The scholarship covered a full year of tuition. Each year, one student from the upper academy is awarded a full tuition scholarship for the following year.
Years At School
1 year
Full time or after school?
Full-Time
Curriculum
Days Per Week
5
6
Classes Per Day
4
5
Weekend Classes?
No
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Half day
I did not have weekend class
Students Per Class
16-24
Less than 10
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week
Daily
Live Music in Technique Class?
Yes
Dedicated Men's Program?
No
Unsure
Men Taught by Male Teacher?
Yes
Men Taught Batterie?
Unsure
Boys In Level
Less than 5
Separate Technique Class for Boys
No
Yes
Techniques Taught
General Classical
Technique Teacher Rotation
The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule
Usually the same every day
Did School Director Teach?
Always
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
There is no one particular style taught, but there aren't any Balanchine teachers so that particular style isn't really taught. They get Contemporary, Jazz and Modern in addition to Technique, Pointe and Variations and/or Repertoire.
Attention and corrections were evenly distributed between the males and females
Description of Partnering Class
1-2x a week, men from NB 2 (trainees or second company) worked with the PTD dancers
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Character
Jazz
Modern
Musical Theater
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Choreography workshops
Improv
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
No
Yes
Master Classes Description
If there is a guest visiting the studios (that I assume is willing to teach), they will offer a master class. It's not a regular thing, but occasionally those opportunities do arise.
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
No
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Pilates (mat or reformer)
Stretch class
Physical Training Schedule
Once or twice a week
Were Trainers Certified?
Some were certified and some were not depending on class
Physical Training Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
No
How Parents Notified?
School called parent
Student told parent. School not involved
How Treatment Obtained?
Call your doctor and/or make an appointment with a PT. A list of preferred providers is available, but actually scheduling is up to individual dancers and/or parents of dancers.
My dancer is above 18 and a driver. She was able to obtain medical treatment from area providers.
PT Available?
No
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
Yes
Describe Recovery Plan
Everyone did as the PT suggested and didn't pressure her to do anything beyond that.
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?
No
Additional Comments
They were very understanding and supportive of taking care of dancer's mental and physical. As a parent, I was very impressed
Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker
Performance Opportunities
2-3
4-5
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
Chosen by school director or the company artistic staff
Winter Show Role
Dancing part
I had both types of parts
Were You Paid?
No
Rehearsal Impact on Classes
2
Rehearsal Hours
1-2
Performance: Ballet Season
Cast in Company Productions?
No
Competition
School Does Competitions?
Yes
Competitions Required?
No
How Many Compete?
It depends, but they are selected
% of Students Who Performed
20%
Most, but not all, of Daytime Group
How Chosen?
Dancers can request to participate
Unclear
Competitions Cost Extra?
You pay for a package that includes a set number of rehearsals and the option to borrow a costume. You are responsible for registration & fees of the competition, as well as any additional rehearsals outside the set number provided.
Yes. Unknown re: the fees since my dancers did not participate
Separate Competition Rehearsals?
Yes
Competition Interfered With Training?
Did not impact
No
Communication
Formal Orientation?
Unsure
Yes
Handboook & Paperwork
Fairly comprehensive but missing a few pieces
Quality of Communication?
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Who Received Communication?
With dancers only. Parents not involved
With parents and students
Exams
Formal Exam?
No
Yes
Written Feedback?
Yes
Exam Adjudicator
Internal
Exam Rubrics Clear?
Neutral
Who Attends Exam Meeting?
No
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
Supportive, mostly.
Nurturing, Intense training, Quality, Accepting
Placement Notification Timing
April
Mid-march
How Dancer Was Notified
In-person meeting with school director/staff
Dancer Had Mentor?
Yes
Mentoring Details
My dancer felt very comfortable approaching Directors with question and requesting a meeting if needed more guidance
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?
Trainee, Post- Graduate/Graduate
Trainee, Post- Graduate/Graduate, Second Company
How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level
2-4
Unsure
How Many Come From Outside to Bridge Level?
10-15
Where Graduates Who Do Not Get Bridge Level Go
A few find positions elsewhere but most leave ballet
All find bridge level positions at other ballet schools
How Many Left and Went to College?
0
Unsure
Career Support
I was not looking for new placement; was staying in program
Received some help
Describe How School Helped
They met with my dancer to discuss goals and made some recommendations. Offered a spreadsheet with info on companies, example of resume. My dancer was fairly certain she wanted to stay for a 2nd year of the PTD
Building & Surrounding Area
Security Around Building
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?
No
Where Did Dancer Live?
Lived at home
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
A+
Career Support and Placement
B
C
Emotional Support
A
Housing & Food
N/A
Performance Opportunities
B
Overall Comments
Program's Best Aspect
Quality of training, positive environment, support of faculty
The staff - my daughter has grown so much with their guidance.
Program's Worst Aspect
Communication from the administrative staff leave much to be desired.
Size, Performance opportunities, limited promotion to Trainee/2nd company of the Company
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
I wish they would promote from within instead of recruiting so heavily from competitions and other auditions. In particular, I feel strongly that most - if not all, NB2 spots should be filled with current PD students. Same going from NB2 to Company Apprentice. While there is much talk of NB's mission to cultivate talent from within, the reality is that most academy student's do not continue to PD after graduation and most Professional Division students do not continue to NB2.
The name -- PTD really functions like a Trainee program at other schools. Opportunities to perform/be pulled up into Company productions other than Nutcracker
Anything Else We Should Know?
The staff is tremendous. If you are looking to grow as a dancer, NB will help you do that - just don't expect that training to lead to a job offer with Nashville Ballet.
