"Junior 1 and 2, Intermediate 1-5, Advanced Intermediate, Advanced 1 and 2, PTP A and PTP B with Competition Attendance or Company Auditioning"
"You can choose if you want full time pre professional training or not. There are Juniors, Intermediate 1-4, Advanced 1-2, PTP A and B"
Dancer Age
15
16
Hours of Dance Each Week
More than 26 hours
Company Affliated?
No
Was Student Scholarshipped?
No
Yes
Years At School
2 years
3 years
Full time or after school?
Full-Time
Curriculum
Days Per Week
6
Classes Per Day
more than 6
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Full day
Students Per Class
Less than 10
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week
Daily
Live Music in Technique Class?
No
Dedicated Men's Program?
No
Men Taught by Male Teacher?
Yes
Men Taught Batterie?
Unsure
Boys In Level
Less than 5
Separate Technique Class for Boys
No
Yes
Techniques Taught
General Classical
Vaganova
Technique Teacher Rotation
The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule
Did School Director Teach?
Always
Classroom Corrections
Dancer specific: almost every dancer got specific corrections each day
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
"The school has a unique program where you can tailor the number of days and hours per week that are consistent with the dancers goals. There is technique class, pointe class, contemporary, conditioning, partnering, rep etc. It is a small program with a ton of quality 1 on 1 attention."
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
1x per week
2x per week
Partner Ratio
Most girls had to share a partner.
Who Taught?
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
"First half was technique and second was partnering repertoire; ex- Sugar Plum, Kitri, Giselle, Black Swan"
"Turns, lifts and jumps, all at appropriate levels. Near performance times, focus on partnering rep"
Additional Comments
"The two main male ballet teachers taught and partnered"
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Character
Dunham
Hip-Hop
Horton
Jazz
Modern
Musical Theater
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Repertoire
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
No
Yes
Master Classes Description
"Master classes and private lessons taught by Rudolf Kharatian."
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Body rolling
Pilates (mat or reformer)
Progressing Ballet Technique
Stretch class
Weight training
Yoga
Physical Training Schedule
Daily
Several times a week
Were Trainers Certified?
Some were certified and some were not depending on class
Yes
Physical Training Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Strength & Conditioning Comments
"Ive seen my dancer grow in strength and flexibility this year"
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
Yes
Yes, for everyone
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
School called parent
How Treatment Obtained?
"There is a PT across the street that the studio works with, and a massage therapist weekly"
PT Available?
No
Yes, it is part of fees
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
Mental Health Therapists Available?
No
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Were Students Weighed?
No
Was "Coded Language" Used?
No
Additional Comments
"It is SUCH a supportive environment with a staff that truly goes above and beyond, and is on the look out for issues and truly wants the studio to be a supportive environment for dancers"
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
Audition
Chosen by school director or the company artistic staff
Winter Show Role
Dancing part
Were You Paid?
No
Rehearsal Impact on Classes
Disruptions
1
2
3
4
5
No Impact
Rehearsal Hours
3-5
Performance: Ballet Season
Cast in Company Productions?
Yes
Kind of Part Given?
Dancing part
How Chosen
All students allowed to AUDITION
Students are chosen to audition by Artistic Staff
Was Casting Fair?
Yes
Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?
Disruptions
1
2
3
4
5
No Impact
Rehearsal Hours
3-5
Perfomance Opportunities
"Spring Show and Winter Show"
"DC Arts all Night, Nutcracker, Private Performances, Spring Showcase, Sleeping Beauty"
Were You Paid?
No
Competition
School Does Competitions?
Yes
Competitions Required?
No
How Many Compete?
2
% of Students Who Performed
"unsure"
"15%"
How Chosen?
"Selected by director"
"A combination of audition and interest"
Competitions Cost Extra?
"Yes for competition"
"Yes, fees for the competition itself and travel fees, both person and staff"
Separate Competition Rehearsals?
No
Yes
Competition Interfered With Training?
"Added value"
"Was good for my dancer overall to build more solo confidence on the stage"
Communication
Formal Orientation?
No
Unsure
Handboook & Paperwork
Comprehensive and complete. I knew what to expect for the year
Quality of Communication?
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Who Received Communication?
With parents and students
Exams
Formal Exam?
Yes
Written Feedback?
No
Exam Adjudicator
Internal
Exam Rubrics Clear?
Strongly agree
Strongly disagree
Who Attends Exam Meeting?
No
Yes and parents were included. 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
"Very supportive"
"Ballet is family"
Placement Notification Timing
"Yes meeting with director to discuss placement"
"At the time of registration - mid/late spring"
How Dancer Was Notified
Written communication via email or regular mail
Dancer Had Mentor?
Yes
Mentoring Details
"Not formally so, but my dancer had a very close relationship with 2 of the teachers who talk with her frequently about her plans."
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?
There are no bridge levels
There are no bridge levels (If you chose this answer, please skip next question)
How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level
N/A
How Many Come From Outside to Bridge Level?
N/A
How Many Left and Went to College?
2/3 of graduating class of 2024
Unsure
Career Support
I was not looking for new placement; was staying in program
Received lots of help
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?
No
Where Did Dancer Live?
Lived at home
Academics
How Did Academics Work?
Separate e.g. online, independent study, etc.
Academic Support
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+
Career Support and Placement
A-
A+
Emotional Support
A+
Housing & Food
N/A
Performance Opportunities
A
A+
Overall Comments
Program's Best Aspect
"The dedicated staff and the warm nurturing environment - it has really allowed my dancer to flourish"
Program's Worst Aspect
"The temporary space - which they are moving out of in 2 more weeks"
Anything Else We Should Know?
"You get what you give. The school has really wonderful hard working dedicated staff, and hard work really does pay off."
