Pre-pro schedule for 11 yr. old

[Guest coupe66]

We are currently investigating a new ballet school for our dd, and would like to know what the bench mark would be for her age. She is 11 and has been taking 6, 90 minute ballet technique classes per week, plus separate pointe classes 3 times per week for 30 minutes. She would like to continue training at the pre-professional level. Is her current schedule too much or just right? Also, should she be adding in other dance forms, such as Jazz or Modern?

 

Thank you in advance!

[cakers]

She is 11 and has been taking 6, 90 minute ballet technique classes per week, plus separate pointe classes 3 times per week for 30 minutes. She would like to continue training at the pre-professional level. Is her current schedule too much or just right? Also, should she be adding in other dance forms, such as Jazz or Modern?

 

The total hours aren't too out of whack, but for an 11-year old, it's on the high side. 6 classes of technique is also more than I typically see. Again, at 11, 4 would be the usual number, and yes, I think other forms of dance would be very beneficial. JMO.

[Clara 76]

A typical schedule for an 11 yr. old would be 4 ballet classes (90 mins. each) per week; a pre-pointe or pointe class if she is already en pointe; 1 Character class; maybe a jazz or modern class and some sort of rehearsal time for (hopefully) some performance opportunities throughout the season.

[Mel Johnson]

And additional things like jazz could be added - jazz would be OK now, and modern once she's 13-14. Pre-teens tend not to understand modern, and some may have a hard time of enjoying it.

[Guest coupe66]

Thank you, everyone, for your responses! I have a quick follow-on question - what is the usual progression of classes per week as a pre-professional dancer matures? I am trying to establish a benchmark in my mind, so that as I look at the schedules of the schools we are considering, I can have a better idea of what I am looking at. I tried to go on to the SAB website, for example, to get an idea of a solid pre-pro schedule, but because I am not sure what age ranges are covered by the levels there (I'm sure it varies), I am not sure how to relate the information to my dd.

[Victoria Leigh]

Most schools provide one technique class, one pointe class (or variations or pas de deux) per day, 6 days a week, plus once a week modern and/or jazz, maybe Pilates or character. Sometimes not pointe every day, but at least several, and they would move to one hour for that. Minimum 90 minutes for tech of course. Sounds to me like your daughter is already on a pre-pro schedule, and with more classes than most for that age.

[Guest coupe66]

Thank you, Ms. Leigh. She has been enjoying her current schedule of 6 days per week tech/3 days per week pointe, but as we have been looking around, we have been having a hard time trying to match that schedule at a new school. The most common reaction that we have received has been that she doesn't need to be dancing 6 days per week as an 11 year old. But, in dd's case, she has worked up to that schedule over the course of several years now and enjoys it, so I figure, "Why not?" Many of these schools pump up the frequency of classes beginning at age 12 (not sure if there is a specific reason for this or not), while 11 is viewed as still too young.

[Victoria Leigh]

Well, the problem is, coupe, that most students at 11 have not had anywhere close to that much training. Therefore, they are not yet ready for that kind of schedule. May I ask why you are looking for a new school? You did not mention moving.

[ddm3]

Good article concerning "overtraining" for athletes. I believe this also applies to dancers.

 

http://www.active.com/soccer/Articles/Overtraining_Youth.htm

[Guest coupe66]

Hi Ms. Leigh and everyone, yes, we are looking for a new school due to a re-location situation. Dd has been studying at a pre-pro school, and would like to continue to study ballet at the pre-pro level in the new location.

 

Again, dd enjoys her current schedule and therefore, I did not have any inclination to change it. However, as we have looked at a variety of new schools, some of them are surprised at her schedule, others think its perfectly fine, but don't have enough classes (at ANY level) to match it, etc. So, I am trying to figure out for a dancer who has the desire to train as a serious pre-professional student, what should the schedule be? For example, I understand that at Kirov Academy in D.C., the 11 year olds train 6 days per week for about 3 hours per day, and this includes a daily tech and pointe class. Other pre-pro schools seem to follow different schedules for this age, so I am feeling the need to get some clarity on this.

[Clara 76]

My only concern for her at that age with going that intensely would be the potential for injury, maybe not now, but in the future. Of course, most pre-teens would gladly dance 24 hours a day if we let them! I think you have to know your child and know what she is physically and mentally capable of handling. I also think it would be a good idea to monitor her closely, if you do decide to keep up with that type of schedule for her, because puberty and growth spurts are in the near future, and that's when overuse-type things can creep up.

 

11 years old is young for a 6 days per week schedule, which is why you will usually only see that type of schedule in a residency type facility.

[Guest coupe66]

Thank you, Clara76 I just took a look at the JKO School website, and saw that for the 11-13 yr. olds, they dance the following schedule:

 

Mon. 4:30-6 p.m.

Wed. 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Thurs. 4:30-7 p.m.

Sat. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

 

I think we will look for something like this for dd. And you make an excellent point - it isn't just about what they think they want to do now, it is also about protecting them so that they can keep on doing it, if they so desire, later on, too!