The Portland Ballet (Career Track Program)

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General

Who is Reviewing?

Parent with dancer input

Program:

The Portland Ballet (Career Track Program)

Season Attended:

2024-25

# Of Levels In School:

8 curriculum levels, career track adds extra classes during the day, plus level 7 or 8 classes in the evening

Dancer Age:

Hours of Dance Each Week:

More than 26 hours

Company Affliated?

Was Student Scholarshipped?

Yes

Please Describe Scholarship:

It's a non-profit school. They say they don't turn people away. The scholarship covered 50% of tuition. Scholarships at the upper levels are fairly common.

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:

10-15

Weekly Repertoire or Variations?

Yes

Pointe Classes Per Week:

Daily

Live Music in Technique Class?

Yes

Dedicated Men's Program?

Boys In Level:

There were no boys in my level

Techniques Taught:

Balanchine

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:

Career Track has class/rehearsals M-F 12:30-4:15, plus level 7 or 8 classes in the evening 5:00- 8:30 or 9:30, Sat. class/rehearsals 12-6 Classes included technique, pointe, PBT, variations, partnering, modern

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?

Females were the main focus

Description of Partnering Class:

very basic beginning partnering with males brought in to help out with the class

Other Classes

Other Dance Styles:

Modern

Other Class Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Contemporary Offered?

Yes

Types of Contemporary Classes Taught:

Repertoire, Technique

Contemporary Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Master Classes?

Yes

Master Classes Description:

John Clifford taught a master class between the summer intensive and regular school year

Strength & Conditioning

Physical Training Offered?

Yes

Physical Training Types:

Progressing Ballet Technique

Physical Training Schedule:

Several times a week

Were Trainers Certified?

Yes

Physical Training Quality:


Poor	Excellent

Injuries/Health/ Mental Health

Are Doctors Available?

How Parents Notified?

My student did not get injured

PT Available?

Was There a Recovery Plan?

Yes

Describe Recovery Plan:

Dancer's overuse injury was treated by physician and dpt. Dpt communicated regularly with the director. Dancer was encouraged to only participate as allowed by dpt.

Mental Health Therapists Available?

Unsure

Were Students Given Fat Talk?

Staff Made Comments About Bodies?

Were Students Weighed?

Was "Coded Language" Used?

Additional Comments:

Very supportive environment - no pressure from the director to rush things

Performances: Winter Show/ Nutcracker

Performance Opportunities:

2-3

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:

6-10

Performance: Ballet Season

Cast in Company Productions?

Yes

Kind of Part Given?

Dancing part

How Chosen:

Students chosen for roles by staff - NO AUDITIONS

Was Casting Fair?

Yes

Did Rehearsals Impact School Schedule?

Rehearsal Hours:

6-10

Perfomance Opportunities:

Petrushka, Firebird, Concerto Barocco, Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, contemporary ballet pieces, modern pieces

Were You Paid?

Competition

School Does Competitions?

Communication

Formal Orientation?

Yes

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:

kind, gentle, positive, challenging cheoreography

Placement Notification Timing:

no official notification

How Dancer Was Notified:

In-person meeting with school director/staff

Dancer Had Mentor?

Yes

Mentoring Details:

informal- John Clifford was especially encouraging to dancer, even after injury

Overall School Culture:


Lord of the Flies	Warm & Inclusive

School Outcomes

Highest Levels of School?

Post- Graduate/Graduate

How Many Promoted Internally to Bridge Level:

Unsure

How Many Left and Went to College?

80%

Career Support:

Received some help

Describe How School Helped:

Dancer decided to stay another year, but the school helps with audition videos and resumes.

Building & Surrounding Area

Security Around Building:

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:

Emotional Support:

A+

Housing & Food:

N/A

Performance Opportunities:

A+

Overall Comments

Program's Best Aspect:

supportive environment

Program's Worst Aspect:

not enough male dancers

What Changes Would Be Helpful?

more integrated stretch and strength training

Anything Else We Should Know?

It's a great program for students who have graduated but don't feel quite ready to join a company.

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