For the preprofessional program there are 2 levels. Many other levels outside of PPD
There are 2 groups of PPD students and according to the school they are grouped randomly, but I suspect there is some sort of criteria they are using to group them.
PTD (A and B)
Dancer Age
14
15
17
Hours of Dance Each Week
21-25 hours
Gender
Female
Company Affliated?
No
Was Student Scholarshipped?
No
Years At School
1 year
2 years
Full time or after school?
Full-Time
Curriculum
Days Per Week
6
Classes Per Day
3
4
5
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Half day
Students Per Class
10-15
16-24
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week
3
4
Live Music in Technique Class?
No
Dedicated Men's Program?
Yes
Men Taught by Male Teacher?
Yes
Men Taught Batterie?
Unsure
Boys In Level
5-10
Less than 5
Separate Technique Class for Boys
No
Yes
Techniques Taught
Vaganova
Technique Teacher Rotation
The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule
Did School Director Teach?
Always
Never (school admin was NOT designated as an upper level teacher)
Classroom Corrections
Dancer specific: almost every dancer got specific corrections each day
Dancer specific: detailed but only a few dancers consistently got corrections
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
1.5 hour technique, pointe and men’s class, lunch, 1.5 technique/varations, modern, and then rotates between jazz, character, stretch
Daily Technique Class, once or twice per week they had 2 technique classes per day, pointe classes 3x week, Character 1x week, rep/variations 1x week, acting class 1x week, stretch/condition 1x week, men had a separate men's class 2x week, jazz 1x week, modern 1x week. During show and competition timeframes, there were almost daily rehearsals and also rehearsals for shows on Saturday.
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
1x per week
3x per week
Partner Ratio
Everyone had to share a partner.
Most girls had to share a partner.
Who Taught?
It varied based on the week
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
Led by a professional male dancer.
Everyone had to share a partner because there were not enough boys. Dancer found the partnering class to be a good challenge and felt they learned a lot.
rotating partners
Additional Comments
Wish it was even more frequent.
No
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Character
Jazz
Modern
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
No
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Repertoire
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
No
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Stretch class
Physical Training Schedule
Once or twice a week
Were Trainers Certified?
No
Some were certified and some were not depending on class
Yes
Physical Training Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Strength & Conditioning Comments
No
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
No
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
Parent was informed same day, in person
Student told parent. School not involved
How Treatment Obtained?
Lots of medical opportunities in the community
PT
School did recommend a PT and parent scheduled all appointments.
PT Available?
No
Was There a Recovery Plan?
No
Yes
Describe Recovery Plan
Partnered with PT
Mental Health Therapists Available?
No
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Unsure
Were Students Weighed?
No
Was "Coded Language" Used?
Maybe
No
Yes
Additional Comments
They do bring in Carolina Wellness to discuss the importance of eating enough calories for your body.
No
School partners with 2 PT clinics
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
Audition
Winter Show Role
Dancing part
Were You Paid?
No
Rehearsal Impact on Classes
2
Rehearsal Hours
6-10
Performance: Ballet Season
Cast in Company Productions?
Yes
Kind of Part Given?
Dancing part
I had both types of parts
How Chosen
All students allowed to audition
All students allowed to AUDITION
Students are chosen to audition by Artistic Staff
Was Casting Fair?
Yes
Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?
2
3
4
Rehearsal Hours
6-10
Perfomance Opportunities
2 shows plus competition (optional)
Nutcracker and a spring show
Nutcracker, spring show
Were You Paid?
No
Competition
School Does Competitions?
Yes
Competitions Required?
No
How Many Compete?
As many as qualify
Not sure there is a definite number, I think if you wanted to compete you could
% of Students Who Performed
40% of PPD
70
75
How Chosen?
Discussion with the director/ instructors
I am not aware of a formal selection process
student choice
Competitions Cost Extra?
Coaching fees
Yes. Fees for the coaches for setting the variations and also for rehearsing them. Costume cost, travel Cost, registration fees.
Yes coaching and travel fees
Separate Competition Rehearsals?
Yes
Competition Interfered With Training?
Add,, more 1:1 time
Added, sometimes it was busy if there was also a show being worked on, but overall I think it added value.
added training time with teachers
Communication
Formal Orientation?
No
Yes
Handboook & Paperwork
Adequate but missing several key pieces
Fairly comprehensive but missing a few pieces
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
Strong, professional
Inclusive, caring,
inclusive, structured
Placement Notification Timing
It’s a bit different because of being in PPD. Told the level within 2 weeks of start.
Unsure as we have not been notified yet in May. I assume it will be at the start of the next year.
spring
How Dancer Was Notified
In-person meeting with school director/staff
Dancer Had Mentor?
Yes
Mentoring Details
informal but can schedule meetings as needed with teachers
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
There are no bridge levels (If you chose this answer, please skip next question)
How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level
Na
No bridge level
How Many Come From Outside to Bridge Level?
NA
No bridge level
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 or 2 I think
90%
About 10%
Career Support
I was not looking for new placement; was staying in program
Received some help
Describe How School Helped
helped with audition video and reviewed some offers
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?
Yes
Did Dancer Stay in Provided Housing?
No
Yes
Where Did Dancer Live?
Lived at home
Type of Housing Provided:
Apartment of some type
Boarding house
Housing Minimum Age
na
# of Roommates:
1
Adequate # of RA's?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Absolutely
Type of Bathrooms:
One big bathroom on the floor
Curfew?
Yes
Curfew Reasonable?
Yes
Nightly Room Check?
No
Dorm Strictness
Extremely Lax
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely Strict
How Infractions Handled?
Fair
How Roommate Issues Handled?
N/A
Housing Cleanliness
Dirty
1
2
3
4
5
Spotless
Students Required to Clean Room?
Yes
Laundry Available?
Yes
Laundry Free?
Yes
Evening Activities?
No
A/C In Room?
Yes
Weekend Outings?
No
Transportation Between Housing and Studios?
house mom drove
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?
Yes
Dancer w/ Dietary Needs?
Yes
What Were Needs?
vegetarian
Dietary Needs Met?
4
Academics
How Did Academics Work?
Separate e.g. online, independent study, etc.
Academic Support
Students were required to attend study hours regularly
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
A+
B-
Emotional Support
A
A-
B+
Housing & Food
A-
B
N/A
Performance Opportunities
A
A+
B
Overall Comments
Program's Best Aspect
Quality of training
The training and the teachers
Program's Worst Aspect
Strict, and that could be off putting to some students. My student thrived with the structure
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
NA
Student - It would be nice to have really solid contemporary training in addition to modern. Parent - feedback from school on how student is doing at least once per year.
