Ballet schools in South Carolina - Charleston Area

[Guest ineedaname]

Hello all,

I am new here!!! I have really enjoyed reading the many very informative posts here. I had some trouble finding a name that was not taken as you may be able to tell by my screen name!!! Just hoping you all could help me find a ballet school in Charleston, SC. I have a teenage daughter who is a very serious ballet student hoping to pursue a professional career, she has attended various well known intensives and is going to need to continue her training after we relocate. I have tried to do a little research but have had trouble finding much on the web. I am hoping to get some feedback from you knowledgable people here!!! Thanks so much!!

~Peg

[Victoria Leigh]

Hello Peg, and welcome to the Moms and Dads forum here on Ballet Talk for Dancers!

 

The only thing I can think of in Charleston would be the Charleston Ballet Theatre. It is a professional company and school, so I would definitely look into that.

[Guest ineedaname]

Thank you very much for the welcome!!! I took a look at the website for the Charleston Ballet Theatre and the company looked nice however it didn't seem that the school offered many classes. I believe the website is http://www.charlestonballet.org in case anyone wants to take a look and tell me what you think. I also came across a Robert Ivey Ballet and just the name of another school Charleston Academy of Ballet I believe, is anyone familiar with these?? I am trying to keep positive that we will be able to find something so I don't have to send dd off to a residency program!!!

[Victoria Leigh]

Peg, everytime I go to the Charleston Ballet website, and click on School Schedule, I get knocked off line Can't seem to find the other two schools. Would like to check out the faculty and schedules in all three schools. Can you provide links to the other two schools?

[Guest ineedaname]

Thanks so much for the quick reply!! Here is the link to the CBT School (I hope I do this correctly )

cbt school

 

I can't seem to find the page I found the other day for the Robery Ivy Ballet and the other school was just a name I saw in a listing of schools in the area, I don't believe there was a website. I was really hoping for some first hand info from people here, but maybe there isn't anyone from this area. Has anyone seen the Charleston Ballet Theater? Do they have a good reputation? I at least feel better knowing there is a ballet comapny in the area!!!

[Memo]

What about Phillip Burnham, isnt he in that part of the country. He and his mother, Sandra are excellent teachers.

[Guest Megari]

There is the most wonderful school in Charleston, SC. My dd takes classes there when we visit her Grandma. It is Ballet Academy of Charleston 1662 Savannah Hwy

Charleston SC 29407-2235 843-769-6932 and the owner/teacher is Mara Meir former Paris Opera Ballet dancer. She is a Vaganova teacher. She is quite strict and is insistant on good technique. We like her very much.

 

Classical Ballet Centre 10150 Dorchester Rd Summerville SC 29485-8536 843-871-7222 (very close to Charleston). This school is not Vaganova. Jenifer Ringer of New York City Ballet trained with the owner of this studio before moving to DC. She teaches a nice clean class. She is also very good.

[Guest ineedaname]

Thanks so much for the response Megari...that was very helpful, I will definitly contact those schools. Did anyone else get a chance to look at the Charleston Ballet Theatre's website? I hope my link worked!! Ms Leigh I would love to know what you think if you were able to look. I think my daughter would like to be affiliated with a professional company, however if that is not the best school we will go elsewhere. Thanks again for the help!!!

[Victoria Leigh]

Peg, I looked at it, and did not think much of the schedule at either location. There are not enough classes and they are lumped together very strangely. Does not look at all like a pre-professional program to me.

[Guest ineedaname]

Thanks Ms Leigh...I agree about the schedule. I was rather dissapointed because I thought it would be a plus for her to train with a professional company. I looked over the rest of the website and thought the company itself looked decent. Ms Leigh do you know much about the company or the Cantwells (the directors)? Maybe we can be somewhat creative with my daughter and somehow supplement her training with some private coaching. I noticed they listed a rate for private lessons so maybe this is something they would offer. I am trying not to lose hope!! Has anyone seen the company perform?? Do they have a good reputation? At least we could go see the ballet!

Edited April 22, 2004 by ineedaname

[Victoria Leigh]

I would check out the other schools that have been recommended here, Peg. I was just not happy with the sound of that one, and no, I don't know anything about the company or the directors.

[Guest Megari]

http://www.charleston.net/stories/102503/loc_25ballet.shtml

 

This has an article about Robert Ivey's latest performance. I found it informative. I have never been to his studios.

 

http://www.mindspring.com/~ribart/ Robert Ivey Website

 

Charleston Dance Studio Robert Ivey Ballet (843)556-1343

1910 Savannah Hwy Charleston, SC 29407

Ivey Robert Ballet (843)875-9308

908 Bacons Bridge Rd Summerville, SC 29485

[mom2]

I admit to being a bit ignorant of distances between cities in South Carolina, so forgive me if this suggestion is totally off the wall.

 

One year my daughter had class with Hernan Justo; he is the AD of Carolina Ballet Theatre in Greenville. He also has danced and taught at Chatauqua. I don't know what the dance schedule would be for someone your daughter's age, but mine loved working with Mr. Justo and would love to have the opportunity to do so again!

 

I believe the website is www.carolinaballet.org

 

 

All the best!

[Balletmom]

A couple of ideas from a native South Carolinian:

 

Depending on how far you are willing to travel, the Columbia Conservatory of Dance offers upper-level classes six days a week (M-F from 5:30 til 7:00 and 11:00 til 12:30 on Saturday, with the Friday class being an "open" class where variations are taught.) Columbia is in the central part of the state about 100 miles or so from Charleston. Greenville is about another 100 miles away in the upstate. Currently, there is one student who travels from Greenville to Columbia for the Saturday class to supplement his home school training. The teachers are very good--the one who teaches most often is Serge Lavoie, a former principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, and the classes are small. The school itself is associated with the Columbia City Ballet, where Mr. Lavoie is the current ballet master.

(803) 252-0555

1128 Taylor Street

Columbia, SC 29201

 

Also, the Governor's School of the Arts has a residential program in Greenville. It's a fairly new school with beautiful facilities and is located in very charming downtown Greenville. At one time, it was free for instate students, but I believe they now charge a modest tuition/room & board. Stanislav Issaev is the chair of the dance department. They are a fully accredited fine arts high school.

Governor's School for the Arts

(864) 282-3777

15 University Street

Greenville, SC 29601

 

 

I have also heard very good things about Hernan Justo, but I'm not sure where in Greenville he teaches.

[sunpacy]

Hernan Justo

http://www.schoolofcbt.com

http://www.carolinaballet.org