Year round programs with "brick and mortar" schools.

[jambo]

Is there a comprehensive list anywhere on this site for year-round programs that have an actual "brick and mortar" school associated with it. (i.e., SAB has both the professional children's school as well as the public high school, Boston Ballet has a private school recommendation, CPYB has a public high school that some kids attend etc.)

 

Just curious if there is a comprehensive list of these programs?

 

Thanks for any help!

[Boydancermom]

Jambo - there aren't many. Most have an "online room" with a monitor. The ones that come to mind that have "live" teachers in classrooms in the same building/campus as the ballet school are: UNCSA, Kirov, Walnut Hill, NBS (National Ballet School of Canada), Governor's School in SC.

[mln]

I am interested in this topic, too, and I know there have been discussions of the differences between residential programs with brick-and-mortar schools and those that rely on some kind of cyber school, but the discussions are buried in other threads, from what I can tell. I would love to see a list.

The more research I do, however, the more I realize that there are a lot of hybrids. There are also programs that have a brick-and-mortar option but encourage students to do cyber school for the flexibility.

 

To add to Boydancermom's list:

 

MCB--students can attend Beach High or cyber school or a combination of the two. MCB has agreement with HS.

CPYB--Students can attend brick-and-mortar school, though I don't know if it is common. I think CPYB has or had an agreement with HS.

SAB--a private and public brick-and-mortar option.

PBT--Students can attend Obama Academy.

[Thyme]

I can add the School of the Alberta Ballet

[ascballerina]

And Royal Winnipeg Ballet as well. (Agreement with a school and a collegiate)

[Ballet dragon]

I can also add Interlochen Academy of Arts. Unlike a dance program that has an agreement with a separate brick and mortar school (like some listed above), their academic and arts program are completely combined administratively and work in collaboration with each other. Their academic program is quite rigorous, and their curriculum is college preparatory.

[jambo]

Thank you for your information so far. I can now add another "brick and mortar" option - NGB has an agreement with a school that actually offers transportation from the school to NGB - apparently on a golf cart! I also see that Boston Ballet has a "B&M" option with a VERY expensive private school - but a school nonetheless! I will keep researching and would love to hear from any other's that are in the know.

 

I would also love to hear about the programs that have scheduled online schools with monitors as that at least helps to ensure the work is being done. I have heard that Harid and the Rock have that type of arrangement but have not heard of any others. Feel free to add to this list as well!

[LovesLabor]

Bossov Ballet Theatre at Maine Central Institute.

 

The high school is a very traditional bricks and mortar college prep. school that is currently celebrating its 150 year anniversary. Those enrolled in its ballet program have morning classes as part of the academic day schedule, and attend additional classes in the afternoon and on weekends. Ballet students receive two academic credits on their high school transcript for each year they participate in the program. The academic and ballet faculty work together so that students can be well rounded, yet without sacrificing quality in either pursuit.

[Boydancermom]

Jambo - we did a tour of ballet schools on the East Coast, including UNCSA, Kirov, CPYB, Harid, Nutmeg and the Rock - feel free to IM me if you'd like our thoughts.

 

Another place to consider with an online "monitor" room in addition to Harid and the Rock is Nutmeg in CT. Good to hear that NGB has a new relationship with a school with transportation.

[sk8jdgca]

Canada's National Ballet school has a fully integrated academic program. The academic building is attached to the studios. The academic program follows the Ontario curriculum but has dance integrated in it. For example the grade 8's were studying the expansion of the west in history and there is a ballet on that subject, so they learned about it too. It is used in English too when they learn Shakespeare that has ballets ( Romeo and Juliette) they study history of art and ballet as extra courses in addition to regular courses. The academics are top notch.

[swanchat]

In regards to the online schools with a monitor... this is a good option, IF and only IF, the school directors are committed to protecting the time needed to complete the online instruction and homework required for mastering the material. Our daughter attended The Rock School as a child and was recruited by the school to attend their RAPA program. We seriously considered it. The intent of the Directors and the board is to protect the interests of the students by providing academics and by providing adult oversight. We never doubted the intent; however after talking with students who were in the RAPA program, the practical application of that intent fell short of the goal for many students. The time that the program mentions as academic time in the afternoon was regularly used for rehearsal and not academics. This is fine as long as the day ends in time for students to keep up with academics. This same program used evenings for required class and rehearsal too. This meant that students were in academics for 2 hours in the morning and in class and rehearsal until 7-8 pm at night. Also rehearsals occurred until the late afternoon on many Saturdays for this program. It takes a disciplined teen to go home and study after that. This program said that if a student fell behind in their academics, they weren't allowed to rehearse... this was not uniformly enforced. I observed all of these issues personally as I volunteered at the school almost daily. I don't mean for my comments to turn into a discussion about the school but do make sure that when your dk is auditioning for schools, you and your dk ask questions of random students like, "can you describe your daily schedule?" and " how do rehearsals fit into the day and academic schedule?"

 

All this to say.. look at the schedule offered for academics. Ask how many times the schedule is used instead for rehearsals and ask the current students, not just the school. Put yourself in your teen's shoes and write out the schedule that is offered by the school. Be aware that as a parent, you will need to insist on academics for your dk. This may mean that your dk has to turn down a role or performance. This is ok as long as the training is top notch and your dk is aware that academics must be completed too.

Edited April 24, 2016 by swanchat

[Bunhead Mama]

Swanchat brings up an excellent point and something else to consider is when looking at dance programs that also go into the evening as well as daytime classes is that after classes all day your dancer may also need to have time not only to eat but to self care and have a moment of downtime in the evening. It is easy to say if classes end at 8pm that they can do another hour to two of school when home and be asleep by 10:30 but in my DD's case it tended to be a snack, shower, ice or heat as needed, rolling out muscles, maybe some reading for school because by that point she was tired and wasn't absorbing new concepts as easily as she did in the morning.

Also for my DD there is a huge difference in doing the school work to pass the course and really understanding the material and how it applies to her life. My daughter found it a lot easier to memorize what she needed to pass an online quiz and write a short essay vs really mastering what was being taught. My DD currently does some subjects online and I can say some she has mastered and some she is making an A in but I doubt she will retain much of what was taught as she has been in too much of a hurry to get it done in the time allotted. The courses my daughter has actually mastered are the ones she could do before dance when she wasn't as tired. The ones she tried to slot in between classes and rehearsals or in the late evening have been less successful even if on paper she looks to be doing well.




Edited to better reflect my DD's experiences vs a general experience everyone will have.

Edited April 24, 2016 by Bunhead Mama

[vrsfanatic]

As a teacher in one of the mentioned programs, HARID, to be fair,is not the program being discussed. Our academics are in the morning and strictly enforced. I am not sure why there is all this beating around the bush and PMing. Call the programs for information. Each program provides, to the best of its ability what it promises to provide. Each student is different, as is each family. No one can tell another what might work or not work for another.

 

Each program has strengths and weaknesses. No parent or family is able to tell another which program might suit the needs of another.

[Bunhead Mama]

I hope I did not offend. I am not speaking of Harid or actually any particular program.

I was just trying to share some insight that I gained this year. I did not take into account certain needs of my dancer when selecting a program for my child. That is not to say she is not receiving excellent training where she is, just to say there are things I wish I had fully considered when first selecting a program. For me, that was a harsh eye to how to much time and energy my daughter would be devoting to her academics. Things that looked like they worked perfectly on paper did not take into account several other factors like fatigue, rehearsals, and allowing time for self care and down time as well as understanding the time needed to really master concepts for my dancer vs just getting an 'A' but relying on memorization instead of really learning the material. All of these needs and how they are met (or not) will vary from program to program and dancer to dancer.

I was just sharing things I wish I had considered early on in hopes that hopefully other dance parents can learn from what I learned about the needs of my dancer. It is all about finding what works for your dancer and family.

[vrsfanatic]

No offense except when parents take the discussion to PMing rather than having open, honest discussions in our Forums about observations while auditioning or if,a DC is enrolled is a program (had been enrolled). An audition experience is not first hand knowledge of a program. Or when parents give generalized comments about a group of schools, point out an issue but not identify which school it is.

While I understand parental desire for research, research with those who have never enrolled is not research, only hearsay. Everyone is free to speak except the schools being discussed. We cannot discuss students for legal reasons in these forums. We can however discuss how our school works. Rather than talk in general terms, why not ask the questions on the school forums.

These Parental Forums serve a wonderful purpose, but what they cannot do is give you first hand information. Your child is not someone elses child. Each child and family is unique. Each school is not a good fit for all children.

I cannot encourage the parents of DC who have an interest to pursue residential training more to visit the schools. Observe classes, speak with the faculty, visit the residence halls, speak with the students. Are the students smiling in the hallways, even perhaps a few smiles in the classroom. How does your child compare to what you see around you. Objectivity is key. Really open your eyes and see. If you do the visitation route to various schools, which students look more like professional level students. What is the discipline required in the classroom, in the hallways? Is the residence hall clean and friendly? Is it "home" to the students or an institution? How do the students interact with the faculty and staff?

Academics are a majorly important aspect of choosimg a residential school. You are asking the right questions. The problem is, you do not know who is answering. One school may not be a good fit for someone's child, but a perfect fit for your child.

I apologize if my posting may seem too strong but reading through these forums I realize while talk is good, the parents looking for advise do not even know if the DC of some were even accepted into a program being discussed. This can sway an opinion. Just because someone visited a school, you have no idea what the school's impression of the DC was.

I have said my piece, however, in the case of HARID, I do have 21 years of 1st hand experience and knowledge as a faculty member and one who selects our students for the National Honor Society. I can tell you what it is and what it is not. Please do not lump HARID into a generalized group of schools that may or may not take academics seriously. Academics are a priority at HARID. Our students are wonderful young people who pursue their studies of ballet and academics equally. Their year round scholarship is based on it. If they cannot keep up academically, they are tutored. If after that they continue not to thrive, the scholarship is not renewed. Never will HARID ask our students to study dance after 6:30 in the evening. Our dance hours are strictly enforced, 12:40-6:30 Monday through Friday, Saturday 10:00-2:00. In the case of performance, yes they will perform from 7:30 to 9:30 for the evening show (twice a year on a Friday eve). The other performances are matinees on weekends or school shows, in which case, they do miss academics but that is factored into our school calendar.

Please feel free to ask any specific questions about HARID in the specific Forum for HARID. I will give you the best answer I can and if I do not have an answer, I will know who to ask at HARID.

Deleting portions of posts through our editing ability is not the way to solve what is being posted. Leaving your posts as they were and then continue the posting following another post to perhaps explain what was meant allows for in depth conversation.

I am adding to my original post here because I see the issue I am discussing has been edited out.