ballet parents: can you help with SI questions?

<p>If you are talking about the Joffery SI in NYC, they may have 30 in the morning ballet class and 50+ in the afternoon (combined) class. Good luck at finding a place at the barre! My D had a scholarship to Joffery NYC and hated it. Found it was a waste of time.
Good SIs in NYC include Studio Maestro & Ballet Academy East. (Both in August)
You should check out "ballet Boot camp" as it is known among the kids (CPYB).
Tuff classes, but what a difference as to the way you dance when you get done.</p>

<p>My D will be applying to CPYB, I have heard that kids on scholarship are made to "work it off" though by cleaning the dorms. Not that I have any problem w/ D working for anything but it definitely seems like a way to separate the haves and have nots. </p>

<p>I have mentioned the Joffrey crowding to D several times. She is adamant that she will still apply though. In her general company classes there is a fight for barre space every week anyway so she is used to it. She is also a head shorter than most everyone so she can always use the "I can't see" excuse to get to the front. It has worked for her at various workshops before. The audition experience will be good for her nonetheless I suppose. </p>

<p>IDK about Studio Maestro but I believe Ballet Academy East is a no-no at our studio as is the one that is at Purchase (is it AAB?).</p>

<p>I'm not a parent, but just popping in to say that I went to Joffrey NYC for summer '08 and it was a great experience. I thought the teachers and the classes were really great. I suppose it was a little more crowded than other programs, but I really do not believe it was overly so. </p>

<p>They've made a lot of changes to their program recently, and some of that included smaller classes, etc. so feedback from other years may be slightly different. </p>

<p>Also, Ballet Academy East is not at Purchase; it is in Manhattan.</p>

<p>Ballet Academy East is run by one of the people on the board of CPYB. A lot of people go to CPYB for their intensive and follow with the 2 weeks at BAE.</p>

<p>Studio Maestro has a more nurturing program. (Not as many anorexics.) Fabulous teachers from NYCB and ABT (current dancers)</p>

<p>Treemaven--would love to hear your daughter's impressions of Lines/Dominican. My 16 year old high school junior is just beginning to explore her college options and this morning told me she was interested in learning more about this progam. I'd never heard of Dominican and understand the Alonzo King collaboration is fairly new. It's attractive to me purely for the fact it's not East Coast! We're in the LA area. Can anyone recommend Lines SI? LA auditions are in a few weeks... Thanks and Happy New Year all!</p>

<p>valnas2
I have heard wonderful things about the Lines SI, including that it is quite selective thus hard to get into. You may try reading over on the ballet talk for dancers sire where there are specific threads discussing both the Lines SI and the Lines/Dominican college program. That sight gets more traffic so you may find you get more and more varied responses.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any suggestions for a dance intensive (preferably in the northeast because i live in NJ) for a college-aged student (I'm 19). I don't want something EXTREMELY selective since I do not consider myself at the professional level, but I am far from a beginner. I take classes at steps and bdc in nyc a few times a week. My focus is primarily on jazz/lyrical/theater dance, but of course I want ballet incorporated in the curriculum since it is extremely important. Thanks for any help!</p>

<p>krazi4sugar: Have you considered the Rockettes intensive? Not sure what the ballet factor is there but sounds like that might be right up your alley.</p>

<p>Momof3stars: thank you for your response! I looked it up and it sounds perfect...except you need 5 years of ballet jazz and tap...and I don't have a lot of experience in tap . I only know some basics from a summer intensive I did 2 years ago. I really wish I could do that though!</p>

<p>Hmmmm...you are at BDC and Steps? Maybe ask around there, try some tap classes and see how you do. Not knowing a huge amount about the Rockettes SI I would highly doubt that they do a lot of crazy tap combinations. You are in no better place than Steps and BDC as far as getting info about what you would need to know to feel comfortable at the Rockettes SI, there will definitely be people there who can help you out. I look forward to hearing what you find out!!</p>

<p>Both schools are offering Intro To Tap classes starting in a week or two but BOTH are doing them on Sundays and I can not do Sundays! I am currently in two (musical theater) shows and will have Sunday matinees. And most of the Sundays I am not performing, I teach dance to mentally handicapped kids. I wish they did not have to be paid for in 8-week increments because my schedule changes so much from week to week! But I will definitely add the Rockettes summer intensive to my list. THank you!</p>

<p>Anyone else have ideas in mind?</p>

<p>valnas2, I would be happpy to share my daughter's experiences with Lines and Dominican University. In short, she has enjoyed every aspect of the program---and she has experienced every aspect (the SI, LBSET (the training program), and the BFA program).</p>

<p>She went to the LINES SI as a 17-year old in the summer of 2007 and did both 4-week sessions. She has been dancing since she was 3 years old and has been a classically-trained pre-professional track dancer since the earliest opportunity. Although she was well-versed in both modern and jazz, she found the Lines style and approach both liberating and uncomfortable. 'Uncomfortable' because it is hard to work comfortably when doing classical movements that go beyond one's previously delineated classical vocabulary boundaries. Many classically-trained dancers do not enjoy this. It is hard to explain, but the dancers understand it.</p>

<p>I will most probably sound like I'm on a soapbox for a cult, but, I can't express how much I admire the folks involved with this program and Mr. King himself. Lines Ballet and its teaching programs are as much a life philosophy as they are a style of dance. My daughter considers her attendance at the SI as a 'life-changing' experience and others have made the same comment. With that said, however, there are also other dancers who didn't enjoy the program at all---which is perfectly fine. Not all programs are great for all dancers. Otherwise, how boring would it all become?</p>

<p>That said, the 4-week SI (which has been re-vamped somewhat for this summer I understand) is really something that can only introduce the dancer to the 'flavor' of the Lines philosophy, both dancing and teaching-wise. To fully experience it, the dancer would need to spend more time with the programs (either the LBTP or BFA programs). But the SI is a GREAT opportunity to get more acquainted with a philosophy about dance a bit different than the more classical mode and to experience a bit of a different approach to classical vocabulary. </p>

<p>The Lines 'style' or approach is very much grounded in classical ballet training--and without it, the dancer will struggle. But, a good grounding in modern and/or classical jazz will make the transition a bit less 'uncomfortable'. The LINES Ballet company, itself, is absolutely beautiful. And the life philosophy of Alonzo King permeates every bit of his organizations, empowering dancers to look for the 'truth' of the dance from within themselves.</p>

<p>I would recommend that you visit Ballet Talk for Dancers, register (it is free) so that you can take part in the Summer Intensive Forum and review the posts for the Lines Ballet programs. All the information contained there is 'first-hand experience'. The programs are relatively new (the BFA is in its 3rd year; LBTP is in either 3rd or 4th year; and the SI program is maybe 4 years old this summer, not sure).</p>

<p>The programs are growing, so there are some changes each year as a result. But, all in all, my daughter (and through her, I) has been very pleased and excited. She absolutely thrives in the Lines environment.</p>

<p>I would definitely recommend a trip for the audition class. The dancers that will enjoy this SI find the audition class to be very fun and exciting--and prepare your DD to feel overwhelmed, but encourage her to 'just go for it'--that is what the auditioners are looking for: Dancers willing to let go and explore outside their 'boxes' (and I don't mean their pointe shoe box). If she likes the audition class, she'll probably like the program. If she doesn't like the feel of the class, well, then she's crossed an SI off her list.</p>

<p>If there are more specifics you would like to know, ask and I'll try to answer.</p>

<p>krazi4sugar
My D did the Rockette SI and really enjoyed it, however it is only 1 week long and is very performance focused. I am not sure she "learned" anything in terms of dance and technique. During the audition they teach parts of different Rockette dances and look at how well the style as well as technique is done. D had done tap for 3 years, once a week, when she auditioned and was easily accepted, but after 3 years of tap she was in he highest level of a tap classes in a well respected dance program.</p>

<p>If you are interested in a dance program that will improve you dance knowledge and technique, my personal opinion would be that the Rockette's is not the right SI. And it is not particularly cheap given that it is only 1 week with no room and board provided.</p>

<p>Keeping Calm
Thanks so much, I will check out that site right away!</p>

<p>Wow Treemaven! I am so appreciative of your thorough (and glowing!) response regarding Lines Ballet. No, you don't sound like you drank the kool-aid, just that your daughter was blessed with finding one of those elusive magical matches. It sounds amazing, and I will surely encourage my daughter to explore the summer intensive more seriously. She'll be excited to hear your review. This program sounds like just the kind of "stretch" she is ready for. We'll check out the other site as well and I'll definitely get back to you with anymore questions. Thank you so much for all your kind support!</p>

<p>Ugh....2 auditions this past weekend!! The waiting is agony!!</p>

<p>Ha!</p>

<p>Nothing compared to waiting for the college acceptance letters!</p>

<p>We did the college acceptance thing last year (and auditions too) with musical D and I think this is worse!!! Worse bc oldest D was the only person in her school auditioning for colleges at all. Pretty much every girl in dancing D's class/company are auditioning for SI's and many for the same ones as she is (different locations). And with musical D we were pretty much told on the spot or given strong indications that she was in at the auditions so that took a lot of the stress off. Now waiting for FA packets...that was stressful!! </p>

<p>As far as SI's go, my D likes to audition at different locations than the masses from her school. A bunch auditioned for Boston Ballet a couple of weeks ago and one was accepted on the spot (boy) and a girl accepted about a week later. The rest have not heard. Heart wrenching and something we are trying to avoid but sooner or later there will be a tense situation I am sure.</p>

<p>Re the tense situations (from competing with friends and peers) -- I really hated that about ballet, but I must say my daughter seemed less bothered by it than I was, perhaps because she knew that it was part and parcel of being a dancer.</p>