<p>FWIW, two girls from D's ballet studio, one of whom went to CPYB for two years and ABT NYC one year, are now at Duke on the Blue Devils dance team. They are very competitive and go to some kind of national college dance team competition each year. Both girls are strictly in academic majors at Duke, but admissions at Duke are so competitive that I think, while well qualified acacdemically, both girls half think it was their dancing abilities that got them a spot even some of their NMF friends did not get. You never know what little niche a college or university might be trying to fill and even dancing ability might be your admit ticket to an academic program.</p>
<p>I heard that Joffrey SA is very good. The NYC SI was a waste of my Ds time according to her.
Getting back to frazzeled. Her D is is into ballet not other forms from what she said. That does make it hard for SIs re: body type.</p>
<p>Imaty,
Thanks for the info re:NYSSSA and body type. Some dancers at our studio make it each year who are not pencil thin. (But they MAY have that leggy look, now that you mention it). I guess I'll never adjust to a size 4 not being thin enough. Glad my daughter's love leans toward modern.</p>
<p>"She has a very healthy mindset about weight/eating, and I wouldn't like to expose her to any more craziness than she already gets at her home studio"</p>
<p>Two of my sisters were serious ballet students; one came up through Ruth Page in Chicago, and her classmate is now the lead ballerina in a regional company. In my limited experience, there's some risk of "contagion" from the other kids even when the program itself tries to teach healthy attitudes. Even trained eyes can't always tell which girls are restricting or purging. But I agree with other posters that it's great that you take this danger seriously and that you make it an important factor in choosing a program...I'm sad to say that I've known ballet moms who didn't.</p>
<p>I reread the thread and would like to second TheDad's suggestion of Jillana. While D did not attend that one, she did go to the IBC school in Jackson, Miss four years ago (she didn't go this past summer - it's every four years), and at IBC she met some girls who do Jillana. These girls were from Oklahoma and had done a lot of Southern SI's like Atlanta Ballet, etc. and they said Jillana was their favorite. It is good instruction yet very laid back.</p>
<p>As for my "modern emphasis" comment, that doesn't preclude someone who's all ballet. The Joffrey for example is certainly all ballet, but they have a different style or look than ABT and NYCB (SAB school). They are not strictly about tall and thin. Hence there is less of an emphasis on picking skinny girls. Our studio has sent several girls to Julliard's SI, and one of ours just graduated from Julliard. They were all strictly ballet when selected, but then trained in the Julliard style which veers off into modern. The Julliard girls are not as thin as the SAB girls, and they tend to wind up in companies like Hubbard Street.</p>
<p>Our Julliard graduate says that more and more Julliard is looking for a classical ballet background as that training gives you the most grounding to then be molded into what a company wants than someone whose training was not ballet focused from the beginning.</p>
<p>My D was also a top level pre-professional dancer in a school attached to a professional company in a major city. She made the personal decision by the time she was a junior that she wanted to go to college with an academic major but still dance at a high-technique level. She's currently a junior in college doing exactly that.</p>
<p>She attended several SI's over the years including ABT Austin, Orlando, Houston Ballet, and the Rock School and a couple of more local ones. Her favorites were ABT Austin and the Rock. Houston was great training but is quite intense for older girls.</p>
<p>The Rock School in Phildadelphia had a wonderful nurturing staff and a college dorm environment as they used Haverford College for housing. She felt challenged, improved her technique, really enjoyed the many outings offered, and enjoyed being in Philadelphia. THey also made a great dvd that the kids really enjoyed being part of. This was about 5-6 years ago and don't know how much its changed. The ABT regional programs tend to be smaller than NYC--she had a terrific experience with the one at Austin. She did not go to NY but has heard mixed feedback from friends who did. </p>
<p>One she wishes she would have attended was Washington School of Ballet in DC. She passed it up one year and always regretted it based on feedback from fellow dancers regarding the excellent instruction and being in a great part of DC (especially appropriate for older girls).</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>Washington Ballet is a bit deceptive about just how good it is. D took a couple of classes there while we were checking out Georgetown, American, etc. on our visit during her junior year of high school. One day, who was next to her on the barre but Ethan Steiffel(!).</p>
<p>Thanks again, all, for the excellent suggestions and feedback. I'm particularly grateful for the honest acknowledgement of weight issues, which can be so hard to get from dance professionals. One of the reasons my d hasn't previously wanted to audition for SIs is because she didn't want to feel pressured to lose weight. She's mentioned her nervousness about partnering and her concern that no one would want to be paired with her if she was the "biggest" girl. </p>
<p>She has friends who've attended several of the SIs mentioned in this thread. She may audition for NYSSSA, because kids from her studio are often accepted. But since lmaty pointed it out above, I can see that they're always rather thin. Two of my d's closest friends were accepted there last year - and one was being treated for anorexia, while the other, like alumother's d, is just naturally tall and very slender (well, someone gets to look like that!).</p>
<p>If the weather cooperates this weekend, I'll be taking my d and two of her close friends to an audition 6 hours out of town. I feel something like those first-time visitors to Disney World who stand around reading the map while all the knowledgeable veterans stampede past them on the way to Space Mountain - but maybe we'll muddle through. </p>
<p>It's been fascinating to read about the different SI experiences your kids have had. One of the best aspects of summer training seems to be the opportunity to be taught by truly great dancers. (I know my d would swoon to be in the same room as Ethan Steifel, let alone on the same barre.) My d's favorite birthday gift last year was a lovely autographed picture of Julie Kent. Miss Kent taught my d's best friend at Chatauqua last summer and was gracious enough to write a personalized message to my d on the photo. When my d opened the gift in front of 6 other ballet students, they were so awed you'd have thought they were in a cathedral. It was a great moment.</p>
<p>I'm not a parent, but I was a ballerina..
I'd recommend the School of Nashville Ballet's SI, however, it being so far away from your current locale might be a con. I'd say it was nurturing, and the attendees stay in dorms at Vandy. As for other SIs, NYSSSA sounds pretty good.</p>
<p>I have been off the board for a few weeks - so I missed this thread.</p>
<p>I think your D might want to consider a less competitive program. It may be difficult for a 16 - 17 y/o who has never attended a SI to get into some of the more selective programs. They all ask on the audition form what SIs have you previously attended. Also, as the dancers get older - body type seems to be more of a factor in acceptance. When D was younger she attended The Rock, Walnut Hill and ABT-Detroit. All of these programs had young dancers w/ a wide variety of body types. Summer before last, D attended the Kirov and PNB and last summer she was at MCB. The upper level dancers at these programs all had the ballet body type.</p>
<p>Many colleges that offer a dance major or minor have summer programs for h/s age dancers that are good but not as large and intense as pre-pro ballet SIs. Also these programs tend to offer a wider variety of classes. Most selective SIs will have technique and pointe classes daily along with a Pas, variations, or rehearsal class. Modern, pilates, character and jazz are usually offered only once or twice a week. And the biggest down side for the non-pre-ballerina in a sea of potential ballerinas, is the lack of attention and corrections in class. :(</p>
<p>Good luck to your D and feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>And frazzled, one more thing I would add. My D isn't dancing any more, as I said, due to injuries. I expect she will start up modern next semester, as Princeton actually has a very good dance program. However, I thought her exposure to the ballet intensives were very good for her. She always used to say that the ballet girls were like her - girls with a mission. She loved and still loves her high school friends, but they weren't girls on a mission in the same way. I believe my daughter's capability to focus really was nurtured by ballet. So if you can find a nice SI, with the appropriate body type range - I do recommend ABT Detroit BTW - I think it can be a great thing for girls to do.</p>
<p>I'd like to put in a plug for LA Ballet--new ballet company--making their debut running summer intensives in Malibu (gorgeous location) this year. The company is headed by Thordahl Christianson & Colleen Neary...I'm not sure who is doing the teaching and how it will be divvied up. Thordahl & Colleen are both demanding but good teachers...Neary is also a repetitur(sp.?) for the Balanchine Trust.</p>
<p>As long as we have a lot of dance expertise gathered here, may I ask for some (not SI) related advice? My Jr. daughter is exploring college options. She's looking for a combo strong dance (with modern) and strong acdemics, relatively diverse, moderate to large. Would appreciate a decent musical theater program and a non-rural setting. I'm figuring many of you may have considered similar criteria. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>jasmom -- here are some I've researched, and I will be interested to hear opinions on any and all...</p>
<p>In looking up actual dance class schedules, I've found that it is unusual to offer more than twice a week ballet class in a non-BFA program. I've noted "4x ballet" where I have confirmed ballet is available at least 4 times a week for liberal arts major.</p>
<p>(PS - I am not sure about the Musical Theater portion of your question -- for example, U of Michigan and NYU both have programs, but it may not be possible to cross-register to include dance and MT):</p>
<p>Barnard
California State University, Long Beach
Duke
Fordham (joint program with Alvin Ailey - BFA)
Goucher (4x ballet)
Harvard
NYU (Tisch School - BFA)
Princeton
Skidmore (4x ballet)
Smith, Mt Holyoke, UMass (Five College Consortium)
Southern Methodist University (BFA?)
Tulane (4x ballet)
University of Arizona (BFA)
University of Hartford (Hartt School)
University of Michigan (BFA)
University of Utah (BFA)
University of California, Irvine
Vassar</p>
<p>fend...
Thanks for the rapid reply. We're trying to construct some good options in the safety, match, & reach categories. I will let you know. Your criteria (of 4x wk ballet) is perfect.
For many/most BFA's it's hard to take many academic courses outside of dance. We know that the theater piece is a long shot everywhere. She may just have to settle for some voice lessons.</p>
<p>Add Franklin & Marshall (although it might be too small).
UMass-Amherst also concentrates in modern.
Tufts</p>
<p>In fact, if you go to the College Board website to search for colleges with dance, the vast majority of them concentrate in modern. (My d doesn't like modern at all, so it made the search very interesting.)</p>
<p>I'm not sure if I've misunderstood the posts above, but at SMU you can be a dance minor and take ballet 5 times per week (more if you are admitted to the pas class).</p>
<p>curiouser, I hadn't specifically researched SMU, so thanks for the info.</p>
<p>Chedva, when I checked out Tufts, it seemed like the number of dance classes offered each week was minimal.</p>
<p>My rule of thumb to assess a dance program as being in the running is to look for a minimum of three levels of ballet, with ballet offered at least 4 times a week. </p>
<p>Usually, if this level of ballet is offered, a fair amount of modern is offered as well.</p>
<p>I also look for admission to the major by audition only.</p>
<p>Please note also that my research to date has been online only; my daughter is not yet at the point of visiting programs.</p>
<p>I checked out the Los Angeles Ballet web site, and found no mention of the summer intensive in Malibu.</p>
<p>Let us know more, especially if housing is available.</p>
<p>Three excellent major programs (audition only) are TCU, Butler, and IU (Bloomington). Our studio has people at all three, but as it is an intensive major there are few if any hours available to take any courses not directly related to the dance curriculum. There is a strong ballet emphasis at each so you definitely get ballet at least 4xweek; you probably are required to take class daily; and there are levels through professional since they are training you for a career. As ballet is the foundation for the rest of dance, graduates do go on to modern companies as well. Butler for instance has graduates in places like Dance Theater of Harlem, and the girl we have who just graduated from Butler has done work with Jacques D'Amboise's program in New York and is training to take the program for inner city youth elsewhere.</p>