How to Choose a Ballet School

5 Things to Consider when Choosing a Ballet School 

“Most ballet teachers in the United States are terrible. If they were in medicine, everyone would be poisoned.” George Balanchine, founder of School of American Ballet

Quite a bold statement.  While Balanchine’s statement holds some truth, we know good training does exist. However, you need to know what you are a looking for when choosing a quality ballet school.

Dance has become more popular than ever and parents have many options, but not all schools are created equal. Parents need to consider their dancer’s goals and interests before choosing. Selecting a school that can grow with a young dancer is very important. 

Some schools are great at creating interest for the younger students with the princess style ballet, tap and a recital as the end goal. Yet, do not have the ability to advance these young dancers. Nor, do they have the skill-set to work with the older, mature dancer wanting to focus on technique and performance quality and even a career. 

As a professional ballet dancer, I often see the dangers of poor training.  Some schools skip the most fundamental basics of ballet technique.  Dancers on pointe need specific strengthening and technique training before leaving the barre. I have had dancers tell me when they begin pointe at their local school their first instruction was to go across the floor on pointe. This is unsafe. Poor instruction can hinder an ambitious dancer trying to become a professional. It can also lead to serious harm and injury.  Even more importantly, improper technique takes a long time to correct, if ever.

 

The truth is, many students find a dance school very young and never leave the school. Relationships form, friendships are made and bad training goes unnoticed because it is all they have ever known. This is an important fact because it makes choosing a dance school for your young dancer one of your most important decisions. 

So how do you choose? How do you avoid bad training? Here are the top five things to consider when looking for a ballet school.

RESEARCH DIRECTOR/INSTRUCTORS & INTERVIEW THEM

Has the owner of the school had a professional stage career? Learning from a professional dancer is beneficial for many reasons. Experience is a great teacher. The professionals have worked their way thru the ranks. They have also worked with some of the best in the industry and can share the knowledge and experiences that comes with years of working in the professional realm. Not all schools are fortunate enough to have professional dancers instructing. 

The next question to ask is; are any of the school’s teachers classically trained at University level? Many good teachers have studied dance and are able to offer solid technique classes. University graduates take classes in dance education that can be very helpful when teaching youth.

The last requirement in researching a ballet school is; do they hold certifications in a particular technique? Ask them to see the certification or look for posted certificate. While certification is not necessary, it can be important if the instructors do not meet the criteria mentioned above.

The best type of instruction encompasses the synergy of excellent technique and a love for dance. Quality instruction includes both. 

TOUR THE FACILITY & OBSERVE THE ATMOSPHERE

When you walk into a room, you can feel the energy. Same with a ballet school.  One of the first things I want to feel at a studio is desire. Do the dancers look like they want to be there or did their parents need to drag them to class. This can be subtle but a powerful indicator of what is happening in class. 

Ask the instructors what they expect of the students in class. Ballet requires discipline and dedication. The integrity of the class instruction and atmosphere is dependent upon a teacher that can intermingle the joy of dance while working hard toward becoming a better dancer. Parents paying for classes want their dancer to learn and students learning dance want to become better. Does the school offer a free trial/placement class to see if it is a good fit?

PRIMARY GOAL OF THE SCHOOL

The only acceptable answer to this question is simple. Technique comes first.

The primary goal of a quality school is to train dancers by giving them all the necessary tools they need to succeed. While I believe competitions and productions are excellent ways for dancers to learn and grow, it is not the primary goal. 

CURRENT STUDENT SUCCESS

When a school has a dancer that places into a professional dance company, graduate program or university it is a win-win. This means the instructors were able to foster and develop a dancer by helping them progress towards their goals. Ballet is a competitive field. Learning from instructors with proven ability to advance a dancer closer to a professional career is immeasurable.

PROFESSIONAL SCENE & OUTREACH

As the artistic director of a ballet school, I am always searching for ways to reach out to the dance community. Throughout my career, I have worked with world-renowned companies and choreographers that set ballets and collaborate with pre-professional schools. I believe exposure to the professional ballet world is invaluable. When looking at a school for your dancer you should ask if the school has the ability to attract dance professionals for guest teaching, master classes, original choreography and productions.

In addition, some of the major companies in the nation look for quality schools to host their school’s summer intensive auditions. These large well-established schools visit schools that have established reputations with a solid enrollment of advanced female and male students.

Lastly, does the school get involved in the local community? Dance is an art form to share. I look for companies that offer free public events/shows, scholarships and youth outreach and free workshops. This is an excellent way to determine if the school’s priority is sharing the love of dance. All businesses need to make money to offer excellent service, but also need to take time to give back to the community that supports them. 

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