The Washington Ballet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there ballet schools in the area that don’t exploit the children and focus on THEIR education rather than the revenue of performances? It sounds like kids are going to get injured and 5 weeks of this schedule would really make schoolwork suffer. Does anyone offer a more student-centric program? Thank you.

All schools want to benefit from Nutcracker but WSB is the only area school that’s attached to a major professional company that has its own revenue issues. In contrast, my DDs school has shows Thurs-Sun over one weekend in early December, plus a single mini show for preschoolers and a “tea”, plus a handful of outreach events that the oldest girls do. There are two casts and most of the younger kids end up dancing in 3 shows, total. My DD was double-casted last year so she had to do 6, which I thought was a lot, but apparently is a small task compared to what WSB has them do.

This sounds so much more reasonable. What school is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not paid. You also have to sign a contract before the audition that your child will attend all rehearsals and performances. This is how some families ended up bound to 7-8 weekends of 12 hours of rehearsals every weeks, plus 20+ shows. No pay, and just a small discount on tickets. It was way too much, and many families will not participate this year.

Is that a change from before?
What was the commitment before?

The commitment used to less - about ten shows or so - until a year or two ago. As students have started leaving, more students have been double or even triple-cast. Last year the show ran for an extra week beyond the holidays in order to raise more revenue, though it probably didn't work, as many shows in the early weeks were pretty sparsely attended. They're running the extra week again this year. Fewer students auditioning + more shows = greater time commitment (though they don't tell you this before)

Yeah, extending the commitment beyond a Christmas Eve means our DD is not going to participate this year. The double casting was totally fine, the not traveling at a Thanksgiving or indeed any weekend from Oct inward was ok, but not being able to travel during the winter holiday break is a dealbreaker. We don’t have family in the area and need to see them at holidays when possible. So unfortunately we have to walk away from the Nutcracker experience, which has been very enjoyable up to now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not paid. You also have to sign a contract before the audition that your child will attend all rehearsals and performances. This is how some families ended up bound to 7-8 weekends of 12 hours of rehearsals every weeks, plus 20+ shows. No pay, and just a small discount on tickets. It was way too much, and many families will not participate this year.

Is that a change from before?
What was the commitment before?

The commitment used to less - about ten shows or so - until a year or two ago. As students have started leaving, more students have been double or even triple-cast. Last year the show ran for an extra week beyond the holidays in order to raise more revenue, though it probably didn't work, as many shows in the early weeks were pretty sparsely attended. They're running the extra week again this year. Fewer students auditioning + more shows = greater time commitment (though they don't tell you this before)

Yeah, extending the commitment beyond a Christmas Eve means our DD is not going to participate this year. The double casting was totally fine, the not traveling at a Thanksgiving or indeed any weekend from Oct inward was ok, but not being able to travel during the winter holiday break is a dealbreaker. We don’t have family in the area and need to see them at holidays when possible. So unfortunately we have to walk away from the Nutcracker experience, which has been very enjoyable up to now.

Are children getting injured with this type of schedule? This is a lot of rehearsals and performances. Are most of them homeschooled?

[Anonymous]

Honestly the hardest part of Nutcracker comes during rehearsal time, October through Thanksgiving. That is a big time commitment, especially on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays). Once performances start, its just showing up at the theater an hour before show time, performing for a few minutes, then heading home either at intermission (for those only in act 1) or after the show ends. Yes, it means no travel for families during Nutcracker season but that is the sacrifice.

[Anonymous]

The Washington Ballet Nutcracker is a huge time suck and for what? So I can spend hours at The Warner Theater "volunteering" while my kid sits around for hours on end to be on stage for 2 minutes. NO WAY! Never again! Last year, my DD had 18 shows and her school work suffered greatly! The rehearsal schedule is a gross waste of time. It's just not worth it. Anyone who can't see past this exploitation of your children, deserves what they get, frankly.

Also, TWSB is also exploiting your child to keep the company afloat.

Julie Kent is a meek leader and slightly clueless about life in the real world. She wants to have a "nurturing" studio where no child EVER receives negative criticism or ever feels excluded. Because that's going to prepare them for the real world, isn't it?

Good luck, TWSB! It's been real!

No, the grass is not necessarily greener on the other side, but anything is better than staying on a sinking ship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there ballet schools in the area that don’t exploit the children and focus on THEIR education rather than the revenue of performances? It sounds like kids are going to get injured and 5 weeks of this schedule would really make schoolwork suffer. Does anyone offer a more student-centric program? Thank you.

All schools want to benefit from Nutcracker but WSB is the only area school that’s attached to a major professional company that has its own revenue issues. In contrast, my DDs school has shows Thurs-Sun over one weekend in early December, plus a single mini show for preschoolers and a “tea”, plus a handful of outreach events that the oldest girls do. There are two casts and most of the younger kids end up dancing in 3 shows, total. My DD was double-casted last year so she had to do 6, which I thought was a lot, but apparently is a small task compared to what WSB has them do.

This sounds so much more reasonable. What school is this?

Sounds like BalletNova. Is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not paid. You also have to sign a contract before the audition that your child will attend all rehearsals and performances. This is how some families ended up bound to 7-8 weekends of 12 hours of rehearsals every weeks, plus 20+ shows. No pay, and just a small discount on tickets. It was way too much, and many families will not participate this year.

Is that a change from before?
What was the commitment before?

The commitment used to less - about ten shows or so - until a year or two ago. As students have started leaving, more students have been double or even triple-cast. Last year the show ran for an extra week beyond the holidays in order to raise more revenue, though it probably didn't work, as many shows in the early weeks were pretty sparsely attended. They're running the extra week again this year. Fewer students auditioning + more shows = greater time commitment (though they don't tell you this before)

Yeah, extending the commitment beyond a Christmas Eve means our DD is not going to participate this year. The double casting was totally fine, the not traveling at a Thanksgiving or indeed any weekend from Oct inward was ok, but not being able to travel during the winter holiday break is a dealbreaker. We don’t have family in the area and need to see them at holidays when possible. So unfortunately we have to walk away from the Nutcracker experience, which has been very enjoyable up to now.

Are children getting injured with this type of schedule? This is a lot of rehearsals and performances. Are most of them homeschooled?

Most of the younger kids, like my upper-elementary DD, don’t have extended super vigorous dancing to do. So it’s a big time suck but not a thing where injuries are an issue. I don’t think there are too many homeschooled kids in the lower levels. I don’t know about the teenagers.

[Anonymous]

Kids are not required to do Nutcracker at TWB. So don't do it if you don't see the value. Most kids who love ballet want to participate, however.

[Anonymous]

OOHHHH My, There appears to be a lot of bitterness on this forum.. Is TWSB really that bad?? My DD has commenced in the PTP program this year & she is still finding her way - they only commenced 4 weeks ago, so transition is still happening. Are most people who have commented on this post from the upper/lower school level or from PTP parents??
I look forward to your replies...
Newbie Parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OOHHHH My, There appears to be a lot of bitterness on this forum.. Is TWSB really that bad?? My DD has commenced in the PTP program this year & she is still finding her way - they only commenced 4 weeks ago, so transition is still happening. Are most people who have commented on this post from the upper/lower school level or from PTP parents??
I look forward to your replies...
Newbie Parent

What transition?

[Anonymous]

The transition I am talking about is the one that comes with starting a new school, living in a new town, making new friends etc etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly the hardest part of Nutcracker comes during rehearsal time, October through Thanksgiving. That is a big time commitment, especially on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays). Once performances start, its just showing up at the theater an hour before show time, performing for a few minutes, then heading home either at intermission (for those only in act 1) or after the show ends. Yes, it means no travel for families during Nutcracker season but that is the sacrifice.

18 shows at the Warner.
Warner capacity=1847*18 shows =33246 or 14 in the Kennedy Center Opera House.
Kennedy Center Opera House=2364*7=16548
Kennedy Center Eisenhower=1164 seats

Looks like there are time periods in December when the Kennedy Center Opera House is empty. Most people prefer the Kennedy Center to Warner and would prefer seeing The Washington Ballet to the regionals they bring in now.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. There is no pressure at all to try out for the Nutcracker and the admin is very clear about that. In fact at the orientation Julie Kent said that she herself did not put her children in the Nutcracker when they were in pre-ballet. The time commitment is also made very clear. If people don't want to participate, they don't have to. If enough parents complain about the schedule and actually don't put their kids in, then I"m sure that the ballet company would have to figure something else out. In the meantime, there clearly are enough parents and/or kids who want to do the Nutcracker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are there ballet schools in the area that don’t exploit the children and focus on THEIR education rather than the revenue of performances? It sounds like kids are going to get injured and 5 weeks of this schedule would really make schoolwork suffer. Does anyone offer a more student-centric program? Thank you.

All schools want to benefit from Nutcracker but WSB is the only area school that’s attached to a major professional company that has its own revenue issues. In contrast, my DDs school has shows Thurs-Sun over one weekend in early December, plus a single mini show for preschoolers and a “tea”, plus a handful of outreach events that the oldest girls do. There are two casts and most of the younger kids end up dancing in 3 shows, total. My DD was double-casted last year so she had to do 6, which I thought was a lot, but apparently is a small task compared to what WSB has them do.

This sounds so much more reasonable. What school is this?

Sounds like BalletNova. Is it?

Whether it is or isn't, above is in line with BalletNova's Nut schedule. Maryland Youth Ballet's run is a bit longer--"mini" one weekend + two weekends of performances. Virginia Ballet Company does a 3-day run.

[Anonymous]

Is this mainly TWB school in NW? In SE, we don't feel that pressure. Sure, my kid is a level 5, and has done Nutcracker about twice, Harlequinade, Cinderella twice and a few in-house performances for spring and winter. I'm not sure why people think our kids should be paid when they're receiving valuable stage time as a dancer. If my child chooses ballet later in life, then she has these experiences to rely upon and to draw upon. Likewise, with my son who played football in highschool Not a cent for him and my youngest who's a competitive gymnast, she doesn't get paid either. All of these activities are expensive, they're hard, and all have high-time commitment. Not sure of the complaints. Pull the kid out if it's not for him or her.