Oslo Academy of Arts (Norwegian Ballet upper school)

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General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent with dancer input

Program:

Oslo Academy of Arts (Norwegian Ballet upper school)

Season Attended:

2024-25

# Of Levels In School:

Three year BA program

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

More than 26 hours

Company Affliated?

Yes

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Please Describe Scholarship:

There are no scholarships available

Years At School:

1 year

Full time or after school?

Full-Time

Date Submitted:

1/19/2026

Curriculum

Days Per Week:

Classes Per Day:

Weekend Classes?

Yes

Weekend Schedule:

Half day

Students Per Class:

10-15

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

Yes

Pointe Classes Per Week:

Daily

Live Music in Technique Class?

Yes

Dedicated Men's Program?

Yes

Men Taught by Male Teacher?

Yes

Men Taught Batterie?

Yes

Boys In Level:

Less than 5

Separate Technique Class for Boys:

Yes

Techniques Taught:

Vaganova

Technique Teacher Rotation:

Usually the same every day

Did School Director Teach?

Occasionally

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:

Rigorous Russian technique taught by ex-Marinsky principal dancer. Between 3-5 dance classes per day. Minimal academics although it is a BA program. Technique, Pointe, Variations, Contemporary, Jazz, Pilates

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class:

3x per week

Partner Ratio:

Most girls had to share a partner.

Who Taught?

It varied based on the week

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:

Often taught by Joel Carrera ex-principal with Norwegian National Ballet. Excellent teaching but there are two girls to every boy so partnering is shared.

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles:

Character, Modern, Jazz

Other Class Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

Yes

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught:

Improv, Choreography workshops, Technique

Contemporary Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Master Classes?

Yes

Master Classes Description:

Bournonville technique and variations with Dina Bjorn, Masterclass with Nina Ananiashvili, Artistic director of State Ballet of Georgia.

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Yes

Physical Training Types:

Pilates (mat or reformer), Body conditioning

Physical Training Schedule:

Occasionally

Were Trainers Certified?

Some were certified and some were not depending on class

Physical Training Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Strength & Conditioning Comments:

There is a lot of pilates/conditioning at the start of the year then dancers are expected to continue daily by themselves. My daughter goes into the studio an hour before technique class to do her strength training/pilates.

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

How Parents Notified?

Student told parent. School not involved

How Treatment Obtained?

In house physio therapy who recommends Chiropractors or where to go for MRI

PT Available?

Yes, it is part of fees

Was There a Recovery Plan?

Yes

Describe Recovery Plan:

Email communication and phonecalls with my daughters teacher. Recommendations and clear explanations (my daughter needed surgery) and post surgery, daily rehab with the school director.

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Were Students Weighed?

Was "Coded Language" Used?

Additional Comments:

The school could do more to teach students about nutrition and risk of REDS etc, but there is no negative talk or body shaming.

Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker

Performance Opportunities:

School Winter Show?

Yes

Company or School Show?

Company affiliated production and the students perform certain parts

Cast in Winter Show?

Yes

How Chosen:

Chosen by school director or the company artistic staff

Winter Show Role:

Dancing part

Were You Paid?

Yes

If Paid, Please Describe:

Dancer was selected to dance Sugarplum with Bergen philharmonic. Paid per show.

Rehearsal Impact on Classes:

Rehearsal Hours:

6-10

Performance: Ballet Season

Cast in Company Productions?

Competition

School Does Competitions?

Yes

Competitions Required?

% of Students Who Performed:

40%

How Chosen?

Everyone had the opportunity to audition

Competitions Cost Extra?

Separate Competition Rehearsals?

Competition Interfered With Training?

Add. Performance experience.

Communication

Formal Orientation?

Yes

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?

Neutral

Who Attends Exam Meeting?

Yes, dancer only. The meeting was with my teachers.

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:

Encouraging, Kind, Nurturing but rigorous training.

Placement Notification Timing:

It is assumed unless you are told post exam in april.

How Dancer Was Notified:

In-person meeting with school director/staff

Dancer Had Mentor?

Mentoring Details:

Her teacher is very supportive and the pastoral care is good, but there is no formal mentoring program.

Overall School Culture:


Lord of the Flies	Warm & Inclusive

School Outcomes

Highest Levels of School?

Junior Company, There are no bridge levels (If you chose this answer, please skip next question)

How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level:

20%

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?

None

Career Support:

I was not looking for new placement; was staying in program

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?

Rented an apartment alone or with other dancers

Academics

How Did Academics Work?

Integrated

Academic Support:

Students attended in person classes provided by school

Did the School Support Academics?


Didn't support	Definitely supported

Overall Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction:

A+

Career Support and Placement:

A-

Emotional Support:

Housing & Food:

Performance Opportunities:

Overall Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

Excellent teachers. Kinder program than many others. very small classes (6 girls, 3 boys)

Program's Worst Aspect:

Not enough guidence on nutrition.

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

More nutrition!

Anything Else We Should Know?

This is not a school with a big name but the training is excellent. Last years graduates went to StaatsBallett Berlin, Norwegian National ballet, Sophia State ballet, Georgia state ballet, and others. Fees are very expensive for non-EU dancers. EU dancers are free.

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