Sarasota Ballet School

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General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent with dancer input

Program:

Sarasota Ballet School

Season Attended:

2024-25

# Of Levels In School:

The conservatory is separate from the school and includes the pre-pro students, the trainees and the studio co.

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

21-25 hours

Company Affliated?

Yes

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Yes

Please Describe Scholarship:

It was merit based for school tuition.

Years At School:

1 year

Full time or after school?

Full-Time

Curriculum

Days Per Week:

Classes Per Day:

Weekend Classes?

Yes

Weekend Schedule:

Half day

Students Per Class:

Less than 10

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

Yes

Pointe Classes Per Week:

Daily

Live Music in Technique Class?

Dedicated Men's Program?

Unsure

Men Taught by Male Teacher?

Yes

Men Taught Batterie?

Unsure

Boys In Level:

Less than 5

Separate Technique Class for Boys:

Techniques Taught:

General Classical

Technique Teacher Rotation:

The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule

Did School Director Teach?

Often

Classroom Corrections:

Dancer specific: almost every dancer got specific corrections each day

Attention From Teachers:


Very Little	A Lot

Quality of Instruction:


Poor	Excellent

Did Technique Improve?


Not at all	Tremendously

Curriculum Comments:

ABT curriculum. Technique daily, some days twice a day. Pointe, variations, rep, partnering, contemporary,

Partnering

Frequency of Partnering Class:

1x per week

Partner Ratio:

Most girls had to share a partner.

Who Taught?

Male teacher

How Much Partnering Improved:


No	Tremendously

Quality of Pas Teaching:


Poor	Excellent

How Were Corrections Given?

Attention and corrections were evenly distributed between the males and females

Description of Partnering Class:

Partnering typically every week.

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles:

None

Contemporary Offered?

Yes

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught:

Improv, Choreography workshops, Technique

Contemporary Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Master Classes?

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Yes

Physical Training Types:

Progressing Ballet Technique, Stretch class

Physical Training Schedule:

Once or twice a week

Were Trainers Certified?

Yes

Physical Training Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

Yes, for everyone

How Parents Notified?

School called parent

How Treatment Obtained?

Director gave us the number of the company’s ortho.

PT Available?

Unsure

Was There a Recovery Plan?

Yes

Describe Recovery Plan:

Our dance PT shared all of her plans with the director who coordinated with the teachers. They were absolutely amazing about encouraging a slow and safe return to dance.

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Unsure

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Were Students Weighed?

Was "Coded Language" Used?

Additional Comments:

The school handles the rare injury with grace, and is very supportive of the dancer’s mental health and physical safety. We were very impressed.

Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker

Performance Opportunities:

6-7

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?

Rehearsal Impact on Classes:

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

Was Casting Fair?

Yes

Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?

Rehearsal Hours:

1-2

Perfomance Opportunities:

Nutcracker is a school performance, there are multiple outreach venue opportunities throughout the year, auditions for company performances and a spring show as well.

Were You Paid?

Competition

School Does Competitions?

Yes

Competitions Required?

% of Students Who Performed:

half

How Chosen?

Whoever would like to compete may compete.

Competitions Cost Extra?

Yes, a lump sum.

Separate Competition Rehearsals?

Yes

Competition Interfered With Training?

I think it added because it created more training time, and the time spent was quite beneficial for my technique and understanding of my artistry.

Communication

Formal Orientation?

Unsure

Handboook & Paperwork:

Comprehensive and complete. I knew what to expect for the year

Quality of Communication?


Poor	Excellent

Who Received Communication?

With parents and students

Exams

Formal Exam?

School Culture

How Supported Did Student Feel By Staff?


Not	Completely

How Supportive Were Students of One Another?


Not	Completely

Describe School Culture:

Friendly, supportive and professional.

Placement Notification Timing:

End of year assessment.

How Dancer Was Notified:

In-person meeting with school director/staff

Dancer Had Mentor?

Yes

Mentoring Details:

The assistant director is amazing about mentoring. It is informal, but she seemed always available and eager to help with questions and guidance.

Overall School Culture:


Lord of the Flies	Warm & Inclusive

School Outcomes

Highest Levels of School?

Trainee, Studio Company

How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level:

Unsure

Where Graduates Who Do Not Get Bridge Level Go:

Some find positions elsewhere and about half leave ballet

How Many Left and Went to College?

Unsure

Career Support:

I was not looking for new placement; was staying in program

Describe How School Helped:

I am not looking for new placement next year, however the faculty have been very helpful answering questions and helping me schedule a short term I received for next fall, so I would imagine they are quite helpful when asked!

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building:

Yes

Safety of Area Around School?


Not Safe	Extremely Safe

Studio Space:


Cramped	Lots of space

Studio Cleanliness:


Dirty	Spotless

Housing

Was Housing Provided?

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	Definitely supported

Overall Program Grades

Overall Dance Instruction:

A+

Career Support and Placement:

A-

Emotional Support:

Housing & Food:

N/A

Performance Opportunities:

A+

Overall Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

The teachers, the solid curriculum and the culture.

Program's Worst Aspect:

Nothing, really.

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

I am happy with the program.

Anything Else We Should Know?

The faculty is amazing and care so much about the students. Their corrections are so helpful.

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