Royal ballet classes and exams offered but nearly no one took them. All else was general classical.
The PTD Program was General Classical. It was a mix and the dancers were not held to a specific technique. The lower school has an RAD program, as well.
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
No partnering
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
Contemporary
Modern
Other Class Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Contemporary Offered?
No
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Improv
Repertoire
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
No
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Other
Pilates (mat or reformer)
Stretch class
Physical Training Schedule
Once or twice a week
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
Many dancers did not like the instructor and skipped classes. The director allowed it even though it was discouraged.
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
No
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
Student told parent. School not involved
How Treatment Obtained?
PT comes to the studio once a month for checkup students can request an appointment; Urgent Care; sought out outside medical services
Obtained on our own
PT Available?
No
Yes, it is part of fees
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
No
Yes
Describe Recovery Plan
Determined by personal doctors
PT emailed a plan for her foot. Exercise and care plan
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
Very supportive of injured dancers doing what they need to get healthy.
Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker
Performance Opportunities
2-3
4-5
School Winter Show?
Yes
Company or School Show?
Company affiliated production and the students perform certain parts
Cast in Winter Show?
Yes
How Chosen
Chosen by school director or the company artistic staff
Winter Show Role
Dancing part
I had both types of parts
Were You Paid?
No
Performance: Ballet Season
Cast in Company Productions?
No
Yes
Kind of Part Given?
Dancing part
I had both types of parts
How Chosen
Students are chosen to audition by Artistic Staff
Was Casting Fair?
For some but not all
Yes
Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?
3
4
Perfomance Opportunities
Monthly performances around the community, casted for special performance for an artist tour, company productions for Nutcracker & spring show, “Stars of Tomorrow” pre-pro levels performance in front of Artistic staff & company members; spring showcase
ballet comps, community performances, shows
Were You Paid?
No
Competition
School Does Competitions?
Yes
Competitions Required?
No
Yes
How Many Compete?
Required for ensemble but optional for solo; anyone who wants to compete.
Anyone who opts in
The PTD ensemble was required to be in competitions. Individuals were not required and could choose to do so or not.
% of Students Who Performed
95%
All are invited to comptete
Anyone that wanted to do a solo could. All PTD students did the ensemble dances.
How Chosen?
N/a
Opt in and pay extra
There was no selection. If you wanted to be in a solo you could.
Competitions Cost Extra?
Yes. Registration fee & cost of price per entry; private lessons
Yes for costumes, fees, extra rehearsals
Yes. Any fees for competitions whether they were solo's or the ensemble dancers had to pay for all fees and costumes associated with it.
Separate Competition Rehearsals?
No
Yes
Competition Interfered With Training?
Usually done during our rep time.
Both. Added for performance experience but also contributed to lots of injuries and burn out.
Detracted because half way through the year some dancers left and we had to restructure the dances several times.
Communication
Formal Orientation?
No
Unsure
Yes
Handboook & Paperwork
Adequate but missing several key pieces
Fairly comprehensive but missing a few pieces
Vague and incomplete
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?
No
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
Small intimate community. My daughter felt there was some favoritism happening.
Very kind, nurturing and supportive
Very cliquey
Placement Notification Timing
I have no idea
Late winter
Spring
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?
Studio Company
Trainee, Post- Graduate/Graduate, Studio Company
How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level
2
2 per year
TBT has the PTD level which is in Dallas and they have another level which is STD in Fort Worth. They do not have any relation to the other.
How Many Come From Outside to Bridge Level?
5
Not sure - all the rest?
1-2
Where Graduates Who Do Not Get Bridge Level Go
A few find positions elsewhere but most leave ballet
All find bridge level positions at other ballet schools
Some find positions elsewhere and about half leave ballet
How Many Left and Went to College?
Don’t know
I don't believe any
None that I recall but some did college concurrent with the program
Career Support
Received no help - I was on my own
Received some help
Describe How School Helped
I really didn’t discuss it with the school director. Didn’t really talk to me about what’s next except for SI programs.
Wrote letters of recommendation, advised upon request
The school did not help. The only advice that was given is that companies look for students who have already been in college.
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?
Rented an apartment alone or with other dancers
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
B
C+
Career Support and Placement
C
D
Emotional Support
A+
C+
D
Housing & Food
N/A
Performance Opportunities
A
A-
B+
Overall Comments
Program's Best Aspect
Small class sizes, teacher first semester, students had good community, lots of opportunities to perform.
The teacher who has since left
The opportunity to perform was terrific.
Program's Worst Aspect
Can be a bit bias with certain dancers. Can tell who was the favorites, minimal communication with school director, change in staff mid year
The stretch teacher
The main teacher left half way through the year and the new teacher didn't provide structure that was really needed. There were a few dancers that were the favorites that always got the solos and were much more focused on by the first teacher. You could tell who the favorites were because they were always front and center. I don't feel I received the instruction or structure that helped me progress. It was fun but a stagnant year as far as ballet progression.
What Changes Would Be Helpful?
Add more variety in classes. I wish they had more contemporary & support for health & crosstraining
Higher quality classes in other styles and also better cardio/strength classes
The technique could be stronger and they could stop having favorites. I went there to become a stronger dancer but there was no structure and you could tell from our performances. We did not dance cohesively.
Anything Else We Should Know?
There are two studios. Dallas studio is not with company. They train in Fort Worth. Exposure to artistic staff is very low.
PTD is in a building in Dallas while STC is in Ft Worth where the company rehearses. The overall feel of the program ends up feeling more like a school and less like a bridge for this reason.
It is a small program and it didn't have a strong foundation. The new teacher has promise if she works hard to get the technique stronger and has a more structured program. There was a lot of breaks and talking so even though there were 3+ classes a day it wasn't always a lot of dance. Also be aware that some of the students don't get into the ensemble (the performance part of the program) and instead get put in the lower part of the school's performance group.
