A few girls had to share but most had their own 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
Males were the main focus
Description of Partnering Class
Men partnered with 2 separate levels of girls. So girls had partnering 2X week, boys 4X week
Good partnering class that helped students get accustomed to working in pairs and improving their overall technique
You were assigned the same partner the entire year (based on height). Mr. Ellison taught the class about 4 times, then Mr. Udval taught all remaining classes. It was very intense and stressful for my dancer and her partner who were younger/less experienced.
Additional Comments
No
No
Partnering classes became non-existent during show rehearsal month and after exams the first of March. Keeping the same partner the entire year was good in that the dancers built familiarity, but it didn't allow you to experience working with other dancers which is something I think would be a benefit to dancers just learning the skill of partnering. Younger/less physically mature males were expected to do the same lifts as men 5+ years older which was a tough situation for younger partnering pairs.
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Character
Horton
Modern
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Choreography workshops
Improv
Repertoire
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
No
Yes
Master Classes Description
N/A
2 Guest Teachers were brought in during the year. I don't remember the names/details but my dancer had a positive experience with both instructors.
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
No
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Stretch class
Physical Training Schedule
Once or twice a week
Were Trainers Certified?
No
Physical Training Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Strength & Conditioning Comments
No
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
No
Unsure
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
How Treatment Obtained?
N/A
PT Available?
No
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
No
Describe Recovery Plan
N/A
Mental Health Therapists Available?
No
Yes
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Unsure
Yes
Were Students Weighed?
No
Was "Coded Language" Used?
No
Yes
Additional Comments
Widespread depression among students
My daughter's experience with the Senior Women's teacher was very positive from a mental health perspective. She was firm and expected excellence, but was fair and kind. She gave corrections and attention to every student equally
Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker
Performance Opportunities
2-3
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
Chosen by school director or the company artistic staff
Winter Show Role
Dancing part
Were You Paid?
No
If Paid, Please Describe
N/A
Performance: Ballet Season
Cast in Company Productions?
No
Yes
Kind of Part Given?
Dancing part
How Chosen
Students are chosen to audition by Artistic Staff
Was Casting Fair?
Yes
Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?
3
Perfomance Opportunities
School shows and competitions/ galas
Were You Paid?
No
Competition
School Does Competitions?
Yes
Competitions Required?
No
Yes
How Many Compete?
5
Depends
Select Few
% of Students Who Performed
10-20%
20%
30 per cent
How Chosen?
Artistic director decides
Chosen by Mr. Ellison
Mystery
Competitions Cost Extra?
Yes; $200/hr with Mr. Ellison plus competition fees and expenses
Yes competition fees and cost of teachers travel plus private classes (optional but necessary)
After exams, although many are encouraged to come to summer to be re-evaluated for fall placement
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
N/A
No bridge level
N/A
How Many Come From Outside to Bridge Level?
N/A
N/A
N/A
How Many Left and Went to College?
A few
Don’t know
None
Career Support
Received no help - I was on my own
Describe How School Helped
They didn’t
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?
Yes
Did Dancer Stay in Provided Housing?
No
Yes
Where Did Dancer Live?
Lived at home
Type of Housing Provided:
Apartment of some type
Housing Minimum Age
12
No minimum
# of Roommates:
1
Adequate # of RA's?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Absolutely
Type of Bathrooms:
Private in room
Curfew?
Yes
Curfew Reasonable?
No
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?
N/A
None that I was aware of
Housing Cleanliness
Dirty
1
2
3
4
5
Spotless
Students Required to Clean Room?
No
Laundry Available?
Yes
Laundry Free?
No
Evening Activities?
No
A/C In Room?
Yes
Weekend Outings?
No
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 food provided; no opportunity for students to form a community
It is expensive, but it is in a nice, safe, family-oriented area of NYC on the Upper West Side. Rooms are tiny and have a small kitchen efficiency (cooktop, sink, mini-fridge), in-room bathroom, one small dresser to share, one small closet to share, and one very teeny-tiny desk to share (like a desk in a school classroom). Chaperones were kind, but not very involved. I considered them "for emergency only" adults. They did organize a few special events during the year (welcome pizza night, pumpkin carving, winter hot chocolate party, volunteering at the shelter event). Dancer should be very self-sufficient to thrive in this living situation.
Meal Plan
Meal Plan?
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
Career Support and Placement
A
B-
D
Emotional Support
B-
D
Housing & Food
B-
C+
N/A
Performance Opportunities
A-
B-
Overall Comments
Program's Best Aspect
Training
Good teacher to teach ballet technique
My daughter said her technique teacher is the best teacher she has ever had. Being surrounded by incredibly talented classmates pushes you to be your best. Living in NYC was a dream for my child.
Program's Worst Aspect
Leadership
Support for the next step in a dancers career
Very competitive toxic environment
The environment is intense. Training at a program like this can be overwhelming for a dancer still trying to complete high school studies (having to manage your own schooling, transportation, shopping/meal prep). Although given a lunch break, students (at least female students) do not take a break for lunch, they continue practicing the entire 6 hours they are at the studio without stopping. The expectation is you will be constantly practicing corrections every moment- if you stop to catch your breath, you will be called out. Competition for attention from Mr. Ellison is fierce. If you are not one of his chosen few, do not expect any help in your job search.
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
Have more guidance and support in the senior level towards the next step
Housing, community, leadership
Anything Else We Should Know?
N/A
Good choice to learn technique and get strong
It is a tough place to train living apart from family for a younger dancer. The training is excellent, but it takes a real mental toughness to succeed. My daughter learned a lot and is glad she chose to train here. However, it was an extremely hard year mentally and physically.
