Washington School of Ballet-level placement question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, diagonals refers to movement across the floor, not just center work in one spot.

It’s telling that the PTP dancers, especially in the A section, are generally not from TWSB. I wonder whether the in-house students are just not up to that standard, but why are they strung along for so many years?!

No one calls it diagonals. It is crossing the floor or across the floor. And, duh, not everyone is meant to be a professional ballerina. TWSB offers kids who love it a chance to dance throughout high school. There is no promise of joining the company.

“Diagonals” refers to combinations that travel from upstage right to downstage left or vice versa. It’s one way to really get the kids moving, for example in pirouette combinations or grande allegro. Sure, you could say “across the floor,” but I’ve definitely heard the term diagonals as well. Both in class and in choreography.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Other studios will move faster, but it doesn't mean better technique. TWSB is slow and not for everyone, but their students are very well trained and better able to tackle harder moves without injuring themselves or it looking like a hot mess.

I don't think this is true. My daughter was the best in her level at TWSB. She audition for SAB and did not get it the first time. The second time she got in. I was told it was because she not do center work, combinations, leaps, turns....all things she had never seen at TWSB. She was not able to tackle harder moves until moving to another studio and getting better training.

Congrats! Getting into SAB is a huge accomplishment. Didnt mean to generalize, my DC ended up at another studio over the pandemic for in person instruction and they moved very quickly but were really sloppy. She ended up injuring her knee repetitively at this studio, something that never happened at TWSB. But she is not on the SAB route and was definitely middle of the pack at TWSB.

[Anonymous]

Another PP here. This has been student’s experience. Beautiful barre work for years, but really behind other students with a similar level of experience. The serious schools that I gave experience with - SAB, CPYB, BAE - manage to move their students along more quickly while maintaining their clean technique. I’m not sure what has gone wrong with TWSB in recent years, but it’s frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Immediate PP here. My comment referee to the experience with the SAB audition.

[Anonymous]

On an unrelated note, can anyone tell me what the difference between Level 4A and 4B are?
Do level 3 kids always go to 4A, or do they sometimes skip 4A and go to 4B if they are more advanced?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On an unrelated note, can anyone tell me what the difference between Level 4A and 4B are?
Do level 3 kids always go to 4A, or do they sometimes skip 4A and go to 4B if they are more advanced?

One of them is harder than the other. I can't remember which. My daughter went to 3EX and then the harder level 4 and then level 5.

[Anonymous]

How are 4A and 4B different from, say, 3 and 3EX? My understanding was the EX class was for the most skilled students at that level but that the A and B could be taken in successive years with the material building on itself?
Also ... what Nutcracker roles could be expected at each level?

[Anonymous]

I think the Nutcracker roles are likely to be mushroom or bee for the youngest students, then snow angel, cherry blossom, mouse for 1A/1B. Then party scene or soldier for level 2 and 3? Clown level 4? Little butterfly level 5, 6, and frontier girl for level 7?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the Nutcracker roles are likely to be mushroom or bee for the youngest students, then snow angel, cherry blossom, mouse for 1A/1B. Then party scene or soldier for level 2 and 3? Clown level 4? Little butterfly level 5, 6, and frontier girl for level 7?

PB3 mushroom, bees

1a cherry blossom, snow angel, party girl, mice

1b cherry blossom, snow angel, party girl, mice, doll

2 party girl, dolls, soldier, clown

3 soldier, clown

[Anonymous]

level 3 is too old/too tall for party scene?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the Nutcracker roles are likely to be mushroom or bee for the youngest students, then snow angel, cherry blossom, mouse for 1A/1B. Then party scene or soldier for level 2 and 3? Clown level 4? Little butterfly level 5, 6, and frontier girl for level 7?

So from my experience it's actually more like this:

PB3: mushroom, bee

1A: most likely snow angel, maybe mouse or cherry blossom; can be party girl

1B: most likely mouse, or snow angel; can be party girl

2: soldier, party girl (they find baby clown from level 2 but don't get high hopes)

3: soldier, bunny, party girl, clown, doll

4A: clown, bunny, soldier, if your child is tall she will also audition for frontier girl

4B: clown, frontier girl

5: little butterfly, frontier girl

I hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:level 3 is too old/too tall for party scene?

Not all of them, level 3's can be in party but they choose party girls based on body type and skin (not color but if you have lots of freckles, acne, glasses, etc., they won't choose you.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are 4A and 4B different from, say, 3 and 3EX? My understanding was the EX class was for the most skilled students at that level but that the A and B could be taken in successive years with the material building on itself?
Also ... what Nutcracker roles could be expected at each level?

Students take both 4A and 4B, one after the other.
EX levels are for the best studens only.

[Anonymous]

How old are PB3? Saw the show yesterday and was super impressed with the kids - especially the clowns!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are PB3? Saw the show yesterday and was super impressed with the kids - especially the clowns!

My DD is in PB3 - a bee - she is 7.

The little clown in her cast was level 2.

Other clowns I think level 4.