ballet parents: can you help with SI questions?

<p>TCU also has a 2 week summer intensive, I think, that is perhaps less rigorous or more forgiving of body type than some others mentioned here, if anyone is still interested in that sort of thing.</p>

<p>mercymom, my impression of the IU (Bloomington) program is that it only accepts a very small number of highly gifted dancers, most of whom can hope to dance professionally.</p>

<p>My list was geared more toward programs where it is possible to dance and take a significant academic load, and, given my criteria, I shouldn't have listed NYU.</p>

<p>Where I have listed BFA programs, many do permit students to minor in dance, so, to me, these schools represent a scenario where dance is most likely very good but students have the option to major in something else.</p>

<p>University of Michigan does not permit a dance minor but it is possible to be dual enrolled in the dance program and the School of Liberal Arts.</p>

<p>Just a note -- at Barnard, there are ballet classes of various levels 5 days a week -- but that does not mean that the kid can fit them around her schedule. My d. had a great ballet class first semester, but she told me that with her spring semester schedule there is no way to fit anything at her level in -- I checked on line and she is right. I told her to check out the schedule at Steps, and offered to pay for some classes there -- so obviously there are options. But I thought I would bring this up because I am sure this comes up at most colleges. </p>

<p>Knowing that I would think that a strong schedule of late afternoon/evening classes would be big plus -- but I don't know which colleges, if any, offer them.</p>

<p>You might want to look at SUNY University at Buffalo. My daughter is there as a dance major. They offer BA and BFA. She loves it there (though when she dragged me there for her audition in February, a few years ago, I thought she was crazy! As luck would have it, it was warm and sunny.)</p>

<p>Thank you for your responses. I'm doing the "advance work" for my over-scheduled daughter. I'll let you know when we arrive at acceptable reaches/matches/safeties (never easy).</p>

<p>First let me tell you I am using my daughters sign on.
She was accepted ED to NYU Tisch dance for the fall.</p>

<p>If you want strong modern there is the Ailey/ Fordham program.</p>

<p>Marymount lets you do both dance and MT at the same time.</p>

<p>The Eugene Lang new school has some amazing dance teachers in their modern and Ballet programs. Francois Perron (studio Maestro & Paris Opera Ballet) teaches ballet along with modern with the amazing Rebecca Sten from Palobalus. They offer a BA (3 hours dancing a day)</p>

<p>And ofcourse Tisch. You get your academics at CAS.</p>

<p>If she really wants a strong program dancing at least 5-6 hours a day, I think she would have to thnk of a BFA program.</p>

<p>There is Indiana U (academics so-so).</p>

<p>Juilliard (you can take class at columbia , fordham or barnard if you have time which you don't)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>SI ADVICE??</p>

<p>Hi. I am new to the SI world. My d is 12 and looking at a few SI's. Does anyone have personal experience with Walnut Hill, AAB or The Rock? Any others we should consider? She lives near NYC but we thought a short (2-3 week) residential SI would be best for her first experience away from home. I want a program with excellent ballet instruction and a supportive environment outside of the studio. This is my first post. Sorry if my format is not correct. Thanks for any input. This is all so overwhelming and time consuming trying to find out about the various programs.</p>

<p>Over the years, quite a few dancers from D's studio went to the Rock. At least some found it better for socializing than for developing their ballet. YMMV.</p>

<p>My daughter attended the Walnut Hill Youth Summer Program at age 12, and I highly recommend it.</p>

<p>The program is designed for this age group, and the instruction is excellent.</p>

<p>dancecrazytwo:
If you haven't already, check out the discussion boards at BalletAlert.
<a href="http://dancers.invisionzone.com/index.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://dancers.invisionzone.com/index.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>This Board is a treasure trove of information for ballet dancers and parents. There are separate forums on Summer Intensives. I've found that respondents on that Board have been very helpful over the years. The Board seems to swing towards primarily very serious dancers, but you will get great suggestions and advice for recreational dancer issues as well.</p>

<p>My daughter did Burklyn Ballet Theatre in Vermont for two summers. It was very nice and she liked it very much. Each two week session they have performances and it's very top notch, classy and are treated with respect. I just can't stand the local corner studio environment. Burklyn summer theatre offers quality and class. Also, it's in Northern Vermont and we loved traveling about there for a few days with the family before and after .
Daughter did Pennnsylvania Ballet School some summers. She was a full time student there during the year so going summer was generally something she didn't want to do.t I was there all the time because at the time my boys were on scholarship and I had to take them to their occasional summer classes. It's all what you want from the experience. Too much competition during the summer, huge classes- but they have the room for them there. It's the sort of place you may want to attend if you are from the West coast and want to experience a large East coast city and the Phila. main line, which is where the girls live. The teachers there now are nice, talented, not hysterical divas, which is what these used to have teaching the classes. No fancy show at the end, just in the tights, lovely studios and wonderful piano players.And of course, the floors are special- less wear and tear on the toes than most others.</p>

<p>pa Ballet School is sometimes called The Rock. (Rock family)</p>

<p>TheDad: YOur daughter went to the Rock? What year? Where is she now?</p>

<p>Are you the one with a dau. at main line college? Gosh, is she a senior by now? What did she major in?</p>

<p>BHG: no, no, and no.</p>

<p>My D did not go to the Rock but many from her studio did and we heard a lot of reports in the aftermath of several summers, some favorable, more not so. My D is at Smith, except that this is her "away" junior year, split between Washington, D.C. and Budapest. She's a double-major in Government and Mathematics (hence those two particular "away" programs...I suppose I could break down and say "abroad" as Washington seems like a foreign country to many) and is having a spectacular time.</p>

<p>She took her ballet kit to Washington but between working a 40-hour week, taking two seminar classes, and doing an 80-page thesis paper, did not find the energy to go up Wisconsin Ave. to Washington Ballet for classes. However, she packed her flats and two sets each of leotards and tights with the hope of finding some place to take ballet in Budapest...one her Math classmates she met on Facebook prior to departure also dances and they were hoping to find some place together. In Budapest, she'll have the heavy classwork but not the 40-hour job besides. I asked her just yesterday if she'd had any luck finding a ballet studio but she said it's too soon. She is still learning to navigate the city and the Metro system as well as taking a crash course in Hungarian before the Math classes (in English) start next week...compared to, say, Vienna or Prague, very few people speak English, so finging things is an adventure. So far the favorite is a tea house that's suffers only minimal smoking...unlike the pizza places and the pubs.</p>

<p>No kidding. Very interesting to hear.That's fabulous for her. You must be very proud! Guess you never expected this senario of events? She is to be commended for her adventurous attitude. And I bet Budapest is MUCH less of a drain on fianances than Washington? ! And to be so independently spirited. She truly must be enjoying and challenging herself!</p>

<p>Yes, true about the Rock school. Too many great dancers, too few spots. It does have some good points though.They have a sophistocated outlook. The kids don't die trying to put on a performance on hardwood floors that kill the girls feet. If put in the right perspective a great place. Whatever.</p>

<p>Someone earlier mentioned the summer program at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB). I used to dance there during the school year and participated in the summer program as well. There are classes for all levels - I think summer students take placement classes the first day and then are placed into the appropriate level. The housing is at Dickinson College and classes are either in CPYB's studios or Dickinson's dance studios, and there is a bus to the furthest location from the dorms. </p>

<p>The program is set up to have three mandatory classes a day on Monday-Friday, and one additional mandatory class on Saturday mornings. There are also optional evening classes five days a week. Depending on the level, there is a pointe class each day and the possibility of partnering (though I was never in a high enough level).</p>

<p>The best 2 week SIs (CPYB is 5 weeks manditory) would be Ballet Academy East in NYC upper eastside. Fabulous teachers and a great program. ( She might even get Julie Kent as a teacher) or Studio Maestro (not far from Lincoln center) where she can take as little as one to as much as 4 weeks. (Also many teachers who currently dance with NYCB and Paris Opera ballet teach there.) Both programs are in August. Studio Maestro is a bit more nurturing then BAE. In any event your D will have a great time and great training. A good way to tell about a school is to see where the teachers danced and what companies the alum students are dancing in now. Also both schools I mentioned have small class sizes in general. Many SIs like ABT or Joffery pack them in and you dont get as much individual attention. I hope this is helpful to you.</p>

<p>Added note ... You should keep in mind the style of training your daughter wants. Does she want Balanchine, Vagonava etc.? Some have a mix, and some are one style and one style only. Also check to make sure you have only live music and marley flooring (both are verry important)</p>

<p>D has attended both Walnut Hill and The Rock. She was twelve when she went to Walnut Hill and fourteen when she attended The Rock. I think both programs are good for younger dancers. Walnut Hill’s SI was very small when D attended. There was sixty students divided into 3 levels. The quality of the dance instruction was excellent, there was good supervision and age appropriate activities during downtime. The dancers had jazz, character, partnering, a pool condition class and ballet history in addition to tech and pointe. The dorm D lived in was old and in awful shape with no airconditioning. The bathrooms and showers were small and barely adequate. </p>

<p>Natick is a small community - safe enough for the dancers to walk around in groups. The end of the SI performance was fabulous.</p>

<p>The Rock is a big program but does offer two, 3 weeks SIs for younger dancers. The dance instruction is very good but the class sizes are large (30+ dancers/class). There are very few extra classes outside of tech, pointe and once-a-week jazz. The dancers stay in dorms on the Haverford College campus, which is lovely. D’s dorm room was old but nice. The bathrooms and showers were clean and in good shape. D has attended 7 different SIs and The Rock had the best designed RA system. They have moms of the SI dancers live with the dancers and serve as RAs. They make sure the dancers get to breakfast, get on the bus, are back in the dorms, etc. They will even be an advocate for the dancer if there is a dance class related problem. The Rock brings the moms in one week ahead of time for training. The dancers are free to roam around the campus in small groups, and groups of older dancers can walk into town.</p>

<p>The 45 to 60 minutes ride back and forth to downtown Philadelphia on the cramped (sometimes 3 dancers/seat) bus was D’s biggest complaint. The Rock had wonderful downtime activities. D loved going to NYC and seeing a Broadway play, trips to the beach and shopping at the King of Prussia mall. The end of the SI dinner cruise is fun for the dancers but a waste of money for the parents to go.</p>

<p>It has been several years since D attended these programs – many things may have changed. Go to the “Ballet Talk for Dancers” website and join. Members are allowed to view and post on the SI threads. Good luck and feel free to PM me.</p>

<p>My S 16 yr old was just accepted to the Rock for SI. Anyone have any boys who went or know what their experiences were? What is a typical schedule for boys? How competitive is it for boys? Outside of ballet, what are the other classes offered for boys?</p>

<p>Hi frazzeled1, I'd suggest it's time for a good SI for your daughter. Althought she is in a top level in her non pre pro school she may not have the training to get into some programs. There are good programs where it is less competitive to get in. I'd suggest starting with a look at balletalert.com. Here you'll find all the specifics about SI's,dance schools,colleges-from those who have attended different programs. Best of luck!</p>