"Starts young 8 or 9 with no postgraduate. Although there is a junior company now."
"6 ( but there is also a six month stage for the youngest students that is only the second half of the school year)"
Level Dancer Was In
"2nd Div"
"2nd Division (second highest level)"
Dancer Age
15
16
Hours of Dance Each Week
16-20 hours
21-25 hours
Company Affliated?
Yes
Was Student Scholarshipped?
No
Please Describe Scholarship
"The school is free for EU citizens and does not provide merit scholarships to international students. As an EU citizen who was not boarding, the only costs were for daily lunch which is required."
Years At School
1 year
2 years
Full time or after school?
Full-Time
Curriculum
Days Per Week
5
Classes Per Day
2
Weekend Classes?
No
Weekend Schedule
I did not have weekend class
Students Per Class
10-15
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week
N/A
Live Music in Technique Class?
Yes
Dedicated Men's Program?
Yes
Men Taught by Male Teacher?
Yes
Men Taught Batterie?
No
Unsure
Boys In Level
11-15
Separate Technique Class for Boys
Yes
Techniques Taught
General Classical
Technique Teacher Rotation
Usually the same every day
Did School Director Teach?
Never (school admin was NOT designated as an upper level teacher)
Classroom Corrections
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
"French style training specific to the Paris Opera Ballet"
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
1x per week
Partner Ratio
None, there were enough boys for every girl.
Who Taught?
Male and female teacher together
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
Corrections were general and there was little attention paid to any specific person
Description of Partnering Class
"Partnering class was taught by the male level teacher (Saiz) with the assistance of the female level teacher (Cerutti). In the latter part of the year no classes were given and partnering was limited to rehearsals."
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
None
None of the above
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
No
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
No
Injuries / Health / Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
Yes, for everyone
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
PT Available?
Unsure
Yes, it is part of fees
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
Mental Health Therapists Available?
Unsure
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
Unsure
Were Students Weighed?
Yes
Was "Coded Language" Used?
Maybe
No
Additional Comments
"I didn't hear any coded language"
Performances: Winter Show / Nutcracker
Performance Opportunities
2-3
4-5
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
Chosen by school director or the company artistic staff
Winter Show Role
Dancing part
Were You Paid?
No
Yes
If Paid, Please Describe
"Rather than a traditional winter performance, these are public demonstrations. Yes it costs money like any POB show and is hard to get tickets."
"The shows are called the Demonstrations and they are a showcase of class work performed at the Palais Garnier. All students participate. The morning shows are for divisions 6, 5, 4 and 2nd division contemporary. The afternoon shows are for divisions 3, 2, 1.
2nd division is the only level that has contemporary classes and they are only in preparation for the Demonstrations."
Rehearsal Impact on Classes
Disruptions
1
2
3
4
5
No Impact
Rehearsal Hours
1-2
3-5
Performance: Ballet Season
Cast in Company Productions?
No
Yes
Kind of Part Given?
Dancing part
How Chosen
Students chosen for roles by staff - NO AUDITIONS
Was Casting Fair?
Yes
Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?
Disruptions
1
2
3
4
5
No Impact
Rehearsal Hours
6-10
Perfomance Opportunities
"The annual school performance is a massive event that gives dancers a true taste of a major professional production."
Were You Paid?
Yes
If Paid, Please Describe
"None"
Competition
School Does Competitions?
No
Communication
Formal Orientation?
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
With parents only
Exams
Formal Exam?
Yes
Written Feedback?
Yes
Exam Adjudicator
Outside adjudicator
Exam Rubrics Clear?
Disagree
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
"Intense but overall nice kids"
"Serious, competitive, elite"
Placement Notification Timing
"Very quick"
"July"
How Dancer Was Notified
Written communication via email or regular mail
Dancer Had Mentor?
No
Mentoring Details
"N/A"
Overall School Culture
Cold & Exclusive
1
2
3
4
5
Warm & Inclusive
School Outcomes
Highest Levels of School?
There are no bridge levels (If you chose this answer, please skip next question)
How Many Left and Went to College?
Unsure
How Many Grads Went Directly to Company Job?
5 or more
Career Support
I was not looking for new placement; was staying in program
Describe How School Helped
"Im not sure how much help is offered outside the POB system. "
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?
Yes
Did Dancer Stay in Provided Housing?
No
Yes
Where Did Dancer Live?
Lived at home
Type of Housing Provided:
['Dorms']
Housing Minimum Age
"Not sure but its very young "
# of Roommates:
3
Adequate # of RA's?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Absolutely
Curfew?
Yes
Curfew Reasonable?
Yes
Nightly Room Check?
Yes
Dorm Strictness
Extremely Lax
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely Strict
How Infractions Handled?
['My student had no infractions this year']
How Roommate Issues Handled?
"None"
Housing Cleanliness
Dirty
1
2
3
4
5
Spotless
Students Required to Clean Room?
Yes
Laundry Available?
No
Laundry Free?
N/A
Evening Activities?
Yes
A/C In Room?
No
Weekend Outings?
No
Transportation Between Housing and Studios?
Its in the same building
Safety Around Housing
Not Safe
1
2
3
4
5
Very Safe
Overall Rating of Housing
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Additional Comments
"The dorms are exactly what you would expect from a top-tier institution: clean, somewhat comfortable, and maintained. The dorms are located right on-site."
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?
No
Academics
How Did Academics Work?
Integrated
Academic Support
Students attended in person classes provided by school
Did the School Support Academics?
Didn't support
1
2
3
4
5
Definitely supported
Overall Program Grades
Overall Dance Instruction
A+
Career Support and Placement
A-
Emotional Support
A
A-
Housing & Food
A-
C+
Performance Opportunities
A+
A
Overall Comments
Program's Best Aspect
"Elite training is of course the best aspect but what shocked me the most, though, was the culture. Given that these kids are constantly competing for the same coveted spots, you would expect a highly toxic atmosphere. Of course, a bit of that competitive edge is always there, but it is actually a remarkably supportive and good environment. The kids get along great, support one another, and still manage to have a lot of fun together despite the immense pressure."
"Incredible training and performing at the Garnier."
Program's Worst Aspect
"Honestly, I don't have much to complain about. Sending your child to a high-pressure, elite training school is always a big transition, but the institution handles it about as well as you possibly can. Aside from minor things like wanting a bit more flavor in the cafeteria food or wishing tickets for family were easier to secure, the school does an good job managing the environment and the students."
"Communication could be more timely and complete."
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
"If there is one change of the school, it is the quality of the cafeteria food. From what I’ve learned, it’s just not great. They serve normal, edible food, but it is just okay and really lacks flavor. The meals are just ordinary, uninspired cafeteria food."
Anything Else We Should Know?
"The efficiency of the training here is remarkable. The students typically do two classes totaling about three hours a day, but the work is incredibly intense and focused. They actually accomplish more in those three hours than kids in the United States who homeschool and practically live at their dance studios for eight hours a day. It is an extremely intense, high-yield environment where every minute of training counts."
"Many students are released every year after the exams, which are on the final day of the school year for each level."
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Age: 16Instruction A+ Placement A- Performance A+ Attended 2025-26, Stayed In HousingAge: 15Instruction A+ Placement A- Performance A Attended 2025-26
