Six levels including a pre professional level that took place during the day.
Dancer Age
12
13
15
Hours of Dance Each Week
11-15 hours
16-20 hours
Gender
Female
Was Student Scholarshipped?
No
Years At School
1 year
Full time or after school?
After School
Curriculum
Days Per Week
5
Classes Per Day
1
Weekend Classes?
Yes
Weekend Schedule
Full day
Half day
Students Per Class
10-15
Less than 10
Weekly Repertoire or Variations?
No
Yes
Pointe Classes Per Week
2
5
Live Music in Technique Class?
No
Dedicated Men's Program?
No
Unsure
Men Taught by Male Teacher?
Yes
Men Taught Batterie?
Unsure
Yes
Boys In Level
Less than 5
Separate Technique Class for Boys
No
Unsure
Yes
Techniques Taught
General Classical
Technique Teacher Rotation
The school rotated teachers on a fixed schedule
Did School Director Teach?
Always
Often
Classroom Corrections
Dancer specific: almost every dancer got specific corrections each day
Attention From Teachers
Very Little
1
2
3
4
5
A Lot
Quality of Instruction
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Did Technique Improve?
Not at all
1
2
3
4
5
Tremendously
Curriculum Comments
Rigorous European classical ballet training ranging from early ballet classes (4/5) through Advanced and pre-pro. Classes at the Advanced level were 3+ hours M-F, 4 hours on Sat, and 5 hours on Sunday. Contemporary is also offered.
3-hour technique class Monday; Tuesday and Thursday 1.5-hour technique with pointe work-Thursday-weekly contemporary class-1hr; Saturday-Technique class 2 hours. Sunday-4hrs. Strength and conditioning, Technique and Variations.
The curriculum is based on French/European technique and focuses on precision and artistry. Usually there are 5 classes, three to four hours each class, a week for the advanced and advanced intermediate levels. Monday-Friday classes are 3 hours starting with pilates and then moving to regular technique class and pointe. One day a week there is a contemporary class. On the weekends there is a full day intensive of 6 hours starting with pilates and technique in the morning, and a pointe/variations class in the afternoon.
Partnering
Frequency of Partnering Class
1x per week
No partnering
Partner Ratio
Everyone had to share a partner.
Who Taught?
Male and female teacher together
Male teacher
How Much Partnering Improved
No
1
2
3
4
5
Tremendously
Quality of Pas Teaching
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
How Were Corrections Given?
Attention and corrections were evenly distributed between the males and females
Description of Partnering Class
Partnering typically occurred on the weekends when class time was longer
Girls were split up by height and assigned a male partner. In the class students worked on basic pas de deux steps as well as some more challenging steps depending on previous experience. Sometimes dancers worked on excerpts of pas de deuxs from classical ballets.
Additional Comments
As a small and new school they do pretty well with limited enrollment of boys. As the year went on more boys joined which was good to see
The school is growing rapidly and is actively recruiting more male-identifying students. The school emphasizes partnering as an important component of their curriculum.
Other Classes
Other Dance Styles
None
Contemporary Offered?
Yes
Types of Contemporary Classes Taught
Choreography workshops
Improv
Repertoire
Technique
Contemporary Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Master Classes?
Yes
Master Classes Description
A Winter & Spring Intensive (long weekends) are offered with professional guest faculty. This is optional, outside of class time, and for an additional fee.
Through the year, the school offered spring and variation intensives. Guests artists included faculty from Royal Ballet and former professional dancer from Boston Ballet, English National Ballet.
Throughout the course of the year famous guest teachers who are current or former principal dancers of top companies around the world (Royal Ballet, Boston Ballet etc) would come and teach intensive classes. During this time students would often do technique class and then learn classical variations. It's incredible that the Director/Founder of the school can provide these amazing opportunities and exposure for the students.
Strength & Conditioning
Physical Training Offered?
Yes
Physical Training Types
Body conditioning
Gyrotonic or Gyrokenisis
Pilates (mat or reformer)
Stretch class
Physical Training Schedule
Daily
Several times a week
Were Trainers Certified?
Yes
Physical Training Quality
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Strength & Conditioning Comments
The school has a strong philosophy about the importance of pilates/conditioning
The school puts a real emphasis on cross training, especially pilates to help students build strength, flexibility, and help their placement in technique class, and prevent injuries. The main teacher is a certified professional who has deep knowledge and expertise in this area.
Injuries/Health/ Mental Health
Are Doctors Available?
No
Unsure
How Parents Notified?
My student did not get injured
How Treatment Obtained?
Although we didn't have to go through this ourselves last year, the Director/Teacher would talk to the parents and recommend a doctor or physical therapist for the students to go to.
PT Available?
No
Unsure
Was There a Recovery Plan?
My dancer did not get injured
Yes
Describe Recovery Plan
My dancer got injured (not in class). The faculty is very conservative about managing injuries, often works with doctors and PT (they have amazing contacts!), and develops a plan to bring dancer back to full dance.
My daughter had an injury that she developed to her Achilles and a sprain that occurred outside of the dance studio. My daughter routinely saw a physical therapist who specialized in dancer recovery. Her plan was communicated from her physical therapist to her studio and modifications were made to her dance training in order for her recovery to take place. They were in weekly communication and very receptive to physical therapy recommendations.
Mental Health Therapists Available?
No
Unsure
Were Students Given Fat Talk?
No
Staff Made Comments About Bodies?
No
Were Students Weighed?
No
Was "Coded Language" Used?
No
Yes
Additional Comments
Arrais Ballet faculty are not only concerned about a dancers physical health but also want to ensure that each dancer is aware that the studio is a safe space. They treat each dancer with dignity and respect. The instructors are engaging and will reach out if they happen to note that the dancer may seem “off” in class. not only will they check in with the student, but also take the time to engage the parent.
The Director and other teachers at the school are extremely sensitive about body image. They never made the students feel self-conscious about their body or weight. My daughter feels very comfortable in this supportive and sensitive environment.
Communication
Formal Orientation?
No
Unsure
Yes
Handboook & Paperwork
Adequate but missing several key pieces
Comprehensive and complete. I knew what to expect for the year
Quality of Communication?
Poor
1
2
3
4
5
Excellent
Who Received Communication?
With parents and students
Exams
Formal Exam?
Yes
Written Feedback?
No
Yes
Exam Adjudicator
Internal
Exam Rubrics Clear?
Agree
Strongly agree
Who Attends Exam Meeting?
Yes and parents are included. The meeting was with Artistic Director and my teachers
Yes and parents were included. The meeting was with the Artistic Director
Positive, uplifting, friendly, warm, and inclusive.
Placement Notification Timing
During the post exam meeting
Notified of placement after meeting with artistic director to review exam results.
We were notified a couple weeks after the exam.
How Dancer Was Notified
In-person meeting with school director/staff
Dancer Had Mentor?
No
Yes
Mentoring Details
There is no formal mentoring program as this is still a new and small school. However faculty is both very available and very willing to talk and work with dancers
This school is very much a community. Although no formal mentor program, each level of students integrate with each other and offer support camaraderie.
The atmosphere of the school is very supportive and encouraging. The Director and teachers often communicate with students and parents to offer guidance and feedback specific to each dancer. We feel this high level of engagement from the Artistic Director himself contributed significantly to the progress that our daughter made this past year.
