Eugene Ballet Academy

#1 of 1

General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent with dancer input

Program:

Eugene Ballet Academy

Season Attended:

2024-25

# Of Levels In School:

6 levels, LEvel 6X is pre-pro (right below aspirant). Post graduate there is an Aspirant level, usually a 2 year program

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

21-25 hours

Company Affliated?

Yes

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Yes

Please Describe Scholarship:

My son was offered a full tuition scholarship. I do not know if this is the norm.

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:

16-24

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

Yes

Pointe Classes Per Week:

Live Music in Technique Class?

Dedicated Men's Program?

Men Taught by Male Teacher?

Yes

Men Taught Batterie?

Yes

Boys In Level:

Less than 5

Separate Technique Class for Boys:

Techniques Taught:

General Classical

Technique Teacher Rotation:

Usually the same every day

Did School Director Teach?

Never (school admin was a designated upper level teacher)

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:

I'm going to speak to the requirements of the advanced ballet and pre-professional track requirements for level 6 and 6X (6X requires additional training commitment and performance opportunities). Level 6 technique classes are offered 6 days a week, with students in the pre professional track required to take a minimum of 4 classes. Pointe level 6 is offered 3 days a week (required to take 2). Men's class is offered one day a week. Partnering class is offered one day a week. Variations class level 6X (only higher pre pro) is offered one day a week. Level 6 Modern and Jazz are both offered once a week. Level 6 conditioning class is once a week The following are combined level 5/6 and offered once a week: contemporary ballet, lyrical, tap, acro and hip hop. Eugene Ballet Youth performance group training is 2 hours one day a week For class schedule, here is link: https://www.eugeneballet.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025-2026-Class-Schedule-Level-6.pdf

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class:

1x per week

Partner Ratio:

Most girls had to share a partner.

Who Taught?

Male 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:

Company men take part in the Pax de Deux class every week, so male students are able to have excellent role models and female students are able to partner with company members.

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles:

Modern, Jazz, Hip-Hop

Other Class Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

Yes

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught:

Technique

Contemporary Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Master Classes?

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Yes

Physical Training Types:

Body conditioning

Physical Training Schedule:

Once or twice a week

Were Trainers Certified?

Physical Training Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

How Parents Notified?

Student told parent. School not involved

How Treatment Obtained?

Going to own PT or medical doctor

PT Available?

Was There a Recovery Plan?

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Were Students Weighed?

Was "Coded Language" Used?

Additional Comments:

The good: There is an intentional culture shift around body positivity in the last several years. The not so good: injuries and recovery is left up to the individual and the family to decide without much guidance

Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker

Performance Opportunities:

2-3

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

Winter Show Role:

Dancing part

Were You Paid?

Rehearsal Impact on Classes:

Rehearsal Hours:

3-5

Performance: Ballet Season

Cast in Company Productions?

Yes

Kind of Part Given?

I had both types of parts

How Chosen:

Some students are chosen to AUDITION by Artistic Staff

Was Casting Fair?

Yes

Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?

Rehearsal Hours:

6-10

Perfomance Opportunities:

Nutcracker performance with the company, with dancing roles (but main roles are danced by company members). 2-3 Performance opportunities with the company, most with actual dancing roles 2 performance opportunities through the Eugene Ballet Youth performance group 1 end of year show

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?

Yes

Written Feedback?

Exam Adjudicator:

Internal

Exam Rubrics Clear?

Disagree

Who Attends Exam Meeting?

Well Prepared For Exam?


Not at all	Completely

How Heavily Did Exams Weigh in Promotions:


Not at all	Heavily

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?


Not	Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?


Not	Completely

Describe School Culture:

Supportive with high expectations

Placement Notification Timing:

End of school year

How Dancer Was Notified:

Written communication via email or regular mail

Dancer Had Mentor?

Yes

Mentoring Details:

Excellent mentoring! Most ballet classes are taught by company members and they most have been very supportive both in and out of class. They are willing to talk to students about career goals and help guide their choices for intensives and other opportunities. There is no former mentoring.

Overall School Culture:


Lord of the Flies	Warm & Inclusive

School Outcomes

Highest Levels of School?

Trainee

How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level:

10%

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?

20%

Career Support:

Received some help

Describe How School Helped:

Feedback and mentoring throughout the year and then a meeting with the director

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:

A+

Overall Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

The small classes, supportive atmosphere, personal feedback, connections with the company and lots of performance opportunities. Company members teach most of the classes and my student was able to take part in several company productions with actual dancing roles. I also appreciated the working relationship the school had with other studios. My dancer was able to take advanced tap and additional modern/contemporary classes with another studio that he's been with since he was 5. My dancer also took occasional classes and performance opportunities with a local small dance company and EBA was very supportive.

Program's Worst Aspect:

The limited mens classes. Limited contemporary ballet opportunities.

Anything Else We Should Know?

If your dancer wants a professional career, EBA can get them there! Most dancers in Eugene are local and so aren't aiming for a professional career (which also means it was hard to give a 'grade' for this in the question below.). For students who want a professional career, EBA has an excellent track record.

Loading…