Levels 1-3 aged 16-19. The trainee program isn’t a bridge level.
Dancer Age
18
19
Hours of Dance Each Week
21-25 hours
Company Affliated?
Yes
Was Student Scholarshipped?
Yes
Please Describe Scholarship
50% off tuition awarded at 2023 YAGP finals
Awarded from YAGP, UK students given government funding.
Years At School
1 year
2 years
Full time or after school?
Full-Time
Curriculum
Days Per Week
6
Classes Per Day
5
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Half day
Students Per Class
10-15
Less than 10
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week
N/A
Live Music in Technique Class?
Yes
Dedicated Men's Program?
Yes
Men Taught by Male Teacher?
Yes
Men Taught Batterie?
Yes
Boys In Level
5-10
Separate Technique Class for Boys
Yes
Techniques Taught
General Classical
Technique Teacher Rotation
Usually the same every day
Did School Director Teach?
Never (school admin was NOT designated as an upper level teacher)
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
Daily technique, Pilates ,strength and conditioning, variations, virtuosity,pas,contemporary,choreography, Dancers have academics earning a diploma in Classical Ballet and Dance Performance-that includes anatomy and physiology for dancers, a study of dance history and current trends, Benesh notation.
Technique, rep includes partnering daily, weight training twice a week, includes academic study of dance, contemporary,
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
3x per week
Partner Ratio
A few girls had to share but most had their own partner.
Everyone had to share a partner.
Who Taught?
Male and female teacher together
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
This year there are fewer males. Typically there is an even number of male to female.
Learned classical and contemporary pas de deuxs ,some dancers performed pas
Additional Comments
Assessment class includes a jury including the AD and outside guests
Contemporary partnering was very helpful
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Character
Horton
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
Guest instructors from main company, and other companies
Maybe not masterclass but occasional guest artist taught
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Pilates (mat or reformer)
Weight training
Physical Training Schedule
Several times a week
Were Trainers Certified?
Yes
Physical Training Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Strength & Conditioning Comments
Very personalized, small class, dancer found the instructor extremely knowledgeable and encouraging
Male Focus weight training, jump analysis for height and quickness, endurance and stamina tested with DAFT test
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
Unsure
Yes, for everyone
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
Student told parent. School not involved
How Treatment Obtained?
dancer not injured
Physiotherapist on site and at performances
PT Available?
Yes, it is part of fees
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
Yes
Describe Recovery Plan
Email sent to technique instructor, given exercises, monitor student daily
Mental Health Therapists Available?
Yes
Yes, for everyone
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Were Students Weighed?
Unsure
Yes
Was "Coded Language" Used?
Maybe
No
Additional Comments
Sports psychologist on staff. Provided lectures to all students on varying subjects and available privately. Nutrition lectures, occasional cooking class. Rehab on site.
Students are weighed, body fat measured every term, lecture on REDS, and nutrition, recovery weekly - if dancers are too thin they are taken out of class, which can be frustrating for those naturally thin. parents notified.
Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker
Performance Opportunities
2-3
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?
No, my level typically does not perform 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
I had both types of parts
How Chosen
Students are chosen to audition by Artistic Staff
Students chosen for roles by staff - NO AUDITIONS
Was Casting Fair?
Yes
Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?
2
3
Rehearsal Hours
More than 10
Perfomance Opportunities
All level 2 dancers cast in a condensed ballet geared for younger audiences.Roles sizes vary includes main principal roles. Partnership with main company, 22 shows, full costumes. Daily tech at main company studios, male and female tech instructors present for all rehearsals directed by main company staff.
Main company Nutcracker, My First Ballet including lead roles, winter showcase( school only), summer showcase ( school only)
Were You Paid?
Yes
If Paid, Please Describe
Unsure- Payments pending
Flat fee- plus extra for one Nutcracker show that was filmed for television. Total of £2,300 for Nutcracker and My First Ballet
Competition
School Does Competitions?
No
Yes
Competitions Required?
No
How Many Compete?
Prix de Lausanne and Fonteyn by selection
% of Students Who Performed
Very select maybe 2%
How Chosen?
Qualify in the video audition
Competitions Cost Extra?
Not by the school, only the competition
Separate Competition Rehearsals?
Yes
Competition Interfered With Training?
Not affected
Communication
Formal Orientation?
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
Outside adjudicator
Exam Rubrics Clear?
Strongly agree
Strongly disagree
Who Attends Exam Meeting?
Yes, Dancer only. The meeting was with Artistic Director and 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
Respectful,
Inconsistent
Placement Notification Timing
Early spring
First of June
How Dancer Was Notified
Written communication via email or regular mail
Dancer Had Mentor?
Yes
Mentoring Details
Checked on audition status, assisted with resume, informed dancers of companies holding auditions
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 (If you chose this answer, please skip next question)
Trainee
How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level
Trainee Program is designed for students needing further training and assistance with auditions, CVS, performance skills. It is not a bridge level.Not typical U.S. trainee
How Many Come From Outside to Bridge Level?
Majority
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?
1
None
Career Support
I was not looking for new placement; was staying in program
Received some help
Describe How School Helped
Notified of auditions, had 5 ADs come to observe.
Building & Surrounding Area
Security Around Building
No
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?
Rented an apartment alone or with other dancers
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+
Career Support and Placement
B+
C+
Emotional Support
A
C+
Housing & Food
N/A
Performance Opportunities
A+
Overall Comments
Program's Best Aspect
A full, well rounded approach to studying ballet
Various types of performance opportunities
Program's Worst Aspect
The building, although it is a gorgeous residential area. No sprung floors, the school building is slated to have a small update this summer. Plans to add a new studio to existing building in upcoming year.
Other students, lack of camaraderie.
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
Add sprung floors, housing with a better transition to independent living.
Better focus on job placement- AD was not as involved as promised. Performance opportunities interfered with dancers attending job auditions.
Anything Else We Should Know?
UK dancers have completed high school by 16. All international high school studies are independent. Academics classes on site are college courses. Most days are a full 8 hours, Organization and independent life skills are a must. Skill level of incoming dancers vary more than we would like. Dancers attend all main company full production dress rehearsals.3rd year dancers are in the main company Nutcracker.
Although new AD is friendly and approachable, she frequently changes her mind and schedule. Lack of communication between instructors and AD. Friction between AD and instructor openly shared with students. Be prepared for AD favorites but doesn’t affect training.
