technique, conditioning, modern, men's, pas de deux, and variations. There is also the opportunity to take tap dance if one wishes to. Younger kids do take tap. They danced for 2-4 hours a day depending on the day.
Technique is offered every day, pointe 4-5 times per week. Variations is sometimes combined with pointe and sometimes a separate class. Once rehearsals start for the year's rep, Variations becomes rehearsal time. There is also, Modern once a week, Contemporary once or twice depending on rehearsal time and Tap/ hip hop once a week.
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
1x per week
2x per week
3x per week
Partner Ratio
A few girls had to share but most had their own partner.
Everyone had to share a partner.
None, there were enough boys for every girl.
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?
Attention and corrections were evenly distributed between the males and females
Description of Partnering Class
Men from the academy join so usually they don't have to share, unless guys are out sick. It was once a week and they learned many things.
Nothing additional to add
Partnering class 2x a week, but also a lot of partnering work in rehearsals depending on the rep being performed.
For the year 23/24 there were about 15 ish girls to 5 boys.
Additional Comments
The Academy dancers get a lot more time in pas, so the boys from pas were much more experienced than my son and he often felt he had to catch up, but he learned a lot and has had paid pas roles since.
No further information to add
Partnering strength is sometimes an issue at this level
I'm the parent filling this out, but some boys were better partners than others and I know that affected the level of learning from class to class depending on who you paired with.
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Contemporary
Hip-Hop
Jazz
Modern
Tap optional
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
Whenever guests were in LA they got master classes. Like Alonzo King came when Lines performed
No specific information
Guests from Joffrey, Alonzo king himself and Lines company dancers, NYCB instructors and alums.
Alonso King came in 23/22 and the next year Michael Montgomery, one of his dancers came and set work on the group.
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Other
Pilates (mat or reformer)
Stretch class
Weight training
Yoga
Physical Training Schedule
Once or twice a week
Several times a week
Were Trainers Certified?
Yes
Physical Training Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Strength & Conditioning Comments
They didn't separate men and and my son needed more challenge
Could be more often than once a week
There is a separate Men's strength and conditioning class, as well as Floor Barre for everyone. On Fridays beginning this year, 24/25, the group goes to the local Y for swimming and other activities.
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
No
Yes
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
Student told parent. School not involved
How Treatment Obtained?
Arranged with assistance of school staff
I took him to urgent care
Recommendations from school but primarily on our own.
PT Available?
No
Yes, it is part of fees
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
No
Describe Recovery Plan
Arranged with our outside physical therapist and doctor.
My son's physical therapist outside of dance school drafted it.
Mental Health Therapists Available?
No
Unsure
Yes
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Unsure
Were Students Weighed?
No
Was "Coded Language" Used?
Maybe
No
Additional Comments
One teacher makes unhealthy comments. The rest are fine
School culture and atmosphere under dean silas Farley was very supportive of whole student not just dancer.
Very supportive in managing injuries but not much guidance provided directly.
Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker
Performance Opportunities
2-3
4-5
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?
Yes
Kind of Part Given?
Dancing part
How Chosen
All students allowed to audition
Students are chosen to audition by Artistic Staff
Was Casting Fair?
For some but not all
Yes
Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?
3
5
Perfomance Opportunities
It was just two recitals.
School productions through out year and end of year showcase
Winter showcase was not nutcracker, specific selected rep. Then counterpointe is the dance academy only show, student choreo workshop, year end spring showcase (dance academy had a very small presence in this show) and a gala performance.
Colburn has a winter showcase and a spring showcase that involves all students. There are also a few other opportunities that happen during the school year. Some students have bigger parts that others. Some years have been more "fair" than others.
Were You Paid?
No
Competition
School Does Competitions?
No
Communication
Formal Orientation?
No
Yes
Handboook & Paperwork
Adequate but missing several key pieces
Comprehensive and complete. I knew what to expect for the year
No handbook provided
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
Non competitive. However some of the younger girls are catty and petty. The range of ages in advanced ballet is 14-18 Which is exhausting.
Supportive and mentoring
Supportive and challenging
Caring, disciplined, connected
Placement Notification Timing
May.
NA
N/a
I believe once you are accepted into academy your spot is guarunteed for the next year.
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?
There are no bridge levels
How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level
Na
Na
n/a
N/A
How Many Come From Outside to Bridge Level?
Na
Na
n/a
N/A
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?
1
About 4 out of like 15 graduates
Almost all
I believe of those who "graduated", one.
Career Support
I was not looking for new placement; was staying in program
Received lots of help
Received some help
Describe How School Helped
Students who pick a mentor and schedule privates get the help they need. My son worked with Seth and had all the advice and filming help and recommendation letters he needed.
One on one meetings, resume development, audition material assistance
Building & Surrounding Area
Security Around Building
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?
Yes
Did Dancer Stay in Provided Housing?
No
Yes
Where Did Dancer Live?
Lived at home
Type of Housing Provided:
Dorms
Housing Minimum Age
15
# of Roommates:
4
Adequate # of RA's?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Absolutely
Type of Bathrooms:
Private in suite
Curfew?
Yes
Curfew Reasonable?
Yes
Nightly Room Check?
Yes
Dorm Strictness
Extremely Lax
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely Strict
How Infractions Handled?
My student had no infractions this year (as far as I know!)
How Roommate Issues Handled?
Ra and other staff available
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?
Walked 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
Meal Plan
Meal Plan?
Yes
Food Quality
Gross
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Enough Food?
Yes
Late Meals Available?
Sometimes
Dancer w/ Dietary Needs?
No
Academics
How Did Academics Work?
Separate e.g. online, independent study, etc.
Academic Support
Students were required to attend study hours regularly
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-
A+
Career Support and Placement
A
B+
Emotional Support
A
A-
A+
B+
Housing & Food
A-
B-
N/A
Performance Opportunities
A
B-
B+
C
Overall Comments
Program's Best Aspect
Seth Belliston and the men's program overall
The personal attention and commitment of director, assistant director teachers and staff!
Small size provides for a lot of personal attention and the kids become very close.
The teachers and the live music
Program's Worst Aspect
Cramped studios and not enough performance opportunities
Hours of cafe not always conducive to dance schedule in evening and online academic program at time was not as flexible and coordinated with dance needs as we would have liked.
Needs more male dancers
Lack of transparency in some areas.
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
Advanced dancers need 2 levels. There were 2 when he started. They combined them in 2022 and it wasn't good
Nothing - glad director transition appears to be going well - it’s a terrific program on a great campus!
There needs to be more boys recruited and the Dean/Artistic Director needs to stay on for more than a year or two.
Anything Else We Should Know?
The dance academy gets most of the attention and performing opportunities. If you have a dancer who wants to stay in regular high school, it's a good choice.
Downtown LA can be an adjustment if not used to living in a large urban area.
It is a small school and I do feel the staff truly cares about the welfare of each dancer.
