BALLET HELP DESK

Full-Time Training Reviews

Programs Reviewed: 87
Total Reviews: 296

Rocky Mountain Ballet Academy

Full-Time Reviews

General

Who is Reviewing?

2

Program

2

Season Attended

1
1

# Of Levels In School

  • 4 levels, not including little kids classes.
  • Conservatory is the day program offered for pre-professional / career oriented students. It is just one level with about 10-12 kids each year ages 14-18. In the evening program there are levels 1-6 (approximately ages 5-10) and then Nureyev above that and Petipa above that. Petipa is the highest level of the evening program and generally has students ages 14-18.

Dancer Age

1
1

Hours of Dance Each Week

2

Company Affliated?

2

Was Student Scholarshipped?

1
1

Please Describe Scholarship

1

Years At School

1
1

Full time or after school?

2

Curriculum

Days Per Week

2

Classes Per Day

1
1

Weekend Classes?

2

Weekend Schedule

1
1

Students Per Class

2

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

2

Pointe Classes Per Week

1
1

Live Music in Technique Class?

2

Dedicated Men's Program?

2

Men Taught by Male Teacher?

1

Men Taught Batterie?

1

Boys In Level

1
1

Separate Technique Class for Boys

1

Techniques Taught

2

Technique Teacher Rotation

2

Did School Director Teach?

2

Classroom Corrections

2

Attention From Teachers

Very Little
2
A Lot

Quality of Instruction

Poor
2
Excellent

Did Technique Improve?

Not at all
2
Tremendously

Curriculum Comments

  • The school follows the traditional Vagonova syllabus as the primary teachers are Vagonova trained from the school in Perm, Russia. Both owners were professional dancers in the U.S. the school also requires Character dance and contemporary and offers other classes as needed - in the past has included acting for dance.
  • Russian / Vaganova training. Day program ran from 12-4/5pm M-F with class and rehearsal on the weekend from 9-3pm. Daily ballet class, variations 1-2 times per week, partnering class once per week with professional men. Conditioning, Pilates, Stretching and Yoga were offered weekly as well as contemporary and improv/choreography 2 times per week.

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class

1
1

Partner Ratio

1
1

Who Taught?

2

How Much Partnering Improved

No
2
Tremendously

Quality of Pas Teaching

Poor
2
Excellent

How Were Corrections Given?

1
1

Description of Partnering Class

  • Partnering was leveled to the age and skill levels of the dancers. Male partnering was a strong focus and Alexei, the studio owner, taught all the partnering.
  • Men from the Colorado Ballet second company are brought in weekly for partnering class. 2/3 girls shared a partner and everyone received personal attention and corrections during class.

Additional Comments

  • Partnering and proper technique during partnering was a major focus of the training.
  • Partnering was set up well - the level of difficulty increased throughout the year and catered to the needs of the individuals in the group each week.

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles

2
1

Other Class Quality

Poor
2
Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

2

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught

2
2
2

Contemporary Quality

Poor
2
Excellent

Master Classes?

2

Master Classes Description

  • Depended on the year. YAGP sent people and when other professionals were in town, they would offer classes.
  • Master classes offered from teachers mostly during the summer intensive but guest teachers also came a couple times during the year.

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

2

Physical Training Types

2
1
2
1

Physical Training Schedule

1
1

Were Trainers Certified?

2

Physical Training Quality

Poor
2
Excellent

Strength & Conditioning Comments

  • It was a primary focus of ballet training. Happened every day. My dancers were never in better shape than during this program
  • Strength and conditioning is a major focus for the director. This has been a significant help for my two dancers who are hyper-mobile and flexible. It has also helped with stamina and injury prevention.

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

2

How Parents Notified?

1
1

How Treatment Obtained?

1
1

PT Available?

2

Was There a Recovery Plan?

2

Describe Recovery Plan

2

Mental Health Therapists Available?

2

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

2

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

2

Were Students Weighed?

2

Was "Coded Language" Used?

1
1

Additional Comments

  • Body talk was infrequent. Only when students were older (17+) and applying for companies
  • The directors are very supportive of the dancers. If they noticed a problem or concern with a dancer they would communicate with the parents to help the dancers get the resources or help they needed to address it. Positive culture at the program overall and very supportive mindset from the directors and teachers.

Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker

Performance Opportunities

2

School Winter Show?

2

Company or School Show?

2

Cast in Winter Show?

2

How Chosen

2

Winter Show Role

2

Were You Paid?

2

Rehearsal Impact on Classes

1
1

Rehearsal Hours

2

Performance: Ballet Season

Cast in Company Productions?

2

Kind of Part Given?

2

How Chosen

2

Was Casting Fair?

2

Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?

1
1

Rehearsal Hours

2

Perfomance Opportunities

  • Nutcracker, spring show and summer show
  • The school offers a Spring Show each May which consists of a story ballet and contemporary and character pieces. Additional small opportunities to dance at local schools or community events also occur 1-2 times per year to promote the shows.

Were You Paid?

2

Competition

School Does Competitions?

2

Competitions Required?

2

% of Students Who Performed

1
1

How Chosen?

  • Audition
  • Initial audition with the directors. Returning competitors are not required to re-audition each year.

Competitions Cost Extra?

  • Privates and costume rentals, but individually scheduled for privates.
  • Solo competitors are required to take privates and most students have 1-2 privates per week for variation training.

Separate Competition Rehearsals?

2

Competition Interfered With Training?

  • Didn’t detract, added more hours
  • This has been a great part of my dancers training. The one on one coaching is exceptional and my dancers experiences significant growth from the training and performing process.

Communication

Formal Orientation?

2

Handboook & Paperwork

1
1

Quality of Communication?

Poor
1
1
Excellent

Who Received Communication?

2

Exams

Formal Exam?

2

Written Feedback?

2

Exam Adjudicator

2

Exam Rubrics Clear?

1
1

Who Attends Exam Meeting?

2

Well Prepared For Exam?

Not at all
2
Completely

How Heavily Did Exams Weigh in Promotions

Not at all
1
1
Heavily

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?

Not
2
Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?

Not
2
Completely

Describe School Culture

  • Russian. Very focused, only want serious students with potential. They will take others, but focus on career minded students.
  • Tight knit community supportive positive

Placement Notification Timing

1
1

How Dancer Was Notified

2

Dancer Had Mentor?

2

Mentoring Details

  • Mentoring was constant. It is a small school with a lot of individual attention.
  • Informal mentoring but there were two teachers who my dancers are very supported by. Both teachers take time to provide feedback for technique, offer audition support and are there just to talk when dancers need help or a listening ear.

Overall School Culture

Lord of the Flies
1
1
Warm & Inclusive

School Outcomes

Highest Levels of School?

1
1

How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level

  • Unsure

Where Graduates Who Do Not Get Bridge Level Go

2

How Many Left and Went to College?

1
1

Career Support

2

Describe How School Helped

  • Prepared students for auditions well.
  • Provided audition assistance with privates, videoing, suggestions for programs and auditions and by providing letters or reference and phone calls to make connections.

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building

1
1

Safety of Area Around School?

Not Safe
1
1
Extremely Safe

Studio Space

Cramped
1
1
Lots of space

Studio Cleanliness

Dirty
2
Spotless

Housing

Was Housing Provided?

2

Where Did Dancer Live?

2

Academics

How Did Academics Work?

2

Academic Support

2

Did the School Support Academics?

Didn't support
1
1
Definitely supported

Overall Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction

2

Career Support and Placement

2

Emotional Support

1
1

Housing & Food

2

Performance Opportunities

2

Overall Comments

Program's Best Aspect

  • Ballet training
  • The personalized coaching and attention from the teachers and overall supportive environment.

Program's Worst Aspect

1
1

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

1
1

Anything Else We Should Know?

  • It is Russian style.
  • This has been an incredible program and we have received exceptional training. Not only is the ballet technique strong but the character dance and contemporary dance are incredible and challenging. The community is supportive and kind and the kids are close with each other.
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