Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theater

[Guest crzctldy]

My daughter was wondering if anyone knows anything about ACBT(Atlantic Contemporary Ballet Theater)-either their year-round program or their international summer intensive? The school is located in New Jersey.

[vrsfanatic]

Yes, I have heard of it. I know the director, Phylis Papa, has a long history in training good students, however I do not know how this program is run. Sorry!

[Mel Johnson]

Ms. Papa was a student of the late Audree Estey, was with the Harkness Ballet, where she had trained at Harkness House under Patricia Wilde and Jo Anna Kneeland, and later became a member of the Royal Danish Ballet. So, her background in teaching and learning HOW to teach has been very good. I don't know particulars of the program, either, but she has the training and the smarts to make a good one.

[BW]

Here's a link to the program ACBT and apparently it has an academic component, too, which is interesting. The tuition seems awfully low, bearing in mind that I live in a NYC suburb, for the academic portion.

[dancinINDel]

My daughter attended this summer program two years ago (her first SI) and she really enjoyed it-- Phyllis Papa was wonderful, nurturing and professional-- my daughter learned alot and gained the confidence she had been missing in herself in her dancing. The program is small and personalized and has alot to offer.

[ABTgirl14]

The students in the ACBT year round program take about 3 to 4 classes a day (Monday through Friday) with an optional class on Saturday mornings. They have technique and pointe everyday and from what I have heard, the classes are very challenging and the student receives a lot of individual attention since it is a relatively small program. As far as academics, it is an independent study type of thing through a college in Illinois. Everything is in one house- so you dance, sleep, eat, and do school all in the same house. Also, I know Robert Hill was on the faculty for their summer program, but I've heard rumors that he has joined the year round faculty too. I'm a prospective student at ACBT so I've talked to her a few times. If you have any more questions you can just call her! Hope that helps!

 

-Sarah-

[crzctldt]

I have questions about the boarding facilities at ACBT. We saw a dorm room with small bunk beds which slept 10 girls. No other furniture for clothing, toiletries, etc. Was this a problem for your daughter? And how old was she when she attended?

Edited January 19, 2005 by Treefrog

[dancinINDel]

My daughter had just turned 13 when she attended the program, I would have to say that the sleeping arrangements were probably the only down point to the whole program. The one room with 10-12 kids is a bit tight and sleeping conflicts can occur if you have kids who like to stay up late vs. kids who go to bed early. We brought a plastic tub that she kept all her clothes in and that went under her bed. Her toiletries were in a toiletrie bag and kept on a shelf in the bathroom. The first week was the toughest for her but after that it was smooth sailing.

Edited January 19, 2005 by Treefrog

[Treefrog]

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What kind of supervision does this program have. Is there an RA sleeping in the same dorm room? What is the dancer:RA ratio?