BALLET HELP DESK

Full-Time Training Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 99
Total Reviews: 393

Kansas City Ballet

Full-Time Reviews

General

Who is Reviewing?

2
2
4

Program

8

Season Attended

2
1
1
3
1

# Of Levels In School

  • "3 daytime levels"
  • "Daytime levels are 1-4 (Trainees and second company are considered part of the main company)"
  • "4 daytime levels and trainees"
  • "4 school levels in pre pro, plus trainee and 2nd company"
  • "4 Daytime +trainees"
  • "Pre-Professional Daytime (full-time) has levels 1-4"
  • "4"
  • "Daytime levels 1-4"

Level Dancer Was In

  • "Daytime 3"
  • "Level 4 day time program"
  • "Daytime level 3"
  • "Daytime 1(PrePro)"
  • "Daytime 4"
  • "Pre-Professional Daytime"
  • "Highest"
  • "Day time level 4…highest level"

Dancer Age

1
1
1
2
2
1

Hours of Dance Each Week

1
1
1
1

Gender

8

Company Affliated?

8

Was Student Scholarshipped?

4
4

Please Describe Scholarship

  • "A partial scholarship. It was awarded by the school from the previous year 2021-2022. Did not have scholarships the 1st year in the program. It covered some of the tuition."
  • "Based on financial need and covered tuition, only dance in this level from out of town so not sure about other dancers"
  • "Partial tuition"
  • "We were never told how merit scholarships were determined."

Years At School

2
2
2

Full time or after school?

4

Curriculum

Days Per Week

8

Classes Per Day

8

Weekend Classes?

8

Weekend Schedule

1
7

Students Per Class

4
2
2

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

8

Pointe Classes Per Week

2
3
3

Live Music in Technique Class?

8

Dedicated Men's Program?

1
1
6

Men Taught by Male Teacher?

1
2

Men Taught Batterie?

1
2

Boys In Level

7
1

Separate Technique Class for Boys

5
1
1

Techniques Taught

2
8
3

Technique Teacher Rotation

8

Did School Director Teach?

1
3
3
1

Classroom Corrections

3
4
1

Attention From Teachers

Very Little
2
1
2
3
A Lot

Quality of Instruction

Poor
1
3
4
Excellent

Did Technique Improve?

Not at all
1
1
3
3
Tremendously

Curriculum Comments

  • "We had teachers from many different backgrounds and careers, so we got various styles of training. We had 4 classes a day, usually Ballet, then pointe or pas de deux and after lunch we would have 2 classes of either a variations, weight training for women, pilates, reformer, yoga or modern/contemporary."
  • "4-5 classes a day Pilates once a week Variations one a week Pointe class. Twice a week Technique class daily Pas de deux once a week..( when 2nd co men were available ) Contemporary/improve/ contemporary ballet Jazz/ character/ flamenco once a week"
  • "3-4 depending on day, technique, pointe, partnering, contemporary ballet, variations, yoga, modern, mat, coda"
  • "Mon: Technique, Pointe, Semi private rotation, reformer or mat, Rep Tues: Technique, Pointe, Flamenco, PBT Wed: Technique, Pointe, Modern, Seminar Thurs: Technique with Centre Pointe, Variations, Conditioning, Contemporary, Jazz, Fri: Technique, Pointe/Pas, Improv, Yoga"
  • "Daily technique and pointe. 1x week: variations, pas de deux, contemporary, coda, repertoire/corps de ballet. On rotation: flamenco/character (by semester), PBT/Ballet Private (2 girls have private per week), choreography/ballet coaching (weekly), contemporary ballet 1x month, reformer/mat pilates (2 weeks)."
  • "My female dancer is in Pre Professional Daytime at KCBS. They have daily ballet class for 90 mins, and 30-45 min pointe class every morning of the week. After lunch is a variety of classes depending on the day ranging from Modern, Contemporary, Improv, Flamenco, Technique, Repertory, Mat/stretch and Yoga."
  • "Afternoon classes were weak. Often a study hall or a lecture. Schedule is not challenging. Too many breaks, not enough focus on training at a high level."
  • "Technique and pointe each day, PBT, Yoga, Reformer, Variations, Coda, Contemporary, Partnering, and Modern round out the week."

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class

6
2

Partner Ratio

2
5
1

Who Taught?

1
1
6

How Much Partnering Improved

No
1
1
2
4
Tremendously

Quality of Pas Teaching

Poor
1
1
5
1
Excellent

How Were Corrections Given?

6
1
1

Description of Partnering Class

  • "I was in the highest daytime level, so once a week we had class with the daytime men, 4-6 boys with 8 girls, and once a week we had class with the trainee men, where each girl had their own partner."
  • "Few partners available. Would use 2nd co men when they were available. This particular year there were no boys on the program for level 4. Previous year there was only 2 . This is an area of needed improvement. (I would say the school is working on it )"
  • "All daytime boys and trainees do the partnering class"
  • "Fridays: One boy and five girls in class"
  • "5 men in daytime, had trainees when they were available. Most guys had 1-3 partners depending on attendance."
  • "Over the years my dancer has had partnering weekly. They have learned basic techniques and they rotate the girls through the very few (between 2-4) guys that attended the classes."
  • "Not enough boys, girls had to dance with girls"
  • "The boys were not typically strong in partnering technique but the teacher was helpful."

Additional Comments

  • "I enjoyed both classes with daytime and trainee"
  • "N/A"
  • "It becomes advanced pretty quickly"
  • "Previous school did not have partnering so she improved a lot"
  • "Most girls were assigned the same partner week to week, but content was very advanced. Did many complicated lifts and turns from repertoire."
  • "Not enough boys to justify the class."
  • "My student did suffer a concussion from partnering accident."

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles

1
5
1
1
1
3
1
7
7
1

Other Class Quality

Poor
2
1
2
3
Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

8

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught

2
8
5
6

Contemporary Quality

Poor
2
2
4
Excellent

Master Classes?

4
4

Master Classes Description

  • "Choreographers working with the company would tech classes while they were in the city (ex. Durante Verzola, Maria Konrad, Duncan Cooper)"
  • "Once a year"
  • "Joffrey and other guest teachers throughout the year"
  • "Occasionally with company guest choreographers, this year including peter chu and duncan cooper."

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

8

Physical Training Types

6
2
1
8
7
4
1
8

Physical Training Schedule

2
4
2

Were Trainers Certified?

1
6

Physical Training Quality

Poor
2
3
3
Excellent

Strength & Conditioning Comments

  • "I love all the strength and conditioning classes, and they each have helped my ballet technique"
  • "They were challenging in a good way"
  • "Reformer was on rotation , maybe once a month"
  • "Students were allowed access to reformer machines 3-4 times a semester unless they paid extra."

Injuries / Health / Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

7
1

How Parents Notified?

6
2

How Treatment Obtained?

  • "They would offer recommendations"
  • "On your own, no help or support from school"
  • "We took her to her pediatrician."

PT Available?

2
1
1
4

Was There a Recovery Plan?

4
3
1

Describe Recovery Plan

  • "Last year I worked with the school PT recovering from stress fractures"
  • "PT was unhelpful, gave barely any exercises and just said to rest."
  • "None and pt sessions were very short and limited, dancer would sign up even if they didn’t need it"
  • "Eventually one of the teachers told her to take a break for a week and just watch. No real plan was developed but a few teachers did check in with her."

Mental Health Therapists Available?

6
2

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

7
1

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

5
1
2

Were Students Weighed?

8

Was "Coded Language" Used?

1
5
2

Additional Comments

  • "Several mental health professionals came in during seminar throughout the year"
  • "Very weak. No help. Often dancers helped drive other dancer to appointments. Zero mental health offerings. Even worse when Lauren and Fran left."
  • "My daughter was bullied repeatedly by other students and teachers ignored it. Previous teachers who are no longer there but are actually program directors at two well known ballet schools told our daughter she would never dance successfully because of her body type. NOT FRAN AND LAUREN…they were extremely supportive…but the damage was done before they arrived. The current administrator has also dismissed our daughter because of her body type."

Performances: Winter Show / Nutcracker

Performance Opportunities

6
2

School Winter Show?

8

Company or School Show?

8

Cast in Winter Show?

8

How Chosen

8

Winter Show Role

1
6
1

Were You Paid?

8

If Paid, Please Describe

  • "No payment, but pointe shoes were provided"
  • "Na"

Rehearsal Impact on Classes

Disruptions
1
2
1
No Impact

Rehearsal Hours

1
1
2

Performance: Ballet Season

Cast in Company Productions?

3
5

Kind of Part Given?

4
1

How Chosen

3
2

Was Casting Fair?

1
4

Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?

Disruptions
1
3
1
No Impact

Rehearsal Hours

1
1

Perfomance Opportunities

  • "I danced in Swan Lake and The Nutcracker with the company. The school has its own Kansas City Youth Ballet that performs twice a year, as well as a new choreographic workshop and an end-of-year show."
  • "Participated in the company performance as a student. Nutcracker and Cinderella. Small parts ,but mostly dancing. Some standing . Some student mostly all of the daytime program included some “evening pre-pro student “were invited to participate in the Kansas City Youth ballet. Two 1hr long productions Fall/spring. Excerpt from a classical ballet and two contemporary pieces. The rehearsal were held after class twice a week and weekend. (This was not included in tuition and was an added fee) Also was an end of year program for all students"
  • "Wonderful opportunities this year with bigger parts in company productions and end of the year school show."
  • "Returning students allowed to audition for alice in wonderland, some students allowed to audition for don q. Audition only available for those in the height limit."
  • "Usually 1-2 show with pointe role per year in addition to Nutcracker."

Were You Paid?

5

If Paid, Please Describe

  • "pointe shoes paid for"

Competition

School Does Competitions?

8

Competitions Required?

8

How Many Compete?

  • "All pre professional students could complete they wanted."
  • "Quite a few"
  • "All can do ensemble and contemporary, older ones variations unless had previously done variations before coming to the school"
  • "Around 8-10 are invited to participate"

% of Students Who Performed

  • "25%"
  • "N/A"
  • "30%"
  • "80%"
  • "10%"
  • "50%"
  • "Very few"
  • "3/16"

How Chosen?

  • "You let the school staff know if you'd be interested and they tell you in the first two weeks"
  • "They did send invite from the director, all student were invited"
  • "They ask you to participate"
  • "Students indicate interest, school principals/director make decisions"
  • "Students asked for interest and then chosen by school director"
  • "The director must select you for competition, if you are interested (we passed this year due to budget)"
  • "You requested if you wanted to participate, they picked"
  • "Only certain students were allowed to compete."

Competitions Cost Extra?

Repeated Responses:
  • "Yes" (2 responses)
Unique Responses:
  • "Yes . Fee for the space and instruction. Rehearsal were worked in around lunch breaks and right after last class of the day .A separate fee for contemporary was paid to the choreographer."
  • "yes for privates"
  • "Rehearsal fee, choreographer fee for contemporary (if applicable), costume rental fee (if applicable)."
  • "Yes, many. It varies but the school does YAGP and UBC and the fees for each include instructor coaching as well as competition entry fees. Then there are costume and location/travel fees as well."
  • "Yes, solos, comp fees, etc"
  • "ABSOLUTELY!!! The few times we competed we spent thousands of dollars on lessons, costumes, competition fees, travel fees."

Separate Competition Rehearsals?

8

Competition Interfered With Training?

  • "I elected to not compete"
  • "Add , the one on one training and the opportunity to perform is alway good for training and overall improvement"
  • "We did it the prior year and it was wonderful but we chose not to last year because we were involved in the company shows."
  • "Rehearsals held directly after school or during lunch"
  • "Added, 1-2x week private lesson with a teacher."
  • "Add. But it can be very costly to do many pieces."
  • "Neither"
  • "Honestly it depended on who coached. When Lauren and Fran were there it was beneficial…at least the training was beneficial. It was bad for self esteem though!"

Communication

Formal Orientation?

2
2
4

Handboook & Paperwork

1
3
2
2

Quality of Communication?

Poor
1
1
3
3
Excellent

Who Received Communication?

1
6
1

Exams

Formal Exam?

3
5

Written Feedback?

1
4

Exam Adjudicator

5

Exam Rubrics Clear?

1
2
2

Who Attends Exam Meeting?

4
1

Well Prepared For Exam?

Not at all
2
1
2
Completely

How Heavily Did Exams Weigh in Promotions

Not at all
1
2
2
Heavily

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?

Not
2
1
5
Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?

Not
1
1
5
1
Completely

Describe School Culture

  • "Elevating, Inspiring, Motivating"
  • "Positive and has the student best interest in mind"
  • "Positive and accepting"
  • "Supportive, kind, encouraging"
  • "supportive, good energy"
  • "Midwestern pre-professional whole dancer training"
  • "Lacking"
  • "The competitiveness and back biting were incredibly intense! Teachers were absolutely aware of it and did not acknowledge it. Local mothers of dancers were ridiculously involved and the last two directors of the school seemed to listen to them regarding casting and scholarships. The girls in upper levels all had eating disorders but no one seemed to care. My daughter could not wait to get away from the day time program!"

Placement Notification Timing

  • "I was told I would be a Junior Trainee for this season in April"
  • "With the end in year evaluation"
  • "June"
  • "End of summer"
  • "after summer intensives"
  • "And the end of term after the last class"
  • "Haven’t been notified as of May"
  • "Actually we were notified just before school started and placement was changed due to a breach in what was supposed to be private conversations because the results were leaked by a student living with staff."

How Dancer Was Notified

2
2

Dancer Had Mentor?

4

Mentoring Details

  • "A company dancer who I knew previously"
  • "We had to seek out the mentorship and private lessons from a trusted instructor. The school itself did not provide anything and has become even less transparent after the new director has been implemented."
  • "Lauren, when she left, no mentoring"
  • "Many professionals were somewhat mentoring to our daughter."

Overall School Culture

Cold & Exclusive
2
2
4
Warm & Inclusive

School Outcomes

Is Student In Upper Levels?

1
3

Highest Levels of School?

2
1
3

How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level

1
2
1
2

How Many Come From Outside to Bridge Level?

1
1
1

Where Graduates Who Do Not Get Bridge Level Go

2
2
2

How Many Left and Went to College?

1
1
1
1
2

How Many Grads Went Directly to Company Job?

4
2

Career Support

3
1
3

Describe How School Helped

  • "I was looking at trainee positions and college programs, I received advice and letters of recommendation from teachers"
  • "Meeting with individual students and class seminars with guest speaker."
  • "Lauren was helpful, after that very little help. The absence was felt. People will t as if it wasn’t, but they are just worried about placement etc."

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building

1
7

Safety of Area Around School?

Not Safe
3
2
3
Extremely Safe

Studio Space

Cramped
5
3
Lots of space

Studio Cleanliness

Dirty
2
6
Spotless

Housing

Was Housing Provided?

7

Did Dancer Stay in Provided Housing?

1

Where Did Dancer Live?

3
3
1

Academics

How Did Academics Work?

8

Academic Support

1
7

Did the School Support Academics?

Didn't support
2
1
3
1
1
Definitely supported

Overall Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction

3
1
2
1
1

Career Support and Placement

2
2
1
1
1
1

Emotional Support

2
2
1
2
1

Housing & Food

1
7

Performance Opportunities

3
2
1
1
1

Overall Comments

Program's Best Aspect

  • "The direct connection with a strong company"
  • "The teacher and a positive environment"
  • "Performance opportunities"
  • "The teachers, opportunities to dance in performances, communication"
  • "Teachers are very knowledgable and push the students to be the best. The class environment is very supportive and everyone pushes each other."
  • "When we began this program the instruction was top notch. More was expected of the students and more corrections were given with intent these students would succeed in their ballet careers. With the new leadership this year, there has been consistently less improvement for many of the students(not just mine), more rules and regulations that make everything even more difficult, and less quality instruction overall. The focus has switched from the students being exposed to many types of dance and focus on individual improvement, to if they are following the arbitrary rules to a T (relating to hair styles, pointe ribbons or water breaks). We are disappointed and hope that things can turn around and get back on track with a focus on ALL the dancers improvement and advancement in ballet."
  • "Lauren and Fran"
  • "Kim Cowen and Dimitri Trubchanov…Fran and Lauren though their time was brief. And performance opportunities with the company were wonderful! Devon Carney is great!"

Program's Worst Aspect

  • "No saturday class for daytime program (although we always had rehearsal for something)"
  • "Lack of male dancers"
  • "A few of the teachers are weak, and sometimes I wish the program held the kids more accountable"
  • "Lack of housing"
  • "Some poor communication and some tense environment within administration"
  • "The above mentioned rules and regulations that are turning away quality instructors as well as many of the student body finding places elsewhere. This year in particular we have found the instruction less helpful in advancing my daughter’s technique and skills."
  • "Oliver and lack of communication, leadership. The community was never built. Very little action to get to know dancers."
  • "School directors and a few mean teachers…Grace Holmes, Oliver Till, Rachel Nye"

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

  • "More balanchine training"
  • "A better housing situation."
  • "For the daytime kids, I would like to see one on one conferences about goals and next steps."
  • "Dorms available"
  • "Better communication, more ballet-based classes, more support on next steps/auditioning."
  • "The upper management to recognize that the primary focus needs to be on the dancers overall health, wellbeing and advancement of skills, not on arbitrary rules and blind “accountability” when the management is lacking their own accountability."
  • "Better leadership and communication."
  • "Honestly, we are graduating this year and just happy to get away. My daughter devoted her life to KCBS and KCB and many teachers appreciated her hard work. However, especially Oliver still came in and ruined our daughter’s self esteem but completely dismissing her. She quit day time this year and moved to evening classes to maintain her mental health."

Anything Else We Should Know?

  • "You truly get out what you put into it. Those who work their hardest and apply corrections get the benefits."
  • "The schedule can be overwhelming if you participate in everything. Sometimes there would be Nutcracker, Youth ballet and yagp rehearsals all around the same time. Can be hard to balances with academic."
  • "It’s a warm and inviting place"
  • "The end of year exam is an evaluation class done by an instructor who is not one of their daily teachers. Housing accommodations are hard to find for younger students, I would wait till dancer is old enough to live in an apartment before sending. Transportation at younger ages is also an issue if you do not live with a dance host family or other students."
  • "It’s a great place with friendly students and most of the teachers are friendly and helpful. Kansas City is a vibrant city that values the arts more and more every year. We value the tie to the company and the quality of the school is very good, even with our minor concerns about recent changes in management and rules. The ability to see the company practice on a daily basis, and the possibility to be included in some performances with them is also quite valuable."
  • "I’d suggest attending if you are looking for basic training. The program has gone downhill. If you are from a small town school, you might find it rewarding. If you came from a strong program, it’s lacking in all areas. They’ll say you can audition to all company performances, but all of them have height requirements and are mostly short children roles. Great for short young dancers, but older dancers looking for performance experience will not get it here. The youth ballet it ok, but the standard is not set high enough. They do perform extra, but it’s not high level."
  • "Rarely are students promoted to trainee from the school. RARELY!"
Reviews
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Age: 18, FemaleInstruction A+
Placement A-
Performance A+
Attended 2025-26
Age: 15, FemaleInstruction A-
Placement B-
Performance C
Attended 2024-25
Age: 17, FemaleInstruction D
Placement C
Performance C-
Attended 2024-25
Age: 16, FemaleInstruction B+
Placement D
Performance A
Attended 2024-25
Age: 17, FemaleInstruction A
Placement B+
Performance B
Attended 2024-2025
Age: 13, FemaleInstruction A+
Placement A-
Performance A+
Attended 2023-24
Age: 16, FemaleInstruction A+
Placement B+
Performance A
Attended 2022-23
Age: 14, FemaleInstruction A-
Placement B
Performance A+
Attended 2022-23