Dancing Overseas

[SugarPlum21]

Hello, I'm not sure if this is the right place for my topic, but I thought it fit into the category of "finding a pre-pro school". Please move it if I'm in the wrong place .

 

I'm in high school in Australia. I would like to go on a student exchange within the next couple of years, but I'm not prepared to give up ballet for a year (or even do it recreationally), because I am hoping to find a career. I don't really know where I want to go yet, but definitely somewhere with an appropriate ballet school. The plan that has been forming in my mind is that I would like to go to a serious pre-pro school somewhere in Europe. I speak a little French too, so maybe France or Switzerland or Belgium, or even Canada. I could live with a host family, or even live at the ballet school if this is offered (I'm flexible!! ) For example, the Paris Opera Ballet School has a program like this (Olivia Bell went there briefly), but I'm too old to be accepted!

 

So my question is: Does anyone know of any appropriate school for me in any of the above cities?

 

Also, maybe I am being a bit too specific (??). If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd really appreciate it if you would share, because I'm interested in any options . Thankyou!

[swanchat]

SugarPlum21

 

I'm a bit confused. Are you aiming for a balllet career or a career in another field with the intent to continue ballet on a serious level?

 

If you are aiming for a ballet career, then the best course of action would be to audition for ballet vocational schools in Europe or Canada. Look for the schools associated with the companies and in countries where you are interested in living or dancing eventually. Make sure the school has a good history of actually placing dancers in companies after graduation; if you are interested in living with a family, then find out if there is an option for that through the school. If you want to live in school housing, ask about that too- not all programs have housing. You are not too old to audition for most of the schools as many take talented students in during all years if there are openings.

 

If you are aiming for a career in something else but want to take ballet seriously, then maybe you could apply to be an exchange student through one of the many exchange programs and specify that there must be serious ballet training for you to do in your free time.

[SugarPlum21]

Sorry; I would like to pursue a career as a professional dancer . I have looked into some schools via the internet, though I am finding it difficult to find feasible options (one turned out to be a line dancing school!! ), so I wondered if anyone (maybe who lives in the area) had any leads I could follow up. Also, thankyou for your response swanchat, that's definitely cleared up my questions about host family and school boarding options .

[Clara 76]

For Canada, check out this thread: Ballet schools in Canada

Belgium, check out this thread: Ballet schools in Belgium

France: Ballet schools in France- Paris

and this one: Ballet schools in France and Monaco

and here is the link for several threads on Switzerland: Finding a Pre-Pro school scroll down until you find the 4 threads.

[tinyzinnia]

I know you didn't mention it in your question, but there are also many respected ballet schools in Germany. Many of these schools are a good option economically because they are supported by the government. Depending on your level and preferred style of ballet, there are schools in Stuttgart, Berlin, Munich, Dresden, Hamburg, and Mannheim just to name a few.

However, I can't really tell what your goals are academically. Most of the schools I mentioned and most of the European schools for that matter provide dance training only.

[diane]

sugarplum21, does your ballet school know of any places; have they placed students in full-time european schools before? It iis not _that_ easy to get in - it depends on the school, of course, and on "who else is auditioning" at the time. ;)

 

And, as tinyzinnia says, most all of these pre-pro schools are whole-day deals - no time to go to an academic school "on the side".

 

 

-d-

[SugarPlum21]

No, I can't really get any information on European schools from my school, because most of the students from my school recently usually dance in Australia or New Zealand. Years ago, some girls were placed at the Royal Ballet School, but so much has changed since then info is pretty out-of-date!! Yes, I understand that it is very hard to be accepted based on factors at the time, but I figure that it would be wirth the experience anyway . I might wait until after year 12, because that way I have options for other careers if dancing falls through for me. Thanks very much for all your helpful advice and also for those links Clara76, they might be just what I have been looking for

[cheetah]

A number of Australians have gone to Tanz Academy in Zurich. Not sure of the language requirements, but the dancers we know all speak English. So not sure if they teach you English or teach you German!

 

http://www.tanzakademie.ch/index_e.cfm

[SugarPlum21]

Thanks for the suggestion cheetah, I had thought of TAZ but hadn't really considered it because of precisely the point you brought up: I don't speak German!! But that's a good point; many of the Australian's who are accepted don't speak German, so I've looked into it...AND: they have a new boarding house, which would suit me really well That;s a big help; thankyou

[cheetah]

My understanding is that students at TAZ are taught German if they don't already speak it - it's part of the curriculum. You would need to confirm that, though. The boarding rooms are a new addition over the past year or two but some students still choose to live in apartments in the city. Apartments, however, are super expensive and can be difficult to find.

 

Don't rule out some of the schools in the US, either. Many take students until they are 20 or 21, so you could finish up school first and then look for additional training opportunities. And they speak English! If you research them, look carefully at the boarding options, though. Some offer "apprentice" training to students that have finished high school but do not allow them to board. Other schools don't have that restriction.

[SugarPlum21]

That's great; I'd love to learn German, so that would never be a deterrent. Yes, understand apartments can be expensive (and Switzerland is already an expensive place to live so I'd be looking in to the boarding house if the option is available).

 

Thanks for the US school idea; do you know of any that offer boarding (for girls that have graduated) for me to start looking at?

At this point I'm just trying to get a really good idea of what is out there so I can make an informed decision when the time comes. Right now though, back to the Chemistry homework haha, thankyou for your advice

[cheetah]

You'll have to check through the various threads on residency programs - that is the best resource. My information is dated so will have to be verified. In the past, Kirov did not let Apprentice level (older than 18 and post-high school) students board. They have a new director, though, so you could always check. I recall information on Nutmeg having a new apprentice program that was post high school so you can check that thread as well. Rock has older dancers - or they did when we looked at their program. I can't recall the age limit of SAB, but you might qualify for their program, and boarding, as well. Harid ends after high school so that wouldn't be a good fit.

 

There are other programs that have been working on getting boarding programs attached to their year round programs. Miami had talked about it but not sure if it's worked out yet. Boston was also working on something, but you'll have to check to see if it has an age limit. And one post indicated there may be something in the works for Pittsburgh's graduate program. Washington Ballet has a program for older dancers but no boarding. The dancers we've known that have studied there have managed to find accommodations within their budgets.

 

There are also college options - you can check those out on the individual threads, too. You could always try an option that is more of a conservatory program, such as Boston Conservatory, as opposed to a full-out college degree program. Or if your credits from school make you eligible for entry requirements, you could consider colleg as an option for continued training.

 

Lots of options - but a lot of research for you to do!

[SugarPlum21]

Thanks alot cheetah! I have been doing some research lately, so I have found heaps of options! So I'll keep looking for more and then start narrowing down my choices and maybe contacting schools about auditioning etc. I still have time to decide because I won't be going anywhere for a few years haha!

 

Thankyou everyone for your help .