Informal ranking of DMV ballet studios?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD had a big growth spurt this Spring and was devastated for what that may mean for her and roles. She cried in the doctor's office when the nurse read out her height. I really didn't know what to say to her, it's not anything in her control and it's an arbitrary standard they've created that tiny dancers get more opportunities.

Tiny dancers suffer just as much discrimination, PP. I know girls who are 5' or less and they don't get picked either.

There is a range considered "ideal" for ballet and boys and girls on either side of it are VICTIMS.

And don't whine about having a child who is tall. The kids who are very short have it worse in life generally. I have a son who is 5'4".

Um... Yes, they cut dancers who are over 5 ft tall. All the party kids are small and there was even a Washington Post article that followed Mrs. Glover during a Nutcracker season where the Artistic Director commented on how a dancer was too tall to be a clown. And boys, no matter what height, are favored in ballet.

At MYB, they cut girls who are that short. I think you don't have your height cut-off correct, although of course I agree that tall and short dancers are disadvantaged. And yes, boys are favored.

TWSB parent here and I can confirm that smaller student dancers are favored here in the professional productions. I believe it's to differentiate the child roles from their adult company dancers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain how bullying happens in a ballet class? I’m honestly confused. Don’t the kids just show up for class and do what the instructor says and go home? Is it happening at rehearsals for ballets?

The older kids stay at MYB for hours with back to back classes. In between, they in the corridors, stretching and warming up or cooling down. One young adult dancer in particular just kept saying nasty stuff, with absolutely no reprimand from above.

Ah ok. Thanks for this. Makes sense. I’m sorry this happened. Hopefully that person doesn’t ruin an entire program, which would be such a shame.

It's too late. Many girls enrolled in other programs for this upcoming school year, whether in this area, or in boarding ballet schools elsewhere, and the MYB Conservatory is no more. This was a big deal, PP.

Weird to blame the 22 year old male who left in January for causing the end of the MYB conservatory the following June. That program was simply unpopular and a money drain at $2500 a year tuition. I’m sad for the kids who have lost their adolescence to pursuing fantastical dreams by giving up high school just to dance a couple extra hours during the day.

[Anonymous]

Check out Akhmedova Ballet Academy in Silver Spring for serious instruction. They have summer intensives in ballet, contemporary and character and they do Vaganova technique, which is really great for strength, skill, and injury prevention. https://www.akhmedovaballet.org/intensives