Joffrey Ballet's Academy of Dance

[Lina]

The Joffrey is opening a school in Chicago. Here is the link to the information on their web site.

 

http://www.joffrey.org/academy_main.asp

[homeschooltreasurs]

I'm disappointed that we are too far away to take advantage of this! DD is at the intensive in Chicago and having a marvelous time.

[DanaD]

YAY!

We might be moving to chicago next year, and I am SOOOOOO excited!!!

[e'smom]

DOUBLE YAY!

[edgart6]

Does anyone know what will happen with JNY?

[quill]

There isn't much information on the website, but I did contact the program and had a conversation with Pierre Lockett, who is the director, apparently, and who was completely informative and helpful. If anyone is interested in this school, I wouldn't hesitate to contact him with your specific questions.

[2kids2]

Mr. Lockett seems to be the perfect fit for the director of the school. When DD danced Joffrey Nutcracker several years, he was always one of the pros who made time for the children's cast. He was able to develop quick rapport with the kids.

 

Quill- could you share some of the info he gave you. Levels, schedules, etc....

Edited August 5, 2008 by 2kids2

[quill]

Oh gosh, let's see what I can remember. I have an older child, so I was focusing on that. They're planning on 5 levels, I think. The most advanced level will have variations, the lower ones will not. For level 4 the classes will be MWFSa, I think, and will be ballet, pointe, modern twice a week and what he called "core" twice a week I think, beginning about 5 p.m. on the weekdays, mornings on Saturdays. Partnering if they have boys. He said this will be more of an experimental year. I'm sure he said more, but that's about all I can remember. I do recommend calling with your specific questions; he's very nice.

[balletbooster]

Will they just have a full ballet class twice a week at the top levels? Maybe I'm reading what you wrote incorrectly, but it doesn't sound like a sufficient pre-pro schedule for older teen dancers, if there are classes only 4 days a week.

[Lina]

I have the schedule at home, but what I remember is that Level V will be 5 days a week, tech and pointe/variations each day, with the addition of one other class 4 times a week which would be modern, jazz, spanish, or pilates. I think that Level IV was 4 days per week, but also with tech and pointe each of those days.

 

There are two days for placement classes in August, although I can't remember the specific dates, and Sept. 20th. Classes begin Sept. 22nd.

[homeschooltreasurs]

This is from the information given at end of summer intensive - at least what I gleaned from the talk.

 

The long term goal is to have a full prepro school that feeds into the Joffrey Ballet; training American students for an American ballet company. BUT they are realistic, and don't know how many top level prepro students are going to suddenly quit their current school and sign up, full-time, with a brand new school - even though it is The Joffrey Ballet.

 

Keeping that in mind, they started the school with 5 levels. The first 2 levels are for kids not on pointe. The top 3 correspond to the 3 levels at the intensive. Initially, they are going with a punch card system to allow students flexibility to try classes that fit their current schedule with the caveat that students that don't take all the classes may not move up levels as fast since the Joffrey teachers have a syllabus for each level.

 

The girls at the top level at the intensive were strong dancers and quite advanced! For all interested here is the schedule of classes offered. (I received this in the mail.) The levels go from 1 - 5 with 5 being the highest.

 

Level V

 

Monday

5-6 Horton

6-7:30 Ballet

7:30-8:30 Pointe

 

Tuesday

5-6 Horton

6-7:30 Ballet

7:30-8:30 Pointe

 

Wednesday

5-6 Core Strengthening

6-7:30 Ballet

7:30-8:30 Pointe

 

Thursday

5-6 no class

6-7:30 Ballet

7:30-8:30 Pointe

 

Friday

5-6 Latin

6-7:30 Ballet

7:30-8:30 Variations

 

Saturday

12-1:30 Jazz

2-3:30 Ballet

3:30-4:30 Pointe

 

Level IV

 

Monday

5-6 Modern

6-7:30 Ballet

7:30-8:30 Pointe

 

Wednesday

5-6 Core Strengthening

6-7:30 Ballet

7:30-8:30 Pointe

 

Friday

5-6 Latin

6-7:30 Ballet

7:30-8:30 Pointe

 

Saturday

10-11:30 Ballet

11:30-12-30 Pointe

1-2:30 Modern

 

Level III

 

Tuesday

6-7:30 Ballet

7:30-8:30 Pointe

 

Thursday

6-7:30 Ballet

7:30-8:30 Pointe

 

Saturday

10-11:30 Ballet

11:30-12-30 Pointe

1-2:30 Latin

 

Level II

 

Wednesday

5-6:30 Ballet

 

Saturday

10-11:30 Ballet

11:30-1 Modern

 

Level 1

 

Saturday

9-10 Ballet

10-11 Latin

 

One last level I missed

Baby Ballerinas

 

Saturday

4 year olds 9-10

5 year olds 10-11

6 year olds 11-12

 

Hope I don't have too many typos!

[puzzler]

Thanks all. I sent a long list of questions to Pierre in an email today and asked if I may share the answers with others. Assuming he okays it, I'll post the Q&A here when I hear back.

[Amylia]

Does anyone know if they will be offering adult (or rec) classes as well or solely the pre-pro track?

[2kids2]

Thank you homeschooltreasurs

[Guest karenwc]

<snip>

 

The long term goal is to have a full prepro school that feeds into the Joffrey Ballet; training American students for an American ballet company. BUT they are realistic, and don't know how many top level prepro students are going to suddenly quit their current school and sign up, full-time, with a brand new school - even though it is The Joffrey Ballet.

 

<snip>

 

I'm confused. I thought that's what the Joffrey NYC school was for. They do say that Joffrey Ballet comes and does auditions at Joffrey NYC. Can anyone clarify the relationships between the two schools and the company? Thanks very much!