Changing Schools at 16

[puzzler]

I'll preface this by saying DD is at a competition school that really emphasizes ballet and technical training. DD would like to dance professionally but knows her body type and style of moving is better suited for contemporary dance than classical ballet. She has attended summer programs for the last 4 years and has had success at SI auditions from top tier and regional programs. her home studio knows and nurtures her and we trust the advice of her teachers regarding preparation for a professional dance career - probably not at NYCB but that's not her goal

 

We are likely facing a cross country move this year. We are considering a shift to a pre-pro ballet school as we know there is no disadvantage to taking more ballet at this point in her training. She loves the intensity of her current school but is not motivated by competition.

 

Here's my question: DD attended an SI audition recently and several parents were talking about dancers who transfer from one pre-pro school to another at 15 - 17. It seems that the climate at some schools means that new students are viewed mainly as threats to the hierarchy in terms of getting roles in productions. We are comfortable with her being placed at "lower" levels to ensure she has appropriate technical skills. this isn't an issue of feeding her ego, but whether or not we'd want to make an already difficult transition even harder for her. We understand the competitive nature of dance and that she will always be competing for a role or "spot" but is this attitude common to pre-pro schools?

 

If not, can those who have made the switch to a new school at a later age suggest questions or red flags to keep an eye out for as we explore her options?

[Victoria Leigh]

I think that, at this point, her focus needs to be on the training and not on the casting. She has probably had lots of performing experience, and when her technique comes up to level, she will get more. The first year may need to be more technique focused and not worrying about casting. It may happen, it may not, but in a good school the casting will be according to who is best for the part, not how long they have been there, with the possible exception of some priority given to seniors who have been at the school a long time.

[2dancers]

And keep in mind that you heard parents at the audition talking about it. Often times, not always, but more than we hear I think & in my own dd's experience, the dancers themselves are welcoming to new students.

[Treefrog]

If I am hearing you right, you are not worried about the casting per se, but about studio attitudes in which a new student is not welcomed by the others, but seen as a threat? and you want to know how to detect that -- and, presumably, how also to detect an environment that welcomes newcomers and views them as enriching the mix?

 

Just wanted to clarify the question.

[puzzler]

how to detect an environment that welcomes newcomers and views them as enriching the mix?

 

We expect she will have to catch up in technical areas so casting is not the issue. I'm also wondering if this attitude is common in the pre-pro community or merely a small set of parents I met at an audition.

[Victoria Leigh]

Okay, sorry about that. I must have misread the question.

 

The atmosphere at the school is set from above, and down through the faculty. If there is a positive and supportive attitude, then the students are likely to be supportive and positive with each other. That of course does not always translate to the parents who hang out in the lobby or waiting room, unfortunately. The best way to know is to take a class and and get a feel of the atmosphere from her own point of view, by being in the dressing room and the classroom and meeting the dancers and the teachers. I have found that if the faculty encourages the dancers as a group who work together and support each other then they are generally very welcoming to a new student.

[lovemydancers]

Puzzler, I think you should visit any ballet schools that you determine could have the type of training you are seeking, arrange for her to take a class to "try it out", and see exactly what the reception is from both the faculty and the students. I suspect you will figure out which school feels like "home" fairly quickly.

 

As you noted, you were hearing from a small group of parents at an audition. There will always be a few stage parents who will be the most visible and most audible in the crowd. Attitudes come from the top, and that applies to the faculty/student relationship as well as the parent/child relationship. In our old studio, a visiting potential student and her parents would have been ignored by most of the students and other parents until they collectively had a chance to size her up, get the story, see the faculty reaction to the dancer, etc. At our current school, the students (in the absence of their parents I might note, as it's a residency program) and faculty were extremely welcoming. Everyone in the place is talented!

 

I think your DD's approach to those first test-classes matters as well. When my DD visited her current school for audition classes, there were polite hellos before class, my DD tried to be considerate of people's favorite spots at the barre, went across the floor in the second group rather than the first unless they gestured her forward, but nevertheless showed confidence in her dancing, stepped up when appropriate and stepped back when appropriate. Every now and then a visiting dancer comes in with pointe shoes ablazin' and an attitude to match--that dancer, as you can imagine, is not so well received.

 

After my DD's audition class, several students approached her to chat, ask where she was from, etc. and one very gracious student invited her to shadow her through the rest of her day. That and the other welcomes she received for the rest of that day made a big impression on my DD, and she has sought opportunities to return the favor for other new students.

 

I guess what I have tried to say is give the kids the benefit of the doubt--you may be pleasantly surprised. As for the parents, you're on your own!

 

(Ms. Leigh and I were posting at the same time.)

Edited January 24, 2009 by lovemydancers

[sascha_b]

Here's my question: DD attended an SI audition recently and several parents were talking about dancers who transfer from one pre-pro school to another at 15 - 17. It seems that the climate at some schools means that new students are viewed mainly as threats to the hierarchy in terms of getting roles in productions. We are comfortable with her being placed at "lower" levels to ensure she has appropriate technical skills. this isn't an issue of feeding her ego, but whether or not we'd want to make an already difficult transition even harder for her. We understand the competitive nature of dance and that she will always be competing for a role or "spot" but is this attitude common to pre-pro schools?

 

If not, can those who have made the switch to a new school at a later age suggest questions or red flags to keep an eye out for as we explore her options?

 

My DD switched to a new pre-professional school after taking 2 years off of the intense training for a more relaxed environment (she danced with a very laid back, more modern, local pre-pro company). She did an SI with a great school and was asked to stay for their pre-pro company. It worked well for her as far as getting a feel for the school. She only met a few of the regular home dancers as they were off on other SI's, but she found them to be fairly friendly and adjusted well within the group when she continued there.

 

I wouldn't pay any attention to what the mom's say...she would just have to see for herself. My DD is fairly independent, so unless they were terrible to her, she would have done it anyways. As far as competition, I think the girls at a certain level are pretty realistic as to the other dancers' levels. The moms....not so much; but they have a maternal perspective...

 

Our girls are all looking for different things; but for my daughter, even though she didn't get cast up as she would have liked, she recognizes that there are some seniority issues but doesn't care. She's more concerned about what she is getting out of the program for her next step when she graduates.

 

Lovemydancer's post can't be improved upon, for specifics on how to ease in to the group. My daughter went in with the same tactics.

Edited February 9, 2009 by sascha_b