Washington School of Ballet audition/what next?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Until age 8, ballet classes are all about following directions and movement. Formal ballet shouldn't begin before age 8. WSB is best left until a child is much older and really committed to ballet - unless you live nearby and it's the closest place.

Even WSB has very few home-grown dancers that make it professionally. Most dancers who manage to become professionals (and that is dwindling with intl competition , dancers taking better care of bodies=longer careers, lack of arts funding) leave their base school during high school to train elsewhere if they want to "make" it.

-mom of ballet dancer

It is true that WSB is not producing any dancers anymore. Their highest level is in the school is made up entirely of kids they recruit from elsewhere who only come to look for jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that Washington Ballet is now accepting everyone (unless your child has a behavior problem.) I think they need money.

Nope, my 4 year old was rejected. (?!)

If this is the case, then there was likely a focus or behavior issue happening in the audition class. I was told that they basically take everyone- which is not how things used to be. They are trying to make the school more "community" focused, but I think it's causing talented kids to look elsewhere in the higher levels. It seems like one big money making machine now...

[Anonymous]

9:32 here, pp’s thank you so much for the feedback. I had no clue serious dancing didn’t start until age 8! Now I’m thinking we’ll just sign DD up for Tippi Toes in aftercare and save our weekend time as well as the extra costs for a few more years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that Washington Ballet is now accepting everyone (unless your child has a behavior problem.) I think they need money.

Nope, my 4 year old was rejected. (?!)

If this is the case, then there was likely a focus or behavior issue happening in the audition class. I was told that they basically take everyone- which is not how things used to be. They are trying to make the school more "community" focused, but I think it's causing talented kids to look elsewhere in the higher levels. It seems like one big money making machine now...

Exactly this. It just means that she wasn't ready for the type of class they offer for that age. Find someplace else. As others have said, it's way too early for serious ballet anyway.

Can't speak to the situation in the upper levels but in the past WSB been a relatively intense program, which works for some and not for others.

[Anonymous]

NP here. Parents of older dancers, what age is reasonable for a class to follow a simple choreographed routine? We have a 5 year old, trying to figure out if we need to find another program. We don’t need serious instruction fwiw, just wondering when more structure should be expected. Is it still age 8?

[Anonymous]

More structure can be expected around age 6 or 7.

[Anonymous]

That's aweful. Try Bethesda Conservatory. They may still have spits and your daughter will get the instruction she needs. The Creative Dance 2 class is wonderful. Good luck in your search.