Dancer specific: almost every dancer got specific corrections each day
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
gray
Academics for about 2 hours each morning, lunch break, classes & rehearsals until around 5:00
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
2x per week
3x per week
Partner Ratio
None, there were enough boys for every girl.
Who Taught?
It varied based on the week
Male and female teacher together
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
Description of Partnering Class
standard
Worked on various techniques
Additional Comments
n/a
No
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Character
Modern
None of the above
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Choreography workshops
Repertoire
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
No
Yes
Master Classes Description
Typically well known teacher or dancer
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Pilates (mat or reformer)
Stretch class
Weight training
Yoga
Physical Training Schedule
Several times a week
Were Trainers Certified?
Yes
Physical Training Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
Yes
How Parents Notified?
Parent was informed same day, in person
Student told parent. School not involved
How Treatment Obtained?
Asked and they provided it
yes
PT Available?
Yes, it is part of fees
Was There a Recovery Plan?
Yes
Describe Recovery Plan
It was extensive & involved the MD as well as the PT’s-lasted several months
Mental Health Therapists Available?
Yes
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
Unsure
Yes
Were Students Weighed?
Yes
Was "Coded Language" Used?
Maybe
Yes
Additional Comments
This school does not care at all about mental health, though it pretends that it does. They are specifically abusive to students who show any mental health concerns.
School has extensive support for injuries, injury prevention, & mental health
Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker
Performance Opportunities
2-3
8-12
School Winter Show?
No
Performance: Ballet Season
Cast in Company Productions?
No
Yes
Kind of Part Given?
Dancing part
How Chosen
A few students are chosen by the Artistic Staff
Was Casting Fair?
No
Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?
4
Perfomance Opportunities
school
Were You Paid?
No
Competition
School Does Competitions?
No
Communication
Formal Orientation?
Yes
Handboook & Paperwork
Adequate but missing several key pieces
No handbook provided
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?
Yes
Written Feedback?
Yes
Exam Adjudicator
Internal
Exam Rubrics Clear?
Agree
Disagree
Who Attends Exam Meeting?
Yes, Dancer only. The meeting was with Artistic Director and my teachers
Yes, dancer only. The meeting was with my teachers.
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
Students care deeply for each other (trauma bonding?), but staff terrorize students
Collegial but competitive
Placement Notification Timing
Easter break
student no longer there (thankfully!)
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?
Post- Graduate/Graduate, There are no bridge levels
Second Company
How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level
student no longer at the school (but yes)
NA
How Many Come From Outside to Bridge Level?
3-4
NA
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?
0
None
Career Support
Received no help - I was on my own
Received some help
Describe How School Helped
NA-was not auditioning this year
they do not
Building & Surrounding Area
Security Around Building
No
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?
Yes
Type of Housing Provided:
Boarding house
Dorms
Housing Minimum Age
15
16
# of Roommates:
3
Adequate # of RA's?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Absolutely
Type of Bathrooms:
One big bathroom on the floor
Private in suite
Curfew?
Yes
Curfew Reasonable?
Yes
Nightly Room Check?
Yes
Dorm Strictness
Extremely Lax
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely Strict
How Infractions Handled?
Fair
Skewed depending on student
How Roommate Issues Handled?
n/a
NA
Housing Cleanliness
Dirty
1
2
3
4
5
Spotless
Students Required to Clean Room?
Yes
Laundry Available?
Yes
Laundry Free?
No
Yes
Evening Activities?
No
A/C In Room?
No
Weekend Outings?
No
Yes
Transportation Between Housing and Studios?
Public transportation without chaperone
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
some staff are abusive to some students
Meal Plan
Meal Plan?
Yes
Food Quality
Gross
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Enough Food?
Yes
Late Meals Available?
Sometimes
Yes
Dancer w/ Dietary Needs?
No
Yes
What Were Needs?
veg
Dietary Needs Met?
3
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+
B
Career Support and Placement
B
Emotional Support
A
D
Housing & Food
B
B+
Performance Opportunities
A
B
Overall Comments
Program's Best Aspect
Holistic with well integrated support services
PTs
Program's Worst Aspect
Teachers and school leadership (some of the newer teachers were fine, but older ones perpetuate a system of abuse on students who do not come from their lower school or are not their favorites)
Communication was average at best-not great for Upper School parents especially if transferring programs
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
Better communication
leadership needs to go, older teachers wield too much power and are abusive
Anything Else We Should Know?
Only go if you are 100% sure that you will be one of their favorites or if you have an easy out into a professional company. If you have those things it will be great.
