7 levels. Typically you start level 1 in grade 6 and level 7 is grade 12 but it is not uncommon to enter the program at a lower level or to repeat a year. Two years of post secondary, the aspirant program are available upon successful graduation of the dance program. Successful graduation requires all exams in level 70 to achieve a 70% or higher grade.
Levels 1-7 plus two years Aspirant program (post grad)
Level 5 - most are in grade 10 approx age 15/16
7
7 levels and the. Aspirant programme for 2 years
Dancer Age
13
14
15
16
18
Gender
Female
Male
Company Affliated?
Yes
Was Student Scholarshipped?
No
Yes
Please Describe Scholarship
She was awarded full tuition covered plus monthly stipend and 10 pair of pointe shoes. She was the only one in the program who received both tuition plus the stipend. My understanding is they choose one per year.
Awarded scholarships year before - they do not give a lot.
$3500 towards dance tuition
Was taken off the overall cost of fees and boarding
Years At School
1 year
2 years
Curriculum
Days Per Week
6
Classes Per Day
3
4
5
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Half day
Students Per Class
10-15
Less than 10
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week
3
Daily
N/A
Live Music in Technique Class?
Yes
Dedicated Men's Program?
Unsure
Yes
Boys In Level
5-10
Less than 5
Unsure
Separate Technique Class for Boys
Unsure
Yes
Techniques Taught
Vaganova
Technique Teacher Rotation
Usually the same every day
Did School Director Teach?
Never (school admin was NOT designated as an upper level teacher)
Occasionally
Classroom Corrections
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
Ballet technique and pointe class/variation class daily. PDD 4+ times per week. Also modern/contemp and character serveral times weekly.
Ballet class each morning, pointe class daily, repertoire class daily, contemporary work 3-4 times a week, character classes daily for younger levels.
Ballet, character, modern, repertoire, pas de deux
Ballet classes in the morning followed by 2 variation classes. School after lunch then rep class or modern/character class depending on the day of the week
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
2x per week
3x per week
Daily
No partnering
Partner Ratio
A few girls had to share but most had their own partner.
Most girls had to share a partner.
None, there were enough boys for every girl.
Who Taught?
It varied based on the week
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
Description of Partnering Class
Very strong partnering class
Partnering specific classes for younger levels and variations partnering for older.
Good
Taken by the technique teacher, felt safe and well supported
Additional Comments
So lucky to have a strong focus on PDD
Nothing specific
No
A lot to learn from a male perspective
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Ballroom
Character
Horton
Jazz
Modern
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
No
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Choreography workshops
Improv
Repertoire
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
No
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
No
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Pilates (mat or reformer)
Stretch class
Weight training
Yoga
Physical Training Schedule
Once or twice a week
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?
No
Yes
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
Student told parent. School not involved
How Treatment Obtained?
School Dr, school physiotherapist
Student asked to arrange it
PT Available?
Yes, for extra fee
Yes, it is part of fees
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
Yes
Describe Recovery Plan
The physiotherapist was excellent with communicating to the dancer how much time off would be needed and they also made sure the main ballet teacher was informed.
Told how long should take to heal
Mental Health Therapists Available?
No
Unsure
Yes
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Unsure
Were Students Weighed?
No
Unsure
Was "Coded Language" Used?
Maybe
No
Yes
Additional Comments
There is wording on yearly examination sheets that is specific to bodies and body type. We believe strongly this should be removed.
Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker
Performance Opportunities
1
2-3
4-5
School Winter Show?
No
Yes
Company or School Show?
Company affiliated production and the students perform certain parts
Cast in Winter Show?
No
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
Paid per show and daily allowance for food when touring
Performance: Ballet Season
Cast in Company Productions?
No
Yes
Kind of Part Given?
"Standing around part" e.g. party attendant, royal guard, etc.
Dancing part
I had both types of parts
How Chosen
A few students are chosen by the Artistic Staff
Students are chosen to audition by Artistic Staff
Was Casting Fair?
For some but not all
Yes
Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?
3
5
Perfomance Opportunities
Concert hour performances at schools around the Winnipeg area. First Steps choreographic competition. Spotlight show in May
Aspirants are typically used in company productions, the school also puts on specific shows just for Aspirants.
First steps is student run and choreographed, year end show
Spotlight, First steps, Nutcracker, Variation presentations
Were You Paid?
No
Yes
If Paid, Please Describe
Company performances paid per show. School performances not paid.
Competition
School Does Competitions?
No
Yes
Competitions Required?
No
How Many Compete?
Very rarely participates but once in a while one or two students will be chosen
% of Students Who Performed
1%
How Chosen?
School director chooses
Competitions Cost Extra?
I'm not sure as I was never chosen for this
Separate Competition Rehearsals?
Yes
Competition Interfered With Training?
N/A to me
Communication
Formal Orientation?
No
Yes
Handboook & Paperwork
Adequate but missing several key pieces
Comprehensive and complete. I knew what to expect for the year
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
Internal
Exam Rubrics Clear?
Agree
Disagree
Strongly agree
Who Attends Exam Meeting?
No
Yes and parents were included. The meeting was with my teachers.
Yes, Dancer only. The meeting was with Artistic Director and my teachers
Yes, dancer only. The meeting was with the Artistic Director.
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
Typical to any high school
A little snobby, but overall a tight knit group of good kids
Ok. Very laid back, almost too much
Demeaning, isolating, exclusionary, defeating
Welcoming, passionate, determined, fun, helpful
Placement Notification Timing
After summer intensive was finished
May but I will say if they are not planning to accept you for the following year, you will definitely hear about it in earlier meetings.
May or June
May
After exams
Overall School Culture
Lord of the Flies
1
2
3
4
5
Warm & Inclusive
School Outcomes
Is Student In Upper Levels?
No
Yes
Highest Levels of School?
Post- Graduate/Graduate
Trainee, Post- Graduate/Graduate
How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level
You qualify for the 2 year aspirant post secondary program with completion of level 7 with a mark of 70% or higher on all dance exams in level 7. Character, Ballet, PDD, Modern, Variation.
98%
A lot
How Many Come From Outside to Bridge Level?
Several
2%
Not many 1 or 2
Where Graduates Who Do Not Get Bridge Level Go
A few find positions elsewhere but most leave ballet
Some find positions elsewhere and about half leave ballet
How Many Left and Went to College?
None
Not sure
Career Support
Received no help - I was on my own
Received some help
Describe How School Helped
Not at that point yet
They will provide a video audition and professional photos
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:
Dorms
Housing Minimum Age
10
11
11/grade 6
Grade 6
Grade 6 - 10 years old
# of Roommates:
0 (lived in single)
1
Adequate # of RA's?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Absolutely
Type of Bathrooms:
3 per floor
Gender neutral around 6 per floor
One big bathroom on the floor
Curfew?
Yes
Curfew Reasonable?
Yes
Nightly Room Check?
Yes
Dorm Strictness
Extremely Lax
1
2
3
4
5
Extremely Strict
How Infractions Handled?
Fair
My student had no infractions this year (as far as I know!)
Skewed depending on student
Skewed depending on the RA
How Roommate Issues Handled?
Counsellors are great with the kids!
Group meetings with those involved. Handled well.
N/A
Never had one
No room mate
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
Yes
A/C In Room?
No
Yes
Weekend Outings?
No
Yes
Transportation Between Housing and Studios?
Only walking is to academics, younger students walk with chaperone, older students walk in group, it's suggested 3-4 together but 2 at a time is allowed
Private bus
Walked without chaperone
Was in same building as boarding
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
Only a few years old. Building was completely rebuilt. Is right beside the buildings with the studios and where the company trains. The hallway connects both buildings.
RAs do not have enough experience and make there own rules
Security was breeched on more than one occasion. Location is downtown with a high density of homeless population
Meal Plan
Meal Plan?
Yes
Food Quality
Gross
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Enough Food?
No
Yes
Late Meals Available?
No
Sometimes
Yes
Dancer w/ Dietary Needs?
No
Yes
What Were Needs?
Vegan
Vegetarian
Dietary Needs Met?
2
4
Academics
How Did Academics Work?
Integrated
Separate e.g. online, independent study, etc.
Academic Support
Students attended in person classes provided by school
Students were required to attend study hours regularly
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+
B
B-
Career Support and Placement
A
A+
B
B-
C+
Emotional Support
A
A+
B
B+
C-
Housing & Food
A
A+
C
C+
Performance Opportunities
A
A+
B
C-
Overall Comments
Program's Best Aspect
The amount of hours spent dancing. Living quarters being connected to the studios.
High level technical ballet training
Ballet training
The opportunity to realize a dream, even if the realization didn’t live up to the dreams
Student felt at home and was the right fit for them. Did not get homesick even though was their first year away. Looking forward to returning. Amazing teachers who took the time to help.
Program's Worst Aspect
Paying for laundry!
The city is not very safe
Food, supervision and lack of guidance for future
How dismissive they were; how unequal the opportunities were between dancers; how lonely our dancer was in residence
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
Guidance in future
More mental health support from professionals
More open and honest communication between the school and parents
